[Chapter 75] The Girl from the Dress Shop

"What? You're out of ribbons?"

The young maid looked distressed. The shop owner clicked his tongue as if to say it was tough.

"We don't have a single one left."

"It doesn't have to be this color, ma'am. As long as it's a blue ribbon..."

"Whether it's blue or purple, we're completely out of ribbons that look like ribbons. There's nothing we can do at this time. With the graduation ball approaching, there won't be anything left!"

The maid was in despair. What should she say to her young lady when she goes back?

"But... But the graduation ball is still a month away!"

"It's only a month away. It's the same everywhere, miss. The shops in Caten are all empty, so how about going to a new store in front of the station? It just opened."

"But it's too expensive..."

But what can you do when there's nothing here?

"Goodbye..."

The maid had no choice but to leave the dress shop with heavy steps.

In the bustling streets of springtime Caten, servants who had accompanied their mistresses emerged from the tailors, jewelers, and cosmetics shops as if they had made a promise.

The story that someone had ordered the graduation ball outfit from Hwangdo at this time didn't even make it to the gossip circles.

All students aged 17 to 19 who could attend the event had been talking about the graduation ball for a month now. Some had been preparing since the beginning of the school year.

"That's to be expected."

The Noble Academy's graduation ball was a debut in high society itself. All the 'important' people in high society got to know each other at the academy, and the 'reliable' reputation that was 'mentionable' in high society also emerged at the academy.

What should she do about her mistress's ribbon? The maid walked absentmindedly and bumped into someone.

"Oops!"

It wasn't a world-shattering collision, but startled, the maid let out a low scream. The person she bumped into also had a surprised expression.

"Watch where you're going."

The person the maid bumped into was a well-dressed adult woman. The frightened maid quickly bowed her head.

"I'm sorry, madam!"

"Madam? Forget that. It's fine, kid. You look just like me."

Like her? The maid suddenly realized that a high-ranking lady wouldn't be walking around without a carriage in such attire.

The woman was elegantly dressed but had no carriage or attendants. She was a lady being escorted. In that case, the other person's status could be roughly inferred. She would be a maid favored by a wealthy mistress.

"Betty."

A calm voice was heard from somewhere. The maid momentarily didn't understand why the name 'Betty' sounded so clear in the bustling city.

The woman in fine clothes turned around and spoke in a surprised voice.

"Miss Neris."

"Betty, right. Did you come for Diane's errands?"

Ah. The maid realized. The word she heard in her ear was undoubtedly the name 'Betty,' not the name of the unfamiliar woman.

The fact that she heard only that name so distinctly in the bustling city caught her attention.

'A very clear voice...'

A voice as smooth as marble, with a beautiful tone and precise pronunciation.

As if enchanted, the maid's gaze was drawn to the girl who approached Betty and exchanged greetings.

The lady she served had a pronounced upper-class accent that she longed for and sometimes envied.

The owner of all that radiance had long, shiny golden hair tied with a green velvet ribbon.

And among her densely packed features, her violet eyes shone innocently. The maid couldn't help but realize who she was.

Neris Trude.

The story of how she never missed being at the top since enrollment was nothing short of a legend among the lower nobility.

The young lady she served would sometimes mention that name with admiration, and sometimes with envy.

Many people paid attention to what this famous girl, who would turn 18 soon, would become in the future.

Her father may have been of humble origin, but her maternal family was said to be descended from one of the three legendary heroes, Elendria's descendants, right?

Neris, who had clear blue eyes, was cherished by her maternal family. Despite the difference in status, when she was thirteen, the Elendria siblings hosted a high noble party in their dormitory for her.

So, if there were no changes, under the support of her family, she would have been able to rise to a higher position than her original background.

The young maid didn't know much about noble customs, but among the servants of the academy students, such stories were spreading little by little.

The Tiriann purple eyes, which were difficult to see unless one had a very noble lineage, suddenly turned towards the young maid.

Feeling as if those eyes were piercing through her, the maid quickly left the place. Work, I need to work quickly!

***

"Betty, right. Did you come for Diane's errands?"

Neris greeted warmly, flashing a faint smile.

The elegant smile that gracefully lifted the corners of her mouth was perfect, like a painting by a court painter. It was as if a masterpiece had come to life.

As Betty stood before Neris, she was once again impressed, as always.

This exceptional young lady had only grown more beautiful with age.

Her refined features from childhood now shone with a polished brilliance, like cut gemstones. And due to her perpetually serene expression, she seemed more like a noble lady who had ruled over vast lands for ages rather than a student.

When she raised her transparent and deep amethyst-like eyes, the person meeting her gaze couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

And like a slave, anyone who met her gaze felt as if they should obey any command from Neris.

Even though Neris had been slightly smaller in stature than her peers since childhood, she still appeared petite.

However, her demure and unwavering posture always made her slender figure appear strong rather than fragile.

'If only my family had supported me a little more, how wonderful would it have been. The precious lady has to come all the way to this bustling city herself.'

No... Even if only her mother had been alive.

It was about three years ago. Neris was even smaller and much younger back then. Betty remembered the news of her flight to school.

Neris's mother, who had always been exceptional, lost her life to bandits on the way back to the village of Rohez.

Upon hearing the news, Diane screamed, and Neris shed tears in front of Sir Wilmot, the lord who ruled over Rohez, in charge of her hometown.

How could he close his eyes to leave behind such a kind and young daughter? Betty felt a pang in her heart when she thought about it again.

Since then, Miss Neris had spent her winters at the McKinnon Viscount's estate as before, but in the summers, she stayed at the school or went to work or study at places suggested by the teachers.

Sometimes, Lady McKinnon sent word that Neris had caught her eye and sent letters. At least she was receiving a scholarship.

Despite the hardships, her academic performance was impeccable.

She had entered the prestigious 'Sheridan Society' at the age of fifteen, becoming the youngest member ever, and last summer, she had even visited Hwangdo with Viscount Voltaire to attend some academic conference.

'If only Miss Diane could learn a little...'

Oh, I've been lost in thought for so long in front of people. Betty quickly shook off her reverie. Then, kindly, she asked,

"How did you come out, miss? If you need anything, just let me know. You're coming for dinner tonight anyway. If you need anything, I'll buy it and bring it then."

The friendship between Diane McKinnon and Neris Trude was still going strong. In fact, it was more than just strong.

After the expulsion of the McKinnon patriarch who had tried to harm Diane, the McKinnon family had prospered even more than before. Naturally, the noble children welcoming Diane had increased.

Diane didn't stop those children. But she also didn't welcome them more than what was required by etiquette. It was because she remembered their previous attitudes.

On the other hand, the time spent between Neris and Diane continued to increase.

While most noble children of that level preferred to have leisurely meals in their dormitories rather than the student cafeteria, Diane had more than two meals a day at the student cafeteria with Neris.

Today was one of those special dinner nights that the two girls occasionally had when they got tired of the cafeteria menu.

Betty, who had learned Diane's favorite recipes from the McKinnon estate's head chef, always felt a sense of duty on such days to create the best dishes.

"I didn't come out to buy anything. I have somewhere to go."

"Oh my, is that so."

Betty couldn't stop Neris's busy steps. The two exchanged greetings and parted ways. The young maid who had bumped into Betty earlier had already gone her own way.

As Neris walked about half a block away from Betty, she suddenly turned back. There was no one watching her.

Fortunately, she entered the nearby dress shop.

The narrow shop, filled with paper and old ink bottles, not only helped those who couldn't read and write properly but also served as a place to handle letters coming from other areas to this region or to send letters from the locals to other regions.

Although there was talk of an establishment, the presence of such a service in Caten, where there was still no post office, was appreciated. After all, not everyone had a servant with them.

Thanks to the dress shop always being busy, no one doubted Neris's excuse of "occasionally correcting mistakes in other people's letters" there.

The owner, wearing small and old glasses, greeted Neris familiarly.

"Welcome, miss. Just in time, there's a task for you. You're always that lady's maid."

"Really? That's good."

Although she had expected it, Neris replied that way. The owner didn't know anything.

The owner took out a letter from the brown, old wooden drawer.

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

The envelope of the handed letter was quite substantial. Neris politely thanked and entered the small, old room set aside in the dress shop.

The small room, filled with a desk and paper, was barely enough for one person to enter, but it was just enough that there was no risk of being seen by anyone.

After closing the door to the small room, Neris tore open the seal and opened the letter envelope. Inside the thick envelope were several letters and also several promissory notes.

It seems business is going well. Seeing the promissory notes, Neris smiled.

If the dress shop owner, who was probably thinking that Neris would be busy copying a wealthy lady's letter at her leisure, had seen the numbers written on those notes, he would have been surprised.

The total amount, when added up, was enough to buy five of these dress shops in Caten and still have money left over.

"The business person should have sent some spare funds."

Neris muttered quietly, but she didn't truly believe that Jon Morier had sent all the spare funds of the Morier upper echelon to her.

Half of the Sedona Valley had been transformed into fields growing medicinal herbs, and all the herbs harvested there were sold nationwide and even beyond the continent through the Morier upper echelon established by Jon.

In areas with limited distribution channels, they had even ventured out with the cooperation of the McKinnon upper echelon.

The few remaining medicinal herbs in the original village of Kinya were less effective than the products of the Morier upper echelon. Thus, the business in this area had become a complete monopoly.

It was a tremendous success, and the elderly nobles couldn't buy the goods due to the shortage. Jon was quickly rejected, and he expanded into other fields besides medicine. Money had to circulate to increase.

Even the large upscale store recently opened right in front of Caten Station was affiliated with the Morier upper echelon. So even if Jon had sent Neris this amount of money, it wouldn't make much difference.

In fact, the true owner of the Morier upper echelon was the blonde girl sitting in the small room of the dress shop right now.

Neris happily picked up the pen on the desk. Then, she selected a promissory note to send to her mother as pocket money and wrote a letter.