One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 55

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

One Day I Picked Up a Mother – Episode 55

* * *

The consultation room located inside the clothing store was far more luxurious than the outside.

As the Countess and I settled onto the plush velvet sofa, the store owner sent a signal as if he had been waiting.

Soon, employees appeared in a line carrying bundles of fabric in various colors.

The first hour was certainly enjoyable for me too.

The silk that sparkled more brilliantly than jewels and the lace as fluffy as clouds were undeniably beautiful.

However, after trying on about thirty fabrics, I began to lose sensation starting from my toes.

“This one strangely loses its color when it catches the light.”

The Countess, leaning deep into the sofa with a teacup in hand, shook her head disapprovingly.

As if waiting for this, the next fabric was draped over my shoulders again.

“Then how about this one? It’s silk that came up from the southern Empire this season. It’s characterized by rippling like waves depending on the angle of light. It would be a good choice for Miss Luciana’s clear skin tone.”

The store owner held up a blue fabric with a silvery sheen once more.

That fabric certainly shone beautifully enough to dazzle the eyes, but the Countess shook her head again this time.

“Well, it looks too light. Rather than that, let me see the deep emerald velvet at the end there and the ivory silk with gold thread embroidery.”

The Countess pointed to a spot with her finger.

The designated employee hurriedly spread the fabric before the Countess.

“Your discerning eye is truly deep. Certainly, considering the young lady’s position, fabric with elegance would be better than something flashy.”

The store owner continuously exclaimed in admiration, and I tried on that fabric once more.

Just as the store owner, who had been draping the fabric over my shoulders and securing it with pins to examine it carefully, turned his head to ask the Countess’s opinion.

Suddenly the Countess rose from her seat and with a light gesture dismissed the people around me.

“Are you planning to throw ashes on my efforts?”

She approached close and lightly patted my shoulder while whispering quietly.

“There’s no Ludrio here to help you even if you show signs of fatigue, so stop throwing tantrums and just wear a humble smile.”

I thought I had been smiling the whole time, but apparently my face showed signs of exhaustion.

I pulled up the corners of my mouth once more.

When our eyes met, the Countess frowned.

Thinking it still wasn’t enough, I smiled more brightly, and she let out a silent laugh as if bewildered.

The Countess, now a few steps away from me, nodded and said.

“This one is fine.”

With the Countess’s approval, the fabric was placed to my right.

“Countess, this is pearl-embroidered lace imported from the southern coast.”

Just when I thought we might finally be finished after trying on about five more fabrics, the store owner came with lace.

I despaired again at the employees filling the room, unable to let out even a small sigh.

“If we add this to the shoulder line…”

Meanwhile, as if he never tired, he began trying on all sorts of lace this time.

Time flowed endlessly like this.

Having selected matching fabrics and accessories, the Countess finally sat face to face with the store owner and began having a proper conversation.

“Yes, make the main formal dress with this design.”

“Yes, understood.”

The store owner scribbled something all over his notebook. Because he wrote so quickly, the handwriting was completely illegible, and even glancing at it, I couldn’t tell what it meant.

“This should be enough for today.”

Just as I was struggling to keep my increasingly dazed mind focused, unexpected words came from the Countess’s mouth.

Whether those words were sincere, the Countess was putting on the gloves she had set aside.

I quickly prepared to leave by straightening my skirt once.

After personally deciding everything from buttons to sleeve length and neckline, we finished ordering two ball gowns and five everyday dresses.

“Come to the Duke’s mansion as soon as the fitting is ready.”

The Countess said as she rose from her seat.

“Yes, Countess. Our craftsmen will put their hearts into preparing the formal dresses you decided on today as quickly as possible, and we’ll visit you as soon as the fitting is complete.”

I also hurriedly rose to follow the Countess.

The store owner walked ahead of the Countess with quick steps and personally opened the door for her.

“More than that, Countess, how about our store offers the formal dresses you ordered today as a gift to celebrate this joyous beginning for the Count’s family?”

He rejoined behind the Countess and me as he spoke.

“Pardon?”

“If we could make and gift the first clothing for the person who will become the Count’s companion, there would be no greater honor as a designer.”

When I turned to look at him, he had his hands politely clasped together. Even while offering a gift, his posture was excessively humble.

“Ah…”

When our eyes met, he smiled warmly and nodded.

Was he really going to gift all the ball gowns and everyday clothes we just decided on?

From the fabrics to every single button looked very expensive. Moreover, considering the time and effort to make the clothes, his proposal was not easily understandable.

‘If he can’t even make money, why was he so happy earlier?’

If it wasn’t about serving customers, then what was the reason for showing various colored fabrics and different types of lace with such enthusiasm just moments ago?

I looked at the Countess regarding the store owner’s incomprehensible proposal. I thought she might be as surprised as I was, but the Countess showed no change in expression.

Just as I was assuming such proposals were routine for the Countess, she slowly shook her head.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I must decline.”

There was no regret in her refusal, and only the store owner’s face was colored with bewilderment.

“I also wanted to gift the first clothing to the child who will become my daughter-in-law, so I made time for this occasion.”

“Ah…”

At the Countess’s following words, the store owner let out a small sigh. Of course, I also let out a silent sigh.

‘She made time because she wanted to gift something to her daughter-in-law.’

I hadn’t figured out the Countess’s intentions at all, but the outing was already coming to an end.

Except for the warning she whispered in my ear, she had truly taken perfect care of me.

She didn’t smile affectionately or speak kindly, but she personally selected everything from fabrics to designs over a long time and openly declared that I was her daughter-in-law.

Though I wasn’t sure, it was only a matter of time before today’s outing reached people’s ears.

If the Countess’s words and actions appeared as favorability toward me, would the social circles really be favorable toward Iban and me?

“Oh my, I almost deprived the Countess of her joy. My thinking was short-sighted.”

The store owner hurriedly bowed. The Countess only left a brief word that it was fine to the man and left the clothing store.

Before I knew it, it had grown dark outside the clothing store.

Even while walking under the gas lamps that were lit a bit early, my worries and anxiety wouldn’t stop. However, I forcibly cut off my thoughts.

Even if she was preparing an unexpected move, there was nothing I could do about it.

Whether I anticipated and endured it or didn’t anticipate it and bore it.

What I had to face was the same either way.

Suddenly the Countess changed direction.

Roskell.

The moment I confirmed the sign written in distinctive handwriting, the door opened, and the gazes of the noble ladies filling the interior all focused on us at once.

The hand bringing a teacup to the lips and the hand about to wave a fan both stopped instantly.

As if recognizing the Duchess, they rose from their seats. The store owner also recognized the Countess and approached while bowing deeply.

“Countess, I heard you came out today. You’ve visited this place as well.”

“I came because I have something to collect. What I left in your care.”

The Countess nodded quietly and suddenly pointed somewhere to me.

“You wait in that gallery over there for a moment.”

The Countess disappeared with the manager beyond the velvet curtain into the secret consultation room.

“See, I told you. There’s a young lady the Duchess brought.”

“No. I didn’t even hear that the Countess had come up to the capital.”

As the Countess disappeared, the gazes of those selecting jewelry and those enjoying refreshments flew like arrows and pierced me.

And soon, chatter began in small voices.</

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