Thanks to Maureen and Karappa, Jill started mass-producing clothes and accessories without collapsing from hunger, and the cloakroom was beginning to fill up. Maureen was amazed and said, “Why don’t you take a break?” But Jill couldn’t stop her hands from moving as ideas of what to make next kept popping into her head.
Moreover, until now, Jill was the only one who wore the clothes she made. But now, there was someone tall and well-built like Maureen. The motivation to make clothes that suited Maureen emerged. At first, Maureen was reluctant, but eventually, Jill’s persistence won out, and she started wearing the clothes.
And once she wore them, everything went just as Jill had planned.
“…This is quite… No, yeah. It looks really good.”
In front of the mirror, Maureen was surprised by her appearance.
“How does it feel? It’s comfortable, right?”
“It’s surprisingly easy to move in… and it has a sleek look.”
Maureen, like Jill, was now dressed in pants.
But these weren’t the gaucho pants Jill had made before.
They were black straight pants.
Her upper body was dressed in a white shirt, with a beige summer coat over it.
These two items, of course, were also made by Jill.
The simple and calm color pattern, combined with Maureen’s tall, slim figure, created a stylish beauty.
“Well, it’s a bit much to say since I’m the one who dressed you, but it’s beyond what I imagined… All we need now is a hat and shoes, and it’s perfect.”
“No, no, I can’t go outside like this. If I wore better clothes than a noble, I’d be a disgrace as a maid.”
“So, if I dress up, you’ll go out with me?”
“No way! A maid has her own attire. I’ll only wear this inside the mansion.”
“What a waste…”
Jill sighed.
“But this shirt looks really good for everyday wear. The buttons are a bit luxurious, but I don’t think it’s unnatural for me to wear something like this.”
The buttons on the shirt were made from carved stones.
These were sourced from Matthew, and this was the only part that wasn’t handmade by Jill.
Seeing it on the shirt, it looked quite impressive.
Jill was pleased with her purchase.
“I thought it wouldn’t hurt to have at least one thing like that. But at first glance, it’s subdued and surprisingly easy to wear, right?”
“I especially like this collar. It’s not stiff, so it’s not uncomfortable.”
Maureen looked at her neck area in the mirror with satisfaction.
This was where Jill had put some thought into it.
On Algenes Island, shirts with buttons do exist.
And there are collars that cover the neck.
But there were no shirts like dress shirts with collars that are folded and designed to hold a tie.
There was no standard collar shape like a uniform, and there was no social convention that “collared clothing is formal.” Ties and scarves exist as accessories, but not having one didn’t mean a lack of etiquette. They were simply part of fashion and for warmth, without any ceremonial significance.
“It’s cool, isn’t it? I think it would look great with a tie or ribbon under the collar… Hmm.”
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“This is already too perfect, you see. Since most of the clothes are in subdued colors, I think there could be some more flashy items besides the buttons.”
“Well, it’s not as bold as that blue dress. I prefer a calmer look, though…”
At that moment, Maureen suddenly realized something and looked at Jill.
Jill was already calculating what she should make her wear next in her head.
“No way! Master, wear it yourself!”
“Eh~ It’s no fun if I’m the only one.”
“In that case, you should hurry up and open the general store. I’ll help you out there with no hesitation.”
“Yeah… Alright, let’s keep making clothes like crazy!”
Maureen shrugged her shoulders.
However, in reality, Maureen wasn’t simply reluctant to listen to Jill’s requests because she was too focused on her primary duties of household chores and guarding. Despite her initial resistance, Maureen ended up enjoying her role as a model. Jill’s plan was working perfectly on Maureen.
◆
About three weeks into Jill’s reclusive lifestyle.
Matthew and Garda came to Jill’s mansion, bringing the requested items and some sweets as gifts.
The sweets were macarons.
The ingredients were simple: almonds, egg whites, and sugar. Sometimes, alcohol or flavorings were added for color and taste. This was actually something Conrad had started making. The simplicity of the ingredients and the deliciousness of the treat made it popular, spreading not only in the town of Shelland but to various other towns as well.
“This texture is just irresistible.”
The four of them, including Maureen, enjoyed the macarons over tea. In Shelland, the popular style was to place various jams on the table and let everyone choose what they liked, putting it on the macarons with a spoon before eating.
“But can’t you make this yourself, Mistress?”
“Ah, I’m good at boiling, steaming, and baking at low temperatures, but… I’m not very good at things that need to be baked in an oven. I can’t compete with professionals when it comes to things that require an oven or a stone kiln.”
“Oh, then maybe I’m better at baking bread than you.”
“You can’t beat someone who’s been doing it for years. Besides, self-sufficiency gets boring after a while.”
“Absolutely.”
Jill enjoyed making sweets, but she also loved eating store-bought ones. Moreover, when she was deeply focused on making clothes, cooking elaborate dishes felt like a hassle.
For this reason, during the three weeks she was engrossed in making clothes, Maureen’s help with meals was invaluable. Maureen, who had honed her skills as a cook in the knight’s dormitory, provided meals that were hearty yet comforting and never tiresome, even when eaten daily. “Just eating white, soft bread all the time can lead to a nutritional imbalance,” Maureen would say as she served traditional Shelland dishes like pumpkin soup and rye bread. For Jill, who tended to eat only what she liked or what was convenient when alone, Maureen had become an indispensable presence.
Additionally, recently, friends and acquaintances had started checking in on her and bringing sweets, which had been a great help to Jill. Not just emotionally but also materially, Jill found her current mansion far more comfortable than the royal castle.
“By the way, Jill, the items you requested have arrived.”
“Oh, what were they again?”
“Haha, have you forgotten? Here you go.”
Jill received something wrapped in paper.
Wondering if it was a gift, she opened the wrapping to find a piece of pure white fabric folded neatly inside. The texture was so smooth that it seemed like anything could slide right off it, and it had a lustrous sheen that could easily be mistaken for pearls or gemstones.
“This is… silk…!”
Jill murmured with a beaming smile.
“Yes. It’s woven in satin, so it has an even more pronounced luster. I thought you might prefer something that highlights the characteristics of silk.”
“Yes! This is wonderful…!”
Satin is a type of weave used to create fabric, where the intersection points of the warp and weft threads are made as inconspicuous as possible. While cotton and linen can also be woven in satin, silk satin is considered the best in terms of texture and luster.
“Sorry it took a little time to procure. I also prepared the yarn before it was woven into fabric, thinking you’d want to dye it yourself, so there’s nothing with color yet.”
“Oh…! This is truly amazing, Matthew! I can’t wait to decide what to make!”
Jill’s unrestrained words of joy brought smiles to the faces of both Matthew and Garda.
“By the way, Jill, it seems that a certain rumor has started to spread.”
“A rumor?”
Jill asked, wondering what it could be about, and it turned out that people were starting to talk about who the straw hat maker was.
“So, you’re now the talk of the town as the mysterious hat maker.”
Garda laughed as she said this, and Matthew nodded in agreement.
“Madam Emily has been wearing the straw hat every time she goes for a walk. It seems she really likes it.”
Madam Emily was one of Matthew’s clients. She was known for her love of fashion and new clothes, to the point where whatever she wore to evening parties or tea gatherings would often set the trend in the town.
“Should I bring some? I think this black straw hat is quite chic.”
“It might be a little early to popularize dyed straw hats… We risk making the current ones obsolete too quickly. How about increasing the variety of artificial flowers instead?”
“That sounds good. I was also thinking of changing the shape a bit to make some that men could wear.”
“Sorry, but could you tell me more about that? If it’s for men, I could also suggest some coordinating outfits.”
“…You guys are workaholics.”
Garda muttered in amazement.
It was at that moment.
‘An alert has been triggered in the security system.’
