“The first step is to understand the flow of the capital.”
Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win every battle.
In this era, dress shops were very important. They weren’t simply limited to decoration or fashion.
The dress shops where members of high society gathered were the source and hub of all rumors.
Every piece of news that circulated in the capital inevitably passed through a dress shop.
Naturally, the person who controlled the dress shops would be well-informed about the happenings in the capital.
For this reason, prominent members of society often had a favorite dress shop they frequented.
“High society is like a battlefield without weapons.”
The information I currently had was quite limited. I couldn’t rely on a maid’s mouth for every rumor about me.
“Madam, this area is full of dress shops. You can choose whichever one you like”
“How kind of you.”
“Any shop you visit will serve you with the utmost care! Over there is where all the large dress shops are located.”
Unaware of my true intentions, Vivi had been chattering away more than usual.
Unfortunately, large dress shops were not part of my consideration.
The reason was simple: such famous shops already had their own powerful patrons.
It would be nearly impossible for me to go into one of those shops and gain influence.
‘That one is where the Duchess of Aberdeen frequents, and that one over there is where the Marquess of Mary’s family holds sway.’
I passed by the large dress shops that hadn’t even made it onto my list of candidates.
After walking for a while, I eventually left the main dress shop district and entered a more secluded area.
Vivi, who had been following me in silence, now looked worried.
“Ma-Madam, didn’t you say we were going to a dress shop?”
“I did.”
“But there aren’t any more dress shops around here…”
“Just follow me quietly.”
I understood her concerns, but my destination had been decided from the beginning.
“It should be around here somewhere… Ah, found it.”
At the end of the alley, I finally spotted a dress shop and came to a stop.
“Ma-Madam, are you really going to go in there?”
“Why, do you think this is somewhere I shouldn’t be?”
“It’s not that, but…”
Vivi, who had been about to say something, bit her lip and fell silent.
The place I had found was, quite frankly, a rundown dress shop. The pillars supporting the building were cracked, and the paint on the sign was half peeled off, hanging by a thread.
Zed’s Dress Shop
I read the sign and nodded.
I had found the right place.
“Ma-Madam, if you want to order a dress, wouldn’t it be better to visit Veronica’s Dress Shop on the main street instead? It’s the biggest shop in the capital…”
“Vivi, I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
“Yes, Madam!”
Startled by my gentle yet firm words, Vivi quickly clamped her mouth shut.
Of course, this dress shop might appear shabby and unimpressive now, but that was only for the time being.
‘Since I’ve been thrown into this book, I should make full use of the information I know.’
This wasn’t an ordinary dress shop.
I glanced around without a care and shrugged.
“Let’s go in.”
Ding
An old bell rang as I opened the door.
The floor creaked underfoot with every step, as if the building hadn’t been maintained in ages.
‘I’ll have to renovate this place at some point.’
But fortunately, the areas where the dresses and fabrics were stored were clean, which was something to be grateful for.
‘Just like in the original story, they take pride in their work.’
As I was looking around the shabby dress shop, someone peeked out from the back. It was a middle-aged woman with dark brown hair.
“Who is…”
“There you are, Madame Zed.”
The woman, who had been half-asleep and looking at me with barely open eyes, suddenly widened them in surprise.
“D-Duchess?”
Madame Zed rushed forward, nearly prostrating herself at my feet.
“I greet the Duchess!”
“Yes.”
“What brings you to this humble place…”
Why else would a noblewoman visit a dress shop?
“I’ve come to look at dresses.”
“Pardon?”
Madame Zed looked up at me in bewilderment, her face filled with the unspoken question of ‘Why?’
“Well, what are you waiting for? Bring them out.”
“A-ah, yes, right away!”
Prompted by my command, Madame Zed, who had been standing there dazed, hurriedly began to move. The cramped, cluttered shop suddenly became quite lively.
A short while later, over ten mannequins and racks full of dresses stood before me. Madame Zed, still trying to grasp the situation, looked confused.
As I slowly examined the dresses, a satisfied smile crept across my face.
‘My hunch wasn’t wrong.’
The dresses were all unique and experimental in design. Some boldly had the sleeves cut off, others had deep backs, and still others were made with contrasting fabrics to catch the eye.
Clearly, they were out of sync with the current trends in high society.
However, at the same time, it was evident that they were made with high-quality materials and painstaking craftsmanship.
‘These designs are ahead of their time.’
While I was lost in thought, Madame Zed, still uncertain about what was going on, hesitantly took a step back, carefully watching my reactions.
“Feel… feel free to look, Your Grace,”
Madame Zed stammered nervously.
“Very well.”
I nodded lightly and touched the hem of a dress. The smooth texture of silk was palpable under my fingertips.
It was clear that Madame Zed held deep affection for her creations.
Despite running a shop on the verge of collapse, she never skimped on a single lace or bead that went into her work.
Because of this, her little, nameless shop hidden in the back alleys was shunned by customers who found the prices unjustifiably high.
‘But according to the original story, in six months, this place will become a huge success.’
Six months from now, thanks to a chance visit by the imperial princess, Zed’s Dress Shop would suddenly become a luxury fashion house in the capital.
This was the biggest reason I sought out this shop. It would prove to be an immense help to Diana when she returned a year from now.
Diana, who majored in shoe design at the academy, would have Madame Zed as her greatest supporter and business partner.
‘In the original story, Diana had to go through great effort after her return to win Madame Zed over to her side…’
But if I nurture this shop in advance and introduce it to Diana, it’ll save her a lot of trouble.
Not to mention, I could also establish my own information network.
To put it simply, with this one dress shop, I planned to kill two birds with one stone.
Though it may be insignificant now, with my help, this shop wouldn’t have to wait half a year for success—it could shine in just a few months.
I could have it all: the benefits and the leverage. That was the privilege of someone who knew the original plot, after all.
Feeling pleased with my cleverness, I straightened my shoulders with pride.
“Um… Your Grace?”
A cautious voice interrupted my pleasant thoughts.
Madame Zed had been watching me anxiously for a while.
Ah, perhaps I’d been too silent.
As she continued to glance nervously in my direction, she finally spoke again.
“These… these are all the dresses we have in the shop. I’m embarrassed to say that we don’t have much in terms of resources….”
“I see.”
“If… if none of them suit Your Grace’s taste, I will do whatever it takes to create a dress that does. If you would just give me the chance…”
Madame Zed looked quite desperate. Understandably so—it must have been months since her last customer.
I gazed at her indifferently before turning my attention away.
“No, there’s no need for that.”
“Oh…”
Disappointment washed over Madame Zed’s face.
But I was quicker to continue.
“I’ll buy every dress in this shop. Including the accessories, of course.”
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