I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - Chapter 59

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 59
“How have you been keeping well?”
A few days later, Melissa arrived at the Convent—the chaperone who would guide Claire through the Hunting Festival and the ball.
After spending the past month intensively teaching Claire etiquette and dance, she looked considerably better, having caught her breath these past few days.
“Yes, I’ve been well, thank you.”
At Claire’s composed reply, Melissa swallowed hard. Her gaze conveyed not perfectionism, but rather a sense of compromise—this would suffice.
“You understand, yes? If anything seems strange or you’re unsure, simply smile softly and call for me?”
“Yes, I understand.”
As Melissa observed Claire’s obedient response for a moment, she summoned the attendants waiting in the back.
“Now then, let’s try on the dresses. Three outer garments for the three days of the Hunting Festival, two dresses for the ball. Oh! And I’ve brought two spare dresses as well.”
As clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and various accessories poured endlessly into the room, Claire’s expression turned pale. She recalled the nightmare from weeks ago when she’d had her dresses fitted.
* * *
“This is excessive.”
The Voltier Reception Room, hardly small by any measure, was so densely packed with fabrics, jewels, and catalogs that there was barely room to step.
“Nonsense! We need all of this to ensure the dresses for the Hunting Festival are completed without a hitch.”
Emilia skillfully coaxed the grimacing Claire. Beside her, Isabella flipped through catalogs with an excited flush on her cheeks.
“Wow! Claire, look at this! You’d look just like a princess.”
At the sight of the frilly dress in the child’s hands, Claire simply squeezed her eyes shut. She’d expected to wear a dress for the ball, but hearing that she’d need to wear different clothes and different accessories every day drained her spirits entirely.
“Ohoho. Our Wardrobe Room is well-versed in all the styles currently trending in the Convent! Given that you have such lovely deep pink hair, something like this….”
Dozens of sketches claiming to be special designs from the Wardrobe Room were thrust forward. At his explanation that the color, design, and pattern could all be changed, Claire stuck out her tongue.
“Don’t you have any ready-made garments? Something moderately plain would suffice.”
“What did you say?!”
It was Isabella who jumped at those words. She clung to Claire’s skirt hem almost tearfully.
“But! Claire, it’s the ball! It’s such a magnificent and wonderful place!”
A dreamlike fairy tale setting that children naturally came to anticipate. The fantasy of elegant music and beautiful dresses filled Isabella’s mind. Though too young to attend the Hunting Festival, she at least wanted to help choose the dress Claire would wear.
“Claire will definitely look the most amazing! Right? So let’s pick a wonderful dress.”
‘That seems unlikely.’
Claire scratched her cheek.
She was considerably taller than a typical noblewoman, her hands roughened by the traces of training. Her slender but firmly muscled frame could hardly be called delicate by any stretch of the imagination.
‘I really don’t care what it is.’
She had never once worried about her appearance in her life.
In the Forest Cottage, there was no need to look good for anyone. Since functional clothing sufficient to protect her body was all that mattered for survival, Claire had never had the opportunity to consider her own taste or style.
‘Clothes are fine as long as they’re comfortable, aren’t they?’
As Claire struggled to make a decision, Theodore, who had been quietly observing from behind, made the choice for her.
“Just have them all made.”
“Pardon?”
“All the catalogs on that table. Along with matching jewels and shoes.”
As he spoke, he traced his finger from one end of the table to the other. In that instant, the Tailor’s face lit up with joy while Claire’s jaw dropped in shock.
“Yes! I shall do my utmost!”
Fearing Theodore might change his mind, the Tailor quickly grabbed his measuring tape and rushed forward, and Claire found herself spun around dizzily in his grasp.
“That won’t be necessary!”
“Then tell me what suits your taste.”
“I don’t really have any preferences.”
“In that case.”
Theodore smiled mischievously, narrowing his blue eyes as he continued.
“I’ll have no choice but to buy everything until you develop some preferences.”
“Why would you do that!”
Theodore wasn’t joking. Over the following days, an endless procession of items appeared before Claire’s Room—simple garments, shoes, perfumes, luxurious goods of every kind.
The parade didn’t cease until Claire finally surrendered and personally selected the pieces she truly favored from among all the commissioned clothing.
“So that’s how it works!”
Isabella, who had witnessed everything, marveled with sparkling eyes—a fact that exhausted Claire alone remained oblivious to.
* * *
‘And this is only a third of what was made.’
The Room was already full despite bringing only a third of the commissioned garments. Melissa spoke with excitement, seemingly unaware of Claire’s cold expression.
“Mmm, how lovely! It won’t pale in comparison to the dresses from the Convent. Let’s try on the first day’s outfit right away.”
Before Claire could respond, the servants rushed forward. By the time she regained her senses, she was already dressed in fresh clothing.
“My goodness. How elegant and beautiful!”
Melissa clapped her hands with genuine admiration.
“You won’t fall short compared to other young ladies at all.”
At the Hunting Festival, typically only heirs or direct descendants of Houses participated as representatives in the hunt, while the remaining members waited in lavishly decorated Pavilions, engaging in leisurely conversation.
‘Since the mistresses and young ladies of Houses usually remain behind, style is crucial.’
Due to the prolonged waiting in the Pavilion, a far more modest design than everyday dresses was the standard.
The composed attire—somewhere between riding clothes and a gown—suited Claire’s elongated frame beautifully.
“The navy blue will complement Young Master Theodore wonderfully too. If you chose it with that in mind, your taste is impeccable.”
Claire laughed awkwardly at Melissa’s praise.
‘I chose it because it’s less conspicuous, but I happened to get lucky.’
Just as Melissa’s attention turned to shoes and accessories, a knock sounded at the door.
“Claire? Are you finished changing?”
“Yes, please come in.”
The door opened, and Theodore entered wearing hunting attire made from fabric matching Claire’s color. She blinked for a moment, observing him, before a realization struck her anew.
‘That’s right. The betrothal.’
Seeing the garments made as a matching pair stirred something odd within her. The navy fabric harmonized so perfectly with Theodore’s blue eyes that it only deepened the feeling.
‘Did I really choose this color without realizing it would suit Young Master?’
Perhaps she had already been captivated by those blue eyes that gazed at her so intently every day.
“You look absolutely perfect together.”
Theodore smiled with evident satisfaction. Melissa, who had stepped back, nodded approvingly.
‘How charming. Simply charming.’
* * *
On the day of the Hunting Festival, the Hunting Grounds lay buried beneath thick, dark clouds.
A downpour seemed imminent—the weather was treacherous.
Many gathered around the platform where the Emperor stood, yet not a single person held an umbrella.
“…I hereby declare the opening of the Hunting Festival.”
The Emperor who announced the opening raised his left hand toward the sky. In that instant, as if lightning struck at his fingertips and reversed its course, light burst forth from the Emperor’s hand and soared skyward.
“That is the Imperial Family’s ability.”
Someone murmured while gazing at the whitened sky. The heavens began to shift as the light faded. Cracks formed across the thick dark clouds, and pillars of light began to illuminate the earth below.
‘Berus, who commands the weather.’
A monstrous ability that had normalized the land once called the Barren Wasteland due to torrential downpours.
In truth, the summer Hunting Festival was a form of performance.
A public display of the Imperial Family’s ability at the onset of the rainy season, a process to firmly imprint upon the nobles’ minds that House Berus’s standing and majesty remained unshaken.
It was indeed an effective method in practice. Yet there were those who could not enjoy the scenery that captivated all others.
‘This won’t do. This won’t do.’
Bianca barely managed to straighten her contorting face as she gazed upward. The Crown Prince Aaron, born of her own womb, lacked this symbol of imperial authority. Though he currently maintained his position through the formidable power of House Temper as his maternal relatives, without this wondrous ability, it was nearly impossible to completely turn the nobles’ hearts toward him.
‘That ability. If only I possessed that ability.’
Her bloodshot eyes rolled toward Elliott, the Second Prince—born of humble origins yet manifesting the Imperial Family’s ability.
‘If only I could seize that power.’
The Crown Prince position was rightfully Aaron’s from the start. The legitimate heir born between the Emperor and an Empress of great noble lineage. How utterly unjust that he could not ascend to the throne merely for lacking a single ability.
As the sky cleared completely, leaving behind Bianca with her bloodshot eyes,
the Hunting Festival began.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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