"Did Lady Elizabeth went home safely?" I asked.
"Yes, Sir Arshan escorted her to their household as for what you requested" Ellena said while combing my hair.
Lady Elizabeth helped me a lot today. Who would've thought that they would finish renovating an entire mansion within a day and a half.
I asked a favor to her if she could buy me some furnitures since I am not allowed to got out due to that stupid Wilford butthurt.
Luckily, all the furnitures she bought matched to my likings.
"I hope they will send their response as much as posible" I said.
"My my~ it would be an honor for them to work with milady" Ellena said.
I have sent letters to the fashion designers in the Empire.
The new year's banquet will be held in two months so I needed to look veeeeery beautiful during those days.
They said that the banquet will last up to two days.
"M-milady, Sir Arshan is back" Veronica said.
"Milady, here's their response. It's quite faster than I thought" Arshan said.
I have ordered him to send letters and I wouldn't think that it will take not much to have their response.
There's no way they can reject a former Empress.
"Before that, I would like to give you three something" I said.
I took 6 larges box and arranged them.
"From today on, I want you to wear this. You don't have to wear your servant's outfit" I said and gave each of them 2 boxes.
"M-milady this is too much!" Ellena said
"Milady, is this for real?!" Veronica said
"I'm glad that mg lady didn't forget about me. I thought you would treat me bad since I'm just a newcomer ToT" Arshan said.
Well, I bought yours rushly since I didn't knew your size.
I expect my coachman to be old and not young like you -3-
"You may take your leave now and have a good rest" I said.
"Thank you so much my lady. We will surely not disappoint you in the future" Ellena said and Veronica nodded.
"I will stick with her ladyship until my last breath" Arshan said.
Would you still be by my side if I was the one who dies before you?
I smiled at them. They left my room after that.
I opened the letter one by one. After reading it all, I threw most of them away and kept one letter.
—
(The next day)
"Milady seems to be in bad mood" Ellena said.
I went to my walk-in-closet and chose my indoor dress.
"Where did they got the guts to reject me?!" I said while picking a dress.
"It cannot be helped my lady since there's a lot of aristocrats who will attend the banquet. Most of the woman really aims to look beautiful since it will also be a big chance for them to meet someone" she said.
"My lady, your morning tea is already prepared" Veronica said.
"Thank you Veronica. Both of you should join me. By the way, where is Arshan?" I asked.
"He's been feeding the new horse" Veronica said.
"Okay, tell him to not forget to eat breakfast" I said.
"Yes milady, I will go right away" she said.
"No, go see him after we finished eating" I said.
"Ellena, summon this botique owner as soon as posible. Tell him to bring his design with him" I said and showed her the letter.
"This... Milady picked Sir Horton?" She asked.
"It cannot be helped. He is the only one who didn't turned me down" I answered.
"Oh.. I see.." she seems not quite favor to it
"Is something wrong with Sir Horton?" I asked.
Louisa never met him before. It's not like she really is into fashion thingy.
"Sir Horton reputation isn't that good in Fashion industry. People talk behind his back because his designs are quite copy, no it really is a copy of other fashion designer. Some says that he is just changing the color of the dress or put some jewels but overall, it still looks like the other designer's design" she said.
"Doesn't the fashion designer's sue him for copying their works?" I asked.
"Not really since he isn't that famous and has only few customers" she answered.
"I see. Let's just see what he can do" I said and sipped my tea.
After we finished eating, a person from the Imperial palace have come with boxes with him.
He said that his majesty have sent stock of foods to my mansion. He also want to gave me 2,000 daler for my allowance this month.
"Fufu~ it seems like his majesty truly cares for my lady" Ellena said.
"Ha! He must've felt guilty for accusing me" I said.
After locking me up here again, he wanted to bribe me with this?
I don't actually want to be involve with him again. Yes, I'll say all over again.
"Arshan, have you had your breakfast?" I asked.
Health is wealth. Always remember that. -3-
"Yes milady, thank you for asking" He said.
"And... You look really dirty... After that take a shower, I cannot stand disgusting view" I said and walk away.
"M-Milady! But you said I was handsome ToT" he said and I ignore him.
Wendy still hasn't come here. Doesn't she want to be with me?
Ellena left the mansion and went to see Sir Horton.
Unlike Sir Cristoff, who is a son of Count, Sir Horton is just a shop owner who doesn't have any title nor any noble backing him up.
I don't know how'd he able to open a shop which such awful rumours going around about him.
After a while, Ellena arrived with sir Horton and bro, he looks so young!
They arrived earlier than I expected.
"So, you are Sir Horton right?" I asked.
"Y-yes.. It's an honor to be able to talk with her majesty" he said.
Her majesty? I'm only a low rank concubine. Didn't he hear that I was stripped from my title?
"Please suit yourself Sir. Do you have your own sample of your design?" I asked
He gave me a thin book and I opened it.
The rumours really is not lying. He seems to be a... copycut...
Most of the design here, I have already seen it in some stores that I have visited with my brother.
And it looks so ugly that I might puke while looking at it.
"Are these your designs?" I asked seriously.
"Yes milady. I'm still a be—" I cut him off.
"Are you saying these disgusting designs is yours?" I asked again.
"P-pardon, my lady?" He said.
Both Ellena and Veronica who is silently watching at the corner was also shocked.
"These are just copy of other designers. Compare to them, this is far worse. You addes jewels to the dresses which didn't suit it at all. You put other design as well but it looked more exaggerated" I bluntly said.
"Sir Horton, I called you here to see your original designs. I don't want to see designs that I have already seen somewhere. Is this all you can do?"
Although I'm already aware that he's a copycut, I didn't know it would be this worse. >~<
"You made this because most of the woman prefer this kind of dresses right? But little do you know that woman's preference change often"
"Yes.. My old designs, I have thought of it for a while. I wasn't really sure if it would suit their taste..." he said.
"So that's why you have copied some big shots designs and just like add something to it?" I asked which he nodded.
"Instead of that, what if you set the standard?" I asked.
"W-what do you mean my lady?" He asked.
"You will set the trend. You see, people go along with the trend. So I want you to set the trend for woman" I said.
"C-can I really do that?" He asked.
"Yes, of course you can do that. As long as you have.... Me" I said proudly.
"B-b-but how milady?!" He asked again.
"Just do your work and I will do mine. No one can resist this goddess beauty of mine" I said.
"I don't think I can do that. I don't want to fail you My lady" he said.
"Are you already surrendering without even trying? This conversation ends here. Please come back tomorrow and show me your own design and not a copy one" I said.
Just by that, he left still not decided whether to take take my offer or not.
That young man, I can see potential in him. He will turn to be a greatest designer in the future.
"My lady, a woman is looking for you downstairs" Veronica said.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"She said, she want to talk to you personally" she said.
What a never ending guests! Who could it be?
I went downstairs and saw woman standing. I cannot see her face since she's looking around the house.
"Who are you?" I asked she look at me.
"Greetings, my lady" she said.
"W-wendy?! Haaaa! I thought you wouldn't come" I said and rushed towards her to hug her.
It feels like little by little, Louisa's heart is slowly healing. I feel like she's been watching me and want me to make her relationship to those people around her before to be completely good.
Except for that stupid jerk Emperor. I won't make good relationship with him even Louisa wanted to.
"My lady, this is a actually embarassing. Can you let go now? That person behind your back is looking at us" she said and was referring to Ellena watching us smiling.
"I'm so happy to see you here again" I said and smiled.
"My lady! Is that Wendy the coldy?" Arshan said peeking at the door.
"Yes, from now on she will be with us" I said.
"Eeeeeehhhh?! Why?! Am I not enough for her ladyship?" He asked.
Here we go, the drama king again.
I told Ellena to prepare Wendy's room. You see, my servants owns their personal room. We should respect each other's privacy right?
I took Wendy for a stroll inside the mansion. Arshan was following us from a far.
Where is Veronica though? I didn't see her after she informed me that Wendy is here.
Well whatever, she must be tired and took a rest.