Jenny was now happy. Usually, helping a lady take a bath was a tiring and tricky job. She had decided to work for the Claymores because the family paid much more than other families to its maids, but actually, she also liked that there was no duchess.
She had never enjoyed her work, and she had always been afraid. When she recommended cosmetics, her previous mistresses would say something like,
You think I should use such cheap stuff on my skin? No way. Just bring me the most expensive cream in Shop Canary.
They would scold her, tell her not to forget that she was only a maid, and they always blamed her when their skin got worse.
She thought it was unfair. She was sure that she knew more than anyone else about cosmetics, but there had been no one who acknowledged that. People just scolded her, saying knowing a lot about cosmetics wasn’t anything special.
However, Rubica was different. She complimented Jenny’s skills, listened to her, and complimented her knowledge.
‘Has this been always so enjoyable?’
Rubbing on cream so that it would be absorbed well into the skin was a job harder than you might think. It doesn’t require a lot of strength, but you must use the right amount of strength with your fingers and often use your wrists. But for some reason, Jenny found massaging Rubica not hard at all.
It feels so good.
Rubica relaxed as Jenny rubbed the cream on her body, and she almost fell asleep. The only reason she didn’t fall asleep was because of a sound she heard.
Oh, right. You haven’t eaten anything yet.
Rubica felt ashamed while her face turned red and said,
Oh, it’s fine. I will eat when others eat.
But you look very hungry, miss.
No, I can’t make them stop the carriage because of me…
The maid looked a little confused at this for a while. But soon, she nodded and explained,
It is impossible to eat inside a normal carriage as it shakes, but mana carriages are different. His Grace must have eaten a simple breakfast prepared in his carriage, too. He extremely hates it when someone comes in when he is working.
She added the last sentence because she didn’t want Rubica to think the duke didn’t like to be with her. However, Rubica was glad that he wasn’t summoning her.
Okay, it would be better than stopping the carriages to eat together. It would be a waste of time.
Then I will prepare a simple meal.
Rubica nodded. Jenny soon removed the basin of water and set food on a small table. Soft and white bread, fruits from the south, milk, and fresh juice. They were dishes that pretended to be frugal.
While she ate, Jenny went to the next room and brought about a dozen of pretty dresses.
Rubica was surprised to see them as she hadn’t known that even clothes had been prepared for her.
‘Well, I guess my usual dresses wouldn’t be good enough for the noble duke.’
Rubica smiled bitterly. She was trying to interpret Edgar’s action in the worst possible way, and she found herself funny.
As we had to prepare quickly, we had no choice but to fix and bring dresses left by the duke’s grandmother. They’re out of fashion, aren’t they? The housekeeper has asked me to apologize to you instead.
Rubica couldn’t say anything to that.
Such luxurious and pretty dresses were out of fashion?
Oh, but she had never been near society and had only watched ladies in dresses from afar.
Please choose the one you like.
The ten dresses each had a unique charm, all different from one another. Rubica gulped hard.
They were all pretty, and she wanted to wear them all.
Rubica tried to calm her pounding heart and finally managed to speak,
Can I try them all?
… excuse me, miss?
Oh, it’s too much work, isn’t it? No, no, it’s not necessary.
Wearing such a dress required many pairs of hands, so Jenny alone wasn’t enough.
Rubica regretted losing to her desire and saying that aloud, therefore she just shook her hands.
Then, Jenny remembered what the housekeeper had told her just before she left Claymore Mansion.
-No matter what happens, Miss Berner must be your top priority. You must give her anything she wants, anything she eats and anything she wants to do. If any of you behaves disrespectfully to her… I will make you regret it.
Cold sweat ran down her back. The housekeeper, Ann, was a nice lady, but she always kept her words, for better or worse. Jenny didn’t want to lose her nice job.
Stop, stop the carriage!
Oh, but there’s no need to!
Before Rubica could stop her, Jenny ran to the driver. When the carriage stopped, the carriage for the servants, that had been following from behind, also stopped.
Jenny immediately ran to it and came back with three other maids.
Then the carriage started moving again.
Miss Berner wants to try all of these dresses.
All of… these ten dresses?
The maids looked confused at first.
But there wouldn’t be enough time to try ten dresses…
Oh, it’s fine. Please don’t overdo yourselves,
Rubica said while shaking her hands once again.
However, as the maids didn’t know her personality yet, they thought there had to be a reason for Jenny summoning them like that.
‘Are we being tested now?’
Now they were in trouble. Although Rubica was saying it was fine, they couldn’t believe that.
We can do it, miss!
It wouldn’t be a problem, miss.
The maids immediately started to move. One of them brought a huge mirror and accessory box with Jenny, and the other two started to dress Rubica.
Unlike a maid’s dress that can simply be put on and off, a lady’s dress is complicated. Although vertugadin (triangular petticoat) was now the trend, as the dresses had originally belonged to the duke’s grandmother, the maids made Rubica wear farthingale (petticoat in the shape of a barrel) first. Then, they used pins to fix the stomacher decorated with jewels and embroidery on Rubica’s chest and helped her put on the skirt and overdress. It was finished much faster with the extra hands.
What do you think, miss?
Jenny asked nervously after putting the large mirror in front of Rubica.
It’s really pretty.
Yes, it is. Also, the stomacher’s embroidery has been recently redone.
It was done with great skill… um, what is this pattern?
Oh…
Jenny could feel her mouth turning dry at the question. She knew everything about cosmetics, but she wasn’t that confident about clothes.
It’s pomegranate flower! The pattern…
The maid who spoke hid behind the mirror after saying that. She was afraid because she thought Rubica might punish her.
Pomegranate flower? How did you recognize it?
But to her surprise, Rubica didn’t get mad at her for yelling. Instead, she simply asked kindly. The maid poked her head out a little from behind the mirror.
The tip of its stamens. They’re from pomegranate flowers… pomegranate means fecundity. I embroidered pomegranate flower patterns when I made things for my sister’s marriage. That pattern is… popular in the Desert Kingdom. I was told so.
The Desert Kingdom? How do you know such a thing?
… my mother is from there.
Wow, that’s how you recognized it immediately. I had no idea. Could you explain more?
Rubica kept asking questions in awe, and the maids glanced at each other. They were all thinking their new mistress wasn’t that scary.
But this pink doesn’t fit me.
However, Rubica judged the dress objectively. The pink dress with the blue tint was clearly beautiful, but it didn’t suit Rubica.
Then how about this sky-blue dress?
Please try it on, miss.
The maids whispered among themselves, and they felt like they were tailors. They then helped Rubica change into the next dress.
… umm.
Rubica thought as she looked herself in the mirror.
Next, another maid commented,
Actually, it doesn’t look good…
Then she covered her mouth in shock. She had spoken such a thing to the lady who was about to become the duchess! She trembled, fearing punishment.
You think so too? That was what I was thinking as well.
But then, she heard something unexpected. The maids locked eyes, quite confused. What kind of person was this lady? How they were supposed to serve her?
They didn’t know what to do, but then, the newest maid who had just spoken about pomegranate flower patterns spoke again. Newbies are usually the most courageous as they cannot predict the outcomes of their actions.
How about this one, miss?
It was a yellow dress with just a little bit of orange tint.
I think it would match your skin color and brown hair.
The veteran maid silently warned her, that venturing could make her get punished. However, Rubica clapped.
Yes, you are right. I think it would look good on me.
The maids were confused once again, but they quickly helped her get changed again. She was right, it did look good on her.
Which accessory would match this dress?
They were all puzzled at the question that demanded an answer. Jenny found some courage and took out a brooch from the accessory box.
How about this one?
It was a golden rose brooch with a ruby at the center. Rubica then put it on her chest and said,
It’s good… but I think it can be better.
How about this one?
Then, the veteran maid who had given a warning earlier couldn’t restrain herself and pointed at another brooch. Rubica reacted before she could regret what she had done and said,
Yes! It would be perfect.
The brooch was in a hydrangea shape with small topazes, and it matched the dress quite nicely.
