Livyat, who had already visited Clarice’s Custom Shop several times, was well-accustomed to this level of hospitality; it was nothing out of the ordinary for her.
The second time Clarice had seen her, the woman’s reaction had been borderline hyperbolic.
There were expensive refreshments, servants presenting silk swatches of every imaginable color for her appreciation, and the insistence that she touch every single one.
The shopkeeper had even shown her custom orders that other noble ladies and debutantes hadn’t picked up yet, just so Livyat could reference the styles currently trending at aristocratic balls.
The stench of the wealthy!
Livyat thought bitterly.
Returning to reality, Livyat saw that Elena was at a loss for words, unsure of how to even open her mouth.
Livyat knew this feeling; she had been in the exact same position before.
This was the moment she had to step up.
“We’re just here to look around, primarily to pick out some suitable clothes for this lady. A beauty like her surely needs the most popular styles in Landinset to bring out her best, wouldn’t you agree?”
“But of course, but of course! Oh, anyone who can be friends with an elven lady is naturally extraordinary. How about this: I’ll have the shop’s best seamstress come over to take her measurements. If none of the ready-to-wear pieces fit perfectly, we will work through the night to custom-make them. They can be delivered to the lady’s manor by tomorrow.”
Elena was completely dazed.
Just by standing next to Livyat, she had somehow become an “extraordinary person” living in a “manor.”
Furthermore, as someone who had only ever bought ready-made clothes, she hadn’t even realized this shop offered custom tailoring!
“I… I’m not some noble lady…”
The owner could naturally see that Elena was dressed simply—one might even say poorly—so he offered a timely compliment.
“My dear lady, it isn’t just about my opinion. You stepped out of a consulate carriage and are here with an elven lady. That is something many wives and daughters of the nobility can only dream of.”
Livyat cleared her throat, interrupting the owner’s chatter.
“Just have the seamstress take her measurements.”
The owner shut his mouth immediately and waved over the seamstress who had been waiting nearby.
The woman was elderly, wearing gold-rimmed monocles and with her hair tied in a neat bun, looking exceptionally experienced.
She stepped close to Elena, quickly taking every measurement and recording the data on a cloth pinned to her own arm using ink-stained fingers.
Then, she tore the cloth off, handed it to the owner, and squinted at Elena.
“What fabric would you like, Miss? This year, the fine wool and cotton gauze produced in the Elven Kingdom are the most popular among young ladies. Of course, if you want silk, Lake Como silk is also excellent. However, the price for that is about ten times more than the first two options.”
Elena certainly knew those materials.
Her most cherished sea-blue dress was made of cotton gauze produced near Keolan Port.
It even had a string of beautiful small pearls embroidered along the edge, which was why it had cost her an entire month’s salary.
But Lake Como silk?
She didn’t even dare to imagine it.
Spending over half a year’s wages on a single dress was unthinkable.
She assumed that for the elven lady beside her, such materials probably wouldn’t even catch her eye.
Thinking this, Elena fell silent.
She didn’t know how to say it.
Even though she knew Miss Livyat wouldn’t care, it was simply a girl’s own sense of inferiority.
The seamstress seemed to sense Elena’s embarrassment and said kindly, “Floral cotton is also quite nice. Our shop recently updated its production method for floral cotton; it’s more breathable, and a skirt costs about 20 Grosso. It’s very trendy among girls these days.”
Livyat spoke up: “This lady wants to try several different styles. Why don’t you bring out a few ready-to-wear pieces in her approximate size first?”
And so, surrounded by the shop staff, Elena submissively tried on one outfit after another—from floral cotton to Areo cotton gauze, and finally, that sea-green long dress made of Lake Como silk that she had only dared to admire from a distance.
With every change, the staff and the owner heaped praise on her appearance and waistline.
Elena was shy at first, but eventually, she couldn’t help but turn left and right in front of the mirror to admire herself, even letting out small gasps of wonder.
In her twenty-some years of life, Elena had never been treated like such a “girl” before.
She felt so happy.
So happy she felt like she might faint.
Livyat knew.
Livyat knew everything.
She knew that Elena—the girl who had grown up in the same town as her but whom she had never known personally—was living a life exactly like her own childhood.
Therefore, Livyat made up her mind to buy that sea-green silk dress for Elena.
It was actually somewhat funny; even though she was a Queen, because she never asked Tess or the Elven Kingdom for money, she only had her own salary and savings on hand.
Altogether, she had saved up about 1,200 Grosso.
This dress alone would cost about 1,000 Grosso.
However, to let the lovely person before her truly experience what it felt like to be a happy girl for once, it was worth it.
She whispered to the owner, who was busy offering praises nearby, “Follow the design of that sea-green dress and customize one for this lady. I’ll pay the deposit now. Don’t make a scene about it.”
The owner’s face practically split from grinning.
Having an elven lady place an order at his shop was worth more than a hundred silk dresses combined.
He could also tell that this was a precious gift from the elven lady to the human lady.
He would naturally wait until the moment it was beautifully packaged and handed over before letting the human girl realize what had happened.
Wasn’t that how every young lord or lady gave gifts to their beloveds or best friends?
Still, the elven lady was truly generous!
Dressed in the sea-green silk gown, Elena stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror.
She never imagined she could wear such beautiful clothes; it was something she hadn’t dared to dream of in her entire life.
However, even the most beautiful dream had to end.
Gently stroking the hem of the skirt one last time with lingering affection, she took a deep breath, turned around, and smiled at the owner.
“I think I still prefer that cotton gauze dress. But I already have a sea-blue one, you see. So, I’d like to buy one for my good friend as well. That’s only fair, right? Since Miss Livyat and I are about the same height, this one should fit her perfectly.”
Livyat froze.
She remembered the Elena from her school days, who had shared half her bread with another skeletal, starving student.
She remembered the Elena who, refusing to accept Headmaster Antonroni’s accusations, had argued her case with such reason that the old man was forced to swallow his pride and apologize to her.
Elena had always been like this.
Livyat stood rooted to the spot, lost for words this time.
She felt like a mere parvenu.
Finally, Elena turned and handed the wrapped dress to Livyat, her eyes full of light.
“Miss Livyat, thank you for bringing me out to have fun today. This is the most beautiful dress I could afford to buy. I hope we can be happy every single day!”
Livia finally “woke up” from her daze.
She nodded and said softly, “Elena, thank you for giving me such a precious gift. I am very happy.”
The maid waiting outside the door observed the scene inside.
She quietly took a peculiar, tiny cornflower from the carriage and, facing the direction of the consulate, gently tossed it into the air.
The cornflower vanished, turning into a wisp of flying ash that drifted into the distance.