Heroine On Strike

“What did he do? Well… Maybe the question is what did I do instead.”

Suspicious, Maylin asked, “What are you… My lady, what have you done this time?”

“You sound as if I always make trouble.”

“Well, it happens quite often, actually. It’s really fascinating how you can do all that while studying so hard… Oh! Please excuse my words,” said Maylin, who was shocked by what she had just blurted out.

Ella chuckled at the sight of that. She could feel her gloominess fade away.

“Thank you Maylin, you made me feel good.”

“Pardon? Anyway, so what trouble have you got yourself into?”

“Oh, the trouble? I’m going to get into one now.”

“My lady!”

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing new. You know what I’m up to.”

Maylin seemed relieved that Ella wasn’t in any trouble. She, however, was still concerned for her as she also didn’t want her lady to be in a bigger mess than she currently was in.

Ella was helped into her pajamas. After putting on bright yellow pajamas that Luciella secretly loved, she dove into her bed. Because Countess Seton was very skillful, her pajamas were very comfortable.

After brushing those thoughts away with Maylin’s help, Ella thought about the new dresses arriving tomorrow. Her anticipation grew as she thought about the sketches she drew and the actual designs of the dresses that were made. Her expectations would be met by the dress she saw the next day. It was a dress that tweaked a traditional rococo style dress a bit by basing off of Ella’s fourth design, adding a bit of modern flair.

It was strange to talk about modern sense in this world, but the Countess’s design struck up Ella’s thoughts. It was just the simple design that Ella wanted to even make her think that maybe Countess too had visited modern Earth to learn about this design. It made Ella’s anticipation grow further. Just by thinking it made her heart pound. And that pounding became astonishment when she saw the dress in its real form.

***

Countess Setin came right on time with the dresses, which pleased the duchess. She declared that the countess was going to be paid handsomely. Ella also smiled with a nod when she heard that the duchess was going to pay more. The dress in front of her was worthy of a high reward.

“She’s a bit talkative, but she sure is one of the best at her job. Although, I would pay millions to replace her if we could find someone with her skill, who was less talkative,” said the duchess. She was still a bit salty from the mistake Setin made on her last visit.

But Ella didn’t care about that. There were some wives who copied what their husband’s concubine wore. Perhaps Countess Setin thought Ella was a similar case. The design Ella wanted was probably very similar to what Clara had designed. The countess’s only fault was that she tried to be quick on her suggestion, so Ella replied, “I also prefer someone less talkative, but I love her skills. It’s like she opened my head to see what I was thinking.”

“If you are satisfied, then I am too. Oh, and Ella,” the Duchess called her.

“Yes, mother?”

“Evan left a message for you when he left early this morning. He said you should know that he’ll be going to Dorlan.”

“Oh…”

It sure was a big issue to just wait around, but she understood his decision to rush out. But because of that, Ella’s escort was now Ethan. Ethan thought that Ella had perhaps changed her mind because she had accepted his escort. However, he was going to find out that it was only wishful thinking.

“Am I late, father?” asked Ella.

“No, of course not. The star of the show always comes last, remember?”

“Aw, father. I’m not the star of today’s show.”

“You’re the star wherever you go! Of course, you are. Hahaha!”

Ella, who exchanged warm greetings with her parents, pretended as if Ethan wasn’t there. The duke and duchess also didn’t put much thought into Ella’s behavior. They were always strict towards her brothers. She, however, was the exception to that strictness. Unless there were others around, they always sided with her.

Even when Ella had pulled out Evan’s hair, they questioned and punished him for what he had done. As such, Ella not talking to Ethan was nothing. Ethan was filled with despair as he didn’t know how to answer her question. Regardless, it seemed that she didn’t care what her brother’s choice was, so Ella ignored his despair.