I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 57
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 57
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……To cut to the conclusion, it wasn’t fine at all.
Isabel had been holding her head in her hands for days, absorbed in dress design.
But it seemed like no design she was satisfied with was coming out.
As time passed, only more and more crumpled paper trash rolled around on the floor.
‘Isabel looks like she’s been pulling all-nighters for days.’
I looked at Isabel’s back with worried eyes as her shoulders drooped.
Today too, Isabel had come to the dress shop early in the morning.
Design reference materials were piled high on the desk.
Her sketchbook, where she usually sketched design ideas that came to mind, was also spread wide open.
Just then.
I stopped in my tracks.
It was because a sighing murmur flowed out from Isabel.
“What should I do? I can’t come up with any ideas…….”
“Um, Sister-in-law.”
Unable to watch any longer, I opened my mouth.
At my call, Isabel turned around creakily like a wooden doll.
Dark shadows were cast under her eyes, as if she hadn’t been able to sleep properly for days.
“Have you eaten?”
“I’m fine, I don’t have an appetite.”
Isabel shook her head heavily.
I furrowed my brow and strode over to the desk.
“Still, you must make sure to eat your meals. Do you know how tired you look right now?”
As I was going on with my nagging, I was suddenly at a loss for words.
The sketchbook that was just pure white, without even a single line drawn.
Far from starting on dress design, she hadn’t even begun the most basic idea sketches.
At that moment.
I decided to accept reality.
‘This won’t do.’
Limited time.
An exhibition hall where numerous distinguished guests would attend.
Even the dress that would be presented for the first time under the name ‘Bella Dress Shop’.
It was more than enough situation for Isabel to feel pressured.
“You know, Sister-in-law.”
At my call, Isabel drowsily lifted her head.
Her face still looked haggard.
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
I smiled gently and continued soothingly.
“Even if not this exhibition, there will be many opportunities to present dresses in the future. Don’t feel too burdened…….”
But then.
Isabel straightened her back and looked directly at me.
Her deep green eyes had already regained their sharpness and were shining brightly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“……Pardon?”
At the unexpected reaction, I blinked my eyes blankly.
Isabel, who had been choosing her words for a moment, continued calmly.
“I understand your feelings. You said that because I looked too struggling, right?”
“…Sister-in-law.”
“Still, I don’t want to give up already.”
Heat rose in Isabel’s voice.
“You’re right. There’s no better time than now to present our first dress. It’s also true that I don’t want to miss that timing.”
“…….”
“More than anything, I want to do my best as much as I can.”
Isabel smiled with her eyes just like that.
“I’m sick of regretting things now.”
I gazed at Isabel quietly.
Although she looked tired, exhausted, and anxious.
Still, her eyes were sparkling like stars.
The brilliant light that only the female protagonist of a world could possess.
‘I guess I was thinking of Isabel as too weak.’
Isabel is such a strong person, yet I seemed to have arbitrarily set limits on Isabel based on my assumptions.
I followed Isabel’s lead and smiled warmly.
“Then, let’s have a meal first.”
At those unexpected words, Isabel looked bewildered.
“Pardon?”
“You need to have energy first to be able to do design or anything else. Don’t you think so?”
When I shrugged my shoulders and asked playfully, Isabel’s smile deepened a little more.
“You’re right.”
Isabel nodded and got up from her seat as if she couldn’t help it.
Then she clung to me affectionately.
“You haven’t eaten yet either, right? Have lunch with me.”
“Sure. Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Well, nothing comes to mind right now.”
Isabel, who seemed to be thinking for a moment, answered leisurely.
“If I’m eating with you, anything would be delicious.”
At that moment.
I 100% understood what Isabel used to say to me like a habit: ‘You’ll probably make many people cry unintentionally.’
Really, our cunning and lovable favorite.
How can you make someone’s heart flutter like this?!
* * *
An afternoon with warm sunlight streaming down.
Isabel and I, who had just finished our meal, were basking in the sunlight pouring in through the window with drowsy faces.
“Ah, that was really delicious.”
Isabel opened her mouth with a satisfied voice.
I nodded with a proud face.
“Really? That’s a relief.”
This is a restaurant I’ve been saving.
I had been determined to come here with Isabel someday.
Seeing Isabel looking satisfied made me feel good too.
‘Most importantly, she seems to have relaxed a bit.’
Until now, she seemed to be on edge because of the pressure about the design.
Now she looks very comfortable.
Just then.
“Ugh.”
Isabel von Laventess let out a short groan as she reached for her cup.
Startled, I asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well…”
Isabel muttered quietly with an embarrassed face.
“I think I ate too much, my stomach feels tight.”
Wait.
At the same time, I tensed my shoulders.
Something was flashing through my mind.
“…Your stomach feels tight?”
I found myself repeating Isabel’s words without realizing it.
Isabel tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
“Yes, why?”
“Well…”
Why hadn’t I thought in this direction until now?
I felt like I’d been hit hard on the head.
I wasn’t sure what kind of concerns Isabel had about design.
But I had been focusing only on ‘aesthetics’ all this time.
However.
‘I could design a comfortable dress.’
One that wouldn’t press against the stomach just from eating a little food like now.
One that wouldn’t constrict the body too much.
A dress with loose skirts that would allow comfortable movement.
‘This garment was a dress first popularized by the French Queen, Marie Antoinette…’
In my previous life, I had been forced to take a general education course because my course registration had gone terribly wrong.
It was a general education class taught by a professor from the Fashion Design department, titled ‘History of Western Clothing.’
Though I had listened to the class half-asleep, there was one dress that remained in my memory.
It was because Marie Antoinette, who popularized that dress, was such a famous figure in world history.
And that was.
‘The chemise dress.’
It was a loose-fitting dress made of soft material.
It was a one-piece style that didn’t constrict the waist too much, with colorful wide ribbons tied at the waist.
The skirt naturally fell downward.
Unlike the fancy dresses worn at court, it was a dress designed with a simple country girl as the motif.
‘This is it!’
The chemise dress didn’t exist in this world yet.
It was an era where a narrow waist and voluminous dress skirts were the standard of beauty.
To fulfill that ‘beauty,’ women willingly wore uncomfortable dresses that constricted their entire bodies.
Of course, it was incredibly uncomfortable!
I looked at Isabel with sparkling eyes.
“Sister-in-law!”
“Y-yes?”
Isabel answered in surprise, overwhelmed by my enthusiasm.
I extended my hand toward Isabel.
“By any chance, did you bring your design notebook?”
“Oh, yes. But why do you need…”
“Please lend it to me!”
And so, Isabel handed me her notebook and pencil in bewilderment.
The sound of the pencil scratching against the notebook echoed softly.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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