Chapter 12

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Angel's Breath
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A ten-minute carriage ride from the manor brought me to the bustling main street, where I stepped out, escorted by my knight. Around me, other young ladies, dressed as splendidly as I, were enjoying their outings with the help of knights or young lords.

With Marie leading the way, I headed for the most prosperous general store in the capital. The shop, named ‘The Angel’s Breath,’ showcased the latest creations from the empire’s finest pattern designers, making it the perfect place to see all the current trends at a glance.

Dodging the crowd creating a bottleneck at the entrance, I squeezed my way into the shop. Small birds from a turdarium and taxidermied animals hung from the ceiling. Below, popular patterns, stacks of paper, and prints of fashionable dresses were on display.

In one corner, various items such as quill pens made from peacock feathers and ink infused with musk were neatly arranged, drawing the eyes of the customers.

A large crowd had gathered, especially around the exotic patterned carpets and rugs from the East, and a portrait of a beautiful woman from those lands.

I called over a clerk who was rushing about with a stack of paper in his arms and asked to see some stationery. I stressed that the price didn't matter, but it had to be a ‘high-quality item’ not commonly found.

The clerk then led me to a middle-aged man with a swarthy complexion. The man, who appeared to be the owner of the shop, gave a gentle smile, his eyes, nearly lost in his fleshy face, twinkling.

“Welcome. What kind of patterned stationery are you looking for?”

I replied with a prim expression.

“Show me the *deformatio*’s patterns first. I’ll decide after I see them. Oh, and of course, you know the *deformatio* I speak of is ‘Valtan Etoile’?”

“Of course, my lady. There is no other master in this field like him.”

The owner laid out several sheets of paper with patterns drawn on them before me and began a lengthy explanation. It seemed small, repeating flowers were in vogue, as the papers were covered in astonishingly delicate depictions of wildflowers. The designs were ornate yet elegant, sophisticated yet beautiful.

After choosing stationery that would suit Marianne de Châteauroux, I spoke to the owner, who was looking pleased with my selection.

“Soak this in rosewater and dry it for me. Can you do that?”

“Soaking already-made stationery in rosewater is a very difficult task.”

“That’s why I’m placing a special order for my own unique item.”

“A special order, you say?”

The owner’s eyes lit up. I could almost see piles of gold coins flashing in his mind.

I gave an elegant nod and spoke to him in a near-whisper. My pronunciation was crisp, my tone as light as a songbird’s—the very picture of a noble lady.

“I’ve heard that no other place produces paper as beautiful and elegant as this shop. That is why I am commissioning you to be my lifelong supplier. Can you do it?”

“Of course. But the price will be quite steep. Will that be acceptable?”

“The price is of no concern. What does money matter, so long as the work is done properly? Of course, I have no intention of using the same design twice. So, once a month, I will come to the shop and select the latest trending pattern. You simply need to transfer it onto the rosewater-soaked paper. I won’t require a large quantity. It will be a mere thirty sheets. Can you do it?”

“That is a rather demanding order. Well, I’m not sure if it will turn out well…”

I pressed the hesitant owner with a final, decisive remark.

“This stationery is for Madame de Châteauroux. If this goes well, your shop could prosper even more. What do you say? Still hesitant?”

“Very well. I’ll do it.”

Madame de Châteauroux was a trendsetter. If this stationery happened to catch her fancy, it was obvious that every noble lady who followed her lead would come rushing to this shop to acquire paper of a similar style.

The owner wiped his greasy face with a handkerchief and gave me a subtle smile.

“If we receive an inquiry from the palace, I will fill all your future orders at half price.”

“A wise choice.”

“Then, where should I send it?”

“Send it to the House of Count Vischwartz. I am Cisse Vischwartz.”

At my words, the owner’s eyes widened. He seemed unable to believe that the ‘young lady’ from the gossip that had recently set high society abuzz was standing right before him.

And for good reason. The rumors that had been secretly circulating painted me as an utter simpleton who, like my mother, was hopelessly vulgar and knew nothing of etiquette.

Therefore, he must have been quite surprised to meet me in person and find an elegant young girl who was the complete opposite of those rumors.

Above all, he was likely shocked that a young lady, not even of age, was sending a letter to Madame de Châteauroux. This was, after all, tantamount to me subtly flaunting my extraordinary connections.

“It is a great honor to meet the young lady of House Vischwartz.”

I watched him kiss the back of my hand with an amused expression and let out a low laugh. The fact that the owner’s greasy lips had touched my glove was utterly revolting, but I suppressed my discomfort, unable to show it.

Because this man was about to become the cuckoo who would spread ‘rumors’ about me to the many ladies who would visit his shop in the future.

He would surely show the pattern I chose to other young ladies, explaining that it was for ‘that Madame de Châteauroux’.

Then, the ladies who heard this would, despite sneering at my lowly birth behind my back, not dare show it to my face. Unlike in the past. This was a development I had desperately hoped for.

“I shall eagerly await the finished product. I trust you will do your best.”

“Of course, my lady.”

It wasn't the design I wanted, but I needed stationery immediately, so I wracked my memory and chose a design that suited Madame de Châteauroux’s taste. Then I nodded to Marie to pay the bill. And then I turned to leave the shop.

Was it because I turned without looking? I failed to avoid someone approaching me and collided with them forcefully.

The one who saved me from falling and making a complete fool of myself was not Marie, who stood behind me. Nor was it my escorting knight.

Ironically, it was the person I had bumped into. He brazenly wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me deep into his embrace.

Before I could even register what was happening, the firm yet alluring scent of a strange man filled my senses, making me dizzy.

I barely managed to calm my wildly beating heart and let out a ragged breath. My shoulders heaved, and I unconsciously grabbed the man’s arm.

“Oh, my apologies. Are you all right?”

A strangely deep voice tickled my ear like a feather. His voice was polite yet heavy. At the same time, it was incredibly sweet. I had never heard such a captivating voice before.

***

Was this what it was like to be lured by a siren singing on a dark shore where black waves crashed?

The man’s voice possessed just such a strange, bewitching power. If Marie hadn’t called out to me right then, I would have remained in his arms, forgetting all decorum.

“I am fine. So please, let me go now.”

I managed to say in a breathless whisper. The fact that I was pressed so tightly against a strange man’s chest, almost in an embrace, sent a peculiar thrill through me.

I could hardly breathe, especially with the distinct feeling of his hard chest against me through my clothes.

But the man did not heed my request. Instead, the hand on my waist tightened its grip, while his other hand took hold of my arm.

And he whispered in my ear in that same gentle voice, a smooth tone like velvet brushing against my nape, which was surprisingly polite and carried a distinctly aristocratic air.

“If you are heading outside, allow me to escort you. It seems it would be quite difficult for you to leave on your own.”

It was somewhat forward of him, but the man’s judgment was entirely correct. The shop was utter chaos. If I had tried to move through the bustling crowd alone, my slender frame would have surely been crushed.

The hem of my dress, which cascaded below my heels, was already ruined by other people’s footprints, and my hat, which had fallen to the floor during the collision, was little more than a tattered rag.

I had no choice but to nod and accept his offer. My cheeks were burning red with embarrassment and shyness.

But do not misunderstand. It would be a gross overstatement to call this some spring-scented flutter of excitement, or the subtle feeling of a first love’s premonition.

It was merely the instinctual awareness of the male species felt by a girl who has just begun to blossom—a maiden who welcomed her ‘monthly visitor’ just last month.

I swear to the gods, no one had ever touched my chaste body so directly before. I was flustered, unsure what to make of this suggestive situation where his hip was pressed against my stomach.

As soon as I gave my consent, he began to push through the crowd as aggressively as a beast tearing into its prey. He paid no mind to the short shrieks and protests from those around us.

At the same time, he never forgot to shield me with his body, turning sideways like a sturdy protector. He escorted a lady with a practiced air, as if it were second nature.

He moved so quickly out of the shop that Marie’s voice calling “Young Miss!” from behind grew fainter and fainter.

Only when we reached the shop’s entrance did the man release his arm from my waist without a hint of reluctance. He waited patiently as I straightened my attire.

He even showed the kindness of not flinching, though my hard pinch on his arm must have hurt—a pinch born from the exhaustion of strange tension and excitement while navigating the crowd.

After a moment, when I felt my wrinkled clothes were somewhat smoothed out, I bowed my head politely and offered him my thanks.

My embarrassment over our excessively close contact was fleeting; I knew I couldn't have escaped so easily without him, so I expressed my gratitude with due courtesy.

After all, my knight and my maid were still stuck inside the shop, were they not?

“I do not know which family you hail from, young lord, but I am deeply indebted to you. How might I repay this kindness?”

“I was the one who was rude first. So please, do not trouble yourself over it.”

The man said, his voice still captivating. I suddenly grew curious about his face. And so, without even thinking to raise my fan, I sought to take in his full appearance with my own eyes.

There was a considerable height difference between us, so I had to tilt my head up slightly, but I did so willingly. It was a bold act that no proper young lady would dare, but I met his gaze head-on.

He was an exceedingly handsome man. His fine, blue hair, sapphire-like eyes, and strong, masculine jawline were all flawless.

His broad forehead was as smooth as fresh snow. His beauty was such that the women passing by on the street would gaze at him with shining eyes, for he exuded a potent, masculine allure.

He wore only a simple shirt and trousers, yet even in such attire, he radiated an aristocratic grace.

Every movement was imbued with elegance and dignity. The courtesy he showed me was so naturally graceful it seemed innate. I concluded that he must be the young lord of some great house.

At the same time, I thought, ‘If this man had appeared in society before, he would have been on everyone’s lips. Why do I have no memory of him?’

His face was one thing, but his voice was so enchanting that anyone who heard it once would never be able to forget it.

“If that is how you feel, then I can only be grateful.”

In any case, since he refused to be compensated, there was no reason to insist. So I took a small step back and turned my gaze toward the shop entrance, waiting for my knight and Marie to emerge.

Had he not spoken to me again, I probably would have continued to ignore him, feigning ignorance.