12 — Getting Ready for a Trip, I Guess

“Madame just has an odd way of speaking... I thought for sure these dresses were for Mother Fisalis...” I grumbled to myself in a low voice.

Someone please, please smack me to clear my head. I thought we came here to pick out clothes for Lady Fisalis!

What does it all mean—buying the clothes for me and then saying that I’m going on a trip in two or three days!? This is completely out of nowhere! Even worse than nowhere—I don’t know where it came from whatsoever! Where am I going? Who am I going with? Where am I? Who am I?

...Oh, wait, different crisis.

Regardless, I haven’t got a clue what’s going on!

At some point while I was grumbling to myself, Madame Fleur and Lady Fisalis had gone into the shop.

Oh, and now they’ve left me behind.

It was weird to be standing alone there on the street, so I quickly followed them inside. The dressmaker didn’t have much time, so work began right away and proceeded at a swift clip.

While an employee took my measurements, Lady Fisalis, Madame, and Stellaria (who came with me that day) finalized plans for the designs.

“But I was just measured recently,” I protested, but to no avail.

“That was several months ago already. We’ll be taking your measurements again so we can make clothes that fit you like a second skin,” Madame said with a sweet smile I simply couldn’t defy. And just like that, my clothes were peeled off all the way down to my underwear.

This is going to be embarrassing no matter how many times I do it.

Madame has also switched to calling me by my first name—she must’ve realized I didn’t react to “duchess.” This way I can’t possibly think she’s talking about Lady Fisalis. That’s right—these are dresses for me!

Dahlia, Stellaria, and Madame Fleur quickly came to an agreement on the designs while I was being measured.

You’re not going to make another frilly, sparkly thing made with pricey materials, right? These are going to be everyday clothes, right? You said I need to be able to move around in them, since I’m going on a trip, right? I thought nervously as I watched and waited on them.

“Since Vi here is still so young, I think the skirts should fall about to the knee,” suggested Lady Fisalis.

“I agree. Too short is just as bad as too long, but knee length will still show off her legs. don’t you agree?”

“Yes. Ria, what are some of the fashionable looks in Rozhe right now?”

“Well, ma’am, the young ladies are wearing...”

The three of them were huddled together discussing something that was apparently very serious. When I took a look at what they came up with, I was surprised to see that the designs they had prepared actually looked like things I wanted to wear! The dresses featured simple silhouettes just like the ones I usually wore around the manor. Every outfit sported a knee-length skirt, just as Lady Fisalis had mentioned, and they were more reminiscent of simple house dresses than evening gowns. It really felt like they’d distilled every current trend into these beautiful designs.

I’m not in the know when it comes to fashion, so did they come up with all this just based on what Stellaria told them?

“The dainty flower pattern isn’t too loud, either, but I thought something a bit cuter might suit her more. What do you think, my lady, Madame?”

“Hmm, yes. The skirt features simple lines, so I think a different pattern on the fabric might be better, too!”

“I couldn’t agree more, Lady Fisalis. And if her white petticoat was visible just below the hem, that could work as an accent color.”

It sounds like they’re going to make a dress with a floral pattern. I haven’t worn any like that yet!

When I peeked over at the sketch in Madame Fleur’s hands, I saw a simple and rather charming dress. I could tell that they’d taken Stellaria’s input into consideration.

“Alright then! Let’s start there, with outfit number one!”

“As you wish. Deliver this to the atelier.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Madame Fleur handed off the rough sketch to an employee once she had received the go-ahead from Lady Fisalis. Now that the color and design of the fabric were settled, the sketches were rushed up to the inner atelier for the cutting and sewing to begin.

That’s no surprise, considering how tight the deadline is.

“On to the next one!” said Lady Fisalis excitedly, unable to wait a moment longer for the next design.

“Yes, the next one...”

And so the three of them put their heads together again and began to brainstorm ideas until they came up with the next design.

Midway through our lunch break, the designs for six outfits were finally completed. Lady Fisalis, Madame Fleur, and even Stellaria seemed satisfied. Their smiles clearly read, “Nice work, everyone☆”

While everyone besides me was glowing with a sense of accomplishment, I came to a surprising realization.

This was Madame’s shop. And she was a high-end brand, so she came with a high-end price tag.

...I started to tremble in fear at the thought of paying for... Six. Whole. Outfits.

But if it gets out to everyone else here that I have money anxiety, it would affect the Fisalis family’s reputation, so I can’t let anything slip. Just what I need—a second thing to worry about!

As I internally screamed in panic, Lady Fisalis and Madame Fleur continued their mysterious conversation about the upcoming “trip.”

“Your deadline is just a tad challenging, but it will make for good practice. Thank you kindly for your cooperation, Lady Fisalis. I don’t know where I’d be without your regular patronage.”

“Oh, no, the pleasure is all mine. I’m glad I was able to have such a nice chat with you.”

What was that? What practice? And what nice chat!?

I was staring blankly in confusion at them, completely unable to follow the conversation and still stunned from my earlier panic. But Madame Fleur and Lady Fisalis only plowed ahead with their conversation as question marks whirled around my head.

“My apprentices might have been the ones doing the sewing, but they were going by my sketches. Those sketches are very precise, so please don’t worry yourself over it. I’ll also supervise things myself, of course,” explained Madame.

“Your apprentices? They have my full confidence, then. Of greater concern to me, though... I know you gave it a thorough looking-over, but are you sure you only want to charge one-tenth of your usual rate?”

“Of course. It’s almost too much to ask after you were so much help in training my apprentices. They’re all very eager to tailor clothes for Viola when she’s at the height of her influence!”

They’re grinning at each other! But more importantly, just how good is business that Madame actually has all these apprentices!? And who the heck thinks I’m influencing anyone!?

Uh, ahem, ahem.

Anyway, moving on.

Going off what they said, the sewing will be done by Madame’s apprentices, so that’s why it’s unusually cheap. But then again, I’m not sure how much it normally costs to start with. Maybe I should think of this as helping with the apprentices’ development? Yeah, that’s what I’ll do! Positive thinking! Once I came to that conclusion, some of the tension left my body.

“But Viola seems so close to the duke, and they get along so well. I’m always seeing her smiling.”

“That’s true. But oh, that boy... He told me to choose some clothes for Vi for this trip.”

“Goodness! Well it is certainly kind of you to do so!”

“Oh ho ho ho!” Lady Fisalis and Madame Fleur continued to chat idly, completely ignoring me.

They’d said something about Mr. Fisalis, but I didn’t pay any attention to that. It’s probably not anything important.

As their conversation wound down, Lady Fisalis began to gather her things to go home.

Looks like we’re done for the day.

I stood, too, when Lady Fisalis rose from her seat.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then, Madame. Come along, Vi.”

“Oh, yes, coming!”

“The two of you take care.”

We were shown out by Madame Fleur and a clearly smaller number of employees than were there when we arrived. Lady Fisalis and I then headed out to our carriage.

No sooner had we gotten into it than Lady Fisalis dropped another surprise on me.

“Next on the agenda is... shoes, I suppose,” she said, after considering my feet for a moment.

Wha...? How do you still have the energy for more shopping!? I wonder why she’s bringing me along for this one, too.

“Shoes for you, Mother Fisalis? Do you have a favorite store for those, too?” I asked, looking for some clarification.

“Huh? Nooo, they’re obviously for you, Vi!” she pouted adorably.

I should have known.

But I already have tons of shoes in my closet. Ones still in their boxes that I haven’t even opened yet. I’m not even sure I’ll ever wear them all. I bet if I looked hard enough, I could dig some shoes suitable for a trip out of all that.

I should probably just come out and say it...

“Oh, I have lots of shoes already! I don’t need any more!” I told my mother-in-law, trying to appeal to reason.

“You do? Ah, what a shame. Then again, we spent more time at Madame Fleur’s than I anticipated, so new shoes will have to wait. Let’s have some sweets and then head straight home instead.”

She gave up surprisingly quickly. Thank goodness.

“That sounds like a great idea!” I agreed. We went not to another store, but to the confectioner’s Mr. Fisalis and I had been to. There, we got ourselves some cakes, thus marking the end of our little outing.

Although I’d heard there was often a long line at that particular cafe, I hadn’t had to wait either time I visited—not with Mr. Fisalis, nor with my mother-in-law. We were shown right to our table, where we took our time enjoying our treats. We took so much time, in fact, that by the time we got home it was nearly evening. Mr. Fisalis and Lord Fisalis, however, had not yet returned.

“I had a wonderful time today! I just knew you’d make the perfect daughter! We should do this again sometime.”

“Sure. Thank you for taking me along!”

I parted ways with Lady Fisalis at the front door. She returned to the cottage, and I made a beeline for my room.

Just let me relax for a little while!

And with that, I threw my etiquette to the wind and cannonballed onto my sofa. I landed on the cushions with a muffled thwump and sunk in, letting the day’s exhaustion seep out of my body.

Being a good daughter is really draining! Now that I think about it, I never went shopping like that with my own mother. The only place I ever went with her was the market. We just bought vegetables and basic household stuff; a mother-daughter shopping spree was completely out of our budget, I mused as I settled in, hugging my pillow to my chest.

“Are you tired?” Dahlia asked, with a stiff smile.

“No... well, maybe a little. I was just so sure I was tagging along with Lady Fisalis on one of her personal shopping trips.”

“Were you not expecting to buy clothes for yourself today, Madam?”

“...Did you know about this?”

“Yes, more or less,” she replied nonchalantly.

Everyone must have heard about Lady Fisalis’ plans from the guards. I was the only one who didn’t know. Maybe “I was the only one who wasn’t told” is more accurate, though...

“And now I find out that I’m apparently going on a trip. Surprise, surprise,” I rambled on into the pillow, only my eyes peeking out from above it.

I still didn’t know what it was supposed to mean, so I said it like it was just a rumor I’d heard floating around. Not to mention I’m pretty miffed that I wasn’t informed about what was going on. Rohtas, Dahlia, absolutely nobody told me about anything! It feels like I’m being intentionally left out of the loop! It’s not nice to exclude people. I’m totally frowning behind this pillow, even if no one can see it!

“Goodness, Madam. I think you’ll understand what the trip is all about shortly,” Dahlia said with a gentle smile, sensing that I was a bit upset.

Just as I thought—Dahlia knows something.

“Shortly?”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Hmm?” I’ll understand shortly, she says. So, that means soon. I might have a vague idea what it could be...

As I laid on the sofa, thinking, there was a commotion downstairs. A maid stuck her head around the door, saying, “Master has just come home, Madam.”

He’s home a little early, which should have been expected after he left saying that he’s “going to give one-hundred fifty percent.” Looks like he made good on his promise. Actually, maybe it was Father Fisalis who got them home earlier than usual.

“I’ll be there in a minute!”

I laid the pillow on the sofa, tidied up my hair and skirt a little, and headed to the foyer. When I made it downstairs, I found Mr. Fisalis talking to Rohtas like usual. Father Fisalis was nowhere to be seen.

Judging from his demeanor this morning, I’m guessing he went straight back to the cottage.

“Welcome home, Mr. Fisalis!”

“It’s good to be back, Viola.” He must have been tired from work, but he still managed to flash me a radiant smile when I rushed over to greet him.

How does he manage that? I’m dead tired and I just went out shopping. Hmph, hot people have it so easy! ...Ah, I guess I’m still in complaining mode.

Er, I’ll just keep all that to myself.

“You must have worked very hard today.”

“Yeah, I worked especially hard because I wanted to come home early! And now that my work’s all taken care of, I can start my vacation the day after tomorrow.”

“That’s great!”

I know Mr. Fisalis seemed really happy to tell me that, but... his vacation is starting the day after tomorrow? He did just say that, right? But didn’t Lady Fisalis also say that the departure date for my trip is the day after tomorrow, too? If your vacation also starts the day after tomorrow...

Hang on.

The last piece of the puzzle fell into place.

“Did you have a good time shopping with Mother?”

“I did.”

“Oh, that’s good! I had asked her to choose some clothes for you to take on our trip over my break.”

Ah ha. So I’m going with him! I didn’t think he was the type to tell me to just take the servants with me! Yeah, he’d never say something like that.

I was right.

That vague idea had become clearer.