Episode 18. Long Time No See
The Imperial party was two weeks away. Martha looked at the invitation Lucy had brought and thought. The Imperial party. Hosted by His Imperial Majesty. It was a party held regularly, but given the recent talk of the Golden Lion Merchant Guild, the atmosphere in the Duke's household was not one of accepting the invitation as usual.
Thinking this, Martha set the invitation down. Whatever the reason, she had to go to the party. There were things she needed to see and hear there. And... Lucy said cautiously.
"My Lady, shouldn't you have a new dress made for the Imperial party?"
Martha looked at Lucy. Lucy added, glancing nervously.
"There is nothing among what you have suitable to wear to the Imperial party. You sold off all your most extravagant dresses a long time ago to pay off debts."
Martha thought for a moment. Perhaps, before she regressed, Serena had sold off almost all her dresses and jewelry when she was cornered by debt collectors. She couldn't go to the Imperial party in an old-fashioned dress. It was a place where appearance mattered. It was also a place where she had to show that the Valois family was getting back on track. I understood that investment was needed, but... Marta thought to herself.
A dress when she still has debt? Still, she had no choice. It would probably be a case of 'all show and no substance,' but she would have to touch every piece of fabric, snag the most luxurious one that didn't look cheap, and snag it.
"Look for a dressmaker."
Lucy said, her eyes sparkling.
"How about Bichon Dressmaker? That's where the Imperial nobility go the most. You liked the clothes there, too, Miss."
"Not there."
"Let's go to Madame Alice's Boutique."
As they stood in front of Madame Alice's Boutique, Martha glanced at the building's exterior. It was a building that stood out particularly in the aristocratic district. The display windows weren't large. The sign wasn't flashy either. It was simply neat and tidy.
Compared to the dressmaker next door, which had a gold-leaf sign and a window full of dresses, it looked rather shabby. Looking at it, Marta thought. Those who know, know. There were things you could see after working in the industry for a long time.
To aristocratic women, a dressmaker wasn't just a place to buy clothes. It was pride. It was status. The dressmaker's dress she wore spoke volumes about her dignity. In high society, the unspoken hierarchy dictated by which brand's latest collection one wore each season and which designer had poured their heart and soul into the piece. Dressmakers, aware of this, exploited this psychology.
Nobles bought the dresses even at absurdly high prices. High prices became the standard of prestige. Dressmakers imprinted their reputations on the nobility, and the nobles paid for that reputation. It mattered more which dressmaker produced it than what the dress actually looked like. Martha had seen countless such dressmakers around the Imperial Palace, places where a single dress cost as much as a decent family's monthly food budget.
However, Madame Alice Boutique was different. She did not do business based on her name; she did business based on skill. She charged exactly what was due. Consequently, she was sometimes subtly looked down upon by other dressmakers, who would ask, 'Why can't they charge more?' Yet, anyone who had worn a dress made by Madame Alice even once knew. No one knew as well as she did how diverse the body types of aristocratic women were, and how to reveal those diverse figures beautifully without constricting them.
Her choice of materials was also different. Even though it was the same silk, the fabric Madame Alice selected shimmered differently with every movement. Martha had discovered this boutique back when she worked as a lady-in-waiting at the Imperial Palace. She had once had a dress made here for the Empress. Martha had come in person for the consultation at that time. She had watched from the side as Madame Alice examined the Empress's measurements and selected the fabric.
Standing in front of the dressmaking room now, that thought came back to her. As she opened the boutique door, Martha said to Lucy.
"This is the best place."
Lucy looked around the room and said
"It isn't as fancy as the others."
"Fancy is different from quality."
Lucy was about to write down those words, but realizing she had nothing in her hand, she imprinted them in her mind instead.
Madame Alice herself stepped out. She was a woman in her mid-fifties. She had a fuller figure and sharp eyes. It was the eye of someone who had worked in this line for a long time. An eye that could gauge a customer's stature the moment it saw them. Martha looked at Madame Alice and clapped inwardly.
Clap, clap, clap.
Three claps. A true craftsman of this era. Outwardly showing nothing.
"You are the Princess of Valois. Welcome."
"I have come to look for a dress to wear to the Imperial party."
"Welcome. We happen to have some fabrics that just arrived this season. Please come this way."
Martha entered the dressmaking room. It was filled with dresses. They were organized by color and fabric. As she scanned them, Martha thought to herself. Since it was an Imperial party, if it was too flashy, it would stand out; if it was too plain, it would look unimpressive.
While Martha paused in front of certain dresses and shifted her gaze elsewhere, Madame Alice recommended various options. Martha walked further inside, nodding as she listened. Just then. There was someone on the sofa at the back of the dressmaking room. A noble lady was sitting there. She was young. Perhaps sixteen or seventeen. She had a dress draped over her shoulder and was talking with Madame Alice's assistant. A lady-in-waiting stood behind the young lady.
Martha looked at the young lady, then her gaze shifted to the side. It was a lady-in-waiting. She must have been around thirty. Her hair was neatly tied back in a bun.
She wore neat clothes in a color similar to the attire of a Valois lady-in-waiting. The way she stood with her hands clasped in front. Martha looked at that posture. It was a posture she had seen somewhere before. That angle of her waist. The angle of her head, slightly bowed, yet her gaze directed forward. The way she clasped her hands.
Martha stopped the moment that thought crossed her mind. She looked closely. She saw the lady-in-waiting's profile. Martha looked at that face. And... Ina? Martha had first met Ina when she was over fifty. She was a new lady-in-waiting at the Valois estate. At the time, Ina was seventeen. She was young, timid, and prone to making mistakes. However, she had keen eyes. Her eye for people and her ability to read situations were better than those of the other ladies-in-waiting.
Martha kept Ina by her side and taught her personally. How to stand, how to greet, how to hold a teacup, and how to anticipate what a guest wanted. Ina learned well. Martha had even inquired around to help her advance to a higher position, guiding her to become the head lady-in-waiting for the Viscount's newborn daughter. That same Ina was standing right there now.
"Lucy, look at a few dress designs for me. Just a moment."
Lucy blinked.
"Where are you going?"
"Just a moment."
Martha walked inside. She stopped halfway. What would happen if she went toward Ina? Ina does not know Martha. When she looks at Martha, she will see Princess Serena of Valois. She will not be able to see the head lady-in-waiting, Martha, with whom she used to work.
'I can't even say hello,' Martha thought to herself. A bitter smile crossed her face. It hit her that she was no longer herself. Martha had taught Ina for ten years. She remembered the timid look in Ina's eyes when she first arrived. The child who would try again, holding back tears with a face that looked like she was about to cry whenever Martha scolded her. That child had now become such a dignified lady-in-waiting. The fact that she couldn't express that joy weighed on her strangely. Martha felt that emotion for a moment, then pushed it away.
Just then, her eyes fell upon the young lady Ina served. The young lady was talking with Madame Alice's assistant. Martha watched the scene, and her brows furrowed. The young lady moved her hand while speaking to the assistant. It seemed she was pointing at a dress. But that gesture... her elbow was raised too high. In aristocratic etiquette, elbows were supposed to be held close to the side or lowered naturally. Raised like that made one look arrogant or distracted. And when the assistant brought something, the young lady took it while staring blankly. No greeting. When receiving an item, one should have at least offered a small token of gratitude. It was the same even if the assistant was an employee.
In fact, precisely because they were an employee, one had to be even more careful. True nobility was about showing courtesy from top to bottom. Then the tea was served. The young lady picked up her teacup. Martha gasped as she watched. Her little finger was raised. Martha shifted her gaze to Ina. Ina was standing beside the young lady, watching everything. That look in her eyes was one of knowledge. It was a look that knew something was wrong. Yet, she could not speak. Ah, Ina. You should have taught her, even if it meant scolding her. Martha thought to herself.
That look is exactly the same. That look of holding back because she knows something is wrong but doesn't know how to speak. Martha looked at the young lady, then at Ina, then at the young lady. And she made a decision. Martha walked toward Ina. Ina looked at Martha. Their eyes met. Ina bowed
"Lady of Valois."
Martha looked at Ina. Ina. The words rose to her throat and then went back down.
"You are a lady-in-waiting, aren't you?"
"Yes, Princess."
"And the person sitting here...?"
"Hello, Princess Serena. I am Lily Muller."
The young lady, startled, was Lily Muller of the Viscount family. At the Princess's sudden appearance, she sprang to her feet, adjusted her dress, and greeted her. However... perhaps because she stood up in such a hurry, Lily leaned to the side and collapsed back down while bowing. Haa. Martha and Ina let out a sigh in unison, and their eyes met.
"The young lady's education... (Looking at Ina) Please follow me right now."
Ina blinked.
"Yes?"
Martha was already walking toward the dressing room. Ina glanced at the young lady once and followed Martha. Lily stared at Martha's retreating figure with a look of sheer terror in her eyes. Lucy had just entered the room, wondering what was going on, and Ina, trembling uncontrollably and exactly three times more frightened than Lucy, followed Martha.
Marta entered, followed by Ina, after which the dressing room door closed. It was a small space. Several dresses were hanging there. Martha looked at Ina. Ina looked at Martha. Martha said.
"How long have you been serving your master?"
Ina looked surprised for a moment, then said.
"It has been ten years."
"Ten years."
"Yes."
"They say even mountains and rivers change in ten years."
Martha said.
"Why is the way the young lady outside holding her teacup like that?"
Ina lowered her eyes. Marta continued,
"She skipped the greeting. Her elbow is raised. That is all just spitting in our own faces."
Ina looked up and said.
"We?"
Martha paused for a moment.
'We'. It was a word that had slipped out involuntarily. Martha let it slide naturally.
"Anyway, that isn't important."
Ina looked at Martha. Martha said.
"Which family do you serve?"
"The Viscount Muller family."
"Viscount."
"Yes. Your family, Viscount."
Ina paused, choosing her words before speaking.
"They own one of the top five trading companies in the Empire."
Martha stopped. A trading company. Martha looked at Ina. One of the top five. The Golden Lion Trading Company belonged to the Empress's maternal family. That company controlled more than half of the supply of goods to the Imperial Palace. Duke Ashford had mentioned it. That they were locked in a tight tug-of-war. It was already being sensed that the Emperor's side was losing ground in that tug-of-war.
To keep the Empress's company in check, we need to secure one here as well. The moment that thought crossed her mind, Martha's eyes widened. A Viscount family holding a top five merchant guild. Is this some kind of fate? Martha looked at Ina. Ina, perhaps sensing the change in Martha's gaze, looked slightly tense. Martha opened the dressing room door.
"Let's get this right. Yes? If you don't fix it, secretly hit her once in a while while she sleeps. After all, that young lady's face is yours."
Martha lightly patted Ina's shoulder twice and stepped out of the dressing room. The Viscount's daughter, Lily, was fidgeting on the sofa. Lucy, Martha's lady-in-waiting, stood beside her, trembling. Lucy looked as if she couldn't comprehend what was going on, the very fact that Martha had taken a stranger's lady-in-waiting into the dressing room and come out.
Ina emerged from behind Martha. However... Ina's expression was different from when she had entered the dressing room. The atmosphere was somehow warm and friendly. The tension had completely released. Martha was speaking lightly as she came out, and Ina was quietly smiling at her as she walked out. Lucy froze as she watched the scene. Lily looked at Ina, then at Martha. As Martha walked toward Lily, she said.
"Young Lady of the Viscount Müller family?"
Lily rose from her seat and said.
"Yes, I am Lily Muller."
Martha looked at Lily. Sixteen. She had large eyes and brown hair. She was a young lady who had just entered high society. Her face showed clear signs of nervousness. Martha said to Lily.
"I am Serena Valois."
"I know you, Princess."
Martha looked at Lily and said.
"Young Lady Lily."
"Yes."
"Would you like to be friends with me?"
Lily froze
"...Yes?"
"Friends. Can't we be friends?"
Lily couldn't speak. Martha walked toward where the dresses were hanging and said.
"Come over here. Let's choose a dress together."
Lily looked at Martha, then at Ina. Ina quietly nodded. Lily came toward Martha. And Ina followed behind Lily. Lucy approached Martha and whispered very softly.
"Princess, why is that lady-in-waiting? Did you decide to abandon me?"
"What's wrong with you again? Is your dream to be a playwright?"
Martha said, taking one of the dresses hanging on the rack.
"Lady Lily, how about this one?"
Lily looked at the dress. It was an ivory dress with light gold embroidery.
"It's pretty."
"It would suit your skin tone well. Try this on."
Lily took the dress and looked at Martha.
"...Why would you take my dress, Princess?"
"Because I'm going to buy it for you."
Lily froze.
"Yes?"
"Pick out a few dresses. I'll buy them for you."
Lily looked at Martha. Lucy spoke quietly beside Martha.
"Princess, we still have debt."
"Shh, quiet. This is an investment. An investment."
Lucy shut her mouth. Martha said to Lily.
"You're going to the Imperial party, right?"
Lily nodded.
"Yes."
"Come with me. I'll stay by your side."
Lily looked at Martha. Something flickered in her eyes. It was wariness, then bewilderment, and gradually shifted into something else. Watching this, Martha thought. This child had just entered high society and still had no one on her side. And behind her was a merchant guild ranking among the top five in the Empire. This was a real investment. Thinking this to herself, Martha handed Lily another dress.
"Try this one on, too. The colors are different, but I think both would suit you."
An hour passed. Three dresses were decided for Lily. Two dresses were decided for Martha as well. Lily looked at the dresses and spoke cautiously.
"This is all."
"I'm buying them."
"Why are you buying my dresses, Princess?"
Martha looked at Lily.
"We're friends."
Lily looked at Martha
"We've only been meeting for an hour."
"So?"
"Is time important? Depth is what matters."
Lily was speechless. Martha watched Lily's dress being wrapped and then spoke to Madame Alice.
"Madam."
"Yes, Princess."
Martha pointed at Ina.
"I'd like to give her a dress, too."
Madame Alice looked at Ina, then at Martha. Ina froze.
"Princess, I am fine."
"Choose."
"A lady-in-waiting must not accept a dress."
"Why not when I'm the one offering it?"
Ina looked at Martha. Her gaze was complex. Martha met that look and thought. Ina, take it. It was a thought she couldn't express in words. Instead, Martha spoke to Madame Alice.
"I'll pick one for you from the modest ones in that corner."
Madame Alice led Ina away. Ina followed, glancing back once. Their eyes met. Martha simply turned her gaze toward the dresses.
"Damn it, why are my eyes stinging?"
Just then, Lucy approached Martha and spoke in a low voice.
"Princess, what about me?"
"You have plenty of clothes. And I'm in a lot of debt. I'll buy you one next time."
"But Princess, that dress corner you recommended to the lady-in-waiting... isn't that the corner with the most expensive dresses?"
Martha looked at Lucy.
"Tell the Madam to be quiet."
Lucy's eyes widened. Martha was already looking at a different dress. She saw Martha go toward Madame Alice and hand something over. Madame Alice widened her eyes slightly, then nodded. Ina came to Martha holding a dress. It was a quiet, light beige dress. There was no embroidery or decoration. It was neat and tidy.
"I think this will be good."
Martha looked at the dress. It was the dress Ina had chosen. It was always like that. Ina chose the modest rather than the flashy. That is what Martha had taught her. A lady-in-waiting must not stand out. She must be the background. Martha looked at the dress, then at Ina. Ina was still the best lady-in-waiting she knew, just as she was.
"Good."
Ina bowed her head.
"Thank you, Princess."
Martha nodded as she accepted the greeting. You're doing well, Ina. She thought to herself. After checking the designs and placing orders for each person's measurements, they left the dressmaking shop. Lily walked beside Martha. Lily looked at Ina, then at Martha. Ina was following behind, carrying Lily's luggage. Her expression was different from when she entered the dressing room earlier. Something had relaxed about her. Lily said.
"You are a strange person, Princess."
"I hear that often."
Lily let out a small chuckle.
Martha looked at Lily. Her expression was more relaxed than when she first saw her. There was a look that appeared when tension was released, and that was starting to show. She is a good girl. Martha thought. A good girl, still untainted by high society. As she walked, Martha said.
"When are you coming to the Imperial party?"
Lily said.
"With my father."
"When your father arrives, greet the people around you and then come to me. It's an uncomfortable situation anyway."
Lily looked at Martha.
"Really?"
Lily looked at Martha for a moment, then nodded.
"Understood."
Lucy spoke quietly beside Martha.
"Princess."
"What is it?"
"Five dresses today."
"I know."
"Our debt..."
"It's an investment."
Lucy fell silent. As she walked, Martha thought to herself. A merchant guild capable of keeping the Golden Lion Guild in check. The Viscount Muller's trading company, one of the top five in the Empire. For the Valois family to ally with the families on the Emperor's side, they needed at least one trading company nearby. And the young lady of that family had just entered high society and hadn't yet secured her connections. This is a real investment. An investment.
Martha walked, confirming this to herself once again. Lily was walking beside Martha with a thoughtful expression on her face. Ina followed behind, carrying luggage, and watched Martha's retreating figure. That look in her eyes. Martha didn't look back. However, she felt she knew exactly what kind of look Ina was giving her.
"Ina, take care,' she said to herself.
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal Episode 18]
Today I went to Madame Alice's Boutique to buy a dress.
Shock No. 1: Inside the dressing room, the Princess took the Viscount Muller's lady-in-waiting to the dressing room. For no reason. Suddenly I stood there next to the Viscount's daughter, extremely flustered.
Shock No. 2. When the Princess came out of the dressing room, she and that lady-in-waiting were coming out in a completely friendly atmosphere.
Her expression had relaxed, too. I don't know what happened.
Shock No. 3. The Princess asked Miss Lily, the daughter of the Viscount Muller, "Would you like to be friends?" even though she had just met her for the first time.
Shock No. 4. The Princess said, "Pick out a few dresses, I'll buy them for you." When I said, "We still have debt," she replied, "This is an investment, an investment." Since it seemed like anything the Princess said was an investment, I couldn't say anything more.
Shock No. 5. The Princess gifted a dress to that lady-in-waiting. And me? But that dress was the most expensive one. She told Madame Alice to be quiet. There are five dresses today. The Princess said it was an 'investment.'
The Princess is someone I keep not knowing.
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