I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World - Chapter 38
[
To William Henry Howard.
William, I am so happy that you, who wouldn't even send a letter if you were stranded somewhere because of such a noisy event, have sent letters twice in just one week.
As I said last time, we hope that you will fulfill your great ambitions, but I didn't know that you would make such a big deal out of it.
Still, unlike last time when you were backstabbed by His Majesty the Emperor without knowing why, I feel like I could cry because this time you at least told your mother before starting things.
But this time, it's an opportunity for you to show your abilities to His Majesty the Emperor, so it seems better for you to handle it alone.
I will provide financial support, but it's difficult to do more than that, so keep that in mind.
From Countess Helen Maria Howard.
p.s. I'm not angry at all,
]
The letter from my mother, which arrived in my arms two days after it was sent, unfortunately did not contain the positive content I wanted.
I expected that I wouldn't hear anything good from my mother, but I didn't expect to hear, "Do whatever you want."...
"Oh, this is a disaster..."
Feeling dizzy, I gently placed the letter on the desk, clutching my head and sighing softly.
"Haa~"
"Young Master, are you, um, okay?"
As I sighed deeply and leaned back in the chair, Emily cautiously approached and examined my condition.
"It's nothing..."
I felt like I would only be complaining if I talked about it now, so I waved my hand, signaling her not to bother me now.
"Yes..."
"Ugh..."
I heard Emily carefully retreating, and I groaned, wiping my face once with my hand.
I should have just stopped meddling and quietly made clothes.
It's my fault for starting and making a mess of things, so I can't blame anyone, and my head just became more complicated.
I need to think before I act...
"Hoo..."
I took a breath and calmed my complicated mind first.
Let's put aside all the extraneous thoughts and organize what I need to do right now.
What I need to aim for now is to create an underwear sewing factory.
To do that, I need to secure a building, find people to work, and lastly, find a place to regularly supply materials.
If I go into detail, there are more things to do than this, but that's all I can handle right now.
So, which of these three things should I do first?
People.
Finding a building and discussing material supply with a merchant guild are things I can solve by working hard and going around.
It's not a remote rural area, and there's no way I can't find a building and a merchant guild in the Imperial Capital.
But not people.
If it were simple labor or hiring servants, I could find them by asking around, but manpower like dressmakers or tailors is apprentice-based, so it's difficult to find them unless they come to you first.
So, I need to start making people come to me in advance.
Thanks to His Majesty the Emperor, I've definitely gained fame.
So, what I need now is to promote what I'm trying to do.
There are many ways to promote, but what I need to use now is the newspaper.
If I just pay, a media that spreads to every corner of the country every two weeks delivers the news, so I can solve the promotion problem at once without doing complicated things.
"Today is..."
I checked the date first.
The latest issue was published three days ago, so I had to tell the newspaper company quickly to get an advertisement in the very next newspaper.
"Aish..."
I sighed and picked up the quill.
「
Seeking People.
People with dreams of becoming tailors or dressmakers, and laborers to assist them.
Preference given to those with sewing experience or talent in drawing.
Wages and working conditions to be discussed later.
If interested, send a letter to 7 Royal Street and look for William Henry Howard at the Lloyd coffeehouse in the Imperial Capital on the third Monday of July, or at the Red Oak Barrel pub on Tuesday.
」
Then, I scribbled it down as I thought of it, fluttered the paper to dry the ink, and put it in an envelope.
I'll have to go to the newspaper company myself to request this...
"Emily."
I gestured to Emily, who was sitting in the corner, watching me.
"Yes, Young Master."
"Please call Francis."
"Yes."
_
After waiting for about 30 minutes, Francis came to my room.
With brown hair and dark eyes, his outward appearance was unremarkable, but Francis, the butler who uniquely wore a monocle on his right eye, politely bowed slightly towards me as soon as the door opened and he entered the room.
"You called, Young Master."
The monocle did not fall, even though he lowered his waist and his head was slightly facing the floor.
I feel this every time I see it, but I was amazed at how he could wear that uncomfortable thing without dropping it all the time.
They say you get the hang of it after wearing it for a long time, but it feels like my eye or cheekbones would cramp.
"Sorry to call you when you're busy."
As I stared at Francis's monocle and offered a light apology, Francis straightened his back and gently shook his head.
"Not at all, aren't you busier these days, Young Master?"
"......"
Because Francis always remains expressionless so that his monocle doesn't fall off if his facial expressions are severe, it's hard to tell whether he's teasing or speaking sincerely.
"What did you call me for?"
"...I called you because I have something to ask."
"What is it?"
Feeling uneasy while staring at him, Francis changed the subject first.
I pouted and made a sullen expression.
"I want to buy a building on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, but do I have to go around myself to do that?"
"That method is possible, but no one in their right mind would look for listings that way. Usually, they get introduced by someone they know or use the bulletin board in the west square of the Imperial Capital. The Imperial Capital is large, after all."
"I guess..."
I nodded at Francis's explanation.
The size of the Imperial Capital, including the outskirts, is roughly 8 km wide and 8 km long.
In terms of area, it's about 60 square kilometers, which isn't large compared to modern metropolitan cities, but it was a width that would be unreasonable to go around one by one to find a building.
Even if I just went around the outskirts without doing anything, it would take five hours, and finding a building?
It's crazy, as Francis said.
"Really? Then do listings come up there often?"
"It's difficult to say for sure because it varies from time to time, but in the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, wealthy commoners such as merchants and intellectuals live, so unlike nobles who receive introductions, they often post listings on the bulletin board."
"I see..."
Since I'm going out anyway because of the advertisement, I should stop by the newspaper company and check the bulletin board too.
"Okay, thank you. I have a place to go right now, so please prepare a carriage."
"Understood."
_
The newspaper company I visited to publish a job advertisement.
"......"
As soon as I opened the door and entered, what I faced were gazes like a thief in front of gold bars.
I wasn't surprised by such a reaction because I've been getting a lot of attention in the Imperial Capital recently, but I was a little uncomfortable because they were so openly revealing their greed.
"Hmm......"
After exchanging glances with the people inside for a while, a middle-aged man with blonde hair, unable to hide the smile on his face, approached me with his hands politely gathered in front of his sternum.
"Ahem, ahem! Nice to meet you, Sir William! I am Thomas Barnes, the editor who manages this place."
Seeing that there was no introduction to his family or title, he was a commoner. I nodded and held out my hand to shake his.
"Nice to meet you, I am William Henry Howard, Honorary Knight of the Imperial Knights."
"It's an honor!"
We shook each other's hands lightly up and down, then withdrew our hands.
"So, what brings you here?"
Thomas, who had put his withdrawn hand back in front of his sternum, cautiously asked a question with a sinister smile like a corrupt merchant.
"I came here because I want to put an advertisement in the newspaper."
"An advertisement! Then we can't talk here. Come inside, I'll treat you to some tea."
"Well, then I'll intrude."
I nodded and followed Thomas, who was leading the way, stretching his hand out.
Passing through the employees who were looking at us with envious eyes, Thomas stopped in front of a door with a sign that read Editor's Office.
"It's humble, but come in."
"Hmm."
Passing through Thomas, who opened the door for me, I saw a room that felt a bit messy because it was full of piles of paper.
I thought it was just empty words, but it really is a little humble.
"If you sit somewhere comfortable, I'll bring it to you soon."
"I don't need tea, how about we talk about the main subject right away?"
I hated the awkward time I would have while waiting for the tea, so I stopped Thomas, who was about to walk to the teapot in the corner of the editor's office.
"Are you sure?"
Then, Thomas glanced at me with a sullen expression and carefully asked again.
"It's okay."
"Understood."
As I repeatedly nodded and expressed that it was okay, Thomas finally turned around and sat in the chair across from me.
"What kind of advertisement do you want to place?"
And at the following question, I quietly took out an envelope from my chest and handed it to Thomas.
Thomas politely received the envelope with both hands, took out the paper inside, narrowed his eyes, and carefully read the words written on the paper.
"It's short. With this much, you can place it anywhere you want."
"If I can place the advertisement, the location doesn't matter, but I don't know how much it costs, so can I hear about that first?"
"Originally, the most obscure and inconspicuous place is 1 gold, but..."
Thomas, who had spread two fingers, trailed off and began to read my expression.
And after hesitating for a moment, moving his lips, Thomas swallowed once and whispered softly.
"If you agree to one interview, I'll let you place it in the location you want for 1 gold."
"Hmm... How much does the most expensive space cost?"
"If you put it at the top of the first page, it costs about 8 gold."
"Not bad."
In effect, it was saying that he would put it on the first page for 1 gold.
"Hmm..."
It's not difficult to answer questions, but I'm a little worried.
I was also a little scared because I was worried about what kind of questions he would ask.
But if he's the kind of person who would distort it, he'd probably enjoy tearing me down with titles like, 'Rude Honorary Knight, Arrogant with His Majesty the Emperor on His Back?' even if I refused.
"Well... I'll answer if it's not a sensitive question."
"Thank you!"
Realizing that the result would be the same the moment I entered here, I nodded, thinking I should at least get some money.
Thomas, smiling brightly and nodding repeatedly, got up from his seat and brought the notebook and pencil placed on his desk.
"Then let's start right away!"
"Hmm."
I nodded as if to tell him to come in.
I hope there are no questions that are difficult to answer.