CH 5.10

Chapter 5: Are People Born A Tsundere?

Lila’s hand flipped through the catalog faster and faster. Doreen had expected to find a choice early in the catalog, but her expectations were dashed.

It wasn’t until she reached the very last page of the thick catalog that Lila showed her curiosity.

“Hmm…”

However, Doreen became increasingly anxious because she rarely opened her mouth. It would be a blow to her pride to take this job at a dress shop other than her own, the most prestigious in the North.

Especially if it was her rival.

“You have very high standards. This work is incomplete, but I’m glad I brought it just in case!”

Doreen said as she dropped the filing cabinet at her side. Her impatience was evident in the way she opened it.

Lila tilted her head as she looked at the sketchy dress pattern. It had a square neckline, full sleeves, and a long, flowing skirt.

The squared off neckline was to hold a rich lace partlet.

“Not bad.”

Lila turned the dress over in her mind, trying to figure out how to ruin it. Just then Vincent brought in a light meal, tea, fruit, and dessert on a silver tray.

He set a side table next to Lila and placed the food on it. It was easy for her to pick up and eat.

“Thank you.”

Lila couldn’t help but be grateful for his consideration. Vincent showed a brief smile at her words, then bowed and left.

When Doreen stared wide-eyed at her, unable to understand her gesture, Lila turned to her assistant.

“Give me the pen.”

“Yes?”

“Give me the pen.”

“Yes…”

The assistant pulled a fountain pen out of her bag with a questioning look on her face.

As soon as Lila took the fountain pen, she began to scribble on the paper while Doreen sketched.

“The overall color of the dress is a bright red…”

Lila was about to ruin the dress in her usual bold way, but a sudden thought stopped her.

Ever since her father died, Lila had always gone to balls alone. Louie often accompanied her when he heard that she was cute because his makeup didn’t work properly, but after she was reborn as ugly, she was alone.

But this time she wasn’t alone, and it was a Duke’s coming of age.

‘I can’t be the one to ruin it.’

Lila remembered Lucas’s words.

[Don’t bother with their scornful eyes, it’s what you’re going to get when you get out there].

It didn’t take her long to realize that this was exactly what he’d been through.

Lila thought for a moment, then looked at Doreen with a questioning glance, who flinched under her gaze.

“What’s… the problem…”

Doreen’s uncomfortable expression was still there, but Lila had made up her mind.

“Well.”

She replied hesitantly, looking back at the dress pattern before speaking.

“I want the overall color of the dress to be cream, and the jewelry to be emeralds, diamonds, and blue sapphires. Lengthen the back of the skirt, but don’t make the train too long. I want the lace to be colorful, not just plain, and I want the lace for the… partlet to be white. It’s a one-layer partlet that’s not rich.’

“Yes? Yes, I see.”

Lila made detailed markings as she spoke. Doreen was a little surprised by the look and the style of dress she was describing.

It had been an unfinished sketch that hadn’t been finished for a while.

It brought a strange feeling to see Lila pointing out things she hadn’t thought of and demanding revisions. It was almost like an unpleasant feeling.

“And for everyday wear, I think this would be great.”

Lila said, flipping back through the catalog and snagging the dress she’d been eyeing.

“I make all my dresses in petticoat-only styles because I don’t wear corsets or farthingales or anything like that.”

“But…”

Lila repeated, shooting Doreen a cold glare as she continued to vomit at her words.

“But?”

“Well, my lady looks like you need one, and the dress must be corseted.”

“Really?”

“Yes, of course. My lady will need a corset. Just trust me. I…”

Lila felt a growing irritation at her attitude. Part of her wanted to tell her to make the dress look like she wanted to rip it to shreds, but she’d already decided to think nice for Lucas’s sake.

But now she has crossed the line. For now…

“First of all, I’m not ‘my lady.’”

Lila said coldly, cutting Doreen off.

“And two, just because I’m fat doesn’t mean I need a corset. I make the decisions, not you.”

Doreen realized she had crossed the line. But she couldn’t admit it easily.

She felt insulted that this woman, who does not look better than her, should say such an insult simply because she was a duchess.

“Thirdly, if you can’t make it happen, I can call someone else.”

Lila finished and slammed the catalog and sketches down on the table.

She leaned her upper body against the couch, picked up a sandwich, and wolfed it down.

Doreen couldn’t argue with that last statement; she could only shiver and squeeze the corners of her eyes shut.

Despite her frustration and resentment, she couldn’t turn down the job. The story of supplying the Duke of Montefeltra’s outfit would soon be linked to sales, and she’d already received a hefty down payment.

Through clenched teeth, Doreen bowed her head and lifted the hem of her skirt.

“Yes, Duchess.”

“Very good. Let’s get me measured, then.”

At the sight of Lila standing up and spreading her arms, Doreen and the assistant shared a puzzled look, but moved in unison to take the measurements.

Watching them quickly disappear, Lila sat back in her seat and crossed her arms deeply.

She felt a deep sense of skepticism about dealing with people who would judge her based solely on her appearance and look down on her.

When she reached the end, she told herself it was just a distraction and picked up her sandwich.

As she ate, she realized she was hungry. Watching the sandwich disappear, she still felt hungry. She popped the last bite into her mouth and pondered for a moment.

“Should I eat more? Why am I so hungry?”

Lila muttered to herself as she began to search for the magic bell. That’s when the door opened roughly.

“Ugly!”

It was from a very cute voice, but the word ‘ugly’ was the last thing she wanted to hear right now.

Lila glared at Michael as he walked in, her lips pouting in a frown.

His face is brighter than yesterday, Michael quickly approached Lila and set something down on the table.

Lila’s eyes widened in surprise, and Michael’s cheeks flushed. He began to stammer.

“I didn’t bring it for you, I picked it up on the way!”

As she listened, Lila looked at the large basket of flowers that took up half the table.

“You picked this up on the way here?”

Lila’s eyes narrowed in suspicion for a moment, and then an exasperated Michael answered in a loud voice.

“Yes! It was lying on the floor!”

“Really?”

“Why would I lie to you and give you something like this just because you’re pretty?”

Looking at Michael, already red-faced and stomping his feet in apology, Lila burst out laughing.

“Sure. Why would the young master lie to me?”

“Yes!”

“Thank you, the flowers are really pretty.”

Before she knew it, the humble hydrangeas had begun to bloom, filling the basket. The mauve lilacs tucked in between the hydrangeas made the basket even richer.

Lila smiled as she took in the scent. Michael’s toes curled involuntarily at the sight of her delight. He felt his stomach turn.

Lila sniffed the air and asked.

“But are the hydrangeas blooming already?”

“No.”

“Then where did you get these hydrangeas?”

Michael raised his chin in response to her question.

“I ordered the family’s alchemist to brew a potion for rapid growth. The family’s alchemists and magic engineers are skilled.”

He said he picked it up on the way just now, so it seems he decided to make it.

Instead of pointing it out, she just smiled broadly.

“Thank you, I love it.”

Her slightly curved eyes and softly raised lips were warm and pretty. Even though she wasn’t as pretty as she was yesterday, Michael thought Lila looked very lovely.

But his thoughts and his mouth played different games.

“Well, I suppose it’s better to give it to you than have it abandoned.”

He turned his head away, but his exposed ears and the nape of her neck were stained bright red.

Michael sat down on the sofa and said to Lila, who kept smiling at the sight.

“What are you doing? Don’t you have tea time today?”

It was two hours before dinner, the perfect time for a quick dessert. Lila pressed the magic bell, pleased to see a young gentleman with such good timing.

Her hunger was already gone, but she thought it would be nice to spend some time with the cute young master.