IRGS 39

Chapter 39

The current fashion trend was all about dramatically puffed-up skirts, creating a frilly and glamorous silhouette, with excessive ribbons and lace decorations hanging everywhere.

But the dress I wore had a naturally flowing, elegant skirt instead. To keep it from looking plain, I draped a richly embroidered shawl made from luxurious fabric over it. Before we left, the maids at the ducal estate had practically remade the dress according to my instructions.

It might have looked strange since it wasn’t the current trend, but I spent most of the journey wrapped in a cloak anyway. Comfort mattered more.

Besides, this outfit was perfect for entering a cramped pottery workshop. Proof of that was how Lady Enika’s enormous skirt nearly brushed against the teacups every time she moved around the studio.

Maybe the old craftswoman had so readily accepted my order because of the way I was dressed? Even now, she kept glancing at Enika with obvious disapproval. Though judging by Enika’s appearance, it was clear she came from nobility, so the old woman couldn’t openly say anything.

Enika and I returned to where we had been before. The girl with the headscarf was still waiting for us.

“So, what did you decide?”

She seemed extremely curious about the negotiations between us. I smiled lightly and explained the result.

“I’ll cancel my original order and instead change it to ten teacups of the same design. It’s not urgent, so you can prioritize this lady’s order first.”

“Okayyy—”

The girl in the headscarf replied casually. She already understood that the craftswoman was helping smooth things over.

Still, I had intended to buy a few pieces anyway. Ten cups would be useful for hosting tea parties at home.

As soon as I finished speaking, “that lady” glanced at me sideways. I gave her a small nod, and then Enika spoke.

“I’ll take seven of the same set as well. I’ll leave the address behind.”

“Yes, understood. What kind of design would you like?”

“Hmm, I’d like one of them to be a little more extravagant than the others…”

Enika looked thoughtful for a moment. She examined the teacups on display. It seemed she intended to choose the exact same flower pattern that had become famous in my previous life.

But…

“If it were me, I’d change the pattern.”

“Hm?”

Enika turned toward me.

My mouth had moved before I could stop it. I hadn’t intended to say this much. But since I already had…

I continued with a casual expression, as though it were only a passing thought.

“I don’t know what you’re planning to use them for, but… isn’t this supposed to be a tea party personally selected by Lady Enika? Wouldn’t a bit of freshness be nice? For example… using birds instead of flowers.”

Enika’s lips parted slightly. Everyone who mattered knew that the current Empress loved birds. If Enika’s mother had once served as the Empress’s lady-in-waiting, then Enika probably knew too.

“That’s… a wonderful idea.”

Enika murmured softly. So she did know.

I merely shrugged as if I had tossed out a random suggestion.

Fortunately, Enika didn’t seem to suspect that I had guessed her true purpose. Though even if she had, she probably wouldn’t have dared ask.

“I’m glad you like it. Then I’ll be going.”

Before Enika could start looking at me suspiciously, I returned to Owen and Arne. Behind me, Enika was already discussing details with the headscarfed clerk.

Seeing me walk back with a refreshed expression, Arne commented:

“Mother is too soft-hearted.”

Owen, standing with his hands in his pockets at a crooked angle, added:

“For once, son, we agree completely.”

I ended up laughing out loud. If I were truly soft-hearted, I wouldn’t have deliberately put Enika in such a difficult position, you fools.

Still, I let them misunderstand.

“Then shall we choose things for our own family?”

The three of us wandered around the workshop selecting teacups and plates we liked. Enika, who I thought would leave immediately, remained standing nearby watching us for some reason.

Owen’s good taste was expected, but surprisingly, Arne also had an excellent eye. Everything he showed me and asked about suited my preferences perfectly.

As for me, not only dresses but tableware trends from the future were also familiar to me.

“Smooth floral china would remain a classic, but in a few years rough-textured tableware in warm colors would become the new trend.”

And honestly, I preferred that style.

I even examined unfinished pieces stacked in the corner and personally commissioned the old craftswoman. Before I realized it, Enika had attached herself right beside me.

She muttered quietly:

“Lady Bartoli really is ahead of her time. You don’t seem constrained by trends at all—you have your own style.”

Well, that’s because I literally came from the future.

I ignored the compliment.

After one round of shopping, the servants from the ducal household took charge of the purchases. Once we returned from the trip, I’d probably see them again at the estate.

And Enika seemed grateful that I hadn’t asked what her teacups were for.

‘Because I already know.’

Just before leaving, Enika whispered softly to me:

“Lady Bartoli, I truly won’t forget the favor you did for me today.”

I certainly hope not.

“And…”

She hesitated before continuing.

“To be honest, I was worried about you. But I’m relieved to see that you seem happy. The Grand Duke must truly cherish you, even spreading such rumors to protect your honor. I won’t tell anyone that I saw you here, so don’t worry.”

“…Pardon?”

What was she talking about? Why would a Lady Enika I’d never even met worry about me? And what rumors?

Enika’s eyes widened.

“Wait… you didn’t know?”

Know what exactly?

The lavender-haired woman glanced around nervously before suddenly shoving something into my hands.

Then she hurried away.

Enika and I had been standing near the entrance of the workshop. The moment she disappeared, Owen and Arne approached me.

Walking lazily toward me, Owen asked:

“What did that woman give you?”

“I’m not sure…”

“Mother, let me see too.”

Arne tugged at me insistently. I opened my hand.

It looked like… a stack of papers. Bound papers.

In other words, a tabloid.

The cover was entirely bright red without even a title printed on it.

Ah. The infamous “Red Book.”

Goodness, I had only heard stories about it before. This was my first time actually holding one.

Judging by Owen’s reaction, he had never seen one either.

“What is that?”

“It’s a tabloid newspaper. You could call it the supreme gossip publication containing every rumor and scandal in high society.”

Naturally, it was illegal. Every publication in the Empire required approval from the Imperial Family. But there wasn’t a single person in noble society who didn’t know about the Red Book.

Honestly, even Her Majesty the Empress probably read it.

Nobody knew who wrote it or how widely it circulated. On top of that, the Red Book was released irregularly—only when there was a major scandal worth reporting.

Once rumors spread that someone had obtained an original copy, noble ladies close to that person would flock to visit her.

After begging and pleading to see the original, the servants they brought along would painstakingly copy it by hand.

Then rumors would spread that those ladies had copied the Red Book, which led even more noble ladies to visit them…

That was how the contents spread throughout society.

But how had Enika gotten hold of an original copy?

More importantly, why had she given it to me?

Without much thought, I opened the Red Book—

Then immediately shut it again.

Owen leaned in from beside me.

“Why did you close it? Let’s read it together.”

“Me too, Mother.”

“Absolutely not.”

Owen was especially persistent, but I firmly rejected them both.

How could I possibly read a gossip paper with my own name appearing on the very first page together with my family?

As the sun set, the air grew considerably colder. It was the kind of weather one would only encounter in the capital during late autumn.

Both Arne and I wore fluffy wool-lined cloaks, but Owen walked around perfectly fine in only a trench coat.

“Owen, aren’t you cold?”

“I’ve never been particularly sensitive to the cold. I suppose I got used to it after spending so much time in Mother’s territory when I was young.”

“Is Count Verdi’s territory very cold?”

“It is. Though the worst of winter has already passed, so it should be fine.”

That was good news.

I hated the cold.

Of course, since this was the northernmost region of the Empire, winter weather was unavoidable.

And there was another new development.

The number of people monitoring us had increased.

Back in Cantalice earlier that morning, there had only been two or three. Now there were twice as many. Worse still, unlike before, they weren’t even trying to hide it. Even someone less perceptive than Owen or me would have found it suspicious.

‘This is getting burdensome.’

No matter how much my mother-in-law supposedly wanted to see me, wasn’t this a bit excessive?

Owen quietly suggested:

“How about we head back early and rest today, Sophia? Even if you don’t feel it, the long carriage ride must have exhausted you.”

“That sounds nice.”

I nodded immediately.

Perfect timing. If we were inside the hotel, they wouldn’t be able to watch us.

Day Three of the trip ended earlier than planned.