Ch#99
As the two finished their meal, Cindy spoke to Airin.
“A message came from Madam Crevel. If it's alright, she asked if you could come to her workshop today.”
“Really? Perfect timing. I was just wondering where to go and what to do next.”
“What about studying? Break is a time for striving toward higher goals, not……”
“La la la. I can't hear you. Ibi, don't listen either.”
Airin covered her own ears at Cindy's words, then used both hands to cover Ibi's as well.
“Airin, I think she's right though……”
Cindy smiled at the sight before leaving to prepare the carriage.
* * *
Madam Crevel's workshop was in a building connected to the shop they had visited on the first day.
“This is the annex. Only special guests can enter from here. And it's mostly a space for those getting custom orders.”
Crevel's clothes were extremely expensive.
Even for nobles, unless they were quite wealthy, getting multiple outfits from Crevel was a considerable burden.
Besides, Crevel didn't bring just anyone with money here.
“Oh, the young ladies are here.”
As the two entered, Crevel rushed out as if waiting and greeted them warmly.
She then smiled in satisfaction upon seeing the hairpins in their hair.
“Do you know how many orders we've gotten in just a week because you've been wearing these everywhere?”
“Hmm. Then shouldn't you pay me advertising fees?”
“As expected of a Terrins young lady, straight to the point. How about advertising fees in the form of new hair accessories that we won't sell to anyone else, just for you two?”
“Crevel really knows how to do business.”
Airin then subtly glanced at Crevel. Crevel winked back, making sure Ibi didn't notice.
In truth, the two had met because of Ibi's Autumn Ball outfit.
While the ball dress was important, outfits for before the ball itself were needed too.
‘Of course, I'll buy those for her! It's good publicity for Crevel too!’
Airin clenched her fist.
This was best as a surprise gift.
So Ibi mustn't find out.
‘His Majesty the Emperor will probably gift Ibi clothes and other things too, but isn't the first gift the one that sticks most in memory?’
Of course, she could wait a bit longer out of consideration for the emperor.
But Airin had no intention of doing so.
‘My week!’
She had planned to spend the final week after Ibi visited Arcel and Ruska's houses preparing for second semester together at home, but that plan had flown out the window.
‘So you should accept this much.’
Firmly resolved on her small revenge, Airin smoothly told the lie she had prepared in advance.
“Ibi, I need to get remeasured for new clothes, so wait here, okay?”
“Okay!”
As Ibi replied, Airin and Crevel hurriedly entered the inner room of the workshop and closed the door.
Left alone in the workshop, Ibi wandered around looking at everything.
Crevel's workshop was full of fascinating things. Countless fabrics and leathers, patterns for clothes.
And neatly organized materials for all sorts of decorations.
Everything was interesting no matter where she looked.
‘I want to make clothes when I grow up!’
Thinking something Professor Males would grab the back of his neck over, Ibi continued exploring.
Then a loud voice came from outside.
“I came a bit early, and I can't see Crevel? What's going on?”
It was a high, sharp girl's voice. One Ibi recognized.
Ibi approached the door, peeked out, and looked down the hallway.
Sure enough, it was someone she knew well.
‘Izriella?’
Standing at the end of the hallway by the stairs was Izriella.
‘Izriella buys clothes here too.’
Not surprising for a count's daughter.
‘Better not run into her.’
And she should hurry inside to tell Airin that Izriella was out there.
As she turned to do so, Izriella caught sight of something fluttering and peeked out, then shouted in surprise.
“You! Why are you here!”
Izriella approached Ibi quickly, face twisted in disgust.
Ibi, who had considered running, changed her mind and stepped forward.
She had done nothing wrong. No reason to run.
“Hello.”
“Ha, hello? How brazenly you greet me like that. Seems your smart head doesn't remember the punishment I got because of you.”
Izriella stood before Ibi, glaring with eyes full of hatred.
But Ibi stood tall without flinching, meeting her gaze.
Seeing Ibi not backing down at all unlike before, Izriella looked flustered, then bit her lip.
“Hmph, with His Majesty as your guardian, you think you're untouchable. I look forward to seeing how long that lasts.”
Her lips twisted as she glared Ibi up and down, then a smile appeared on her face.
“Enjoy it while it lasts. Soon His Majesty won't even glance at the likes of you……”
Then an unfamiliar voice came from behind them.
“Iz, what are you doing there?”
At the voice, Izriella hurriedly turned and shouted upon seeing the girl coming up the stairs.
“Lady Eve!”
Eve?
A name Ibi hadn't heard at Yeongjae Academy.
‘Izriella's friend?’
But Izriella was addressing her as Lady Eve. So just who was she that even Izriella called her that?
Ibi turned to look at the girl Izriella had called.
“Huh?”
“Oh my?”
Ibi and the girl named Eve exclaimed in surprise at the same time.
Both had golden blonde hair and green eyes. Around the same age of seven.
She wore very pretty and ornate clothes, and unlike most young girls, white gloves on both hands.
Eve was slightly taller than Ibi, but both were small, so their builds weren't much different.
And strangely, though clearly different faces, there were parts that felt oddly similar.
‘She looks like me.’
As Ibi thought that, Eve approached and looked Ibi over.
“This kid looks just like me. Right?”
Saying that, Eve reached out and tugged at Ibi's hair, which the maids had tied into pigtails.
“……!”
As startled Ibi tried to swat her hand away, Izriella rushed in first and yanked Ibi's hair, letting it fall.
“You mustn't touch such a lowly thing, Lady Eve!”
“Oh? You know this kid, Iz?”
“Yes, please go inside for now.”
Izriella looked troubled as she glanced around, then led Eve into the next room.
Bang!
The door closed loudly, leaving only Ibi with her hair messed up on one side and the surprised staff who had approached.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I'm fine. But my hair got messed up……”
“It's okay. I'll fix it. Someone, bring a comb! Come on, let's go inside.”
The staff, realizing Izriella disliked Ibi intensely, hurriedly took her back to the room with Airin and Crevel.
With those two there, they could block Izriella if she came looking again.
As the staff fixed her hair with cute hair ties and a comb, Ibi thought about the Eve she had just seen.
‘Who could she be?’
* * *
Izriella looked anxiously at the door. Then she spoke to the child rolling around on the sofa.
“Lady Eve, I told you not to be too conspicuous.”
“But I was curious what you were talking about with that other kid. It's boring being alone.”
It was a subtly resentful tone blaming Izriella for leaving her alone.
“Anyway, who was that? You two don't seem to get along.”
“That one is……”
Hesitating briefly, Izriella smiled and opened her mouth.
“The lowly brat I told you about. Ibi Alden. The one His Majesty the Emperor became guardian for just because she's a seven-year-old girl.”
“Ah, that kid?”
Eve nodded at Izriella's explanation.
Then, as if frustrated, she took off her gloves.
“The pitiful kid Daddy's been doting on in my absence.”
On the back of Eve's ungloved hand, the vivid Imperial Crest was clearly visible.
Eve muttered as if truly sorry for her.
“Once Eve goes back to Daddy, she won't be needed anymore.”
