IHDOE Ch 84

[Katan] "I didn't wish to see My Lady choosing items for someone else."

[Satina] "It was merely a single present."

[Katan] "It is not merely a present. When selecting a gift, one inevitably thinks of the recipient."

He knelt at her feet. She caught a glimpse of the choker beneath his collar. He gently touched the band around his neck.

[Katan] "Just as My Lady thought of me while selecting my gift. While I don't wish for My Lady to experience distress, I loathe the thought of My Lady contemplating someone else."

[Satina] "You... possess a more persistent side than expected."

At her remark, Katan answered with refreshing candor.

[Katan] "Have you realized it now?"

She had guessed as much.

In the game, Katan's primary goal had been erasing the magic crest on his neck and fleeing. When magical beasts attacked in the west, he had plenty of opportunities to escape. Throwing that chance away to follow Satina proved his feelings were extraordinary.

Looking at it another way, his likelihood of betraying her was practically zero.

So I can pretend not to notice for now.

---

Satina remained at the estate for a while, awaiting the party hosted by the Marchioness of Riermont.

A few days later, word arrived that Laura had allegedly copied another designer's dress.

[Satina] "Laura!"

Satina headed straight to Laura's Wardrobe. Though the shop typically bustled with crowds, it was nearly empty now.

Laura paced anxiously and rushed toward Satina as soon as she arrived.

[Laura] "Lady Satina!"

[Satina] "Copying someone else's design... What absolute nonsense is this?"

Her unwavering trust brought Laura to tears.

[Laura] "My Lady, I... I don't know how things ended up like this."

The incident had begun at a party where Lady Saville and Lady Luton arrived wearing identical dresses.

To noblewomen, a dress was a point of pride and a way to command attention at social gatherings. Showing up in an outdated or unsightly gown invited ridicule from high society, so ladies paid handsome sums to trusted tailors for custom creations.

Yet two ladies had attended the same party in identical dresses!

One of them had undeniably stolen the other tailor's design.

Their pride wounded, both ladies demanded answers from their tailors. Lady Saville went to Mattrans, the Empire's premier shop, while Lady Luton went to Laura's Wardrobe.

When Laura first heard the news, she shuddered with disgust.

Why had she been ousted from Mattrans to open a store in a secluded alleyway in the first place? The head tailor at Mattrans had stolen Laura's design, passed it off as her own, and framed Laura for theft.

Naturally, Laura fiercely denied the allegation. She insisted she had done no such thing, adding that if anyone stole a design, it was the head tailor at Mattrans.

The head tailor at Mattrans responded just as fiercely. Far from showing remorse, she framed Laura yet again.

[Madrin] "Ah, Laura... I know of her. The girl ousted after being caught stealing my dress designs while working at our shop. It seems she hasn't shed that habit yet. Not content with stealing my design, she insisted it was hers, putting us in quite a bind as well. Though skilled with her hands, we ultimately had no choice but to let her go."

When the past surfaced anew, society assumed Laura was guilty once again. Furthermore, the head tailor had operated in the capital for years and cultivated extensive connections among noblewomen. She used her influence to spread rumors that Laura had stolen her design.

Hearing the rumors, noblewomen canceled their bookings at Laura's Wardrobe one after another. Within months, her thriving shop was empty again.

Laura had endured immense heartache while Satina was away from the capital, and she spoke with a haggard face.

[Laura] "I am wronged, My Lady. I... I didn't steal another person's design! Why would I do such a thing?!"

[Satina] "Yes, I know."

[Laura] "Madrin stole my design this time as well!"

Just then, the shop bell chimed as a customer entered.

A woman in her mid-forties entered, dressed in sophisticated attire, and Laura's gaze sharpened instantly.

[Laura] "Madrin!"

Madrin had stolen Laura's dress designs and framed her.

[Madrin] "Where did you learn the habit of addressing an industry senior so disrespectfully by name?"

Madrin scolded Laura in a sharp voice. Gentle by nature, Laura shouted in pure fury.

[Laura] "Do you possess the right to speak like that?! An industry senior?! Don't make me laugh! What kind of senior steals a junior's design and frames her?!"

Tears streamed down her face as she vented her resentment, but Madrin remained impassive.

Scoffing, Madrin spoke.

[Madrin] "Haven't you cured that victim complex yet? Do you have any idea how much damage I suffered this time because of you?"

She looked at Laura and spoke in a cold voice.

[Madrin] "No need for lengthy chatter. Here—"

She tossed a pouch at Laura's feet. It spilled open slightly, revealing gleaming gold coins and gems.

[Madrin] "I am exhausted from being swept into gossip because of you. Since working as a tailor in the capital is out of the question for you now anyway, move somewhere far away and live quietly."

Laura looked down at the pouch at her feet. She bent down slowly, picked it up, and hurled it straight at Madrin.

Packed with heavy coins and jewels, the pouch hit Madrin full in the face like a chunk of metal. She staggered back, her hair disheveled, as several gold coins tumbled into her clothes.

[Madrin] "You... Are you insane?!"

Madrin screamed as she shook gold coins out of her hair.

Refusing to back down, Laura shouted back.

[Laura] "Think about what you did! Do you think anyone could remain sane in that situation?! Take a few gold coins like this and get out of the capital?! No! Why should I?! The one who erred is you!"

[Madrin] "Ha...! Watching you endure this, there should be a limit to ignoring someone's goodwill...!"

[Laura] "Goodwill?! Don't make me laugh! You wanted to chase me out of the capital quickly, terrified that staying here would expose what you did!"

[Madrin] "You didn't dare squeak while working at my shop, yet you've grown remarkably bold, haven't you? You must be trusting that Lady Bersabet beside you!"

She glared at Laura and Satina.

[Madrin] "You seem completely mistaken relying solely on the name of House Bersabet, but do you know what the lady beside you is called in social circles? The trash lady! Lacking proper connections, I wonder what gives you the nerve to act so arrogant!"

[Laura] "Are you insane?! How dare you to the Lady..."

[Madrin] "What difference does a single ducal daughter make? Do you think only one or two ladies frequent our shop?"

[Laura] "You stole my dress design!. Do you think those people will take your side?!"

Madrin shrugged nonchalantly.

[Madrin] "Even assuming your words are true... Laura, do you possess proof?"

[Laura] "Wh-What?"

[Madrin] "Do you possess proof that I stole the dress design as you claim? Without proof, how would anyone know whether it's your victim complex or reality?"

Laura fell utterly speechless. Simultaneously, a terrible sense of helplessness enveloped her.

She had heard those exact words when she first discovered Madrin's theft at Mattrans.

Do you possess proof?

[Laura] "You all know. You know how I suffered without sleep to complete this design."

She had begged her coworkers to take her side, but none of them wanted to incur the head tailor's wrath.

[Co-worker] "Sorry, I'm not really sure. I don't recall."

[Co-worker] "Mm... Laura, didn't you misremember because of lack of sleep lately?"

In the end, Madrin stole Laura's blood, sweat, and tears. While she won the Marchioness' admiration with the design, Laura was quietly cast out of the shop.

I am so foolish. Why am I suffering the exact same thing again? Why...?

Satina stepped in front of Laura as the tailor blamed herself.

[Satina] "Do you possess proof that she stole your design, then?"

Laura snapped back to reality and looked at Satina.

[Madrin] "Restrain yourself. I am the head tailor of the Empire's premier shop. Why would I steal a design from someone unremarkable like her?"

[Satina] "Is that so?"

[Madrin] "Of course."

[Satina] "Really? You had better think carefully again. Ah, come to think of it, what was the name of the employee who passed your design to Laura? Was it Zendel..."

Her sharp gaze made Madrin step back.

[Madrin] "What is the point of bringing up someone who departed now?!"

[Satina] "Mm, no. I wanted to advise you to monitor that person closely."

She offered a bright smile.

[Satina] "To leak designs from the shop where one works, that person must love money immensely, wouldn't you say?"

[Madrin] "What...!"

[Satina] "If I may offer a word of advice, how about packing your bags to prepare to flee starting today? Should your theft of another's design be exposed, those noblewomen you brag about won't leave you alone. As you know, nobles possess great pride, don't they?"

[Madrin] "...Fine! At any rate, Laura, you are the one who rejected my goodwill! Do not regret this in the future!"

Madrin exited the shop in fury under Satina's cold, calculating gaze.

Laura clasped her hands and looked at Satina.

She had expected to be victimized by Madrin once again, yet Satina had helped her stand her ground. Seeing how actively she defended her filled her with gratitude.

Following Lady Satina was the right choice.

Satina interrupted her thoughts with a question.

[Satina] "Since things turned out like this, we must prove your innocence somehow. First, we need to find out who leaked your design. Do you suspect anyone?"

[Laura] "The apprentice hired recently! As work increased lately, I hired someone to help, but the moment this incident erupted, she returned to her hometown, citing health excuses! I checked her resume meticulously before hiring her, never imagining things would turn out like this..."

[Satina] "Then we must locate her first."

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