Unable to avoid the commotion outside, she entered the bedroom. Even without an explanation from Lena, she could roughly understand the situation from the bag and clothes scattered on the bed.
“Uh, what should we do? It’s all my fault. Miss, I’m so sorry.”
In the end, Lena, with tears in her eyes, apologized to Retina. It felt like she had ruined everything, the long-awaited debutante ball of their young lady.
“When did you find out?”
“After the carriage arrived at palace, we underwent inspection. They said they would deliver the luggage to our assigned rooms after the inspection. While the other maids went out first to explore the annex, I came into the room first to lay out the dress. But when I opened the bag, it was like this…”
Although Lena couldn’t be completely blamed for the mess with the dress, in this place, which was not the Duke’s residence, someone with malicious intent could have deliberately damaged the dress. Even if the bags were transported to the assigned rooms, three people would have handled them before they arrived, and no one knew what might have happened in between. If they said it had been tampered with during that time, there was nothing Lena could have done.
“Lena, I’m sorry, but you have to go outside the palace.”
“What?”
“All we have are the custom-made dresses we brought today. We can’t wear the ready-made ones from the mansion at the debutante ball. Please go to Fongarian and ask for alterations. They said they would charge as much as we’re willing to pay. You must bring one dress back tonight before the ball.”
“But what about your presentation, Miss? There will be breakfast with the Empress and the morning tea soon…!”
“In this situation, you’re the only person I can trust, Lena. Anyway, the dress is the most important thing at the ball. Just choose a dress that’s in relatively good condition for breakfast and afternoon tea.”
Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only
Lena, who had hesitated to leave Retina, whose eyes had changed as she said there was no one else she could trust, had a resolute expression as she nodded vigorously.
“Alright, Miss! Even if I have to lock up Fongérian, I’ll make sure to bring back the dress today!!”
Lena, who roared like someone entrusted with a serious mission, rushed out with the dress bag in her hands. Watching Lena disappear at a rapid pace, Retina sighed as she looked at the dress she had hung on the chair. She had promised to alter it herself, but she had no idea where to start. She had picked a dress that was in relatively good condition inside, but it was impossible to say that it was unscathed. She felt sorry for Fongérian, who had worked so hard.
“Fongérian must have made it with care. I’m sorry.”
Fongérian’s dress, fueled by determination to create a masterpiece, looked like it had met the wrong owner and was torn to shreds.
‘Nevertheless, it’s already done, so what can I do.’
Retina, planning to wear the dress she had worn when meeting the Empress if necessary, carefully removed the torn lace. Fortunately, the inner part of the dress remained intact, as the excessive lace didn’t cut too deep.
Using her needlework skills, Retina sewed the detached lace back in place, using it to conceal any visible stitching marks. There was plenty of fabric to work with, so it could have appeared bland if not for the layers of lace, which maintained the dress’s richness.
“Phew.”
After focusing intensely on altering the dress, Retina wiped the sweat from her forehead. She concealed her fingers, which were sore from hurried sewing, with gloves, and then asked for assistance from a maid outside the bedroom to finish dressing.
“Hmm… It could have been worse.”
Retina, who checked her reflection in the full-length mirror, made a satisfied sound. It couldn’t compare to Fongarian’s craftsmanship, but it was still presentable. She had initially worried about removing all the lace from the top, but the necklace given by the Grand Duchess was so splendid that it distracted from any perceived simplicity.
“The young ladies who have finished dressing are requested to come to the dining hall.”
The maid, entering the room at the right time, conveyed the Empress’s message. Retina turned around with a smile in response.
‘Shall we try to find the culprit then?’
The “fight among yourselves” mentioned by the Grand Duchess wasn’t just a matter of adhering to etiquette and shining as a solitary jewel. It was about how the debutantes survived in the competitive palace, where they were rivals. This was just the beginning, and no one could be naïve about it. Retina clenched her aching fingers inwardly.
‘I can’t just stand still.’
As Retina walked confidently towards the dining hall, the sound of a sword being unsheathed echoed within her.
At that moment, in Leblem’s shopping district, Retina found the Very Max Fantastic Elegance Salon. She hastily dropped her dress bag in front of Fongarian , causing his designs for Retina’s next dress to scatter across the floor.
“Ah! My masterpiece candidates…!!’
“That’s not the issue!! Please, quickly fix these!”
Lena opened the bag to reveal the dress that had been torn to shreds. Fongarian, who had discovered the torn dress inside the bag, lifted it with a face that resembled someone stabbed by a sword.
“W-Who could have done this to my precious creations!!!”
On the other side, Lena looked like a raggedy figure through the holes in the dress. Overwhelmed by the fact that his masterpiece had turned into rags, Fongarian staggered as if he might faint.
“Her Grace was also saddened by the damage to Fongarian’s beautiful dresses. She expressed her apologies for sending it like this and said she would provide the cost as you wish and requested a quick repair.”
“No, it’s not her fault. No matter who the wicked person was who did such… such a heinous act, Her Grace is not at fault. I, Fongarian, will recreate an unprecedented masterpiece, vowing upon my name.”
Temporarily setting aside his despair, Fongarian, burning with revenge alongside Lena, clenched his fists as he followed her lead. With scissors in hand, he ruthlessly cut through the lines he had painstakingly drawn, not having enough time to create a new dress.
Lena admired the ever-changing dress, transformed by Fongérian’s hands, as if he were painting on a canvas.
Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only
Sometimes, he boldly tore apart the torn sections, revealing smooth skin whenever she moved her arms, while at other times, he made the dress look breezy, from the neckline to the chest, with lace that covered but didn’t suffocate.
Areas that needed stitching were enhanced with patterns and jewels for added glamour. The dress that had once been on a mannequin became a new party dress, showcasing its figure.
“Hehehe, this should be considered one of my masterpieces, even among my masterpieces. Hehe… I will take revenge on those who dared to do harm to my creations.”
Fongérian, who had been reborn in his own hands, laughed wickedly, covering his mouth with his hand. It seemed like a different personality emerged when he exerted intense concentration. Sensing the eerie atmosphere, Lena quickly removed the dress from the mannequin and placed it in the bag.”
“Her Grace is eagerly awaiting, so I’ll go see her right away!! Please take care of the other dresses!”
With the bag in her arms, Lena hurriedly headed for the door and shouted at Fongérian, who was still muttering to himself. For some reason, she had a strong premonition that remarkable results were about to emerge, and as expected, it would undoubtedly be a good thing for their young lady.
* * *
As if there had been no commotion in the bedroom, Retina composed her emotions and entered the dining hall. She walked past the long central table while observing the reactions of the debutantes looking at her.
‘Five startled debutantes and about ten cautious ones? I still don’t know for sure.’
From the moment she entered palace, everyone became a competitor. It was a difficult task to distinguish friends from foes within that environment. Guided by the courtier leading her to her designated seat, Retina turned her attention to the name card on the table.
When she reached the end of the table, she found her name written right next to the Empress’s.
‘As expected.’
Retina carefully examined the debutantes seated around her. There were Charlotteon Marquis’s daughter, Buckle Duke’s daughter, and Goldner Marquis’s daughter. Their family’s social status and Chaperon’s position were apparent from here. Debutantes who couldn’t sit at the same table as the Empress had to gather at the round side tables, unable to utter a word, spending time from lunch to tea party.
There was no need to offer her seat next to the Empress. Retina cast her gaze on the Empress’s chair right in front of her and slowly took her seat. Her hastily sewn dress made her movements cautious, even small ones.
‘Finding the culprit should be easy.’
To be able to bribe someone in the palace, their family’s status and assets must be high. She had a gut feeling that among the debutantes at this table, there might be the culprit.
‘Someone is staring so conspicuously…’
Feeling the intense gaze, Retina pretended not to notice and blocked the debutante’s line of sight with a glass. Did something stain my face? The uncomfortable gaze continued until the Empress arrived.
‘I should start with that debutante.’
Marie Zenferno… Retina pretended not to notice, but when her eyes met with the debutante’s, she quickly turned her head. Retina had memorized her face and name.
