IHDOE Ch 87

To clear Laura's name, Satina needed to meet with Lady Saville and Lady Luton, the two noblewomen directly involved in the scandal, and convince them of the truth.

Though Satina didn't know either lady, Marchioness Riermont enthusiastically offered her help after hearing the story and arranged a meeting.

[M. Riermont] "I heard about the uproar over the dresses as well. I was already agonizing over how to reconcile the two of them, so this works out splendidly."

Ever since they clashed at a party wearing identical gowns, the two ladies had treated each other with cold disdain, giving the Marchioness a severe headache.

[Satina] "I only hope the two of them can reconcile through this."

[M. Riermont] "If you step forward and uncover the truth, both ladies will finally be able to speak candidly. Stepping forward so proactively when you aren't even involved... you are remarkably considerate."

Thus, Madrin and Laura gathered alongside Lady Saville and Lady Luton, the clients who had commissioned the dresses, as well as Zendel. Every party involved in the scandal assembled in the reception room of House Riermont.

Despite the warm late-spring weather outside, a tense chill pervaded the room.

The Marchioness spoke first.

[M. Riermont] "I summoned you today because of what transpired at the recent party. High society has been buzzing lately over which tailor stole the design, and strange rumors are circulating. Since dress designs touch deeply upon a tailor's honor, I deemed it best to clarify the facts here."

Madrin offered a brisk bow and spoke up.

[Madrin] "I am grateful for the Marchioness' consideration toward the honor of humble people like us. I hope this meeting clears my name."

Even in a tense moment like this, Madrin never missed a chance to flatter her superiors, offering a glimpse into how she captivated noblewomen. Though she maintained an unruffled expression, she panicked internally.

What is this? Why is Marchioness Riermont getting involved?

The Marchioness possessed vast connections and a stellar reputation in high society. Her decision to host this meeting severely disrupted her plan to wage a whisper campaign.

That wretched Satina brought the Marchioness into this. I never imagined she had ties to her, but it doesn't matter. Since there's no proof anyway, denying everything will be enough.

Madrin intended to use this gathering to prove her innocence and pin all the blame on Laura.

And once this is over, I'll make sure that fool Zendel pays for betraying me.

She cast a covert glare at Zendel, making the girl shudder.

She addressed the room, directing her words toward the two noblewomen sitting with icy expressions.

[Madrin] "I am suffering a grave injustice. As you all know, Laura originally worked at my shop. Though she was skilled with her hands back then, she was arrogant and lazy. When I disciplined her, she harbored resentment and spread false rumors that I stole her design. Rather than reflecting on her behavior, she left to open her own shop."

Everyone present nodded along to the familiar story. Only Laura glared at her with eyes full of resentment.

[Madrin] "Although I knew Laura opened her own shop, it was no longer my concern, so I paid her no mind. Yet she bribed Zendel, her former coworker, to steal my design!"

Laura wanted to stuff a handkerchief into Madrin's lying mouth, but she remembered Satina's warning not to raise her voice or lose her temper. She looked over at Satina, who stood beside the Marchioness.

Lady Satina promised to clear my name. She will handle this.

Trusting Satina completely, Laura managed to hold back her fury.

[Madrin] "This is entirely due to my own shortcomings. As her former employer, I should have guided her properly instead of causing trouble for these noble ladies. Moving forward, our shop will reinforce security and retrain our staff to ensure such a disaster never happens again."

Her apology and pledge to prevent future issues were flawless. Hearing such earnest words, Lady Saville, who had suffered the humiliation of wearing a duplicate dress, felt her anger soften slightly.

The mood in the room shifted in Madrin's favor.

Zendel, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward and spoke up.

[Zendel] "Master is lying. Laura never stole her design."

Lady Saville scowled.

[L. Saville] "Your story contradicts itself. Didn't you admit to stealing it when you met with me earlier? I recall you begging on your knees for mercy, promising to leave the capital and never return."

Zendel dropped to her knees on the floor and burst into tears.

[Zendel] "Madrin ordered everything! The day the scandal broke, she blamed me for the whole thing. She threatened that if I disobeyed, she would ensure I could never work as a tailor in the capital again. I was terrified, so I had no choice but to obey!"

[L. Saville] "Are you saying you lied to my face?"

[Zendel] "Forgive me! I lied out of sheer terror! But the guilt of deceiving noble ladies kept me awake at night, so I had to come forward and tell the truth. Please forgive me!"

Madrin didn't panic. She had come prepared for the possibility that Zendel might take Satina's side.

[Madrin] "What nonsense are you spouting, Zendel? When did I ever order you to do such a thing?!"

[Zendel] "Why are you lying?! You ordered all of it!"

[Madrin] "I understand you resent me for firing you, but don't join hands with Laura to frame me!"

The reception room instantly erupted into chaotic chatter.

Lady Luton sneered as she listened in silence.

[L. Luton] "So in the end, it comes down to your word against hers?"

Lady Saville agreed.

[L. Saville] "Precisely. Lady Satina, did you gather us here to put on such a chaotic spectacle?"

[Satina] "Hardly."

Satina offered a calm smile to the two exasperated noblewomen.

Since Zendel had changed her story, her testimony carried little weight. The two noblewomen wanted concrete evidence, not words that could flip at any moment.

As if waiting for this exact moment, Madrin stepped forward.

[Madrin] "I possess proof that I didn't steal Laura's design!"

She pulled a ledger from her coat.

[Madrin] "This is the ledger from the fabric store Laura frequents. As both of you know, a rare material called Blue Kitten fabric was used in your dresses. And this is the receipt from my usual fabric shop. As you can see, Laura purchased her fabric on Friday, whereas I bought mine on Wednesday. I bought the fabric two days before she did! I was the first to begin making the dress!"

She had not been idle since Satina took Zendel. This receipt was the fruit of her desperate struggle to pin the blame on Laura.

At the first sign of concrete evidence, both noblewomen leaned in with keen interest.

[L. Luton] "Is that so?"

[L. Saville] "Then Laura did steal the design."

Lady Saville turned her anger toward Zendel.

[L. Saville] "Zendel, how dare you try to deceive me twice..."

Satina raised a hand, cutting Lady Saville off before she could explode.

[Satina] "One moment. As it happens, I also hold the order form from the fabric store you frequent. According to this, your initial visit was on Monday, five days before Laura bought her fabric, yet you placed no order."

[Madrin] "Well... I visited the shop that day to place an order, but I changed my mind and left. What of it?"

[Satina] "Why didn't you place an order?"

[Madrin] "What does that have to do with anything? Perhaps I didn't like the quality of the fabric that day."

[Satina] "Well, my thoughts differ somewhat."

Satina pointed to the bottom of the order form, where a note from the shop owner was written.

[Request for Thistle fabric? Unsure, but agreed to inquire.]

[Satina] "According to the shop owner's note, you visited on Monday to buy something called Thistle fabric. When you realized no such fabric existed, you left empty-handed."

[Madrin] "So what..."

[Satina] "This is the design drawn by Laura."

She pointed to a small note written alongside Laura's sketch.

[Satina] "Laura often scribbles notes in cursive while working. Doesn't this handwriting look an awful lot like 'thistle'?"

Lady Saville snatched the sketch from Satina's hand to inspect it. The smudged cursive writing vaguely resembled the word "thistle."

Even backed into a corner, Madrin refused to confess.

[Madrin] "Claiming I copied Laura's design based on scribbled handwriting is absurd!"

[Satina] "In that case, Madrin, would you explain to us what this 'Thistle fabric' you were looking for actually is?"

[Madrin] "That is...!"

[Satina] "Where is it produced? Where can it be bought? How does it feel to the touch? Is it glossy or soft? Tell us anything you know about it."

Madrin stood speechless, unable to utter a single word.

How could she possibly know what Thistle fabric was? When her spy handed her the copied sketch with "Thistle fabric" written on it, Madrin had asked her supplier if such a material existed, never imagining the harmless inquiry would spring a trap!

[Satina] "Why can't you explain, Madrin?"

Everyone in the reception room held their breath, waiting for her answer.

[Satina] "Or did you intend to craft a dress using a fabric you don't even know?"

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