Episode 28

He quickly stopped the bleeding and put the precious novel away.

I was secretly grateful to the noble ladies who recommended “A Noble Lady’s Splendid Vacation.” Thanks to them, I was able to spend the long night alone.

Even the weight was similar to that of a law book, so I was afraid someone might think it was a disguise novel. It was good, except for the slight pain in my arm.

Today, to relieve my stress, I read a book, took a bubble bath, and then lay down comfortably in bed.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been working so hard lately, but my dreams have been terrible. I keep hearing someone chattering in my head…

-viola.

-Viola! Even if you don’t know the future… … .

Who is it? Is it Ezekiel?

I was clearly asleep when a stranger whispered in my head.

At first, I thought the strange scene from the novel was being reenacted in my dream.

-Viola. You can still do it.

No. This isn’t Ezekiel. But I’m sure I’ve heard his voice somewhere.

This being who chatters to me and gives me important information,

“Madam, please wake up.”

At that moment, Anna’s voice penetrated my subconscious. I jumped up in shock.

It was a sunny morning.

“As the madam requested, I called in actors to serve as models and students who participated in the last window display.”

“Huh? Oh, oh. Thank you.”

The unfamiliar sensation was slowly drowned out by stress. I quickly returned to reality and busied myself with contacting Valentina and meeting my students.

With questions about the strange dream lingering in a corner of my mind.

And on the day of the event.

I put my head together with Anna and gave it my final shout.

“We can do it.”

“You can do it, ma’am!”

“You’ve been working hard. It’s only been two weeks, but it’s been short and intense.”

“Of course. Even if I lose to Millini, who would say anything?”

“……Yeah.”

“Madam, are you ready?”

“Ezekiel!”

I knocked and came in, and checked his clothes, and I was overcome with a sense of satisfaction.

“I thought it would suit you well.”

Now that you’ve put your heart and soul into it, all that’s left is to welcome the guests.

I repeated it several times while clenching my fist.

“I am the protagonist. I am the protagonist. The protagonist overcomes. I am the protagonist!”

“ma’am……·?”

“No, let’s go!”

***

The rivalry between Betra and Milini was the biggest social issue of the time.

Socialites, who had been spending a quiet July without any special events, were excited about the big fun that was to come.

“Every newspaper these days is telling the same story.”

“It’s a long-standing tradition for those two cities to compete over a single item.”

“Until last year, the two sides were tied, so whichever city wins this time will take the lead.”

“This item is made of fabric.”

“So it’s a dress? It’s a fairly ordinary item.”

“By the way, did you get the invitation?”

There were also quite a few people who came on vacation to the two cities just to see the event.

Among them, influential socialites, popular opera singers, and high-ranking officials who received special invitations were delighted to have won the exclusive event.

A total of thirty invited guests were given the opportunity to tour both cities a few days ahead of the others.

“This year, I’ll see Milini first, and then Vetra.”

The thirty guests toured the luxury street under the guidance of the Marquis de Millini and his wife.

I browsed the gorgeous dresses in flowing fabrics in an indoor showroom the size of a square.

The highlight was the fashion show held in front of the fountain and clock tower, which are symbolic of Milan.

The sight of the magic stone ornaments sparkling under the elegant night sky was enough to elicit a standing ovation.

“I’ve seen so many dresses that I don’t think I’ll be interested in them anymore.”

“Hey, Vetra’s met a formidable opponent? Looks like Milini will be ahead this year.”

“Tsk tsk. It’s a shame that Betra is a latecomer.”

The next day it was Betra’s turn.

In the late afternoon, people gathered on the road to Betra looked around.

“Shouldn’t we just focus on the luxury shopping streets? But why did they call us to the pier?”

“Huh? Look over there. There’s a boat coming!”

A row of small, note-shaped boats arrived. People couldn’t take their eyes off the adorable boats.

“This is the ship that will take you today. Please board in your turn.”

Following the boatman’s instructions, we boarded the boat and entered Betra.

“I expected this. I’ve been there before by boat.”

“That’s why.”

The invitees still had low expectations. The ship arrived at a location outside of Betra.

“Isn’t this a luxury street?”

“It’s just a lavender field.”

A woman wearing a half mask appeared before the bewildered people.

Her pale blond hair and lavender eyes shone captivatingly. The woman standing in the lavender field winked at them, her eyes darting.

“Who are you?”

No matter how much I asked, there was no answer.

The woman smiled faintly, pulled a mask over her eyes, and turned around, gesturing for me to follow her.

Come to think of it, the dress the woman was wearing was made from that very fabric.

People whispered secretly.

“It’s lavender glitter. The quality of the dress is similar to Millini’s.”

“The Millini dress has a full skirt, but the Vetra dress has a straight skirt line, which looks comfortable. It looks like something a saint would wear in a temple.”

“Originally, Duke Vetra would always come out to greet me, but who is that woman?”

Curiosity welled up in them, but they were overwhelmed by the woman’s silence and kept their mouths shut. In any case, they followed the mysterious woman back onto the boat.

At the woman’s nod, dozens of boatmen moved forward carrying the guests.

The woman in the front row of the boat, as if leading the people, turned her head to the right at one point.

People who happened to look to the right together saw a strange sight.

“Hey! Is that lavender glitter?”

“Huh? I see.”

The ribbons on the wide-brimmed hats of the women strolling along the street next to the waterway sparkled with familiar colors.

It was the same fabric as the woman’s dress.

“Is it a coincidence?”

At first, people did not think much of it, but when the young woman turned her head to the left, they saw another strange sight.

“That too! That’s it!”

The cute ribbon tie worn by a passing boy gave off a subtle sheen. It was a unique yet luxurious combination.

Similar things continued.

Lavender glittering was visible everywhere where tall men and women moved about on a daily basis.

The shawls worn by women strolling along the beaches of the outer islands of Betra as ships pass by, the headbands worn by children waving to them as they look out the windows, the cloth woven into the shoes of women strolling leisurely.

Even the picnic mats laid out by people who wanted to have a picnic.

A point that was secretly inserted into the everyday scenery caught my eye.

The more I looked at it, the more I broke out in a cold sweat. It was a ridiculous thought.

‘You really think they’ve turned the entire city into a single promotional space?’

People who thought that fashion shows were only seen at the showroom were shocked.

What’s even more amazing is that thanks to the actors placed everywhere, we realized that no matter where or how we used the fabric, it would look good.

“I can use whatever fabric I want, rather than a standardized dress.”

“Well, there’s no rule that says you can only use it for making dresses.”

“I’d love to try making a parasol. If I could take it to a late-afternoon tea party and come out, the sun would be setting… wouldn’t that be beautiful?”

The whole city was literally sparkling in purple.

It seemed as if the city was filled with midday stars, blending in with the blue waters of the canal.

The mysterious woman sailing ahead seemed to gradually change. For some reason, it seemed as if she had planned this whole thing.

‘Who the hell are you?’

The fabric of the woman’s dress, swaying naturally in the sea breeze, gradually began to glow. This was thanks to the magical thread that became more beautiful with each touch.

“I didn’t know that the fabric could shine so brightly even under the sun…….”

The invitation procession, which began in the late afternoon, soon entered the twilight.

The boatmen shouted in unison.

“The last place is the temple!”

The moment I heard those words, a huge bridge spanning the canal briefly blocked my view.

The bridge was so wide that the boats passing under it were plunged into complete darkness.

The procession of boats suddenly stopped. A young woman who had been sitting quietly rose from the boat and smiled secretly at the crowd.

Three, two, one.

The boat began to move again and cleared the bridge. In just a few minutes, the sky’s color had changed.

The pink and blue of the sunset mixed together, just like…

“It’s like the colors on the fabric are released into the sky.”

The guests blinked blankly, overwhelmed by the dresses that blended seamlessly with the natural light.

In the distance, a temple dedicated to the god of Vetra appeared.

A man waited for the invitees on the balcony of the temple, draped in purple. He, too, wore a half-mask.

As they anchored on the shore where the temple was, the young woman approached them slowly but playfully, her eyes filled with jealousy.

Perhaps it was the mystical landscape dotted with purple that made it seem like Undine from the myth had descended into reality.

After crossing the stone bridge to the temple and across the water, the woman finally leaned against the man’s arms.

And the two of them simultaneously took off their masks on the balcony where the invitees looked up.

“ah!”

People sighed.

The man in the temple is none other than Duke Vetra.

And the mysterious woman who led them here was none other than the Duchess of Vetra!