I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World - Chapter 48

Before starting the work I wanted to do. I briefly recalled the matter concerning the imperial family, which I had thrown to the back of my mind.

No, I had consistently remembered the task the imperial family assigned, but I had been busy and kept delaying the interim report, and now it was time to do that.

Since I had been causing such a commotion with my work, they likely knew what I had done, but it feels different when the person involved speaks directly.

So, to quickly finish it before starting the main work, I picked up a ruler and a pen.

“Drawing graphs is like hell…”
As soon as I turned the first page, I got annoyed.

When making clothes, I wouldn't get annoyed using all sorts of tools like protractors, curve rulers, triangles, etc., and drawing pictures, but this, even just drawing lines with a single ruler, I didn't want to do it.
The feeling of an office worker after a long time, I desperately missed presentation software.

That program where I could insert graphs of various types that I liked with a few clicks of the numbers.
As a bonus, I also missed the chart program that came with it, which was great at drawing tables and graphs, and the document writing program.

It would be great if I at least had a typewriter...

“It’s annoying…”
I don’t want to do it.

But the client was the imperial family.
My motivation increased slightly.
I closed my eyes, slapped my cheeks a couple of times, and grabbed hold of my loosened spirit.

“Phew~ Let’s go!”
Opening my eyes wide, I let out a yell of encouragement and moved my pen, repeating to myself that if I did it properly now, I could get away with reporting roughly for several months.

_

“These are the documents His Highness needs to review.”
After lunch, the white-haired elderly secretary appeared, carrying documents to begin the afternoon's work.

Usually, at most two or three would come up to me, but today, documents that looked like twice that number were held in the secretary’s arms.

“There are quite a few today.”

“The thickness is great, but the number is the same as usual.”

“Whoever it is, they certainly work hard.”
I keep telling them to remove flowery language and unnecessary words from administrative documents, but whoever this person is, I will definitely remember them.

“Hmm?”
As I watched the secretary organize the documents, cursing the nameless newcomer who had dropped a document bomb on the empire’s second-in-command, I noticed the secretary setting aside a very thick document.

“Is this the document submitted by that hard-working fellow?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right, Sir William has submitted a report containing the progress of the work and predictions regarding future trends.”

“William? Ho-oh~ I was thinking of asking how things were going soon, but he’s quick on the uptake.”
Even though his document writing skills aren’t good.

“It is quite thick, so you should read it when you have leisure.”

“As it happens, I have some time now, I’ll read it once.”

“Yes.”

I picked up William’s report, listening to the secretary’s warning.
The thickness and weight were immediately noticeable as I picked it up.
Even though I hadn’t read it yet, I felt annoyed.

It seems I’ll have to send someone later to teach him some administrative work.
We’ll be seeing each other often because of the Emperor, so it will be troublesome if this happens every time.

“Hmm…”
I let out a hum and turned the cover of the report.
And then immediately frowned and quickly skimmed the report.

“… Secretary, has Sir William ever received administrative training?”

“No, far from receiving training, he hasn’t even applied for the academy exam.”

“Did you happen to check the report written by Sir William?”

“That was… not me, but the Knight Order’s administrator who checked and submitted it.”

I pushed the report towards the secretary.

“You read it once.”

“Yes.”
The secretary took the report, opened his eyes sharply, and slowly read through it.

“Oh…”
And then an exclamation burst out.
The secretary, who had glanced up and met my eyes, swallowed and spoke.

“Did Sir William write this himself?”

“The handwriting is Sir William’s. The graphs aren’t exact, but Sir William probably drew them.”

“Hmm… If he did it himself, his skill is not bad. It seems he just needs a little teaching. As far as I remember, I believe he is now 17 years old…”
The secretary’s eyes sparkled.
And he twitched his cheek muscles, glancing at me.

“Your Highness, aren’t we a bit short on civil servants these days?”

“Secretary, I understand your intentions, but calm down. He is someone His Majesty has his eye on.”

“Hmph… That’s why it’s truly regrettable. Such a young talent should be quickly secured and placed in the imperial palace so they can be used for generations upon generations…”
The secretary sighed in a gloomy voice as if he had lost a world-class warhorse, and frowned.

The secretary himself had worked since the time the previous emperor was on the throne, so he had a strong obsession with civil servants who could be used for a long time.

“Isn’t the son of Viscount Bravebrook, who recently joined as a civil servant, also young?”

“The more horses and civil servants there are, the better.”

“That would be a waste of budget.”

“Isn’t it just a matter of me, being old, retiring quickly?”

Leaving aside whether the word 'quickly' is applicable at an age already close to 70, I don't know what he's talking about when he stubbornly refuses to retire even when told to please do so.

“Who was it who said that a seasoned secretary is better the longer they are used?”

“That indeed sounds like a good saying.”
The secretary, who nodded playfully with a smile, carefully placed William’s report on the desk.

I picked up that report again, slowly flipped through it, and spoke towards the secretary.

“More than that, isn’t it quite interesting? Personnel, budget, production volume, and future plans and goals… The report is so frank, there’s nothing hidden at all, it’s almost embarrassing. It would be truly wonderful if other nobles had this mindset, you know.”

“Where is there a person who honestly shows their hand, unless they are mad?”

“Isn’t one right here? Since he’s even telling us the source of his business funds, isn’t this practically pleading for us to collect gift tax? I wonder if the estimated tax amount isn’t even written in here.”

Just in case, I flipped a few pages back and found that the estimated tax amount was actually written there.
It was clumsy because he hadn't gone through a tax accountant, but it was reasonably accurate.

“Window tax…?”

“Did you say window tax…?”

Rather, perhaps because he calculated according to the law without resorting to tricks, he even included an outdated tax, causing both the secretary and I to wear dumbfounded expressions and read that part several times again.

I remember the last time it was collected was 38 years ago, but he somehow found it and put it in.

It’s hard to judge whether he is pure, or if he is afraid of the imperial family and doesn't want to be criticized for even a speck of dust.

“He’s a fun friend, both stupid and smart, the more I look at him.”

“I think I understand why he caught His Majesty’s eye.”

His impression is sharp, resembling his father and mother, yet his actions are so clumsy.
His personality also resembles theirs, but he resembles them ambiguously, so he is clumsy yet meticulous, thorough yet shoddy.

Should I say he’s like a guard dog that likes people too much? It felt like he would bark and run towards a thief because he’s happy to see a person, and thus catch the thief anyway.

“He seems precarious, but the work is indeed progressing well.”

“I also find that quite strange.”

“Anyway, it’s working well for now, so it doesn’t matter. Instruct the Knight Order to prepare for business cooperation with Sir William, and convey to Sir William that from now on, he should write documents as concisely as possible.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And also, convey the message to leave out the window tax.”

“Haha, I understand.”
Having given instructions to the secretary, I gently put down the report and smiled.

Now, I also began to wonder what William would do next.

_

About two days after submitting the interim report to His Highness the Duke through the Knight Order, a reply arrived via the imperial secretary.

In the envelope bearing the imperial crest, there were two types of paper: one was a document listing the underwear sizes of the female knights, and the other was a letter containing the imperial secretary's scolding.

I felt a little embarrassed, but I was in a good mood.
Although the reasons were different, I had achieved the result of ‘keeping reports concise from now on’.

And what was important was not that I received the scolding, but that I was given the underwear sizes of the female knights.
Since the Knight Order would also send people soon, this meant the work was completely entrusted to me.

“Hehe, heheheh.”
Because things were proceeding so smoothly, I felt extremely good.

Furthermore, today was the momentous first business day of the underwear factory/shop.
I felt wonderful because I could both teach sewing to Walter and Elin, the brother and sister, and simultaneously carry out the imperial family's work.

For the brassieres to be supplied to the Knight Order, meticulous and honest stitching was more important than flashy techniques, so it could truly be seen as an optimal opportunity for the two who needed basic skills practice.

“Ah! Sir William, you came early!”
Because I was so excited, I arrived an hour earlier than the time I had told others, and I encountered Sir Benion, who was opening the windows and ventilating.

“Sir Benion, was everything I requested completed well?”

“Yes, the interior was reorganized as you spoke of, and I also properly confirmed that the mage installed the machinery.”

“You worked hard.”

“Haha, it was nothing.”
Sir Benion smiled broadly and waved his hand.

I also grinned, looked at Sir Benion for a while, and then slightly turned my head to scan the building.

What had changed was the interior, so the exterior was the same as when I saw it last time, but thinking that clothes would be made here from today onwards, I somehow felt as if the building was sparkling.

“Hehe~”
I let out a pleasant laugh and stepped inside.

From now on, it was the real beginning.