Chapter 33
In any case, the flamboyance of her dress suited Enzhe’s striking beauty so well that no one ever dared to criticize her fashion choices. Enzhe knew this well and enjoyed the attention she received. This was the reason why Sue and Melaine had dressed plainly today. They had to make Enzhe, the star of the day, stand out.
“Hmm. Alright, let’s go in. Unique designs, you say? I’ll have to see for myself how unique they are.”
Enzhe smiled faintly, her decision made.
“This shop will be a good indicator of the standards of the entry examiners.”
With those words, she lifted her chin haughtily and entered the shop, as if she were the only one qualified to judge those chosen by the Imperial Family.
“Welcome. Glory to the empire.”
The moment they entered, an employee standing by the door bowed deeply.
“We’d like a private room, please.”
The employee immediately led them to a private room in the back of the shop at Sue’s request.
“The private room is decent, considering how shabby the shop looks.”
“Thank you.”
Enzhe sat down, looking around the room. A short while later, the employee brought a sample book of dresses. Enzhe opened the thick book silently.
Sue stood beside Enzhe and peeked at the contents of the sample book. There were certainly various dress designs.
*‘…Huh? That’s…’*
She quickly masked her surprise.
Enzhe flipped through the sample book with an expressionless face, then selected a few numbers and ordered them to be brought to her.
The dresses that were brought in were the ones that had surprised Sue. Sue and Melaine instantly understood why Enzhe had ordered them.
“What are these?”
Enzhe asked, looking at the dresses in front of her with an indifferent expression.
And at that moment, her posture, which had been perfectly straight, slumped slightly.
“I asked, what are these?”
Enzhe rested her chin on her hand and asked again.
“…These dresses were designed by Lady Reicia, the owner and designer of our shop. They are pieces that showcase bold attempts, reducing the use of petticoats and corsets, utilizing fabric in a different way, and exposing the shoulders and legs.”
The employee recited the well-rehearsed phrase flawlessly. The dresses were displayed before them, just as he had described.
“….”
“….”
“….”
A long silence followed.
While the employee, Enzhe, and Melaine might have used various words to describe those dresses, Sue could sum them up in a single phrase.
*‘Modern… dresses.’*
Phrases like “reducing the use of petticoats and corsets, utilizing fabric in a different way…” echoed in her mind.
A peach-colored silk dress with the shoulders and back completely exposed. A white mini dress that revealed the legs. A black dress with the fabric clinging to the body and a layer of mesh on top.
*‘Sue’ wouldn’t have recognized them, but I do.* Sue unconsciously gulped.
They resembled the dresses she had seen in her previous life, in the ‘modern world’.
No matter how liberal Atlantis was about fashion, such daring dresses didn’t exist. This world was a ‘medieval-esque fantasy world’, so there were quite a few modern elements, but this was the first time she had seen clothes that were so blatantly modern.
“Are you kidding me?”
Sue snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Enzhe’s sharp voice. She looked down and saw Enzhe staring at the employee, her expression unreadable.
“I apologize for any offense.”
“No matter how novel or unique the design is… These are shameless dresses that don’t know their place. No, they’re not even dresses. These things.”
Even Melaine, who had been smiling pleasantly all day, couldn’t hide her displeasure, her teeth bared.
“I suppose these are in fashion outside the capital?”
Unlike Melaine, who was openly frowning, Enzhe’s expression remained blank.
She understood that Enzhe, who insisted on traditional dresses, wouldn’t like these modern-style dresses, but she couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
“No, not quite in fashion… There are a few people who prefer them.”
The employee responded calmly. This probably wasn’t the first time he had encountered such a reaction. *So they were selling these dresses outside the capital too?*
“I apologize. If you don’t like these dresses, I’ll bring you others.”
As he had said, there were many dresses in the sample book that were more common in Löhn than these modern-style dresses. They had probably obtained permission to enter the capital by showcasing traditional dresses. And yet, Enzhe had deliberately chosen these modern-style dresses and was expressing her displeasure.
*‘So this kind of shop exists too.’*
Sue, outwardly mirroring Melaine and Enzhe’s expressions, quickly searched her memories.
But she couldn’t find any mention of a dress shop that sold modern-style dresses, neither in ‘Sue’s’ memories nor in the novel.
*Such a unique shop would have appeared in the novel…’*
*‘Maybe the designer is a transmigrator like me? …Haha…’*
The thought was ridiculous, even to her. It wasn’t impossible, but she didn’t want to consider the possibility.
Even if the unknown designer was in the same situation as her, it wouldn’t be of any help.
*If there really is a transmigrator, they should have possessed that black-haired grand duchess.*
“Pfft… Hahaha…”
“…!”
Suddenly, Enzhe burst out laughing. Sue flinched, wondering if it was because of her. Enzhe laughed heartily, clutching her stomach, then suddenly spoke.
“This shop will be bankrupt within six months.”
It wasn’t sarcasm or anger, but a sincere statement. And this time, even Sue and Melaine couldn’t help but agree.
“Let me give you some advice, nameless one.”
Enzhe continued, looking directly at the employee. Her tone was condescending and amused.
“The center of Atlantis… the standard of Atlantis is Löhn and the Imperial Family. Not some nameless designer.”
She pointed at the dresses in front of her.
“No one will wear these rags.”
She was smiling brightly for the first time today.
“No matter how fresh or novel the idea is, the Emperor won’t wear the clothes of a beggar, will he?”
“….”
“The people of Löhn would rather walk around naked than wear these strange, shameless clothes. That’s the pride of us Skias.”
The employee didn’t say anything. There was no point in arguing with the noble ladies in front of him, especially since he wasn’t even the designer.
“Melaine, Sue, let’s go.”
Having said her piece, Enzhe straightened her posture and stood up.
She walked with her head held high, her back straight, her hands clasped in front of her, her steps measured and graceful. It was a truly Enzhe Lopetrefer-like appearance.
“How low-class. The standards of these so-called examiners.”
Enzhe muttered as they left the shop, seemingly in a good mood.
It seemed like the outrageously bizarre dresses had actually cheered her up.
It was more satisfying to genuinely criticize a truly strange shop than to force herself to find fault.
*‘Whew…’*
Sue and Melaine, who had been worried about the modern-style dresses, sighed in relief.
As long as Enzhe was happy, it didn’t matter how strange or normal the shop was.
* * *
Fortunately, Enzhe’s complaining subsided considerably after the modern dress incident.
They then visited nearby craft shops and jewelry stores without any further trouble. And for their final destination, they decided on a large salon that Enzhe had been eyeing for a while.
The large salon was a prestigious establishment with over a hundred years of history in the capital. Sue, following the employee’s escort, entered a private room. It was her first time at the large salon, so she looked around curiously.
The room was decorated with warm sepia lighting, luxurious sofas and tables. The sweet sound of a violin filled the air. Sue straightened her posture unconsciously, feeling the elegant atmosphere.
Unlike the small salons where people had tea and chatted briefly, this place was a ‘true’ salon, where noble ladies held regular gatherings to read books and discuss politics.
And there was another reason why Enzhe, who had never paid attention to such places before, had recently become interested.
“When I become the Duchess of Fritz, I’ll be having tea and discussions here. This is practice.”
*No, you won’t become the Duchess of Fritz.*
“Yes, it’s wonderful just to imagine it, Lady Enzhe!”
Sue suppressed the sarcasm that rose to her throat and praised Enzhe with a look of admiration.
Enzhe, pleased with her reaction, smiled faintly and took a sip of her tea.
“Sue, should I include you in those gatherings?”
Enzhe raised her chin slightly and looked down at Sue as if she were looking at something insignificant.
It was absurd, but Sue had to nod.
“It would be an honor to be invited!”
“Hehe. But then the other ladies would be uncomfortable, so no.”
“Yes, I understand!”
Sue continued to agree with Enzhe, even when she was being mocked.
She could feel Melaine’s sympathetic gaze from across the table.