I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World - Chapter 18

Mid-May, when the greenery is in full bloom and freshness fills the air.

"Haa..."

Despite it being a refreshing and delightful time when worries and anxieties should be absent, my mother wore a dark expression and sighed deeply.

She looked unwell and tired.

I haven't really done anything wrong lately, and I've already been scolded...

"Is something wrong these days?"

"Ah... it's nothing much, I've just been feeling the cold a lot lately and I'm worried."

"Cold?"

I stared blankly at my mother with a bewildered expression.

It's May? It feels hot during the day and cool at night, doesn't it?

Not long ago, I replaced all the blankets in the mansion with summer ones, and the curtains were changed to thin, airy ones, but she says she feels cold.

My mother has never shown any signs of being sensitive to the cold, so I looked at her with worried eyes, wondering if she might be getting sick, and gently took her hand.

"Are you not feeling well? Do you have a cold or something?"

"It's not that, but... you know your father is prone to feeling hot, and I leave the window open when we sleep to suit him, so I can't sleep because I'm cold."

"Ah~"

I was relieved.

"How have you been doing until now? It must have been very difficult if your preferred temperatures don't match."

"There wasn't a problem until now, because I used to feel hot too when I was younger, but in the last few years, it's become harder to bear the cold. Haa... I guess I'm getting old now."

My mother mumbled with a gloomy expression, let out a short sigh, and took a sip of her tea.

"Haa-"

And while gazing wistfully out the window, she let out another shallow sigh.

"If someone didn't know, they'd believe you were in your 20s, Mother. The other wives would be very angry if they heard that."

"Hehe~ It feels good, even if it's just flattery."

My mother gave a soft smile and shook her head.

"Haha..."

I chuckled awkwardly and moistened my lips with the tea.

It's not flattery at all...

Usually, by the time you're in your 40s, you should have deep nasolabial folds around your mouth, but strangely enough, my mother didn't develop any new wrinkles, her skin didn't become rough, and she didn't gain any extra fat.

I wouldn't be surprised if everyone else didn't age either, but strangely, my father is changing to match his age, and my maternal and paternal relatives are all aging, but only my mother's appearance remains unchanged like a frozen human, even as time passes.

A bizarre phenomenon that is no exaggeration to describe as a mystery and a miracle.

Every time I feel it, I wondered if my mother sucks my father's energy every night.

Considering how suspiciously good the couple's relationship is, isn't it a plausible guess?

......

"Ahem...!"

"...?"

Since it was a thought that could be disrespectful to my father and mother, I quickly shook my head and banished the useless thought.

My mother looked at me with strange eyes, but continued to sip her tea without saying anything else.

"Hoo... Should I take out the winter blankets again..."

It can't be helped if she's too cold, but summer will be starting soon, so I wondered if there was any need to go through the hassle of taking out the blankets again.

Something that might help with the cold...

Ah.

"I have something nice that I made, would you like to see it?"

"Clothes?"

My mother's eyes narrowed, and her brow furrowed.

After being lost in thought for a moment, my mother nodded slightly and opened her mouth.

"Let's take a look."

"Emily."

I beckoned and called Emily, who was standing behind me.

Emily, who had approached, bent slightly at the waist and brought her head closer.

"What is it?"

"Do you remember the long knit that I showed you before?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Please bring it here."

"Understood."

_

"I brought the clothes you mentioned."

"Thank you."

The clothes that Emily brought from my room were a knitted knit dress, like a sweater.

The dress was short enough that the skirt barely covered half of the thighs, and unlike other dresses that spread out airily and fully, the skirt clung tightly to the legs, boasting a tight line.

A dress intended to be worn indoors rather than outdoors, especially in very private spaces.

"A sweater...? No, it's a bit long for that."

"It's similar to a sweater, but it's a dress, a knit dress."

"Hmm~ So that's why it's long."

My mother, who had made a humming sound, looked at the dress that Emily had spread wide with a look of wonder.

"How did you end up making clothes with knitting?"

"I originally made it as knitting practice, but as I was doing it, it got longer, you know?"

"It would come down to my knees."

"Yes, that's right. It's made of thick yarn, so it's cozy and traps warmth well, and it's knit, so it stretches well, so it'll be wearable even if it's a little small."

"Well... it looks like it..."

My mother narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips slightly, as if she was feeling reluctant.

"These kinds of clothes are what fishermen or commoners wear. I feel like it's a bit much for me to wear."

"Hmm~ Wouldn't it be okay since you'll only wear it when you sleep? It's not like nobles don't wear clothes made of cotton."

"Even so, couldn't you use other luxurious yarn, even just for the yarn?"

"I could make it for you like that, but it would take a month to make this."

"Ugh..."

My mother pouted and fell into contemplation.

Cold or dignity.

If it were my mother in normal times, she would have chosen dignity without hesitation, but the cold must be bothering her, as she kept her mouth shut and stared at the dress for quite a long time.

"For now... can I wear it for a few days and, if it's okay, can you make me another one with silk next time?"

"Yes, please tell me when you need it."

"Okay, thank you."

__

Deep night, the time when you should be going to bed soon.

-Knock knock

As I was reading a book by candlelight in the bedroom, a knock broke the silence and echoed in the quiet room.

"Come in."

I glanced at the clock, closed the book, and allowed the person beyond the door to enter. The door opened softly, and two women appeared.

"Madam, we have come to help you change."

"Okay."

I got up from my seat and walked to the dressing room.

Then, Marianan, the maid who came to attend with Grace, hurried past me and opened the door to the dressing room a step faster.

I entered the dressing room first, followed by Grace and Marianan, and then the door to the dressing room closed.

As soon as the door closed, the two who had come close to me skillfully untied the strings that stretched along the spine, pulled their arms out of the sleeves, and quickly took off their clothes.

"Heeuh..."

As the clothes were peeled off one by one, and only a thin chemise that showed through the skin remained, the cool air stimulated the skin.

An unpleasant feeling of goosebumps rising.

Without showing much expression, I waited quietly, and Grace carefully brought a snow-white negligee.

"......"

I was about to raise my arm and put on the pajamas, which were no different from usual, without thinking, but then the clothes that William had given me came to mind.

I immediately raised my hand and signaled Grace, who was approaching to put on the negligee, to stop.

"Do you remember where you put the clothes I received from William today?"

"Please wait a moment, I'll go find it right away."

Grace bowed her head and moved to where the clothes were hung.

"Madam, I found it."

Grace put the negligee back in its place and brought the dress William had made, holding it open and showing it to me to see if it was the right one.

I glanced at the dress and nodded slightly.

"Yes, I'll wear that today."

"Yes, then..."

"Wow..."

"Marianan?"

Suddenly, Marianan exclaimed.

Grace and I turned our heads towards Marianan, and Marianan looked at the knit dress with sparkling eyes, then was startled by our gazes and bowed her head.

"I'm, I'm sorry Madam, the clothes looked so good that I..."

The clothes look good?

Sweaters similar to that one should be common clothes for commoners, but the child who has seen so many better clothes than that one that they fill a carriage while attending to me is showing such a reaction.

"That's strange, haven't you seen a lot of more luxurious clothes than that?"

"Rather than that... the clothes look warm and comfortable, so I was looking at them."

"Ah, I see."

Not expensive and beautiful clothes, but functionally good clothes.

I realized why Marianan said it was good and a smile leaked out.

"Come to think of it, Marianan, you were very sensitive to the cold, are you okay these days when you sleep?"

"Winter has passed, so it's bearable these days."

"Bearable... there's still some time before summer comes, are you okay?"

"I'm okay."

"I see..."

Judging by her expression, it didn't seem like she was okay, but I couldn't force her to say she wasn't okay when she said she was okay, so I nodded and closed my mouth.

"Madam, excuse me."

"Okay."

When the conversation between me and Marianan stopped, Grace came closer to me holding the clothes.

I closed my eyes and raised my arms, and the cozy and fluffy texture unique to knitted fabrics slowly flowed down from my head.

Soon, I felt the sensation of my head and hands coming out of the holes in the clothes and meeting the cool air.

"Madam, it's done."

"Hooah..."

At Grace's gentle voice, I gently opened my eyes and looked down at the dress.

The chest was a little tight, and the belly was a little loose, but it wasn't to the point where it felt uncomfortable.

"Good..."

Warm and cozy.

It was a little annoying that it clung too closely to my body and blatantly flaunted my figure, but there would be no one to show it to except him, so there wouldn't be a problem.

With the thought that I would be able to sleep comfortably tonight, I looked at Grace and Marianan with a satisfied smile.

"Thank you, you can go back and rest comfortably tonight."

""Yes, good night, Madam.""

"Okay, good night."