episode_0092

I was determined to complete the dress for Emily no matter what, but to get enough sleep without being caught by Emily, it was absolutely impossible with my own strength.

I’ve been going to bed a little late lately, and since my ‘Late Wake-Up Forgiveness Coupon’ is gone, if I put off sleep just one more time, Emily will declare an indefinite vacation.

To make matters worse, Mother was right next door because of the National Foundation Day, so I was in danger of losing Emily right before my eyes if Mother just nodded her head.

“Adelheid, let’s work on something together this weekend.”

“Is it clothes? You’re making clothes, right? Right?”

“Yeah, I’m thinking of making a simple dress, and I need your help.”

“Of course, I’m always ready.”

So, a little early, but I pulled out the cheat key.

I feel a little guilty about mobilizing employees for private matters, but it’s something that can be repaid with bonuses.

“Hehe~”

And the other person likes it too.

I’m just working hard for employee welfare.

… This makes me look like a real ruthless boss.

I feel like my mindset is getting twisted strangely because of the employees who love to work.

I have to be careful.

After taking a little time to normalize my mindset, I spent time processing orders that came into the atelier.

“As you all know, next week is vacation, you have to come out the week after that, got it?”

“Yes.”

And when the quitting time was approaching, I reminded the employees of the vacation period.

It’s a little surprising that the employees are accepting it willingly this time, but it can’t be helped because all the tailors are nobles and busy preparing for the National Foundation Day.

There’s no one to cut the fabric, so what are the seamstresses going to do when they come out?

Anyway, Friday at the atelier ended like this.

It was a strangely good day because it was the first time in a while that I could finish without any special incidents or sinister plans.

However, the problem is that I have a few tasks left for me, so I have to focus on that.

Still, it was better because it was related to Princess Elizabeth and Emily, not a drab old man.

A refreshing woman is a million times better than a man.

The problem is that the remaining problems are difficult for me to handle alone.

Emily’s dress is fine because I’m getting help from Adelheid, right?

You might think it’s over because the dress is ready, but decorating is not that simple.

If it’s just a casual outing, it doesn’t matter, but if there’s anything as important as the dress at an important event, it’s jewelry.

Strictly speaking, Princess Elizabeth will take care of her own decorations, and Emily doesn’t need to wear jewelry, so it’s not something I need to worry about.

But, I’m going with my partner for the first time other than my family, and I promised to dress up for the first time with all my heart, so I felt bad about not doing anything for Princess Elizabeth and Emily.

It’s a party I’m sincerely participating in, so I have to show some sincerity.

Even if it’s not jewelry full of sincerity like a ring, it’s right to give them earrings or a necklace.

“Mother.”

So, as soon as those thoughts came to my mind, I went to see my mother without Emily knowing.

She’s the smartest person I know, and the best-dressed woman I know.

“… William?”

I knocked on the door and waited for a while, and then I heard my mother’s voice full of embarrassment from beyond the door.

She must be very embarrassed because the guy who doesn’t usually visit suddenly came at night.

“Do you have some time? There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Oh, yeah, come in.”

“Yes.”

I was worried that I would hear something like, ‘It’s late, come tomorrow,’ but fortunately, I wasn’t turned away.

I carefully opened the door with a happy heart, and inside, my mother was sitting on the bed with a cardigan draped over her shoulders.

Under the cardigan was the gray knit dress I made for her before, so I was a little happy.

It’s getting chilly, so she took it out again.

I suppressed the corners of my mouth that kept trying to go up and came inside, quickly closing the door.

“I’m sorry for coming at this late hour.”

“No, it’s okay, rather, I’m glad that you’re relying on your mother.”

“Haha.”

I bowed slightly and apologized, and my mother, who greeted me with a smile, got up and headed to the table in the corner of the room.

I quietly followed my mother and sat across from the table.

The night air was getting chilly, so my mother, who shuddered for a moment and fastened her cardigan, slowly blinked her eyes and looked at me, then carefully opened her mouth first.

“So, what is it that you want to ask me, coming at this late hour with such a serious expression?”

“What kind of jewelry is good to give as a gift to a woman?”

“Woman…? Jewelry…? Ah, yeah, I see.”

My mother frowned as if she was embarrassed by the words that didn’t come out of my mouth, but then she raised the corners of her mouth as if she realized something and looked at me.

“I’m a little worried about who you’re giving it to, but it’s good to see you taking the initiative, so what kind of dress will the woman you want to give it to wear that day?”

“A black or white dress.”

“Hmm~ Those aren’t bad colors, they go well with any color combination.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“In this case, a necklace or earrings are the most suitable.”

“I know that, but I’m a little worried about the jewels, there are too many kinds, right?”

“That’s right, so I don’t know all the jewels either, I usually tell the jeweler the conditions and find them.”

“Umm…”

Oh… this is a bit difficult.

I have to do it secretly, but if I have to go directly to the jeweler, there’s a high risk of being caught by either Emily or Princess Elizabeth.

It’s embarrassing if I get caught doing this.

“But I’ll tell you as far as I know.”

“Ah, thank you.”

When I pursed my lips and made a troubled expression, my mother looked at me as if I was cute and said.

Is Mother teasing me right now?

Looking at her expression, she seemed to be enjoying seeing her son in a form that was hard to see usually.

My face is getting hot.

Ugh… I should have studied jewelry in advance if I knew this would happen.

“If you don’t know anything, diamonds are the most suitable, they go well with anything, and the meaning isn’t bad, but they’re not easy to get, so they’re not a common gift, they’re only used for wedding rings or jewelry, so I don’t have many pieces of jewelry decorated with diamonds either.”

“I see.”

“Then, changing your perspective a little, giving meaning to colored jewels is even better as a gift.”

“Meaning?”

Like birthstones?

But I don’t think there’s a culture like birthstones here yet…

“For example, I often receive jewelry decorated with sapphires or emeralds from your father, do you know why?”

“Uh… isn’t it the color of Mother and Father’s eyes?”

“That’s right, sapphires are the same color as your father’s eyes, and emeralds are the same color as my eyes, so he gives gifts like that, and I give the same gifts to your father.”

“Oh…”

After listening to my mother’s explanation, I felt like I knew what she meant.

“In that sense, good jewels to look for would be amber, emerald, olivine, or topaz.”

“Then should I look for them among those?”

“If it’s a black dress, it’s okay, but if it’s white, it’s better to make a slightly different choice, white is a bit of a picky color, it goes well, but it’s not the best.”

“What would be more suitable for white?”

“Hmm…”

My mother tapped the table with her finger and looked up.

“If it’s white… a light color would be more suitable, so aquamarine would be good, aquamarine is close to sky blue, but if you force it a little, it’s a similar color to your eyes.”

“Umm… is that so…?”

Something wasn’t right.

Wouldn’t topaz or emerald be better even if they don’t match?

My eyes are closer to emerald, though.

Green and cyan are too different.

“Looking at your expression, you don’t like it, if it’s neither of those, then ruby or sapphire are suitable, they don’t have any meaning, but they go well with anything and are beautiful.”

“I see.”

Ruby or sapphire…

I was more drawn to this side.

Emily is ruby, Princess Elizabeth is sapphire.

The contrast is clear, and it’ll be pretty.

“Looking at your expression, ruby or sapphire seem to be okay.”

“Yes.”

“Are you thinking of making it a necklace?”

“I think that would be the most suitable.”

“Is that so?”

My mother, who had a meaningful smile on her face, got up from her seat and moved to the small drawer next to the bed.

And she took out a small box decorated with blue velvet, about the size of two palms, from the drawer, and returned to the table, placing it slightly in front of me.

A box that looks expensive at first glance.

I looked at my mother with bewildered eyes and said.

“What is this?”

“Guess?”

My mother just smiled and pointed to the box as if she had no intention of telling me directly.

I carefully picked up the box.

“Wow…”

The texture of the velvet that makes you exclaim as soon as it touches your finger, it’s soft and fits perfectly in your hand, it felt like they used a very expensive velvet.

I swallowed hard and carefully opened the box.

“… Necklace?”

The things carefully enshrined in the box were a pair of necklaces with rubies and sapphires.

Slightly larger than a thumbnail, and shimmering even in the moonlight and candlelight, it seemed to be of considerable value.

“What is it really?”

“What else, it’s a necklace, you can use it, give it as a gift, you can wear it, use it as a couple, do whatever you want.”

“Huh? This?”

This expensive thing?

Is it okay to give it to me this lightly?

“Anyway, it came in your name, I was worried because you wouldn’t accept it even if I gave it to you, but it’s good that you have a reason to use it.”

“It came in my name?”

“The Countess of Albermarle gave it to you recently.”

“Ah? Ah, that person?”

She was a woman as tall as a man, generous, and full of the spirit of the northern grasslands, and she often had tea time with my mother.

Mothers and wives are close enough to exchange gifts.

“Why did that person suddenly give me a gift?”

I didn’t, though?

“Why else, she gave it to you because your birthday is coming up soon, but even if I told you that you wouldn’t accept it, she wouldn’t listen, so I had no choice but to accept it.”

“Ah… I’m a little sorry.”

To receive a gift from someone who wasn’t even invited, it was incredibly burdensome.

Especially since she was someone I often greeted and talked with, so I was even more concerned.

When I bit my lip with a serious expression, my mother lightly hit my forehead with her palm and said with a smile.

“Why are you making such a serious expression with something like this, don’t worry about it, it’s all the aunties’ nonsense, I’ll give you plenty next time.”

“If you have a chance to meet the Countess of Albermarle next time, please tell her thank you.”

“Okay, if possible, I hope you use the necklace well and tell me the review.”

“Yes.”

I nodded with a smile at my mother’s joke.

I should write about four sheets of paper lightly and give it to her.

I carefully closed the box and hugged it in my arms as if cherishing it.

I wanted to hug my mother right away, but I refrained from doing so because she was dressed lightly.

“Mother.”

“Why?”

“Thank you.”

So, instead, I gave her a thank you note full of sincerity.

“Ha… if you’re thankful, stop breaking this mother’s heart.”

When I spoke with a serious expression and voice, my mother flicked her lips and threw a nagging remark as if she was embarrassed.

“Yes, I’ll try.”

“You’re good at talking.”

My mother answered bluntly and glared at me slightly.

And after a moment of silence.

Both I and my mother got up from our seats with a smile, without anyone saying it first.

“Now go back, this mother should go to sleep.”

“Yes, good night.”

“Yeah, you too.”

After exchanging brief greetings, I came out of my mother’s room with light steps.

Now, if the clothes are finished neatly, the troublesome things are over.