Ch#51
Linia glanced her way again, waiting for a signal.
Edel suddenly felt sorry for her. Even if she’d picked the clothes that suited her best, she’d have been swayed and deceived like this by others.
Edel mumbled as if she were truly an ignorant maid.
“To me, that green dress from earlier looked the prettiest…”
At that, Linia gave a slight nod and said primly to Dora.
“Does my eye not please you? Or do you have some other agenda?”
“N-no, of course not! I just…!”
“I’m kidding. Why so startled?”
Linia flashed a grin and handed the outerwear catalog to Dora.
*Spoils of war*
*Duchess*
“I’ll order just that green dress—one.”
“Pardon? What about the picnic dress and evening gown?”
“We can do those slowly. You’re not disappointed, right?”
“Of… of course not, hohoho!”
Truly written by Lemon Frog
Linia acted far more shrewdly than expected.
If they ordered nothing at all from , they’d badmouth Linia to other dress shops. They’d think she’d never be a customer again.
There was no need to buy so many clothes from those trying to mock and deceive Linia, either.
On the other hand, ordering all three would make her look like a sucker.
* seemed fine, but I need to change my mind. A dress shop that shifts attitudes based on the customer…*
Edel inwardly re-evaluated . Of course, she’d never order dresses like that herself, but it didn’t hurt to know.
She could advise Linia later if she absentmindedly called again.
- 2 -
.
The next afternoon, the jewelers arrived.
“Isn’t it a bit too simple?”
Laslo, who pretended otherwise but cherished his sister, had said it was fine to call the famously expensive , but Edel opposed it.
“But it goes well with anything.”
“Opinions on the miss are still closer to disapproval. Wearing overly expensive jewels could breed even more resentment… To be frank, might refuse the commission.”
Edel thought Linia would dislike it, but surprisingly, she followed her advice readily.
Thanks to selecting high-quality jewels, the invoice amount wasn’t small, but they were worth it.
handled jewels even for imperial ceremonies, and with a ducal house as backers, they were extremely haughty.
They managed customers so strictly that even with a recommendation from an existing client, they sometimes refused commissions.
Edel was certain wouldn’t accept House Criserus’s order. Nor did she want Linia or Laslo to face needless humiliation.
So she recommended a few reputable jewelers with good designs and quality.
The day after that, the cosmetics merchant arrived.
“I can’t trust any of the info I know anymore. So you pick, Edel.”
“Thank you for calling me. I’m Roderick Harman, owner of .”
Thus, Edel got to peek into a cosmetics merchant’s bag after a long time.
The shop Linia chose was , which Edel had used a few times.
Linia’s skin was healthy and elastic, so she didn’t need heavy nourishing creams or heavy color cosmetics. Edel selected a quality moisturizer, powder matching her skin tone, a subtle yet luxurious lip tint, and
Honestly, she’d expected them to send a clerk, but since it was a count’s house, the owner came himself.
a much lighter perfume than what Linia usually used.
After greetings, he looked up at Linia, then spotted Edel beside her and froze. He seemed to recognize her.
“Miss Linia has no need for heavy color makeup. Enhancing your skin to look its best is far superior. And the perfume you use now is too strong. Something this light would suit you much better.”
*Sharp eyes and good memory.*
Linia eyed the items Edel picked with a ‘that’s it?’ look, but after trying the perfume, her eyes widened.
Of course, as a merchant, he was quick on the uptake too.
Instead of awkwardly acknowledging her, he laid out the items before Linia.
“Wow! This is amazing! Floral, but not cloying at all?”
But Linia seemed to notice he’d recognized Edel and, unlike yesterday with the dress shop clerk, openly asked for her help.
“Your current perfume is so heavy that’s why it feels that way. For your age, this strength is perfect. It suits your image too.”
“Edel. Pick whatever. I really don’t know about jewels.”
Edel pitied that Linia had endured nausea just to wear perfume.
Marsha had surely recommended what she herself wanted to spritz. People tend to push their preferences.
So Edel stepped forward and carefully scanned Roderick’s items. If he’d brought only odd junk like ’s Dora, she’d planned to buy one or none and send him off.
But Roderick didn’t seem hung up on House Criserus’s reputation—he’d brought items on par with what he’d once shown former Edel.
*Pushing heavy scents for 40s on a nineteen-year-old miss—really…*
*Lots of flashy stuff, so I need basics instead.*
It was exasperating.
Anyway, Linia loved the perfume Edel picked so much she didn’t even try the others.
Edel selected a not-too-thick pearl necklace, teardrop pearl earrings, and a necklace of neatly strung crystal beads.
She even sold the ‘Flower Water Powder’ Marsha had bought. It was popular, so they gave a good price, but Linia gave that money to Edel.
“For now, this much.”
“I don’t want to hear about pooling even cosmetics sale money. So take this, Edel.”
- 4 -
.
