――A situation that even Gigille did not imagine occurred.

Oceanne, mother of Bernard, a dignified lady, loved Agnes at first glance.

Agnes is a graceful and beautiful woman. It can be seen at first glance that she has dignity and was well educated. It was expected that she was well liked. However, Bernard’s mother was not a superficial lady. She deeply evaluated people.

Gigille was Oceanne’s maid before she was Bernard’s wet nurse, so she knew it well. Therefore, the situation occurred was deemed suspicious or incredible strange in her eyes.

It was an unexpected result, that Oceanne wanted Bernard and Agnes to get closer.

Another unexpected thing was the order given to her son.

Oceanne ordered Bernard to get engaged to Agnes as soon as possible.

Meanwhile Bernard, was thinking that her mother’s order was invalid as an engagement with Agnes could never be made public.

“Oh, I’m very happy that my son will be married so soon. Gigille, I’m deeply grateful for taking care of him all these years.”

“This is not my credit, but Bernard himself has put effort into finding a fine lady …”

“I know you have helped much in making possible this blissful engagement. I don’t stand that child’s temperament. I’m sure he never thought of marrying if you didn’t help him and he even treats you like a servant.”

“… Oh milady, those are wasteful words on him. That child has always been all about work, and, even if he formally treat us like servants, I know he deeply cares about us as family.”

Gigille regretted that the original fiancée operation had failed. Bernard’s plan was to be engaged for a long time and when he finds a woman to marry at his 30’s cancel the false engagement. Gigille now realized that Bernard’s mother was in a hurry to marry off her son.

If the marriage talks are pushed forward in this way, Bernard will be cornered.

Gigille was greatly remorseful.

◇◇◇

Bernard exhales as she hears her mother and Gigille left to the city.

Immediately, he rushed to see Agnes.

Carol and Celia were in the room with her.

The atmosphere around the Twins felt different, their hairstyle had changed. The same with Agnes, their left and right braids were braided together at the back of their heads.

He was once again impressed at the fact that women can change with just one hairstyle.

“You, what’s with that hairstyle?”

“It was made by Agnes.”

“We’re studying how to tie our hair.”

“That’s right”

When Bernard was asked if their hairstyles suited them, he replied saying, “It looks good.”

The twins were happy.

Carol and Celia were in a good mood after that and smiled while asking how can they help.

“Master, do you want cafe au lait?”

“Master or do you want tea?”

“No, I don’t want that. Leave the room for a while please.”

He asked them to go down to the hall, but at the same time shook his head indicating he didn’t need to be served. His movements were beautifully aligned.

“We are now the maids of the Lady Agnes.”

“We’ll keep an eye on your every move. We can’t leave our unmarried lady alone with a guy.”

“Even if it’s master we’re talking about.”

“You guys……”

I wanted to talk to her alone, but it was not possible.

The common sense of aristocratic daughters dictated so. Unmarried men and women cannot be together in a closed room.

“No matter what master says it’s useless.”

“It’s only after you two get married that you can be alone with the lady in a room.”

The twins speak of the aristocratic daughter’s customs, presumably learned from her mother.

Bernard glared at them and they giggled.

“Can’t you listen to what your master says?”

“We serve Lady Agnes now.”

“Yes, you’re not our master now.”

Carol and Celia tried to follow the settings ordered by her mother Gigille.

The enemy was powerful, but the twins recalled last night’s lesson given by their mother, and Bernard lost.

“Then, I’ll take you both to a popular cafe in the city after this.”

“Are you saying you will take us to the white rabbit coffee shop !?”

“Really??”

“Yeah, but in exchange, I must speak with her alone.”

White rabbit coffee shop.

It is a coffee shop located in the city, serving exotic sweets, a shop made six months ago. It is said that the store is gorgeous and cute, but Gigille opposed saying that it was not a place for young girls.

“… but Mom told us we can’t go there”

“… It’s a place for those flirting women.”

“Only one time sister…”

“well, Mom impression may be wrong…”

“and the sweets seem so delicious…”

Carol and Celia were about to be convinced by Bernard’s proposal. Their momentum was being completely lost after each passing second.

I’m almost there. The confident Bernard tries to give the last push to the twins.

“White cream splashed over a strawberry’s confectionery… is that popular?”

“It’s not a confectionery, but a strawberry scone”

“It’s clotted cream, not white cream…”

“Well, anything is the same. Gigille never said anything about not going out to drink tea.”

Carol and Celia’s heart shook. The two remembered the gossips they heard.

The scones with dried strawberry are freshly baked with exquisite strawberries cultivated in special forests.

The outside is crisp and the inside is moist. The combination of the fragrant dough with buttery flavor and the sweet and sour strawberries provide a bliss for those who eat it. And the best way to eat it, is to apply a lot of rich clotted cream over.

Scones were the most popular item to attract women in the city.

“What will you do?”

“What should we do?”

“Please decide soon”

The two looked at each other and were determined to answer in that instant.

“We decided. Nothing can’t be done about rules.”

“Family rules are first. What mom says is absolute.”

“……Okay”

The twins always had the impression that they would be happy to test the things Gigille said no, but they found out that they couldn’t really think like this because their mother would never said anything unnecessary or just based on assumptions. Mothers are mothers.

Bernard understood, so he ordered them to close their ears and wait at the corners of the room.

Carol and Celia were obedient.

“It’s troublesome, the rules for noble daughters”

“For me, that was everyday.”

“That’s right.”

“Do you think it’s normal to be aware of it and don’t feel strange?”

“… It depends on the person, but I think not…”

Agnes expression was dim. But she showed it only for a moment, so Bernard didn’t notice.

“Let’s forget it.”

“Yes”

“Let’s move on to the main subject. Mother, Oceanne, has made improbable to run away once this has begun.”

“My mother will order your wedding dress.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“Why not?”

In a noble’s house, Agnes said that this was a normal procedure.

“Once the engagement is decided, the mothers start preparing for the wedding. They write invitations and order the wedding dress.”

“I see. Because your mother is dead, she has taken the role.”

“Yes……”

The atmosphere became uncomfortable.

He asked Agnes to act as his false fiancée, with Gigille pushing his back, but unexpectedly, things proceeded so fast that all was going downhill.

What will happen in the future? Bernard can’t think of a solution.

“Well, we will manage it somehow.”

To reassure her, he thought of saying that breaking an engagement was not an unusual occurrence. But bad luck was that his mother planned their immediate marriage.

Maybe, she perceived his intentions, Bernard thought. But he soon denied it, saying that it was impossible.

“I’ll take responsibility if the worst happens.”

“Huh?”

“So don’t worry.”

If she wishes to move to the rural village that Lizarre said the other day, I can send her there and make preparations so she lives comfortably for the rest of her life. Even if she wants to change her name, I can help her. The marriage will lose effect at that point.

I intended to take responsibility in that sense. However, Agnes took it differently.

“I mean… If my mother forces us to marry…”

“Anyway, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Agnes is surprised at Bernard’s words.

Bernard, talking while thinking about their situations, did not notice her behavior.

If he sends Agnes personally to Lazarre’s relative’s house, he will have to take a long break from the force.

He’ve never used paid leaves and has no plans to do so. He reiterates Agnes that has a sad expression that she does not need to worry.

“… Is this troublesome for you master?”

“well, that’s only for now.”

“Thank you for your consideration master.”

In this era, it is common sense to refer as “taking responsibility” to a woman, when taking her as a wife. Agnes had no choice but to misunderstand. In addition, Bernard was not good at speaking. No one would dream of thinking about paying a woman and send her to a rural village as taking responsibility.

Unfortunately, their perceptions of each other words were as far apart as heaven and earth.

◇◇◇

Meanwhile Oceanne was working hard to make a bridal gown.

Agnes grew impatient when she heard that. Bernard said he would take responsibility, but he didn’t mean to truly marry her.

However, the actions of Bernard’s mother went far beyond Agnes imagination.

Oceanne returned from the city to her son’s home and opened a thick booklet placed by a servant in front of all of them.

“This is the latest bridal gown product catalog. Because the models differ greatly from those of my time, I was surprised. ”

“Yes…”

The purpose of her visit to the city was to get the latest bridal catalogue.

“Miss Agnes is likely to be beautiful in any form of dress.”

“Thank you”

Agnes shows a polite smile at their compliments.

But such a compliment was her weakness.

“In my times, sleeves were usually long enough to cover the wrist. But now, the trend is to use puff sleeves.”

“A puff sleeve?”

“That’s right, puff sleeve dresses are popular.”

Beautiful decorated skirts with embroidery and gems. Large delicate sleeves fluttering around. The chest decorated with the semitransparent silk fabrics were the best of those times. Oceanne remembers the day of her wedding, squinting her eyes from the happiness while telling her story. The two of them were looking at the product catalog and turning page over page as the designs became more gorgeous with each passing page.

“Bride dresses have always existed, but they change over time.”

“Yes, but even if the design differs with time, I longed for my mother’s dress. On the day I of my marriage, I wanted to wear my mother’s dress.”

“Well, I understand your sentiments.”

The dress worn by Agnes mother was also similar to Oceanne’s dress. Both costumes were of the same time.

“If so, we can adjust my dress and prepare it for your big day-“

Oceanne was afraid that Agnes mother’s dress would have been confiscated together with her other family assets.

Agnes house has fallen. All property has been confiscated.

Agnes eyes showed sadness after remembering that her dream was no longer possible.

“I’m sorry for making you remember…”

“No, it’s not your fault. My family has fallen to ruin and nothing could have been done about it. I’m grateful at you and your family’s kindness.”

Agnes asks with a smile, but she has a sad atmosphere.

“Is your wedding dress still at home?”

“Yes?”

“Would you please show me it if you have the opportunity?”

The time when both Agnes and Bernard mothers got married was just about the same. The dresses styles may be similar.

“I hope you can make a dress based on that.”

Agnes was happy to have found a reason to put off the dressmaking.

Agnes thought that she doesn’t need a dress right away because they can’t get married. A good idea popped at that thought.

“Is it okay to use an old dress?”

“Yes. I think the old trend of wedding dresses were very cute.”

“oh, well, I would be happy to lend you mine then.”

Oceanne agreed with Agnes idea.

“It would be nice to receive my future’s mother dress for my wedding. Thank you mother.”

“Oh my, what a gentle and beautiful lady!”

Thus, the problem of the bridal gown was solved under Agnes wits.

Translated by djurasico (dot) home (dot) blog

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