Translator: Nox

Chapter 14

“Certainly, Miss Tulia. The Young Madam is truly benevolent. To produce such a profound and complex shade in organza, the master dyers of the Rouse Kingdom would have to work for three full months.”

“The color is remarkably bold and distinct,” I remarked.

“Isn’t it? If you pair this with that exquisite solid gold necklace Master Lilius gave you, your presence will be more striking than anyone else’s!”

She was right. I would certainly be noticed.

I would be walking into a room full of high-ranking vassals dressed as though I were heading to a royal gala. Since Tulia’s reputation was still in the gutter, her image remained that of a vain and malicious girl. This was an obvious ploy to cement that perception.

“I’d prefer something more understated. Adel?”

“Of course, Miss. I have an alternative ready,” Adel replied.

“Miss Tulia.”

Rilda’s brow furrowed slightly as she interrupted.

“Such plain clothing is beneath your status. And if I might be so bold…”

“If you might be so bold?” I echoed.

“The majority of House Frazier’s retainers hold significant rank. They tend to look down upon anything from the frontier.”

She was essentially insulting Adel’s choice, implying that a dress selected by someone from the borderlands wasn’t worth her time. A few of the other maids caught the jab and snickered under their breath. Adel, however, didn’t let her composure slip.

I flashed a brilliant, innocent smile.

“Is that so? Maybe the vibrant dress from my aunt would be the better choice then?”

“Absolutely, Miss Tulia!”

“Auntie really is the only person who looks out for me.”

“Indeed. The Young Madam has such a generous heart.”

Since they were playing games right to my face, I had no choice but to return the favor.

“However, I don’t have shoes that match, so I suppose I’ll have to save this outfit for another time. It’s such a shame. I was so looking forward to showing Grandfather.”

As I let out a disappointed sigh, Rilda’s eyes sharpened with interest. She took the bait immediately.

“Miss, the dressing room is overflowing with footwear. There is bound to be a matching pair in there.”

“You think so? Then bring every single pair out.”

Rilda blinked, momentarily stunned by the request, before frantically signaling the other maids to move. They scrambled to fetch the collection.

Now that my living expenses had been restored to normal levels, I also received a stipend for maintaining my appearance. I had recently discovered that this budget covered daily attire, footwear, accessories, and even undergarments. Consequently, I owned far more shoes now than I ever did while living in the storehouse—dozens of pairs, at the very least.

I suspected Ruk Kelfosher was behind the sudden upgrade in my quality of life. He was likely pulling strings in the background to ensure his sister didn’t face any trouble in her new role as the head maid for a direct member of the Frazier line.

Regardless of the reason, I sat down in the extravagant dress and commanded them to line the shoes up in front of me. The trick here was that I was insisting on changing shoes, not the gown. Swapping dresses is exhausting for everyone involved, including the person wearing them. But shoes were different.

I settled into a plush chair to keep the dress from wrinkling and simply extended my feet.

“Don’t just stand there. Start changing them.”

The maids worked in unison, cycling through the footwear. I had a full-length mirror positioned directly in front of my chair, so all I had to do was glance down at each pair.

“Next.”

Gray Mary Janes with delicate straps.

“Next.”

Black flat-soled shoes.

“Next.”

Navy pumps adorned with tiny pearls.

I went through every style imaginable: open-toed heels, booties, slingbacks, kitten heels, and d’Orsay pumps, each in a variety of colors. Even after thirty pairs, I kept my expression sour and unimpressed, playing the part of a demanding lady.

By the time we reached the end of the collection, the maids were pale and drenched in sweat. Some shoes were simple to slip on, but many required intricate ribbon work. The latter made up the bulk of my collection. Their backs and necks had to be screaming from the constant bending and tying, but that wasn’t my problem.

“Rilda, what are we going to do?” I asked, looking at the senior maid who was now looking quite shaken. “You promised we’d find a match. None of these work, and I’ve put these girls through all this effort for nothing.”

Rilda straightened her posture, trying to salvage the situation.

“In my professional opinion, those gray ribboned shoes from earlier were a perfect match, Miss. They are currently the height of fashion in the capital’s high society.”

She was likely counting on the fact that Tulia had never been to the capital. She was just making things up as she went. Even if Rilda had some noble blood, she was still just a servant; there was no way she was an expert on imperial trends.

Since she was lying so boldly, I decided to do the same.

“What? But Grandfather loathes the color gray, doesn’t he?”

“I… beg your pardon?” Rilda’s face went rigid with panic.

“Rilda…” I lowered my voice, projecting an air of profound melancholy and betrayal. “Are you trying to sabotage me? To make me look bad in front of him? And making the maids suffer like this… was this all a deliberate trick?”

“No! No, Miss! That isn’t it at all! This is a misunderstanding!”

“Is it?” I challenged.

In truth, I had no idea what Grand Duke Assis Frazier’s favorite color was. I doubted a man that cold even had a preference. But when his own granddaughter made such a claim, a mere maid couldn’t exactly call her a liar.

“Rilda.”

“Yes… yes, Miss…”

I leaned into Tulia’s reputation as a villainess. When I fixed her with a sharp, icy glare, it was enough to make anyone lose their nerve. Rilda was no exception, especially without her patron, Viscountess Aubrey, there to shield her.

I stood up abruptly, kicking off the shoes I was wearing in a fit of staged temper. The maids gasped in unison.

“You’re toyed with your master and manipulated the staff,” I hissed through gritted teeth. “I will only tolerate so much disrespect.”

Beads of cold sweat rolled down Rilda’s face. “Miss, please, that wasn’t my intention…”

“Adel!” I barked. “I’m changing. Bring the other dress now!”

“Right away, Miss Tulia,” Adel responded smoothly.

She brought over a soft, primrose-colored gown. While I changed, I kept a sharp eye on Rilda. She looked miserable, but she didn’t dare utter a single complaint. When I finally put on the shoes Adel had selected, I made sure to mention how much I liked them.

The other maids looked exhausted from their ordeal, and the resentful glances they cast toward Rilda didn’t go unnoticed. Those girls wouldn’t be in my service forever, but for now, it was better if they learned to trust Adel over Rilda.

I wasn’t sure what Rilda’s next move would be—likely Aubrey had told her to just watch me for the time being—so it was in my best interest to undermine her authority whenever possible.

“Adel, my basket.”

“Here it is, Miss Tulia,” Adel said, handing it over. “I will see that the shoes are all put away properly.”

She gave me a very faint, knowing smile.

“Have a safe trip, Miss.”

She clearly understood exactly what that performance had been about.

“Well then, I should go see my grandfather.”

I returned the smile and set off with a light step, the Winged Yellow Star trailing behind me.