The Ugly Lady’s Secret Pouch

Chapter 5: Are People Born A Tsundere?
Part 9

Lila returned to her room in a daze.

She has been wearing ugly makeup ever since she had been possessed ten years ago and realized this place was a work of fiction.

Sometimes she wished she could just throw the whole ‘original’ thing out the window and stop wearing ugly makeup.

She felt so much pain from people’s gazes that she wanted to show her bare face.

She wants to show it to the people who cover their faces like that.

I think I’m prettier than you.

So why don’t you stop looking at me so hatefully?

It wasn’t that she never had these shallow thoughts before, but if this was the world she saw in <Birds Are Happy When They Are Trapped In A Cage,> with its predetermined ending, Lila didn’t want to judge people by their looks like the other nobles did.

So she endured.

But when she was told that the end of her struggle would soon be in sight, all she could do was bury her disheveled body deep into the couch.

A cool breeze drifted in through the balcony. The birdsong and sounds of life that accompanied the breeze made her feel even more tired.

“I’ll sleep for a while.”

At the baron’s house, there were only a few times where she had a nap due to tension, but at the duke’s house, her mind was strangely easily relaxed.

“Is it because I’m almost there?”

She doesn’t know if that’s why she felt relaxed, but Lila reclined and didn’t stop her eyelids from closing.

After a few moments of sleep, Lila was awakened by a steady knock on the door.

She fumbled around for a moment, then pulled a mirror out of her pocket to check her face.

“How long did I sleep?”

She muttered to herself, touching up her ugly makeup.

“Come in.”

As if waiting for her, Vincent entered, accompanied by a woman and what appeared to be an assistant behind her.

“Duchess, I have brought your dressmaker.”

“Ah.”

Lila nodded, remembering what Lucas had said. She poured herself a glass of water from a tray set to one side of the table.

“I don’t have any particular measurements.”

Squinting, she studied the dressmaker, and the woman shivered and offered a curtsy.

“It’s nice to meet you, Duchess. I’m Doreen P. Icia, owner of the largest dress shop in the North, and I’m sure I can make you a dress more glamorous than the capital.”

She was a little embarrassed, as she had been too busy thinking about how to refuse. Doreen swallowed dryly as she watched Lila struggle with her decision.

It seems worse than the rumors, the grotesque face and bizarre attire offended her aesthetic.

Vincent, standing next to her, spoke up.

“The Duke has sent word that you should also order your usual dress.”

“Hmm…”

After all, she had to get a new dress for his coming-of-age ceremony. At any other banquet, she would have been able to return the dress she had worn, but not for a big event like the coming-of-age ceremony.

Plus, she didn’t have a lot of dresses.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lila turned to Vincent.

“In that case, I’d like you to take my measurements with the dress on.”

Doreen’s eyes widened in disbelief at Lila’s statement.

Normally, it was customary to be measured only in the innermost part of the dress, the chemise.

The chemise was like an undergarment worn to protect the body from the farthingale or corset that shaped the dress.

Of course, not everyone wore farthingales and corsets. Some people just wore petticoats instead.

But no one seemed more in need of a farthingale and corset than Lila.

Ignoring Doreen’s horrified look, Lila spoke sternly.

“Or make a dress in accordance to the measurements I’ll give you. If you’re skilled enough, you can do that, can’t you?”

Despite her demeanor and glare, Lila was actually sweating with nervousness.

‘I shouldn’t have fallen asleep…’

She assumed that this madness was caused by taking a carefree nap, and wanted to somehow finish it off with a line that would allow her to be measured without removing her dress.

“But, Duchess… I need to know your exact measurements so the dress will fit you better. Other noblewomen take their measurements naked…”

Doreen was equally adamant, with the attitude that she had to get it off one way or another. Lila knew what she was talking about, how important it was, but she didn’t need it now.

“Whatever you say doesn’t matter.”

“But…”

Lila’s expression began to harden as Doreen continued to argue, and then Vincent, who had been watching from the sidelines, spoke up.

“Do as the Duchess wishes. Don’t you dare speak back to the Duchess.”

Lila was stunned by how different Vincent was from the man she’d grown accustomed to, from the way his words cut off to the stern look on his face.

He didn’t smile at her or speak to her softly, but he didn’t speak so coldly either.

Leaving Lila to blink at the strange sensation, Doreen turned to Vincent and inclined her head deeply.

“Yes, I understand.”

Doreen felt uncomfortable as she watched Vincent respond with an even more polite demeanor than the one he had shown Lila.

At Lila’s subtle frown, Vincent asked in a polite tone.

“You skipped lunch, aren’t you hungry?”

“Um… then could you bring me a simple sandwich and iced tea?”

Her stomach burned from the heat. An ice cold drink would go a long way.

“Yes, my lady, I will.”

Vincent bowed and left.

Lila raised the corner of her lips as she watched Doreen and her assistant change their expressions as Vincent left.

Today she felt like she could show off the tyranny that was only seen in the barony.

“Let me show you the catalog first.”

Doreen’s assistant set the thick booklet she was holding down in front of Lila. No matter how heavy it was, she should have been taught to put it down without a sound, but she dropped it hard enough to make a ‘puck’ sound.

“I’m sorry.”

She apologized with her mouth, but not with her face. Rather, given the way she winked at Doreen, it was likely that she did it on purpose.

“Ho-ho-ho, I’m sorry, young lady. This child has just started and made a mistake, so please cut her some slack.”

There was no way she would bring a newcomer to the House of Montefeltra. Looking at Doreen, who couldn’t hide her sneer as she casually spat out the lie, Lila felt her stomach turn for the first time in a long time.

‘Ha, it’s not like this hasn’t happened before… She must be more comfortable at the Duke’s than I thought.’

It was a strange feeling.

Instead of answering Doreen, Lila flipped through the catalog. She did like the dress at the beginning, though.

It was probably her signature piece, but it didn’t really resonate with her now, and it was a very generic beauty.

We need a more intensely unique beauty.