Chapter 54
Idel knew about it too, but she just smiled gently.
‘Rinia doesn’t annoy me because she keeps reminding me of Rin.’
Moreover, Rinia was gradually changing.
Now, she would talk to Idel quite warmly and even try to give her things. Of course, Idel didn’t accept them.
Anyway, Idel appreciated that, thanks to Rinia, the atmosphere, which was becoming increasingly awkward, had been lightened.
Rinia’s “Laszlo Transformation Plan” was carried out amidst a pretty tight schedule.
After managing Laszlo’s skin and hair, a person from the men’s fashion shop arrived in the afternoon.
“Oppa, we need to finish this during your vacation! So on the day you return, we’ll reveal it with a ‘Ta-da!’ Everyone will be so surprised, right?”
It seemed like Rinia was imagining a fairytale where the protagonist, covered in dirt, transforms beautifully with the help of a fairy’s magic.
Laszlo hated the idea, but Idel actually agreed with it.
‘It might look a little silly to suddenly show up all transformed, but given Count Crissos’ current situation, it’s necessary to create such an event.’
Watching Laszlo change, Idel could even guess that on the day he returned, he would become quite the topic of discussion at the palace. Whether it would be positive or negative, she didn’t know, but at least right now, it was better for him to create some sort of gossip. Without this, it would be even harder for him to gain attention in society.
‘Also, there’s nothing wrong with improving his appearance. As Rinia said, soon he may even get marriage proposals.’
Idel, imagining Laszlo taking a wife, began to worry about her own situation.
She wasn’t sure how the gossip about her had been spreading in high society, but it was clear that it wasn’t very favorable.
‘I can only hope that Count Crissos would want to marry a sympathetic woman.’
She bitterly smiled and flipped through the men’s fashion catalog.
Despite being lost in those thoughts, Idel skillfully picked out clothes that would suit Laszlo.
“Make one of each of these shirts, and for the outerwear, one set in this design and one in that design. For the cravat, one with no pattern, made of glossy silk, and one with a pattern on the edges, made of cotton…”
Laszlo, watching her pick out the clothes, furrowed his brow.
“Why are you buying so much? You already have a lot.”
“That’s because I’m throwing them all away. These are not enough to fill the gap.”
“What? Why throw away perfectly good ones?”
“…Because they’re not in good condition.”
Idel answered, gritting her teeth.
The fact that Laszlo thought those shabby shirts were “fine” seemed to suggest a difficult path ahead, and it made her sigh.
Rinia, standing beside them, clapped her hands and laughed out loud.
“Ha, this is so funny! I love seeing Oppa getting scolded! I’m so happy and excited! Idel, keep going! More!”
In the end, Rinia was slapped on the head by Laszlo and screamed, and Idel sighed again before checking the order form handed by the tailor.
There was still so much to do.
Later Scene
“Hahaha!”
Nathan, who had come to report on the work of Calliope after a long time, laughed for a while upon seeing the polished-up Laszlo.
His mercenary colleagues would probably have the same reaction if they saw him.
“My goodness, who on earth did this to the boss?”
“Please, shut up.”
Although embarrassed, Laszlo had to endure Nathan’s mocking since it was already done.
“No, seriously, did His Majesty the Emperor order this?”
“That guy had been nagging me for a while.”
“Then you’re saying the emperor isn’t the main reason for this? Did you perhaps want to impress a woman?”
“How did you jump to that conclusion?”
“Well, that’s how men usually are.”
Laszlo sighed and shook his head, then threw the answer out like he was giving up.
“It’s Rinia, Rinia! That girl has been whining so much, my ears hurt.”
“Wait, since when has the boss been so obedient to Rinia?”
Muttering to himself, Nathan shut up when he saw Laszlo’s fierce glare. However, Laszlo paused for a moment, then spoke.
“I’ve been putting it off. Because of that, Rinia has had a hard time.”
“So, you’re saying you’ve made up your mind now?”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m doing this annoying stuff.”
With that, Laszlo quieted down, turning his attention back to the report Nathan had brought.
Just then, someone knocked on the office door.
“Come in.”
As soon as Laszlo’s dry reply ended, the door opened, and Idel entered. She paused when she saw Nathan.
“I didn’t know you were working. I’ll come back later.”
“Don’t worry about him. What’s the matter?”
“I’m here to get approval for the plan to buy men’s accessories.”
“Give it to me.”
Laszlo put down the document he had been reading and took the one Idel handed him, quickly skimming through it.
“You’re buying quite a lot.”
“If the price is a burden, I’ll reduce one brooch and one buckle.”
“It’s fine. You must have included them with a reason.”
After signing at the bottom of the document, Laszlo passed it back to Idel, speaking indifferently.
“Proceed.”
“Understood. I’ll leave now.”
With that, Idel’s brief visit came to an end. Laszlo turned his attention back to the document he had been reading.
However, Nathan, who had been watching the situation, tilted his head unknowingly.
“Why is that woman buying the boss’s accessories?”
“Is there anyone with better taste in this house than her?”
“Well… that’s true, but wasn’t she just a laundress?”
“Ah, there’s a bit of a story behind that. Now she’s Rinia’s personal maid.”
Nathan blinked in surprise.
“Wait, are you telling me that the woman who made the boss look so good is the same one as that maid?”
“…Your wording is a bit off, but yes, why?”
“I don’t know, it just feels strange. It seems like her status is changing little by little…”
“She’s the only one with the right skills to handle the tasks we need done right now. The idea of her ‘status’ is irrelevant.”
“But…”
Nathan, who was about to say something, closed his mouth because he didn’t quite know what was bothering him.
‘But they definitely seem closer now than they did the last time. Am I just being paranoid?’
Although it might have seemed overly sensitive to think they were getting closer after hearing their brief exchange, Nathan, who had been by Laszlo’s side for a long time, immediately noticed the change.
‘The boss actually smiled when that woman came in.’
It was brief, but Laszlo definitely smiled. He even put down the document he had been seriously reading and focused entirely on her. The man who had been indifferent even when the most beautiful women approached!
‘Laszlo has changed… it must be because of the woman, right?…’
Nathan couldn’t judge whether this was a good or bad thing, so he decided to keep it to himself for now.
Later Scene
“Oppa! Is the party preparation going well?”
“Angela! Camille! Come in.”
The heir to the Bliss Count title, Enok, beamed a wide smile as the two beautiful ladies entered.
Angela’s cousin, Enok was the grandson of Count Bliss, and he was helping his mother prepare for a garden party.
“The weather suddenly turned cold the other day, so I was worried, but luckily tomorrow should be very sunny.”
“Since it’s the garden party hosted by the honorable aunt, of course, it should be sunny. It’s all thanks to Lady Para’s blessings.”
Angela, raising Enok’s mother even higher, created a cheerful atmosphere.
Enok had no reason to hold back his smile either.
It was a welcome event that two ladies, famous for their beauty in high society, were showing interest in the party.
“But what brings you here? I’m sure you didn’t come to supervise the preparations.”
“Of course not! Actually, I need to ask you for a favor.”
“A favor? If it’s your request, I’ll do anything! Just ask, Angela.”
Angela’s cousin’s declaration made both her and Camille’s smiles grow wider.
“Do you remember giving an invitation to Miss Crissos for the party, the one Camille hosted?”
“Ah! You suddenly asked for one invitation, and I hurried to get it for you. Why?”
Then Camille spoke up.
“At this party, please put that girl in her place. Okay?”
Camille went on, adding more details about the humiliation she had suffered at Rinia’s hands.
She had felt pity for the commoner girl, who couldn’t blend into high society and had invited her to the party, but the girl had acted as though she was of higher status. Camille had bowed and greeted her, but the girl looked down on her. The atmosphere at the table where the girl had sat had been uncomfortable, and Camille had been embarrassed by it. As she kept talking, Enok’s brow furrowed.
