NOVEL NEXT Chapter 62
Chapter 62 “Lynne, this girl…”Instead of beginning with something ordinary like, “Hi, I’m so-and-so,” Lynne’s letter was as brusque as she was—rough like sandpaper.[You idiot. Summer’s almost here, and you haven’t even bothered to buy a hat? Always making me do annoying things.]That’s what she said when I asked her to send me a summer hat from home.Complaints about why I wrote letters every week. Grumbles about how I could just buy a hat with my wages instead of asking her to send one.“It’s like I can hear her grousing through the letter.”Her voice seemed to echo in my ears, almost like a hallucination. Was I imagining things?Even as she griped about my bothersome request, Lynne subtly updated me on the Hans and the restaurant.Apparently, the restaurant had gotten even busier since I left, but Uncle Hans hesitated to hire anyone else, thinking I’d come back soon.I burst out laughing at that.“Oh, Uncle Hans. I told you I’d be running an inn when I return.”Still, I couldn’t help but feel touched. It warmed my heart.There was even a jab at Daniel.[That self-important Count seems to have taken you away just to make you work as a maid, without even buying you a hat. How thrifty of him. I guess even friendships aren’t worth much in the face of debt. I’m only sending you this because I feel sorry for you.]“Hm, sounds like Daniel’s really fallen out of favor with her.”Lynne clearly didn’t care that he was a Count and a top-tier merchant. She could pretend otherwise, but it seemed she wasn’t too fond of him.“Anyway, what exactly is she sending me?”Wasn’t she just going to send an old hat lying around the house?After setting the letter aside, I opened the box.When I saw the contents, my eyes widened, and I gasped.“Wow. It’s adorable.”Inside the box was a brand-new straw hat with a white lace ribbon tied around it. I could tell Lynne’s family had gone out of their way to buy it for me.“Honestly, I told her to just send me an old one…”Still, I couldn’t hide how happy I felt. After all, who doesn’t like something new? I quickly put the hat on and walked over to the window to see my reflection.The image of me wearing the straw hat was faintly visible in the glass. I moved closer, tying the white ribbon under my chin to secure it.“It’s pretty.”Lynne and Uncle Hans must’ve carefully picked it out in town before sending it to me.I gently untied the ribbon and set the hat down on my bed. It would be perfect for my upcoming trip to the Rewybourne villa.“But what else did she send?”Besides the straw hat, there was another package in the box.Curious, I lifted it, but it was light. It felt like clothing or something equally lightweight.Did she send me some clothes I left behind?I opened the package and gasped in surprise.“What? A dress?”Inside was a single dress—not one of the sturdy ones I used to wear.It wasn’t one of those drab, dark dresses like gray or navy, chosen to hide dirt.“Wow.”I kept exclaiming in amazement, holding the dress up to my body.It was a pale apricot summer dress with short sleeves ending above the elbows, white frills, and a sailor collar.The dress looked expensive, the kind worn by daughters of well-off families.Though beautiful, it made me wonder if the package had been sent to the wrong person.But no—the address was correct, and it was definitely for me. Still, this didn’t seem like the kind of thing Lynne’s family would send.The quality and design suggested it came from a boutique, not a regular shop.“Who in the world sent this?”The light apricot dress reminded me of the pink cherry blossom gown I had worn at a party. Yellow leaf-like embroidery adorned the white collar.Even the delicate embroidery hinted at a masterful touch.As I held the dress against myself and stepped toward the window, something fell from the folds—a card used by boutiques.The handwriting was unfamiliar, hurried and messy, as if written reluctantly.But the message made the sender’s identity clear.[To Miss Jensen, cute but annoying. Why do you keep making me do these troublesome things?]The grumbling tone made me smile.Only one person called me “Miss Jensen.” And only one person in the kingdom could sew such a gorgeous dress.But why would Roan send this to me?“Seriously, when did I ever bother him…? Who asked him to make me a dress?”I puffed out my cheeks in mock annoyance. It seemed this apricot dress was Roan’s handiwork, made specifically for me.What got into him? I hadn’t seen him since the party. Did he somehow see me in my shabby clothes? Was the sight so offensive to his designer’s soul that he made me a dress for free?“Well, whatever the reason, I’m grateful for a free dress.”Unlike my old, sturdy cotton dresses, this one felt soft against my skin.The airy summer fabric and pale apricot color made it ideal for the season.Even though I had mixed feelings about Roan, I couldn’t help but admire his skill. This might be another one-of-a-kind piece, like the cherry blossom gown.Amused, I found myself forgiving him for everything just because of the dress.“Well, I guess I feel pretty good about it.”I still didn’t understand why he called me troublesome, but never mind that.I tied my hair into a low ponytail, held the dress against me, and stood by the window. Sunlight streamed through the glass, faintly reflecting my image.My sun-flushed cheeks looked rustic, but at least I didn’t look ridiculous in this fancy dress.The impeccable stitching and high-quality fabric left no doubt—it was a luxury item. Since he wasn’t asking for payment, I guessed it was another gift.“I was sad to return the cherry blossom dress, but…”Not that Lynne would care if I kept it. Besides, I had no occasion to wear it, which is why I returned it.“Still, I should thank him if I see him again.”A silly giggle escaped me.Thanks to this flawless dress, unblemished by wear or repair, the face in the glass smiled helplessly back at me. ***** “The Count, a letter from Merchant Guildmaster Roan has arrived.”Daniel took the letter from his secretary with an indifferent expression. With an unconcerned hand, he tore open the envelope. Upon seeing the scrawled handwriting—lines resembling a worm’s trail—his brows furrowed.Thankfully, his years working under Roan had trained him to decipher even this chaotic script almost instantly.The letter was less correspondence and more a demand. Roan had written only a few lines.[To the unscrupulous merchant, I’m charging 30,000 Billings for the dress.]Below that was a postscript detailing the cost of the fabric, labor, and a premium fee for employing the kingdom’s top designer.Daniel was dumbfounded.Below that, Roan had added a slew of insults.[How dare you make a retired master do such a thing? You’re a miserable wretch.]Did you think I learned to make clothes to help with your love life? Go broke and crawl back to being a beggar!The tirade was so vivid that Daniel could almost hear Roan yelling in his ear. Shaking his head, he set the letter aside.Still, he wasn’t about to refuse payment to a mentor who had gone to such trouble for him. Without hesitation, he decided to pay the requested amount.“Send 30,000 Billings to Roan.”“Yes, sir.”After the secretary left, Colin, who had been sitting on the sofa, lifted his teacup and turned his gaze to Daniel.The two were enjoying a rare tea time together in the same room. Papers cluttered the table between them, but since they were drinking tea, it technically counted as a tea break.“Why are you sending money to Roan all of a sudden?”“There’s a reason. I asked him for a dress.”Daniel kept the explanation vague, omitting that the dress was for Rosieta. Even now, Daniel wrestled with feelings of petty jealousy toward Roan, who was as close as a brother to him.Suppressing the embarrassment bubbling inside, Daniel cleared his throat.The two had been discussing the guest list for the upcoming birthday party to be held at the villa.Colin took a sip of iced tea and remarked, “I’m surprised. I thought you’d stay at the mansion rather than go to the villa, Daniel. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard, you know.”When the capital’s summer heat became oppressive, nobles would retreat to their vacation homes, returning only when the weather cooled.But Daniel was an exception. He was always too busy with guild matters, his schedule leaving no room for leisure. This year, Colin had assumed it would be the same.With a curious glance, Colin studied Daniel, wondering what had prompted the change of heart. Daniel coughed awkwardly, feeling cornered.“I’ve been hearing that I work too much lately.”“Hmm.”“It’ll be nice to go together, don’t you think?”As Colin stretched out his words teasingly, Daniel hastily tried to justify himself, his sudden nervousness making him appear even more suspicious.