The next few days, Barbara was busy continuing her work, ignoring the rumours fueling outside about her being responsible for burning Aurora, the supposed Marquis' Reylson's real daughter. The rumour fueled that many people had speculated that her real family was the one who even planned to change them.
Barbara sat leisurely checking everything about the contract. Since her father owned many commercial ships, his ships were responsible for transporting almost all the transactions between them and other kingdoms. Even the royal family had used their ships to transport the goods and people for other reasons.
There were more offers at her table than imagined, from nobles, lords and even the royal family. Since the winter was nearing and the ship movement would be delayed for a few months, her work intensified combined with the work her father did.
She was responsible for the main movement of exports and imports. She planned every journey back and forth and was scheduled in a document for the next year. There would be delays like always because of the sudden changing of the weather, a sudden break, or an attack by thieves. Thinking about thieves, she trembled with anger remembering when the only time she failed in her mission. Her shame and dark point in her work that she didn't want to remember all her life!
She could say with utter pride that the name, Reylson Ships, was known around the world because of her father and her.
After she was done, she hid her document inside her safe and went outside. Today was the day when she would enhance her working career. As she walked through the hallways, she encountered Aurora; she nodded in a greeting manner and walked past her.
"Sister," Aurora called, and she stopped.
Turning around, she raised a brow. "Do you need something?" she asked.
"I –I heard about the rumours outside and I have to say sorry," she said, her eyes filling up with tears.
"Why?" Barbara asked not knowing why she would say something like that.
"it was because of me that people were saying bad things about sister. I—I know that sister is innocent and she would never hurt me," Aurora blubbered.
Barbara listened. "You don't have to apologize. I do care less about the rumours so you don't have to feel guilty. I have an urgent thing to do. I have to go," she responded impatiently, leaving the house.
Meanwhile, Aurora attentively watched her sister, she couldn't help but feel that Barbara was deeply impacted by the unsettling rumours circulating in their social circle, despite not showing her true feelings. Barbara seemed to be carrying the weight of their implications, and it pained Aurora to witness her sister's distress.
Aurora yearned to close the emotional gap between them and establish a closer bond with Barbara. However, Barbara's composed and somewhat distant manner, coupled with her regal poise, often made others hesitant to approach her, presenting a challenge for Aurora in her efforts to reach out to her sister.
As she sat in quiet contemplation, she realized that reaching out to her sister might require some help. "But who could I turn to for assistance?" she thought to herself. Suddenly, a vivid image of a kind-hearted man with eyes as serene and deep as the ocean and a smile that radiated warmth as the sun flashed into her consciousness. Shaking her head, she slowly made her way to her room, feeling a jumble of emotions and conflicting thoughts swirling within her.
Barbara's carriage stopped before a clothing store. As she entered, Kate, the shop's attendant, came rushing to her.
"Good afternoon, Lady Barbara, the collection arrived this morning, and the workers were arranging the dress accordingly," she explained.
"I will wait in the reception room for you to finish," she stated, walking away.
Barbara sat leisurely sipping her mint tea. Recalling the time when she visited the Keralik Kingdom in her few assignments. Seeing the different styles, they were wearing; she had an idea of changing the clothing style in her kingdom.
The Keralikians wore more flowy clothes that felt so comfortable. Their clothes' colours were mixed and strong. Red with yellow and green, orange, purple... The fabrics they used were smooth and didn't prevent them from moving freely.
The women who wore such clothes were like butterflies while their kingdom clothes looked fancier and heavy. She suggested mixing both styles to her father who opposed that. It was understandable because the style of tight robes was common for years and whoever thought of changing the customs failed. However, she felt that her idea was good.
She even hid the truth about her buying the shop and hiring designers to make clothes according to what she saw, thinking that when her new work would flourish, she would surprise her father and tell him the truth. And she wouldn't be afraid if her job collapsed in the future.
The head designer, Yani was from Keralik. She showed a promising talent when she saw her. When she told her about the dresses she thought of, she made a template and showed her. She was taken aback by the dress and she appointed her as the head designer. They exchanged opinions in letters for six months and their work was showing off, very soon.
"Lady Barbara, we are done arranging the dresses," Kate informed,
Barbara nodded and went inside the adjacent room. Seeing so many colours in one dress brought utter joy to her. She felt like she was in a meadow filled with flowers.
The colours were not as bright as the clothes in the Keralik Kingdom. The dress had a maximum of two matching colours. The gowns were different in style.
'They looked perfect,' she thought, not forgetting to write a letter to Yani to thank her for her efforts. She had to think about the right moment and place to show these masterpieces.
"You have done a great job," Barbara thanked the workers.
Staying inside for a moment, then headed outside. Listening to two women whispering about her.
"Isn't it the fake daughter of Marquis Reyslon?"