Episode 63

‘Did Aria know I hadn’t completely healed from my scars?’

Perhaps. After all, I had left most of my belongings, including the medicine bottles, at the Grand Duke’s estate.

The thought made me feel strangely uneasy.

I stood still, tilting my head as I considered these unsettling doubts.

During Aria’s debutante ball.

I had always thought that the disappearance of her brooch was the work of her maids.

But now that I think about it…

Could Aria have been completely unaware?

When her brooch went missing, she hadn’t seemed particularly alarmed. Instead, she had asked me for my jewelry.

Her reaction had been so different from when she nearly missed getting her debutante dress fitted.

It’s possible she had done it to acquire the brooch Chris had given me.

At the time, I had dismissed the thought as absurd, not even considering it.

I let out a soft sigh. For now, it was just my suspicion.

I looked at the row of dresses in front of me and whispered toward the door.

“Aria, could you call for my maid?”

“Hmm?” Aria responded immediately, as if she had been standing right outside the door.

“It’s hard to put this on by myself.”

She wouldn’t refuse such a simple request. After all, this was a situation where she was the one extending her goodwill, and it wouldn’t make sense for her to deny me this.

“…Alright.”

As expected, Aria agreed. Soon enough, Marie arrived after receiving my message.

“My lady, your dress…”

“Marie, could you go back to the room and bring me a cape?” I emphasized, watching her eyes widen.

“The cape?”

“Yes, that one.”

“Are you going to wear it yourself?”

“That’s the plan.”

Perhaps the open door allowed others to overhear our conversation. I could faintly hear some young ladies murmuring outside, speaking loud enough for me to hear.

“A cape in this weather?”

“She’ll be so hot.”

“Looks like she’s too embarrassed to show her skin.”

“Shh.”

Ignoring their assumptions, I chose a dress from the selection. I deliberately picked one with a deeply cut back and exposed shoulders and collarbones, designed for the summer leisure activities of nobles. The hemline barely reached my shins, making it perfect for casual water outings.

Marie returned with a small bag and helped me change into the dress. As she adjusted it, she whispered kindly, “This style suits you well too, my lady.”

“I know it doesn’t,” I replied with a slight smile.

“It’s not flattery, I promise.”

“Could you pin my hair up? Something breezy.”

Marie didn’t refuse and gathered my hair into an elegant updo, leaving my neck and back exposed. The scars that Chris had once seen were now visible under the bright light.

Marie braided the remaining strands of my hair with a soft touch. Despite the impromptu situation, she had a natural talent for this and managed to make me look presentable.

I could tell she had put in extra effort, likely trying to draw attention away from my scars.

“I wasn’t planning to dress up this much.”

“That’s exactly the issue, my lady. Earlier, I wanted to make you stand out even more.”

“I understand your concern, Marie, but I’m fine.”

Finally, after donning the cape Marie had retrieved from the bag, I nodded in satisfaction.

Marie shook her head with a defeated smile.

“I can’t win against you, my lady.”

“If you ever do, it’ll be a big problem.”

“Even so…”

At that moment, a voice came from outside the room.

“Is Lady Reinhardt in here?”

The Crown Prince’s voice, calm yet distinct, reached my ears.

“Are you looking for me?”

“No, I mean your sister, or should I say…”

“…Mindia isn’t my sister,” Aria replied, engaging in a conversation with the Crown Prince.

And I was the topic of their discussion.

Judging by the tone of the conversation, it seemed somewhat awkward.

A couple destined to whisper sweet nothings to each other.

In the original story, this scene featured the Crown Prince mesmerized by Aria in her summer dress.

It wasn’t just him—every young man had the same reaction.

And any attempts by others to make a move on Aria were promptly blocked by the Crown Prince.

Underneath my growing suspicion of Aria, I felt a twinge of pity for her. After all, she had lost what could have been the love of the century.

Still, the Crown Prince being here likely meant…

Other nobles are around too.

Aria’s room, unlike mine, was conveniently located near the open hall and other facilities. It was the best room for accessibility and comfort.

The moment I opened the door, I would undoubtedly draw attention from the crowd gathered in the hall.

This will make quite the spectacle.

I lifted my chin deliberately, preparing to step out.

As I exited the room, every gaze in the hall immediately turned toward me.

Eyes filled with a certain kind of anticipation lingered on me. They seemed to be waiting to see if my scars would be exposed.

“Ah…”

I noticed several young ladies opening their mouths as if to speak but then closing them collectively.

Aria’s expression shifted to one of genuine surprise, even more so than before.

“Mindia, that cape…”

“Quite unique.”

The first to comment and extend his hand toward me was the Crown Prince.

I lightly touched his hand, only to gently push it away, replying, “Thank you.”

“Your dress must have been ruined by the spill earlier. Is everything alright?” he asked.

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll make sure it’s compensated.”

“There’s no need. Those who spilled the drink should be responsible, but I don’t see this as a matter requiring compensation.”

At that moment, Marie discreetly packed my stained dress into the bag and bowed before retreating.

When the Crown Prince moved as if to stop her, I raised my hand lightly to dissuade him.

“It’s alright, Your Highness. There’s no need to trouble yourself.”

“This was an inconvenience for you. How could I simply turn away?”

“As expected, you are kind to the ladies here. But I’m truly not bothered. In fact, I’m glad to have had the opportunity to showcase a new outfit.”

As I bowed slightly, the translucent cape flowed softly over my frame.

The cape, woven with sheer, airy fabric and adorned with delicate rose embroidery, perfectly balanced elegance and lightness. Though it revealed much, its formality made it appropriate.

“Impressive,” the Crown Prince commented.

The embroidered roses on the sheer fabric complemented my scars remarkably well.

The scars scattered across my body, faintly visible through the cape, resembled the thorns of blooming rose branches.

Even the long scars on my collarbones and nape, usually hidden beneath my hair, blended seamlessly into the rose design, appearing as part of the intricate embroidery.

This cape was a prototype I had proposed to Helena, who wasn’t present at the villa yet.

This is another advantage of being a transmigrator.

I already knew this style of clothing would become a trend across the empire.

Originally, this ethereal and fairy-like attire had been popularized by Aria in the original story.

Unlike the original design, which had no patterns, I had added the embroidery, a suggestion from Chris.

I recalled the time I brought the prototype cape to Chris…

* * *

It was shortly after the hunting festival had ended, and I had moved into the annex, just before my visit to the mercenary group.

“I’d like to show you a fabric made from tanina.”

“Tanina, you say?”

“Yes. I’ll ask Helena to use northern artisans for the project.”

Tanina stems were a raw material similar to hemp or ramie. Unlike ramie, which grew well in summer, tanina thrived in the North. The plant was exceptionally tough and coarse, adapted to withstand the cold. It was originally not considered suitable for fabric, but with advancements in weaving techniques, it could now be processed into a soft, translucent material.

It was likely thanks to the original story’s rules that Aria was supposed to wear this type of clothing around this time.

Chris looked at me and asked, “I’m not sure if northern artisans, accustomed to working with fur and paper fibers, can be of much help in processing tanina for fabric.”

Acknowledging the validity of his concern, I nodded and replied, “Some of the processes for tanning leather and making paper are quite similar to the steps needed to process tanina into fabric.”

“That’s true.”

“Northern fur artisans will certainly be able to contribute.”

The money earned by the northern artisans working with Helena would eventually flow back into the North. While it wasn’t winter yet, and fur couldn’t be showcased, I wanted to help Chris in any way I could.

“I also brought a sample. I thought it would be better for you to see the fabric in person.”

At my words, I called for a servant to bring in a mannequin draped in the cape.

At first glance, the cape without any patterns or embellishments appeared somewhat plain.

It’s clear this is the kind of clothing that depends on the wearer to bring it to life.

I smiled faintly as I debated whether to add some lace to the hem.

While I was lost in thought, Chris, who had been intently observing the cape on the mannequin, shifted his gaze to me.

“The cape is translucent.”

“The concept is fairy wings. There are fairy legends in the North too, aren’t there?”

“Yes. Although, the fairies you’ve heard about might be a little different from ours.”

“I’ve heard the northern fairies are rumored to eat people.”

At my words, Chris chuckled slightly before responding, “They’re also known to be extraordinarily beautiful.”

“Is that so?”

“The snow fairies are said to have ashen wings…”

Chris suddenly looked at me and, uncharacteristically, touched his lips as if feeling a bit flustered.

Seeing his unusual behavior, I felt a jolt of nervousness.

Does he not like it?

I wondered if the image of man-eating fairies was overlapping in his mind with that of the cape.

Feeling a bit desperate, I made an offer I normally wouldn’t have.

“If it doesn’t look appealing as it is, shall I try it on for you?”