43. The Young Lady’s Transformation
It was truly a wise decision to seek Lady Maltina’s help. Had I prepared everything without any knowledge, I might have ended up making the master seem like a stingy pauper and even undermining the young lady’s status.
“Besides, this is a great opportunity to make some extra money. Why would you refuse that?”
“Huh? There’s no need for an extra allowance…”
“Not just money—these dresses are custom-made, so once you’re done taking care of the young lady, they’re yours. Even if you strip off the added embellishments later and sell them, you’d make a decent amount. Would you really turn that down?”
“Oh… You can resell them like that?”
“Of course! Whenever maids accompany me to the palace, they eye those dresses like treasure.”
It was a world I had never known.
So that’s why there was such fierce competition to become a lady’s or a madam’s personal maid. No one had ever shared this kind of sweet information before. They were too busy securing their own benefits to bother telling anyone else.
“Since we’re doing this anyway, I was thinking of hiring tailors who are so expensive that others can’t afford them. That okay with you?”
“Do as you wish.”
At Rakalt’s generous permission, Maltina raised an eyebrow, as if testing him, and asked once more.
“No matter how much I spend?”
“Spend as much as you want.”
The approval was given without hesitation once again. Only then did Maltina burst into laughter.
“Thank you! Then I’ll spend freely! Nothing’s more fun than using someone else’s money. Lucky you, Adelen.”
“Huh? Oh… Yes… Yes…”
Adelen unexpectedly found himself benefiting from the situation. Since it wasn’t a loss to her, she simply nodded in gratitude.
However, she couldn’t quite understand why the master, who was about to take the biggest financial hit, was nodding along so easily.
***
Maltina’s skills were truly remarkable.
She summoned merchants to the house—merchants so exclusive that, just like her, one usually had to book them months or even a year in advance just for a consultation.
“We don’t have time to compare options, so I just called in the highest-ranked ones available.”
Through Maltina’s arrangements, the house was soon filled with fabric merchants, accessory suppliers, prop vendors, leather dealers, dressmakers, and shoemakers.
Seeing the merchants lining up to enter, Adelen was left speechless.
Something extraordinary was happening, even if she didn’t fully understand what.
“Alright, let’s begin in order.”
Maltina took command.
If Rakalt was a master of battlefield strategy, Maltina was a general in the world of high society.
Everything flowed seamlessly, thanks to her flawless eye for quality—something even the merchants couldn’t question.
“Adelen’s complexion is on the lighter side, so most colors suit her well. Let’s focus on fabric texture rather than color.”
“In that case, how about this one, this one, and this one?”
“Not bad. Adelen, come here.”
Adelen, completely entranced by Maltina’s expertise, could only respond with, “Yes, yes.”
“This one is better. Let’s go with this.”
Holding the fabric against Adelen’s body, Maltina made a confident decision.
“As for the design…”
Normally, measurements would be taken to tailor a dress, but due to the tight schedule, they opted to design directly by draping the fabric on Adelen’s body.
As a result, Rakalt had to vacate his own room.
It was an absurdly rude situation, yet Maltina, smiling ever so sweetly as she issued her orders, somehow made it seem completely natural.
Once Rakalt had left, only Adelen, the baby, the female designer, her assistants, and Maltina remained in the room.
Since it was just women, Adelen had no hesitation about standing in just a petticoat, the undergarment worn beneath dresses.
The others surrounded her, adjusting the fabric.
“No, no. The waistline should be tighter. That’s it. Your shoulder line is beautiful, so we should reveal it a little more. Ah, yes, that looks perfect.”
Maltina stood a step back, observing the people as she gave instructions.
Adelen felt like a doll as she watched herself in the mirror.
Only now, looking at her reflection, did she truly understand why dresses had to be custom-made. It was on a completely different level from the one he had borrowed before.
Even though it wasn’t finished yet—just a roughly stitched-together combination of fabric and decorations—it already looked several times more radiant. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the mirror.
“Wow… It’s beautiful.”
It seemed others thought the same. Even Maltina, who had been watching with a critical eye, let out an admiring sigh.
“Adelen, you’re really beautiful.”
“It’s… it’s because of the dress… Thank you.”
Adelen had always thought she was fairly good-looking, but beautiful!? That was a first.
Yet even to her own eyes, she looked stunning, and now someone truly beautiful was telling her so.
It felt as dizzying as gulping down a juice that was too sweet.
“Alright, so we’ve settled on the outfit and accessories. Now, the jewelry and the baby’s clothes, right?”
“Yes, the fabric for the baby’s clothes is in the carriage. I’ll go get it.”
“Alright.”
The designer left with her assistant.
In the meantime, Maltina, determined to save even a little time, carefully inspected the jewelry display.
“How about this one… and this one?”
Unlike her previous quick and decisive choices, she took her time selecting the jewelry.
To Adelen, everything looked dazzling and blindingly beautiful. Just the thought of wearing such things made her so nervous that her hands trembled as she reached out.
“Why are you shaking so much?”
“I-I’m afraid I might scratch them.”
Adelen was all too aware that a single gemstone here was worth more than her entire life.
Even if she worked for a lifetime, she wouldn’t be able to afford even a speck of these jewels.
Hearing her needless worries, Maltina burst into laughter. She then took the necklace in her own hands and stepped behind Adelen.
“Lift your hair. I’ll do it for you.”
“T-Thank you.”
Having Maltina handle it herself eased her nerves a little.
Adelen obediently gathered her hair up with both hands, waiting quietly.
But Maltina didn’t move.
Wondering why, Adelen, who had been demurely lowering her gaze, looked up.
Their eyes met in the mirror.
Maltina was staring intently at Adelen’s face.
“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you’re truly beautiful.”
“Huh…?”
Wait, was there some unspoken rule that required gilding one’s face along with wearing dresses and jewels for a party?
Maltina’s thick layers of golden praise made Adelen blush in both gratitude and embarrassment.
“And you’re even cute.”
“Ugh.”
As if she had no intention of letting her go, Maltina continued her relentless praise attack.
Adelen’s face burned red, ready to explode.
She had never received such blatant compliments in her entire life.
Seeing her reaction, Maltina chuckled, then fastened the necklace and attached the earrings.
Taking a step back, she admired her work.
“You’re this beautiful, this adorable, and you’re even good at your job, no wonder Lord Rakalt cherishes you.”
“…Pardon?”
Every single word was hard to process, but the last part, ‘Lord Rakalt cherishes you’ sounded especially strange.
“Cherishes… Uh, yes. He’s a good master. He pays well and provides good support.”
“That’s all?”
“Hmm… Oh! He also helps take care of the baby.”
“Oh my, even helps with the baby?”
“?”
The more they talked, the more it felt like things were heading in a weird direction.
Something felt off.
Shaking her head, Adelen hurried to correct her.
“No, no, he’s not taking care of the baby… He’s just playing with him…”
“Still, what kind of master helps with a maid’s work? I knew it. My guess must be right.”
“…What exactly is your guess?”
As ominous as it felt, she had to ask.
“Aren’t you two… in that kind of relationship?”
“WHAAAT?!”
Our angelically beautiful Lady Maltina was not only exceptional in appearance, lineage, and talent… but also had an exceptional imagination.
And perhaps that last exceptional trait was her only flaw.
Hello everyone! I am Alaa, the translator of this chapter and the next 9. They are sponsored by CobraTitan3 as well ❤️
