I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 81

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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 81

Bremont.

It was a dress shop specializing in military uniforms located in the Petno region.

It was the dress shop that had been commissioned to produce uniforms for the Petno garrison forces until now.

And it was also the reason why Joshua had taken time out of his busy schedule to personally issue a public tender notice.

Because.

‘Why is it always that Bremont Dress Shop… that produces the uniforms for the Petno garrison?’

In fact, it was understandable that a specific manufacturer would continuously win contracts.

When tenders were announced in a region, it was common for local companies to apply.

Military uniforms were also a field that general dress shops didn’t handle well.

Most importantly, Petno was not an ordinary city.

The region itself was close to being a kind of military city, where people engaged in military-related industries.

Naturally, there would be fewer dress shops compared to other regions.

Since Bremont was said to be the most specialized dress shop there, he had let it slide the first few times, but…

‘The frontline soldiers had considerable complaints about their uniforms.’

So this time, they had made a big decision to conduct a public tender directly from the Imperial Family.

They had even received applications from companies in the capital, not just Petno.

Since there were countless dress shops in the capital like stars, he thought there would surely be companies among them interested in this public tender.

In fact, there were a couple of menswear companies he had secretly expected to apply.

However.

‘It’s still only Bremont.’

Bremont, the only company that applied for the public tender in Petno.

Now even Joshua was at the point of memorizing the name.

But if he inspected the Northern Command, which had overseen uniform production until now, without any evidence, there would be severe backlash.

There was a risk of damaging military morale.

‘…In conclusion, only two companies have applied so far?’

Bremont, and Bella.

Even Bella Dress Shop was a place Joshua had personally hinted should participate in the tender.

So practically speaking, only Bremont Dress Shop had applied of its own accord.

“What should we do? Should we extend the application deadline a bit more?”

Samuel asked cautiously.

After pondering for a moment, Joshua shook his head.

“No, let’s proceed for now.”

Since it was a properly structured public tender, it was right to proceed.

After all, they had already announced that selection could be canceled if internal standards weren’t met.

There was no need to force the selection of poor-quality winter clothing.

However.

“And.”

Joshua looked at Samuel with sharp eyes.

The intuition unique to someone who had handled administration for a long time was speaking to him.

This situation seemed like something worth examining closely.

“Bring me all the documents related to the winter clothing that Bremont has supplied so far.”

* * *

After applying to the public tender notice.

It had already been a week since Isabel, myself, and Penelope, who was overseeing sample production, had all put our heads together to brainstorm.

Just then, someone from the Imperial Family came to Bella Dress Shop.

“Greetings, I’m from the Procurement Office.”

Instead of Isabel and me, who were hiding our identities, Penelope received the guidance documents related to the public tender.

When designs had to be submitted by.

When results would be announced, and so on.

The entire public tender process was described in detail.

While reading through the guidance documents.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Penelope couldn’t hide her bewildered expression.

“What’s wrong, Penelope?”

“Well…”

Penelope answered with a peculiar expression.

“Only two companies applied for the public tender.”

Isabel and I widened our eyes.

“Is that really true?”

“You didn’t see it wrong?”

“It’s really true.”

Penelope looked aggrieved as she showed us the documents.

My eyes narrowed as I confirmed it.

‘It really is true?’

Why was that?

I had thought this public tender would be quite a good opportunity for other dress shops too.

After pondering for a moment, I shook my head inwardly.

‘Never mind, it’s just speculation anyway.’

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t possibly know why other companies didn’t apply, right?

I looked back at the two of them.

“Anyway, now that we’ve confirmed our application.”

I smiled brightly.

“Shall we discuss the design again today?”

Most citizens of the Empire used coats and cloaks as winter clothing.

Wealthy nobles would also use fur to add warmth.

Of course, fur was expensive material and difficult to maintain.

Still, they couldn’t give up fur because thick fabric alone had limitations for warmth.

However.

“This winter clothing is for mass production. If we use fur, the price will skyrocket.”

Isabel furrowed her brow and fell into thought.

“But making ordinary winter clothing like cloaks or coats is…”

“That won’t do.”

I shook my head firmly.

“Even though the capital has mild weather, cloaks alone aren’t enough in the dead of winter.”

“You’re right. Besides, the Petno region is said to be much colder than here.”

That made sense, since Petno was located at the northernmost tip of the Empire.

The days were cold year-round and winter was also long.

It wasn’t for nothing that they were tendering for winter clothing specifically for the Petno region.

Isabel let out a long sigh.

“But layering thin clothes is also difficult.”

“But wouldn’t dressing that way be best for maintaining body temperature?”

At Penelope’s cautious question, Isabel shook her head.

“It might be fine to wear multiple layers in daily life, but these are military uniforms. We have to consider the convenience of putting on and taking off clothes too.”

“Ah, that would certainly be the case.”

Penelope became a bit dejected.

Frontline soldiers had to use even the time for putting on and taking off clothes efficiently.

But then.

I, who had been quietly listening to their discussion, opened my mouth.

“If you can’t layer thin clothes on top of each other, why not make clothes with layered fabric from the start?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Isabel and Penelope.

Both of them looked at me with puzzled expressions.

“The problem is this, isn’t it? Basically, layering thin clothes is the warmest, but it’s difficult to implement due to the special nature of the military. Right?”

“Yes, that’s true, but.”

I gave a gentle eye-smile toward Isabel, who couldn’t hide her dubious expression.

“Then you could create such fabric from the beginning and make coats with it.”

“Create… such fabric?”

“It doesn’t seem particularly difficult? It’s not like such fabric doesn’t already exist in real life.”

Well, to be precise, it’s not exactly fabric.

Adding that comment, I lightly shrugged my shoulders.

“Cotton-filled winter blankets, I mean.”

“Ah!”

“Could it be?!”

Instantly, both women let out surprised exclamations.

That’s right, isn’t it?

Blankets are also made by stuffing cotton batting between layers of cloth.

When the Crown Prince first hinted about the public project, I hadn’t thought of it.

The weather had been warm the entire time since I became ‘Elodie’.

But now that I was thinking about winter clothing, what naturally came to my mind was…

‘Padding, of course.’

In my previous life, I was very sensitive to cold.

As soon as early winter arrived, I would put on a black long padded coat that reached my calves and transform into a human kimbap.

It was warm, windproof, and when I pulled the hood up, it even protected my ears.

How wonderful was that?

However, the problem was.

‘What? Why isn’t anyone saying anything?’

Isabel and Penelope were just staring at me blankly, not moving their lips at all.

…Could it be that they don’t understand what I’m saying?

Or did I really say something completely nonsensical by this world’s standards?

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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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