「Good! How wonderful!」

「As expected of Emma, she finished it so quickly!」

「Usually, it would take 3 people to finish the job but this time we needed 5 people. Some parts of the dress were outsourced from Maison de Fabrica so it turned out quite beautiful.」

(And here I thought I proposed a ridiculous idea—! It would be sad not to wear it!)

It was an early summer afternoon with the sun shining brightly. Aurora was undergoing final adjustments to her evening party’s dress in the House of Clavis sun room, where a large window with its single glass pane hanged open to let the fresh breeze blew in. The design of her dress was decided at the 7th day and the evening party of the House of Loomis was just around the corner.

The fabric that swatches Aurora’s body is far silkier and purer in whiteness than that of a bride’s gown. It has a slightly ash creamed color and has a smoother touch than of a wedding nightdress. Around her waist was a thick black satin ribbon squeezing tightly the multiple layers of her skirt which loosely drapes, made of the same material with the ribbon on her waist. Her sleeves are covered halfway from her shoulders to the center of her upper arm with white laces. The silhouette of the dress is pretty, graceful, and gorgeous. It was youthful and fresh; it gives off the faint smell of elegance. There is no better dress for a young lady with a fiancee. From the chest part to her waist was a densely embroidered black thread which would show a gradation of colors from the distance. Since it was sewed from the finest silk threads, it would illuminate when the lights hit the thread.[1]

What was special in this dress was the embroidery. Speaking of the design, the one which Aurora embroidered the other day was polished by the hands of the Royal Family’s craftsman and turned the rough work into a more elegant, youthful and a fresher one. Mottles of blush formed on Aurora’s cheeks when she saw the design. The black pearls substituted for the water drops on the flowers and black shells for the flowers. Black jewels of all types, such are black jewels that looked slightly blue and black jewels that shines into green jewels when exposed to light, composes the small flowers. Small crystals represent the vibrant sunshine in the summer. All of the decorations were quite heavy but thanks to the way it was signed and the silk, they looked very light. Of course, peeking under her dress were the same motif embroidered on her black satin shoes.

And, none but the least is the chest.

At the left side of Aurora’s voluptuous breasts which are richer than any ladies of the same age, there was an exquisite elegant rose which is in full bloom, something that one can’t simply think it was made of black silk thread. The petals are sewn like corsages and laces embroidered with silk, while pearls scattered around it to imitate the morning dew. The vines were done in an arabesque pattern shaped like a shield to protect the heart, another vine extended to the waist and the other vine to the back with the motif of a thorn. This was one of the most challenging work Aurora has done with all the skills she has and time that she can afford.

However—

(The embroidery on my dress is so wonderful enough that it scares me and it’s a great achievement I was able to embroider the rose, but it was scary when I think back at the cost of this! The House of Porta didn’t contribute in anyway, so am I allowed to wear this? How odd this dress feels, also I have never seen so many pearls and black jewels before! Why am I the one that’s wearing this?! Isn’t this something that Lady Luna Mare should be wearing? Oh my, how wasteful!)[2]

「Lady Aurora’s embroidery skills are wonderful, too. It’s a bit strange that the roses are black but once you take another look at them, it makes you feel happy. You would have been a famous embroidery or craftsman if you were a commoner! How regrettable. 」

「Indeed. Had my lady been not a daughter of a House of an Earl but of a lower nobility, I would have invited you to join Maison Balladur!」

「T-Thank you very much… I’m quite flattered with your words.」

「Not at all! I, Emma Pluie, will not flattery my lady in terms of fashion! First of all, it is quite rare to find a dress that a person has put her every effort. There’s no way that we will make a failure. If my lady’s skills are not enough, I would have naturally refuse it!」

But this is something only you can do!

The first couturier of the Maison Balladur has done one of his biggest jobs in the recent years and was very happy to wipe the sweat on his forehead. A beautiful woman, like the spirit of the moon, saunters behind him.

「That’s right, Miss Aurora! Emma’s pride as a craftsman outweighs the pride of an aristocrat. Now that I remember it, last year on my wedding, I searched for the best gown! I don’t like the gown so I held a contest 3 times!」[3][4]

「It’s 5 times, my lady.」

「Please excuse my brevity, my lady. But from what I think, the first contest for the dress was enough! However, Emma couldn’t be satisfied until the 5th one, she went to the town of craftsmen and started teaching others herself. Speaking of contests Emma, that town is recently a popular place for contests. Have you receive a letter of appreciation and news about the latest contest?」

「Yes, I plan on using the dress for the young lady—I mean, for my lady’s garden party.」

「I look forward to that!」

「Now then, since the dress looked just fine, isn’t time for jewelries?」

「An artisan of a jewelry shop will arrive this evening.」

At the Marchioness’ question, she squinted at the dazed figure of Aurora who stupidly gazed at her reflection in the mirror in between the Duchess and the tailoress, the tailoress standing next to the stupefied lady took some distance away and answered her—

「I think Felix’s suit was fixed the other day.」

「Yes, Ma’am. My lord’s suit is being tailored already and the final stitches will soon be ready. I’ll bring them along with my lady’s dress when they’re done.」「」

Marchioness Clavis’ smiled in satisfaction at Miss Pluie’s answer.

「When was that—」

A gleaming stare pierced right through Aurora. The Marchioness stepped forward in a single breath and stood in front of Aurora with a furtive smile upon her face.

「It’s time to review the dance and the confirmed participants of the evening party. Today, I have finally got a hold of the list of participants.」

T/Notes:
1. Silhouette – it may sound confusing (I got confused too) the term silhouette here was for dress. It’s used to emphasize and alter a woman’s shape to create a flattering illusion.

2. Lady Luna Mare – This one is supposed to be Luna Mare-sama but from now on I’ll try to incorporate English terms than leaving the Japanese suffix.

3. Miss Aurora – Remember, Duchess Luna Mare is calling her as Aurora-san.

4. Contest – It was originally said as a Race as the author used the katakana of race『レース (Rēsu)』in the sentence but it somehow feels awkward so I had to change it.