MPBAGS Chapter 74

Wow... is that all fabric? Watching people carry luggage, I can't help but be amazed. The anteroom started getting fuller and fuller, and now it could practically be called a dressing  room.

For a villainess, Evangeline has no vanity, so she has very few clothes worth wearing. Moreover, since she hasn't debuted in high society, she has no dress to wear to the ball.

With only two weeks left, it's too late to get a dress tailored now, so I was just going to buy some ready-made clothes, but Gabriel said he had a way and borrowed an entire atelier.

Not metaphorically, but literally. From the atelier's designer to the exclusive tailors and seamstresses, even the fabric—everything was being moved to the Rohanson estate.

I could have visited the atelier myself, but since time was tight and we'd need to constantly alter, cut, and fit clothes, it would be faster to just live together. They even gave them guest rooms for lodging.

"I'm sorry for causing such a commotion."

Gabriel apologized while watching my reaction. It suddenly hit me that Gabriel really was the male lead. Right... romance novel male leads have nothing but money, so buying people with money is their daily routine.

But Evangeline has money too, you know? Who are you showing off your wealth to! Without realizing it, I felt competitive with Gabriel, but I took a deep breath and calmed down. It's good to save money, after all.

"Lady Rohanson, how have you been?"

Today, Gabriel's sociable aide who actively supports his romantic activities came along too. Raphaela greeted me as if meeting a friend of five years. I could see that not only was I dumbfounded, but Daisy beside me also looked disgusted.

Huh? But who's that behind him? Someone was trembling behind Raphaela.

"Ah, and this is the person who will make your dress."

Before I could ask who it was, Raphaela pushed forward the person who had been hiding behind him.

I see. The designer Gabriel bought with money... You could tell at a glance that they didn't want to come but were forcibly dragged here because the money was too good to refuse. I was worried they might cry and run away like the tutors.

"This  is Artemi..."

"I, I, I can't touch human skin!"

Raphaela was about to finish the introduction when Artemi-whatever cut him off and shouted.

But what did they say?

"Pardon?"

Question marks appeared above everyone's heads at the loud exclamation. The toilet room fell silent in an instant.

"These crazy siblings, I'm really going insane..."

Raphaela clicked his tongue and buried his face in his palm.

I'm really going insane too. What skin? It seemed like I heard nonsense because I was sleep-deprived today. Or maybe there was something wrong with the translator.

Just how far has Evangeline's infamy been upgraded? I've never heard of a romance novel villainess wearing clothes made from human skin. Even if this is a harsh worldview, there should be some limits, right? Just imagining it makes me nauseous.

"What did you just say?"

"Gasp, I'm sorry. I was wrong! Please don't kill me."

I just asked them to repeat it to confirm if I heard correctly, but Artemi-whatever was now bowing and begging for their life.

"...Why would I kill you?"

No, I'm too nice for a villainess and everyone around me has figured out I'm a possessed character, so why hasn't there been any change in the infamy circulating in society? If anything, hasn't it gotten worse?

"You're the person Gabriel brought."

Didn't Gabriel explain? Gabriel, what did you do without explaining in advance?

Well, what can you expect from a taciturn male lead who doesn't seem to talk much? It's fortunate if they don't cross wires and just dig themselves into holes. This is Raphaela's fault for not explaining on Gabriel's behalf.

Raphaela seemed to recognize his mistake and hurriedly made excuses.

"The lady doesn't kill just anyone."

If I don't kill just anyone, does that mean I kill someone? I just don't kill anyone at all!

This won't do. If I leave it to Raphaela, another rumor about me selectively killing people might spread. I should clarify myself.

"I don't know what rumors are circulating about me in society, but don't listen to malicious words. See for yourself and judge. What do you think of me from what you've actually seen?"

"You're beautiful..."

As I appealed to my kindness while brushing back the disheveled hair from bowing, Artemi-whatever muttered as if entranced.

That's right! My romance novel experience isn't going anywhere. My rhetoric seems to be shining especially today.

Or maybe Evangeline's face did all the work. Usually in romance novels, there's at least one atelier designer who exclaims 'You're my muse!' That's exactly what this character seemed like.

"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding! I'm Artemisia Schmitiana. I'm Michel's older sister."

"I'm Evangeline Rohanson."

Whatever-her-name has quite a long name. I definitely won't be able to memorize the full name. But who's Michel?

"You're the benefactor who saved Michel, but I heard only rumors and got scared without reason. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable."

Ah, now I remember since she mentioned saving him. She's talking about that very polite knight with the melon-colored hair. The siblings are both chatty and full of personality, just alike.

"What kind of stories did you hear?"

"Ah, well..."

"I won't scold you, so speak freely."

Since Artemisia was hesitating, I urged her to speak comfortably.

I'm curious whether all my good deeds so far have had no effect at all, so I'd like her to tell me quickly. Artemisia, who had been reading the room, opened her mouth.

"Well... there was a rumor that the real Lady Rohanson died and the Count brought in a substitute for the dead lady. But seeing you in person, it's completely untrue! You're very dignified, and if you were really a substitute as rumored, the maids wouldn't genuinely follow you."

What? Except for the fact that it's the same body, that's correct. At this rate, people in the world will all figure out that I'm a possessed character. Sorry, but my people love me even knowing I'm a possessed character...

"And there was also talk that if you encounter the lady, your soul gets stolen. They said even noble knights were enchanted, but that must be because everyone fell for your beauty!"

This is going the classic villainess route. The knight must refer to Gabriel, right? They think Gabriel being deeply infatuated with me is due to some sorcery.

"And they also said Lady Evangeline buys young children."

That's just about getting Daisy's siblings back. No, they're the ones who did human trafficking, so why are they putting the blame on me!

"There were various speculations about why she'd buy children..."

Among the various guesses, she must have been most impressed by the human skin story. That's why she said that to me? It did have a shocking impact that would be unforgettable once heard.

"But they were all false rumors!"

"Hmm..."

I unconsciously swallowed at her bright words.

What should I do? It's mostly true? It's just been distorted and gone in a strange direction, but it was based on facts.

"I thought it was probably nonsense too... But seeing you in person, you're a little, just a little scary, so I..."

So the biggest problem was that while Evangeline's face is pretty, it's also terrifyingly scary-looking.

"I'll make sure such malicious talk never spreads again! I'll do my best to support you so you and Sir Gabriel can have the best debutante ball. I'll make you the best debutante dress."

Artemisia looked at me with shining eyes. It was hard to believe she was afraid of me just moments ago. If I told her the rumors were true, would she get scared again?

"Just doing it adequately is fine."

"But Lady, clothes are an introduction that represents yourself. Even the most beautiful person will often be ignored if they wear clothes that don't suit them."

Is that so?

"Then what about the clothes I'm wearing now?"

I've been deliberately choosing only white, undecorated clothes from the wardrobe to appear kind and without vanity, but is it completely ineffective? Artemisia looked me over and carefully critiqued.

"Well... it does suit you well, but the style is a bit outdated..."

"These are the late Countess's clothes."

"The timeless feel that doesn't follow trends is classical yet very original and wonderful!"

Right. I guess it wasn't bad after all.