Chapter 95

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Translated by Sylph

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net.
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The gazes of the people inside the shop were all focused on Crebel and the children beside her.

She was the one who operated the largest dress shop in the capital.

It wasn’t just large in size.

From prominent high nobles to top-tier wealthy individuals, and even famous celebrities.

The customers who sought out this place were also fans who had fallen for Crebel’s talent.

Since there were so many of them, naturally, Crebel could not personally attend to every customer.

Furthermore, she spent much of her time in her workshop, designing and producing clothes for customers whose orders she had received.

As a result, the clients she personally attended to were naturally those whom others would find understandable.

However, the customers currently beside Crebel were merely two young children.

“A girl with silver hair and purple eyes.”

One was a girl with a radiant beauty that was difficult to forget the moment one saw her.

Though she was still a bit young, people soon realized who the girl was, given her appearance that would easily reach the pinnacle of the empire’s social circles in just a few years.

“It’s Irene Terence.”

“Since Madame Crebel rose up significantly with the help of the Terence family, of course she would treat her well.”

“Moreover, there are rumors that she will fully engage in social activities in the capital after graduating from the Gifted Center. That’s why they said the Terence family’s townhouse in the capital was extensively renovated.”

“Since the Gifted Center is going on break, it seems she came out for shopping. Will there be an opportunity to greet her?”

“But…”

The gazes of the people who had been whispering about Irene turned toward the child beside her.

“Who is that little one?”

“I’m not sure. It’s a face I’ve never seen at a social gathering…”

“But seeing how Madame Crebel treats her so formally, I wonder if she is the daughter of a very great family.”

“But for that… don’t her clothes look too shabby?”

The people continued to mutter while looking at the three.

And Irene was hearing everything they were saying.

‘What’s wrong with the clothes being a bit worn out? She’s just cute!’

However, it was an undeniable fact that even in Irene’s eyes, Evi’s clothes were old.

‘That’s why I came here, isn’t it?’

Irene looked through the clothes hanging on the long racks.

They were all clothes designed by Crebel and her favorite disciples for this season.

For the clothes available in three sizes per design, one would try them on here once to see if they suited them, then a new garment would be brought out, altered to fit the buyer’s size, and delivered.

Naturally, because it was only a slight alteration of already made clothes, they were treated as a lower grade than clothes designed specifically for the buyer.

‘But Evi needs to wear them right away, so it can’t be helped.’

Irene stared at them for a moment and then began to pick out clothes quickly.

The staff standing nearby immediately and precisely took the clothes Irene picked.

After picking a whole armful of clothes—enough to make three staff members stagger slightly—Irene spoke firmly.

“All of these.”

“As expected, I trusted your eye, my lady. You’ve picked out everything that will suit Miss Evi well.”

“Of course. I’m with Evi all day long, so how could I not pick at least this much? Now, then, let’s have her try them on quickly and check the sizes.”

At Irene’s words, the other staff members approached Evi, holding the first of the clothes she had picked.

Then, Evi looked up at the staff as if wondering why.

“What is it, Evi?”

“Uh, that… why clothes for me…”

“What do you mean why? Because they’re the clothes you’re going to wear.”

Then Evi, looking troubled, glanced around and approached Irene to whisper urgently.

“Irene. This place seems too expensive for me.”

At Evi’s words, Irene looked at her as if she were truly absurd.

“What are you talking about? Why would you pay?”

“Because they’re my clothes.”

“No. I’m going to buy these for you. That’s why we came here.”

When Irene said she would buy them, Evi jumped up even more startled.

“No. I can’t accept them!”

“Why? They suit you so well. You’ll definitely be cute if you wear them.”

At Irene’s words, Crebel, who was watching from behind, nodded as if in agreement.

Evi was still young and thin. For several months, led by Irene, Arcel and Ruska had put all their effort into fattening Evi up.

However, Evi’s body, which had never eaten its fill since birth, did not easily put on weight.

Fortunately, at least some flesh had risen on her face. If one grabbed her cheeks, which had gained a healthy color, they could feel a pleasant softness.

Her hair also didn’t rustle like before, and now it even had quite a sheen when combed.

Thanks to that, the hair that had looked like dry straw when they first saw her was turning into a fairly deep blonde.

Irene looked for clothes that would suit Evi as much as possible, taking those points into consideration.

But she said no?

“Evi, there’s no need to worry about the money. I’ll take care of it all…”

“That’s why I can’t.”

Normally, Evi was one to give in quickly to Irene’s words. But not now.

“…I’m really grateful for your heart, Irene.”

At the unusual firmness, Irene did not stop her further and waited for Evi’s words.

“But it’s my thing, so I don’t think it’s right for Irene to buy it for me. I’m very happy that Irene likes me and thinks of me… but if you keep being this good to me, one day I might start thinking it’s natural, and I might feel disappointed if Irene doesn’t do it for me.”

Unlike her slight hesitation, smooth words flowed from Evi’s mouth.

Seeing Evi like that, Irene could tell.

That she had thought long and hard about this issue.

Otherwise, how could it flow out so smoothly?

‘To think she was worrying about such a thing every time I was good to her.’

The tip of Irene’s nose tingled.

“Evi… how could you…”

She muttered in a voice overcome with emotion.

“Until now, everyone around me has always just tak—ah, no, they were all children who just took whatever I gave them as if it were natural.”

Whether in the South or in the capital, the children around Irene always wanted to get something out of her.

So when Irene gave them a gift, although they said thank you with their mouths, they acted as if it were natural to receive such things.

Sometimes, there were even children who openly showed disappointment, asking why she didn’t give them something better than the other children.

After that, Irene no longer shared her things.

Then, the person who made her feel like she wanted to do something for someone again was Evi.

Evi was someone who looked at the things she used with wonder and always asked if she could touch them.

She looked with envious eyes, but there was no jealousy or envy in that gaze.

So she had decided that when the break started, she would take Evi and gift her the same things she used and wore.

Because then Evi would be truly grateful and give a bright smile as always.

But a refusal.

Even though it was the first refusal she had ever experienced in her life, Irene didn’t feel bad. Rather, she felt more like laughing.

Irene pulled Evi, who was standing beside her, into a tight hug and rubbed her cheeks.

“Yes, yes, I understand. I didn’t know you were having such worries. I don’t think Evi would have such a heart, but if you don’t like it, I won’t do it.”

Evi’s face brightened at Irene’s answer.

“Irene, thank you so much.”

Because she had been worried that Irene might feel disappointed after she said she couldn’t accept them.

“Still, you’ll help me look at the clothes I’m buying, right? I’d like someone who will speak honestly about whether they suit me or not. I have a lot to buy.”

“I’m confident in that!”

Inside Irene’s embrace, Evi answered while clenching her fists.

“Then I want to look at hats first. What do you think would suit me?”

When Irene asked the question, Evi ran toward where the hats were and began to look at each one carefully.

“Hmm, in my view…”

In the meantime, Irene whispered something into Crebel’s ear. Then, Crebel smiled softly.

Irene returned to Evi’s side, and in the meantime, Crebel quietly gave instructions to the staff.

Then the staff marked the numbers of the clothes Irene had picked out and slipped away.

“Irene! This one looks pretty to me. It even has the flower decoration Irene likes.”

Irene took the hat Evi had chosen and tried it on in front of the mirror.

It was a wide-brimmed hat that really suited her. Moreover, it had the type of decoration she liked attached to it.

Rejoicing in the fact that Evi knew her tastes well, Irene picked up a hat that looked exactly like the one Evi had chosen but was a smaller size, and placed it on Evi’s head.

Then they stood together in front of the mirror.

“It suits both of us well. Right?”

“Yes!”

Since Irene hadn’t said she would buy it, Evi answered with a comfortable heart.

“Good! I’ll take this. Madame Crebel, this one, please.”

“Yes, my lady.”

As she spoke, Irene also handed the hat Evi was wearing to Crebel.

“…?”

I had said I didn’t need to buy mine, so why is she handing over two hats?

As Evi looked with a questioning gaze, Irene said innocently.

“I heard from Madame Crebel just a moment ago—goodness, they’re having an event here today, so if you buy one, they give you a slightly smaller one as a service! Right, Crebel?”

“Yes. It’s a special event period for our shop.”

When Irene and Crebel spoke as if it were a natural fact without a single hesitation, Evi tilted her head.

Do they sell things like that too?

Then you’d end up receiving one that doesn’t fit?

It didn’t make sense to Evi’s common sense, but she wondered if there was such a rule in such a wonderful shop.

“Oh, this is pretty too. Evi, come here!”

When Evi looked puzzled, Irene took Evi’s hand and quickly headed elsewhere.

Crebel took a long thread from her pocket and subtly measured Evi’s shoulder and arm length.

While Evi was holding the clothes Irene was to wear, she quickly measured her height, wrist, and waist circumference.

For anyone else, it might be difficult, but for Crebel, such a thing was far too easy.

She recalled the clothes Irene had picked out.

Those clothes would hang in the Terence family’s mansion, pretending to be clothes Irene had worn when she was younger.