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Chapter 12
“The First Plan Begins”
Thud.
Roll… roll…
An apple rolled out from the young maid’s market bag she had dropped. It stopped right in front of a pair of fluffy, extravagant fur slippers.
“……”
The owner of the fur slippers stared down at the apple without any particular thought, but the young maid turned pale in an instant.
“I-I’m so sorry, my lady! I’ll pick it up right away. Please, spare my life!”
Good grief. I’m tired. I didn’t even say anything.
Diabella puffed out her lips slightly and looked at the maid with a sulky expression. The maid, terrified, even began to cry.
“……Clean it up and you can go.”
Go? Just like that, without offering an arm or a hand? Not even execution, just… go?
The maid trembled in disbelief, then quickly came to her senses and hurriedly began picking up the apples back into her market bag.
“Wait.”
Ahh. It’s over. The maid squeezed her eyes shut.
“Bring that over here.”
With trembling hands, the maid selected the largest and most appetizing apple, wiped it on her apron, and knelt down to offer it.
“No, not that.”
“P-Pardon?”
“That bag.”
“Ah, this market bag? It fell earlier, so I’ll clean it thoroughly before giving it to you—please wait just a moment…”
“Clean the bag?”
It just looked like a cloth bag. Diabella muttered as she stepped closer. The smooth fabric bag was wiped clean by the maid’s apron.
‘They have materials like this in this era too!’
It looked similar to the lightweight, waterproof nylon cloth bags that university students in Korea used to carry.
From what she had observed so far, bag materials and designs in this world seemed quite limited, so she had been paying attention.
Most nobles didn’t even carry bags at all. They usually traveled by carriage with attendants, so they rarely had to carry anything themselves.
If they did carry a bag, men typically used structured leather briefcases for documents. Women either had servants carry larger luggage in leather bags or kept small cloth pouches inside their dresses for personal items.
“Do people usually use bags like this when going to the market?”
“T-This was made by my mother from leftover canopy fabric. She said it was light and easy to clean, perfect for the market…”
I see. No wonder I hadn’t seen it often.
Canopy fabric referred to temporary cloth structures used by nobles for outdoor tea parties or events to block sun or rain.
A bag made from that fabric… interesting.
Diabella’s eyes sparkled.
She turned the bag over and examined it. Despite being thick fabric, the stitching was even and sturdy.
“I’d like to meet your mother.”
“Milady! My mother is innocent! Please punish only me!”
Good grief. Does she think I’m some villainess who kills people over a few apples and even summons their mothers?
Sigh… what a life I have.
Diabella swallowed a sigh and spoke quietly.
“…Bring her here. If you understand what I mean.”
That Afternoon
A mother and daughter, both tear-stained and trembling, arrived before Diabella.
Without any explanation, she immediately placed them in a carriage.
“She’s taking us somewhere far to quietly get rid of us…”
“I won’t let anything happen to you, my daughter…”
The two silently exchanged tearful glances.
The carriage didn’t travel long before stopping.
Diabella stepped out first, and the mother and daughter followed with unsteady steps.
“Milady! You’ve arrived!”
From a small, old shop located at the very edge of the most luxurious and expensive Panople Square, the shop owner and his wife rushed out to greet her.
“Has the first task I assigned been going well?”
“Yes, it’s our first time doing something like this, but the results are better than expected. It’s truly a wonderful idea.”
The shop owner’s wife, Michelle, held out the embroidery she had been working on. It was the same design she had shown before for her child, but now it shimmered more brightly. Following Diabella’s suggestion, they had sewn tiny beads into the thread.
“Hm, not bad. As expected of skilled hands. And I believe you’ve found the material I was thinking of…”
Diabella motioned to the maid. The maid quickly handed over the bundle her mother had brought.
“Can embroidery like this be attached to bags made from this material?”
“It’s much thicker than the fabric I’ve used before. I’ll have to think about it.”
“I-I can do it!”
The mother, who had been desperately trying to save her daughter’s life, stepped forward.
Yes, yes, I brought you here because I thought you could. But seeing her so determined, there was no need to explain further.
“Really?”
“Yes! I will do it even if it costs my life!”
No need to go that far.
“Mine too! I’ll risk my life as well!”
Even the daughter, misunderstanding Diabella’s gesture, jumped in to support her mother.
You don’t need to risk your lives…
Still, if they were willing to work that hard, fine.
“Very well. Then start coming here from tomorrow.”
“…Coming here?”
The mother and daughter looked at each other in confusion.
“What is your name?”
“I-I’m Emily Barton, and this is my daughter Sally Barton.”
“Very well. Emily, you will now be in charge of sewing. And Sally…”
“Yes, yes!”
“You will act as a messenger for the marquis household, coming to the shop only when needed.”
“Thank you!”
Overwhelmed with relief, they collapsed to the floor in gratitude.
Diabella walked away, clicking her heels, and sat gracefully in an armchair at the corner of the shop. She crossed her legs and snapped her fingers.
“Come here.”
The shop owner Thomas, his wife Michelle, Sally, and Emily gathered around her.
Diabella pulled out a design from her arms with elegant motion.
“This is the design for the bag you wish to create, milady!”
Michelle immediately recognized it. Diabella nodded.
“I’ve never seen a bag shaped like this before.”
Emily spoke unconsciously, then flinched as Diabella’s gaze lightly fell on her.
“Of course, I will do my utmost to make it!”
Diabella nodded. Naturally, she should.
Then she began explaining one detail at a time.
The canopy fabric should be dyed in more luxurious colors…
Pearls should be attached to the handles…
Jewels placed here…
Everyone nodded enthusiastically to each instruction.
Later
“Milady, the Imperial Palace has sent an invitation.”
After returning from outside, Diabella paused as she removed her gloves.
‘So the day has finally come.’
Her heart raced as she opened the envelope. It was an invitation to the Imperial Princess’s birthday party.
She remembered this well—it was a major event in the original story that Diabella had eagerly prepared for before drinking the poison.
She had prepared dresses and jewels in advance, filling wardrobes and drawers with them. Unfortunately, the original Diabella never even reached the entrance of the party.
‘I’ll make better use of them.’
Diabella resolved herself. This party would not only be a chance to show off her beauty, but also an important test for her future business plans.
“Milady, a dress has arrived from Charlotte’s boutique.”
“A dress?”
“Yes, it is the 28th and 29th dresses you ordered for the Imperial Princess’s birthday party.”
28… 29…
Are you serious?
Diabella’s head throbbed.
The more she learned about the original Diabella, the more unbelievable it became. Twenty-nine dresses for one party?
“Your Grace requested that the 30th dress be completed tomorrow.”
Cancel my criticism. Just… do whatever you want.
She was clearly spending money like water. No wonder the Duke’s household was going crazy.
So that’s why the divorce had been so heavily resisted—she was treating the household fortune like her personal wallet.
I don’t have the talent for spending other people’s money.
Forty billion marks would be enough for me, but apparently that wasn’t enough for the original Diabella.
Now I understand why Raymond was so desperate for divorce.
“Another delivery has arrived from Sharin Boutique.”
“…Now what? Another dress?”
Seriously. When is she supposed to wear all of these?
“Ah, this time it’s… let me check. Oh, it’s earrings… and apparently a gift from the Marquis!”
Why is he involved too?
