VWB 21

How on earth should I convey such a simple message: that I have absolutely no intention of threatening the Madam, I am not curious about the identity of that 'investor,' and all I need is for a single letter to be delivered to him...?

In my current state, even explaining that I 'had no intention of threatening' would likely be interpreted as another form of threat.

I simply wanted to hide the fact that I knew the 'investor'—that is, that I was acquainted with Yulan—for fear that my father's clutches might reach me...

'Was revealing that I'm a Duke's daughter the problem? Or that I'm from the House of Martyr? Or perhaps, is the very fact that I've been reincarnated as this damn villainess the problem?'

I thought I had toned down my villainess mode(?), but perhaps there's no helping the words and actions that slip out unconsciously.

Seeing as the situation has turned out completely different from what I imagined, I can conclude that it's not just a 'perhaps,' but a certainty.

As I let out a long sigh of frustration, the Madam's stiff shoulders flinched.

'Ah, seriously. I can't even sigh however I want.'

Yevgenia spoke, touching the corners of her eyes, which felt more upturned than usual today.

"Madam, did I perhaps ask you to stab that investor in the back or put poison in his teacup?"

"P-pardon?"

"I believe I clearly stated that I have something to tell him, and all you need to do is deliver it..."

I tried to kindly correct the misunderstanding, but strangely, the Madam's face only grew stiffer.

It was as if I were about to drag Yulan away and hand her over to the guard.

I considered adding more, but decided to shut my mouth.

It seemed that every time I spoke, the situation only worsened, so it felt best to wrap things up here.

Withdrawing my gaze from the Madam, I took the letter from my bosom and placed it on the table.

The Madam's eyes darted busily between Yevgenia and the letter on the table.

The tension filling the small room was soon scattered by the sound of hurried footsteps.

"...It seems Anna has returned."

With those low words, I glanced at the Madam.

Coming back to her senses, she hurriedly grabbed the letter from the table.

I responded with a satisfied smile and casually touched a displayed hat.

Then, I naturally placed it on the head of Anna, who had just entered the room.

"Yes, it suits you well."

"Uh, what? My Lady, what is this..."

"I was bored while waiting, so I was looking for a hat that would suit you. It seems this hat has found its owner."

It was a hat that looked quite expensive, with just enough costly lace to maintain formality and abundant frills attached beneath.

Seeing that it felt like a typical capital design only on the surface, I could tell how great the Madam's skill was.

I wondered how much she would bloom if she found a proper patron.

'Someone like Yulan would be more than a proper patron; she'd be a perfect one...'

Why was the Madam in a place like this?

In the original story, Yevgenia threw a fit because she couldn't stand to see Stella and Raymond growing closer. Consequently, Stella, who was forced to look for a dress for the Imperial Crown Prince's birth banquet on her own, happened upon the Madam's atelier.

Thanks to that, Stella, who drew more attention than anyone at the banquet, looked every bit the 'protagonist,' and through that, the Madam's atelier became famous by word of mouth...

'...Ha! So that was it.'

With Yulan's capabilities, she could have easily placed the Madam's atelier in a prime location on the street of ateliers frequented by nobles.

She could have allowed her to use expensive materials to her heart's content without having to wring out designs as if twisting her whole body.

With the Madam's talent, she could have easily created even more expensive and precious dresses that would capture the hearts of the nobility.

Despite that, the reason she kept the Madam tucked away in such a secluded alley.

The reason she pushed the Madam to create decent dresses even with cheap materials.

'Stimulate the consumption desire of commoners before becoming famous, and raise the security of the street after becoming famous...'

With the Madam's talent, word of mouth would have spread within five years at the latest.

The Yulan of the original story used Stella—as a clothes hanger—to shorten that five-year period.

It was a plan so flimsy it made me laugh, yet it was perfect.

'Now that I've seen the Madam's skill with my own eyes, I can't even call it flimsy. If the Madam didn't possess this level of ability, she wouldn't have made such a plan in the first place.'

Separate from the chills I felt at Yulan's grand design, I felt glad that I had come here.

I felt sorry for the Madam, but from Yevgenia's perspective, there was no more convenient excuse than her.

'Since it's an atelier, it's a suitable excuse for going out, and I'll be able to contact Yulan promptly. This is great.'

To make good use of this in the future, today's first visit was important.

I had to properly express how much I liked this atelier, enough to make me want to return several times.

Taking the hat off Anna's head, Yevgenia turned around gracefully.

"Madam, where is the dress that matches this hat?"

"Pardon? Ah, that dress is over here..."

"That's fine. Anna, what do you think?"

Turning her gaze with a fluttering heart, Anna's eyes widened upon discovering the dress.

Naturally, it couldn't compare to the dresses Yevgenia usually wore, but for a commoner like her, it was a dress that looked excessively expensive.

The excited Anna's voice became higher and faster.

"It's a truly beautiful dress! It feels like a waste to sell it in a place like this!"

It wasn't a lie, but it was a statement that could feel quite rude to the Madam.

Waving her hand slightly, Yevgenia spoke.

"Anna is a child who is always by my side, so her aesthetic eye is extraordinary. It's hard for her to even call a dress from an ordinary atelier 'decent.'"

At the tactful words protecting the maid, the Madam nodded slowly.

"I can tell just by looking at the Young Lady's dress. I am simply grateful."

Only then did Anna realize her slip of the tongue, and her face turned bright red.

Naturally standing with her back to Anna, Yevgenia made a wide gesture.

Pointing to all the other dresses displayed next to the one Anna had praised, she spoke.

"I shall purchase everything from here to there."

The Madam, who had been looking at her with disbelief, beamed with joy.

Thanks to a kind patron, she had no worries about the atelier's operating costs or living expenses, but it was true that she felt ashamed since she had no income of her own.

She had even begun to think... that perhaps her skills weren't actually that great.

And then, the suddenly appearing, notorious Duke's daughter had completely overturned that thought.

Even if the clothes were for a maid and not herself, a maid of a Duke's daughter wouldn't even glance at an ordinary dress.

This alone was enough...

"Ah, and I would like to have a banquet dress made. You have designs prepared, I assume?"

"...Pardon? A-a banquet dress?"

"Yes. Seeing as such results come from such humble materials, I believe you could create a dress that would satisfy me if you used the Pearl Silk of the Seka Archipelago."

The Seka Archipelago consists of islands that produce many high-quality pearls, but because the islands are small, the number of pearls produced is very low, meaning only families of a Marquess or higher could purchase them.

There weren't even enough to make accessories, so grinding them to sprinkle onto silk was the pinnacle of luxury.

The Madam nearly fainted at the mention of being given Pearl Silk, a material used only by Zenus Atelier, which handles the imperial wardrobe among the capital's ateliers.

"You should bring the designs prepared for banquets, shouldn't you?"

Yevgenia had no further intention of interfering with Raymond and Stella.

Therefore, Stella's dress for the birth banquet would proceed without issue, unlike in the original.

Because of that, I intended to untangle the Madam's life, which had become twisted.

'The wearer has changed, but the Madam's dresses are the real deal, so she'll be able to draw plenty of attention.'

And since I can put Yulan in my debt at the same time, isn't this a win-win for everyone?

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