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Chapter 54
“I want you to try many things and walk the path you desire.”
“I…”
“You helped me, so I want to help you too. That’s all.”
At first, Anna was only shocked at the sudden opportunity, but soon her cheeks flushed red at my words.
“Honestly, this is a chance you don’t want to miss either. It’s an offer that might never come again, so give it a try.”
She had always lived a busy life—earning money with her parents, taking care of her many younger siblings.
I wanted Anna, my maid, to also find happiness.
“From now on, while President Wharton is preparing for her short-term opening at the arcade, you’ll go help her.”
Though she hesitated, Anna soon revealed her overwhelming emotions and nodded firmly.
“Yes!”
And so, I sent Anna to Vivian Wharton.
During the preparation period for the collaboration, if President Wharton needed anything, she could tell me through Anna.
At last, now—
“Can you report on the progress?”
Dressed quite differently after spending time with President Wharton, Anna cleared her throat.
Actually, I had given her that outfit as a gift.
She couldn’t be shrinking in front of the employees of Wharton’s boutique, right?
“Just the rumor that President Wharton will open a store at the arcade has stirred up the social world. Combined with Your Highness the Crown Princess’s visit, it will surely be a great boon.”
Anna wheeled in a chalkboard and began writing notes.
It was her first time giving a report, so she could’ve been nervous, but Anna calmly explained her area of responsibility in front of us.
“For summer, the dresses are already prototyped, and the fabrics will be supplied by Betra’s textile merchants.”
Both Ezekiel and I were silently cheering for Anna. I asked softly,
“Did you give President Wharton a good tour?”
“The other day, I showed her the main tourist spots. She was delighted, said she gained plenty of inspiration.”
I hoped that inspiration would be well reflected in the dresses. It would help elevate the city’s image.
“If the president is seen here and there, people’s anticipation will rise too.”
“Exactly. Word-of-mouth—‘she’s really here’—is powerful.”
“She’ll begin her new dress exhibition next week.”
“Keep helping her until the end, Anna.”
“I’ll do my best!”
Anna’s first report concluded smoothly. Everything with Wharton seemed fine.
‘Let’s keep it this way. Please.’
And in fact, Anna performed far better than I worried.
Whenever President Wharton was invited to the ducal residence, she would praise Anna endlessly.
“How can she be so talented, so good at drawing out inspiration! I feel deeply grateful that the Dogaresa recommended such a capable person to me.”
When Anna was asked for her opinions—since I’d hinted she had an interest in fashion—her ideas turned out to be quite useful.
“Thanks to her, I could design dresses that capture this city’s unique charm, quite different from those of refined noble cities.”
It was Anna’s praise, but I felt proud as if it were my own. Meanwhile, Anna, the one being praised, only waved her hands shyly in embarrassment.
Anyway, today was finally the time to be introduced to President Wharton’s ambitious new work.
“I present to you a dress inspired by Miss Anna’s ideas.”
The dress on the mannequin was unlike anything I had ever seen. Even Michele and Ezekiel seemed to notice how unfamiliar the design was.
“For summer, it’s a cool off-shoulder top dress.”
“Not bad. But…”
“The fabric is a bit…”
It was unusual—because the entire dress was printed with narrow stripes!
And the material wasn’t silk or tulle but rather plain, everyday cloth, characteristic of ready-to-wear fashion.
It would be more accurate to say it emphasized practicality over cumbersome splendor.
“Vertical stripes make the wearer look slim and elegant. I adopted Miss Anna’s idea.”
A striped dress.
It had the potential to cause a sensation.
“We’ll display designs with stripes in various colors in the shop window.”
From subtle accents to full-on striped patterns, Wharton’s exhibition plan was diverse.
“But wouldn’t it feel lacking if we only display women’s dresses? A luxury street should be for everyone, don’t you think?”
After all, no matter how wonderful the clothing, if there’s nothing for me to wear, it wouldn’t be much fun.
“Of course, there should be menswear too.”
Wharton winked and brought out another mannequin.
It was a men’s line, adapted and expanded from Anna’s original stripe pattern that had been intended only for dresses.
“For the gentlemen, striped neckties. Matching them with the women’s attire will create a sense of unity.”
My eyes sparkled—and then I realized I was hooked. Just as I was, others too wouldn’t be able to take their eyes off the design.
‘If Ezekiel wore that striped necktie with the white suit he had on before, plus a boater hat—it’d be a splendid outfit!’
I whispered to Ezekiel,
“You know, would you consider trying that on?”
I covered my mouth with a hand and leaned toward him—then felt eyes on me.
Turning my head, I saw Michele and Anna smiling warmly at us. What was that about?
Anyway, after finishing my talk with my husband, I cleared my throat.
“You may have seen in the papers, but a few months ago our territory promoted the Lavender Glittering fabric.”
“I know. Your success was one of the reasons I came to this city to propose collaboration.”
“Then you also know what we did at the time?”
President Wharton’s strict expression brightened.
“Surely not again?”
“Yes. Ezekiel and I will wear these clothes ourselves and be the models.”
Anna, who vividly remembered that time, looked even more excited than Wharton.
“My lady and His Highness wearing these clothes…!”
Since it was partly her design, the idea of me wearing it meant a great deal to Anna.
Wharton, too, was satisfied.
“If you both wear matching attire, it will highlight your romantic bond as a couple.”
“As long as the two of you look good together, I’ll support anything.”
“I’ll even prepare a small striped handkerchief for young master Michele. Please tuck it stylishly into his pocket.”
At Wharton’s kind offer, Michele grimaced. I draped an arm around his shoulders.
“Wouldn’t it be fun if all three of us wore matching outfits?”
“Ugh…”
Good—Michele seemed to like it after all.
“I never imagined something like this would happen when I came to Betra.”
Anna, born of a fallen noble family, felt as if each day now was like a dream.
“If I hadn’t come with my lady, I’d still be nothing more than a scorned maid at the viscount’s house.”
But now?
She was gaining valuable experience—discussing ideas with the designer of a famous boutique and seeing those ideas reflected in real clothes.
She could bow a hundred times to Lady Viola and still not feel it enough.
Though my lady said there was no need to be so grateful, how could Anna help what welled up from her heart?
It wasn’t simple servant’s loyalty—it was deep gratitude between people.
“Thank you for giving me so many opportunities.”
“Seizing opportunities is a skill too. You had the talent prepared all along, which is why you came this far. It was possible because of you.”
Recently, whenever the two found time to meet, they spent it praising each other.
Her lady would smile at her with that serene aura and cool expression unique to her.
‘She truly is such a good person.’
In this world, there were plenty who looked down on maids—especially those who had once been nobles, treating them even worse to break their pride.
Even at the Viscount Starace’s house, Anna had been treated that way. The servants deliberately scorned her for being a fallen noble.
But even there, there had been one exception—her lady.
‘Isn’t that what a true noble is?’
A person who gives as much as they enjoy.
Anna could hardly believe someone so kind could exist.
She wanted to serve such a generous lady to the very end.
If displaying her full talents became her lady’s pride, she was determined to work hard.
So, Anna continued honing her skills today—going back and forth between President Vivian Wharton and Lady Viola.
Just as her lady always said, when opportunity comes, it’s up to her to seize it and use it to her advantage.
‘I will become an excellent designer.’
Through the clothes she loved most, she would become someone who expressed her own philosophy—just like her lady.
Anna silently made that vow to herself.
