MPBAGS Chapter 81

The door opened and the dress immediately caught my eye. Misha's eyes sparkled with anticipation for my reaction, but I was too bewildered to say anything.

Isn't this a wedding dress? White and flowing with a long train dragging behind - it was exactly a wedding dress. It would be perfect with just a veil.

"How is it? Do you like it, my lady?"

Misha chattered on about where she got her inspiration, what she paid attention to, and especially 'since your shoulders are particularly beautiful, I really opened that up...' She continued explaining what she paid attention to in order to highlight which parts of my body.

I wanted to listen earnestly, but I have no interest in clothes, so my only impression was 'she worked hard.' Still, I couldn't show such an attitude in front of someone who worked hard making clothes for me.

I pulled Misha into a tight embrace.

"M-my-my lady?"

Misha trembled like an aspen leaf. I slowly stroked her back to help her relax.

"Good work, Misha. I like it. The time must have been tight, but thank you for bringing me such an excellent result."

"You're thanking me? You're thanking me?"

When I hugged her tightly once more and let her go, Misha staggered. Moreover, Misha's face was flushed as if she had received some tremendous gift.

"My lady."

"Yes?"

"You're too much..."

And after leaving these cryptic words, she buried her face in her hands. Did she think I was trying to brush her off with words instead of a bonus after making her work so hard? When I said I'd give her a proper bonus too, she finally smiled brightly.

Misha giggled happily for a while, then soon came to her senses and helped me put on the dress.

I had tried it on once during the fitting, but the level of completion was definitely different from then. Unlike just looking at it, wearing it revealed its true value.

"This is truly a masterpiece.... Everyone thinks so, right?"

Misha sighed in ecstasy and asked for the other employees' opinions. Misha's employees, who used to fear Evangeline and keep their heads down unable to make eye contact, hurriedly chimed in one by one.

"Y-yes! I think it should be recorded in history books!"

"Yes! If you just stand still at the ball, everyone will think you're a work crafted by a master!"

"You're a genius! You've turned society upside down! Of course, L-Lady Rohanson is also a genius!"

What did I do to be a genius? A genius face? Misha's employees clapped their hands with tears in their eyes. I thought Misha was just nice, but she does abuse her power a bit. Their efforts to please their superior were quite pitiful.

"The movement isn't uncomfortable, is it?"

"It's fine."

"Then let's hurry and show Sir Gabriel!"

Misha declared dramatically. I nodded along, caught up in the moment. Gabriel seems like a face-obsessed person who likes Evangeline's face, so I thought it would work quite well on him.

And if it's a romance novel, there should be this kind of event. When someone who usually dresses plainly gets dressed up, people fall for them at first sight. Of course, I'm not saying I usually dress plainly. Misha said it was original and good.

Throughout our return to the reception room, Misha circled around me, showering me with all sorts of praise.

The fawning continued even in front of Gabriel. Gabriel didn't have a big reaction like opening his mouth wide in amazement like in comics, which seemed to upset Misha.

It didn't show much, but seeing the earthquake in Gabriel's pupils, he seemed extremely shaken. Unfortunately, pupil earthquakes don't seem to count as reactions for Misha. Misha demanded a bigger reaction from Gabriel.

"Sir Gabriel, how do you feel seeing my lady?"

"It suits her well."

"No, you should know how to praise her a bit more!"

"She's like an angel!"

"Yes! Mary, you did really well!"

Mary, who had been running around the estate, must have heard from another maid that I was trying on the dress, because she quickly ran over and claimed a spot next to Gabriel.

Seeing Daisy apologize saying she was sorry, it seems she tried to stop her, but Gabriel seemed to have told her to let Mary be comfortable. Mary was the second most cheerful person in our estate after Kanna. She has the makings of a sunny heroine when she grows up.

"Like a fairy!"

"That's right!"

Mary endlessly spouted flattering remarks. With Mary making all sorts of compliments and Misha clapping for more, I felt like I was receiving prostrations and wanted to escape.

"Now, Sir! You know what you should say now, right?"

After showing all sorts of one-dimensional examples, Misha set the stage for him to try it. Usually, the more you're told to do something, the more rebellious you become.

Gabriel pondered, then seemed to find an expression that would satisfy Misha.

"Lady Rohanson is like the brightest star."

"Good!"

It was a compliment on the same level as the examples Mary had given. Misha, who had been covering Mary's ears, nodded as if somewhat satisfied, wondering what Gabriel would say.

Are you satisfied? Then please consider my feelings of receiving prostrations too.... When I looked at Misha with lingering eyes, whether the look was misinterpreted, Misha startled and hugged Mary.

"Mary, let's go out."

"Already?"

When Mary hesitated, Misha whispered something in her ear. It must have been quite an appealing proposal because Mary nodded enthusiastically.

Before leaving, she ran up to me and bowed politely.

"My lady, thank you for making clothes for Mary."

So she brought up the request I had mentioned before about making clothes for the children. Now that she's finished making my dress, I guess she's about to start.

But why is she thanking me for that? I mean, she hasn't even made them yet, and the clothes will be made by Misha behind her. Because I'm the money source? I immediately understood. Money is important, after all.

Misha's face was bright even though her contribution was being taken away. How does she live being so naive?

"Now, Daisy needs to be measured too, so let's go together!"

"What? But I need to attend to my lady. At least let me wait in front of the room."

"Oh! This is also my lady's order! Sir Gabriel is here, so what's there to worry about!"

Misha seemed to want to take this opportunity to measure Daisy's dimensions too. When Daisy looked at me as if asking permission, I nodded for her to go. So Daisy also resignedly got dragged away by Misha.

I stared blankly at the door the three had left through, then met eyes with Gabriel. It was somehow awkward but I felt like laughing.

"Would you dance one song with me?"

Unlike before I changed clothes when I had extended my hand first, this time Gabriel bowed slightly and offered his hand first. I guess he's thinking of showing proper courtesy now that I'm properly dressed.

"One song won't be enough."

There are so many types of dances. We should try each type at least once, right?

"I'll partner with you for as long as you need."

When our hands met, Gabriel drew in a small breath. Is he nervous? When he was kissing other people's hands, he acted so shamelessly.

Come to think of it, except for farewell greetings, this is the first time we're holding hands. Thinking about the kiss that should naturally follow after this made me feel slightly heated.

Of course, it was a thought that quickly subsided because Gabriel's hand was so warm. Why is Gabriel's body so warm? Is it because his heart is cold so his hands are warm?

Gabriel seemed to have some expertise in dancing too, as he skillfully positioned himself with his hand around my waist.

Though inaudible, the accompaniment began. I moved my feet, relying on Gabriel's lead.

Come to think of it, Misha said she wanted to see us together in the dress, but she quickly left. Maybe she just wanted to see Gabriel complimenting me in my dress.

"Misha didn't need to leave on purpose."

We're not going to do anything strange, we're just dancing. Gabriel answered that it was probably Misha's own consideration.

"Schmitiana seems to think of you specially."

"Because I allowed her to call me by the nickname Misha?"

"Yes. The nickname is one thing, but Schmitiana originally chooses people selectively when making clothes. That's why we had trouble bringing her to the Rohanson estate initially."

Right. At first she said she couldn't touch human skin when it came to me, so she definitely wouldn't have come voluntarily - Gabriel must have forced her to come. But that's not being selective about people, that's being selective about criminals, isn't it?

Hmm. Thinking about how she was bossing around her employees earlier and Misha's artisan spirit, it did seem like she would be selective about customers. Gabriel took his gaze off the firmly closed door that Misha had left through.

"She's pickier than you'd think. Getting such a person to make clothes for servants isn't easy."

Picky? To me, she seemed like a romance fanatic who was enchanted by the pink atmosphere unfolding before her eyes. Plus, she seemed to have some face-obsessed tendencies too. She was incredibly weak to Evangeline's face.

While chatting lightly, the dance continued. Thanks to learning the theory thoroughly, no disasters like stepping on Gabriel's feet occurred.

One song ended and we bowed. In a formal ball, since the song had changed, the partner should have changed too, but since this was private, we continued with different dances without changing partners.

The distance that had separated during the bow came together again. The temperature, which now felt quite lukewarm, gently wrapped around my waist.

What genre is the next song? Still not familiar with it, I was going over the sequence, but unlike me, Gabriel's entire attention was focused on me.

It's proper etiquette to have light conversation while dancing. Where did we leave off? Ah, about Misha making clothes for the employees.

"Misha is just trying to earn her payment since she received compensation from me."

"That can't be. Schmitiana won't move even if you pay her a fortune unless she's moved at heart. It's just that you've become her exception."

Ah. This song is a waltz. It's hard to distinguish without accompaniment. Without sound, I have to memorize through body movements. I engraved Gabriel's movements in my head instead of music.

Gabriel extends his left foot, his right foot moves and turns left. Then his left foot moves again, and Gabriel captured me in his eyes.

"When you capture someone in your eyes, that's what happens."

Gabriel looked at me with strange eyes. What was reflected in them was a vivid blue so clear it was almost eerie. I had always thought it was like a sky without a single cloud, but seeing myself projected like this, it also seemed like an untainted water surface.

"My beliefs, my philosophy, my ideals—everything I've built from the ground up feels meaningless."

Up until now, it had been Gabriel's own story, not Misha's. What's with him suddenly setting the mood like this? My heart felt ticklish—I must have an allergy to romance fantasy.

Gabriel continued speaking as if he couldn't even see my reluctant expression.

"You, who destroyed my world and intruded into it, seem to be rebuilding the world from scratch however you please."

As my body spun around, the hem of my dress spread low and wrapped around my body. Gabriel said he was just as helpless before me as a person facing a natural disaster.

An existence that would shake the world—at first glance, it sounded like a heartfelt love confession.

"That sounds like some kind of confession."

I meant it as a joke, but Gabriel didn't deny it. A confession? That?

I knew well that Gabriel liked me, and I knew well that to escape death or an unhappy ending, reaching an ending with Gabriel, the male lead, was the most ideal method.

But having it thrust right in front of me without warning made my head spin for a moment. I felt nauseous.

I felt uncomfortable facing this sudden emotion. The excitement I'd felt about enjoying events in the novel suddenly deflated, and my feet felt heavy.

"You like me?"

From what I could tell, Gabriel's words weren't a love confession but self-deprecation. His appearance with eyes gently downcast looked pitiful, as if crushed by guilt rather than euphoric from being in love.

If Gabriel had put on a sweet face and whispered romance, my mood wouldn't be this miserable. That would be love pressed flat against paper, two-dimensional. It would be nothing more than the male lead performing his role.

So this is the same creepiness you feel when a ghost that existed beyond a monitor reaches its hand outside. It's the vivid disgust of thinking the black things on the pages of a wide-open book were just letters, only to see them writhe and sprout arms and legs, becoming ants that march in a line and crawl toward you.

Not loving Evangeline as a preset value, but actually liking me?

"Without even knowing who I am?"

I locked eyes deeply with Gabriel. What was reflected in the transparent glass was Evangeline's face. All Gabriel knew was the fact that I was a possessor. That's probably why he confessed while agonizing like that. But is that really Gabriel's true feelings? Not a preset value? Not being smitten by Evangeline's appearance?

Gabriel's body stiffened and his dance movements became terribly slow. This time, I led Gabriel instead.

Gabriel couldn't even answer. He clenched his mouth shut and avoided my gaze. The way he wanted to run away immediately but continued dancing because he'd promised was subtly typical of the upright Gabriel.

Even though no answer came back, I felt relieved instead.

Right? Even you think something's strange about this, don't you? My heart became peaceful again.

"Lord Gabriel just needs to get along with me appropriately."

I don't want heavy sincerity or anything like that. I'd rather avoid it.

The reason I get along with Gabriel is to receive his protection and to avoid whatever fate might await in the future.

Gabriel just needs to get along with me to that extent. Just like Evangeline and ask for help as if asking for a partner when Evangeline is needed.

Gabriel's complexion was particularly pale, as if I'd pushed him too hard. Anyone would think Gabriel was the one who died, not Evangeline.

"Shall we stop here?"

If we continued dancing, Gabriel seemed like he might collapse. We'd only matched two songs, but seeing how well I could follow the dance, I thought I could dance other dances well enough.

I wasn't going to keep dancing continuously anyway, so this much should be sufficient.

Ah, come to think of it, I was planning to tighten my fishing net today! Did I put up too much of a wall, forgetting my purpose? I think I got too immersed.

From Gabriel's perspective, he was laying groundwork to confess, but the girl he was interested in suddenly shot him down saying we're not at that stage yet, right? He'd wonder why she's suddenly acting like this. Is that why he was at a loss for words?

"I quite like you, my lord."

The waltz that seemed like it would last forever ended, and I whispered while holding my dress hem and curtsying. This won't be enough to fix things, but it's better to say something. If I push too hard, it won't be managing my fishing net, so I should at least give some lip service.

Since Gabriel definitely likes Evangeline's face, I forced myself to smile. Since I don't usually use my smiling muscles, it feels somewhat awkward... It feels like my mouth corners might cramp up.

I glanced at the mirror to see if I was smiling properly, but instead of being pretty, I saw a smile that looked like it could kill someone, so I quietly lowered my mouth corners. I really don't have any talent for acting, do I?