“Tea party is about inviting good friends on a good day to enjoy the taste and scent of the tea to meditate, and feel the energy of the sky and earth through the drink…”
Rubica recited the speech Carl had made to her. However, Khanna looked just as confused as Rubica had been. Meditation and the energy of the sky and earth? Those words were just perfectly confusing.
“To put it simply, it is about inviting friends to socialize.”
“So, it is kind of a party, but it is prohibited to have parties with luxurious dresses during the agricultural season.”
“I will ask the guests to not wear anything too splendid, and we will discuss literature and art. I want my tea meeting to be nothing like any party and ball that have taken place till now.”
“Discuss literature and art?”
“Men spend many nights talking about those things at coffee houses. They all say such things are very important in life. If they want to criticize my tea meeting, they would have to shut down those coffee houses first.”
Only men could go into coffee houses, and they were always on business regardless of the season. Some men even lived only to go to coffee houses, so banning them could lead to a riot.
“Then they wouldn’t be able to accuse us, even if they don’t like it.”
“And as for the dress we designed, it was splendid and pretty enough even without many jewels. Adding jewels to its decoration would rather be too much. Still, it is more luxurious than indoor dresses and dresses for strolls, so it can bring out the party mood. They wouldn’t be able to criticize a dress that has fewer jewels than dresses for strolls.”
“Yes, that dress wouldn’t require many decorations. I can even make it without using a single gem.”
“It’s a new type of dress for a new event, so wouldn’t they easily accept it? They don’t know much about it, so they would all believe me if I say, ‘People in the East Empire wear such dresses for tea parties.’”
Rubica proposed a cute fraud to Khanna, but the designer was hesitant. So, Rubica decided to throw in a bait.
“When the ladies ask about the dress, I will introduce your boutique to them.”
Khanna was now convinced. No one could say no to money, especially those who desperately needed it like Khanna.
“Would that be okay? You would be in trouble if they don’t like it.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to invite many people. I’m going to invite just a few Claymore’s friends.”
Rubica assured her. She had made a plan to make this tea meeting a success, and she was sure she could do it perfectly.
“I’m going to invite Countess Tangt.”
“Countess Tangt?”
Khanna became excited to hear that since Countess Tangt was famous in the capital’s society. If Rubica befriended her, Khanna would become famous even before the society season. There would be no need to wait.
Moreover, the countess had a daughter who was going to be introduced to the society this year. A girl preparing for her introduction needed many dresses, hats, and gloves. Khanna was hooked.
“I’ll do it!”
Khanna grabbed Rubica’s hands while her eyes sparkled. Rubica smiled satisfactory at seeing that, and it was now was time to start their cute fraud.
“Good, then you should make me another dress, something similar to the one we designed. We will make the dress, show it to Elise, and we won’t force her if she doesn’t want to wear it.”
Rubica decided that showing the dress to Elise would be better than trying to convince her. Khanna was already bought by her and nodded without thinking much.
Rubica chose a fabric that matched her the best and was as good as the royal blue fabric among the samples Khanna had brought. It had huge exotic flowers drawn on a white background and immediately caught her attention.
“I think we should use the knots like Ms. Solana’s dress in the middle. How about using bright red and green?”
“As there are red and green in the fabric’s pattern, I think it would be good. It would be better than using only one color.”
“But we can’t make them too similar, so I will use a different lace and frill for the skirt. Maybe I can dye them.”
Both of them were now full of passion. They decided on the designs for the matching shoes, gloves, and fan in no time, and then they even decided to make a set for Ann.
“How long would it take to make these three sets?”
“As there will be no jewels, it won’t take long. The details of the skirts would take some time, but a week would be enough.”
“Then I will see you again.”
“Yes. You should set the date for your first tea party considering the time I need to finish the dresses after that.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
It was an event that had never been held before. Rubica didn’t want to rush. She rather wanted to make it perfect and fascinate everybody. Guests, tableware, tea, and even table cloth. She wanted every detail to be perfect.
She decided not to waste her chance and bought all of it new. When Edgar heard about it, he took a step even further and even proposed ordering new chairs. He had more experience in spending money, so he was better at it.
“Oh, and you should know how to make the knot to make dresses. I will show you how.”
Khanna, who was putting the sketches and sample fabrics back into her bag, quickly brought two long pieces of cloth.
“Here. Grab it by here, put the other side under, and…”
Khanna moved her hands according to what Rubica said, and she made a pretty knot in no time. It was easy to make. She made three, four knots in just a few minutes.
“You already got it!”
She was a designer, after all. Rubica was impressed.
“All thanks to your explanation.”
Khanna put the finished knots and the piece of paper on which she had written how to make the knot in her bag. Rubica then used a little bell to summon a maid, who took Khanna’s bag and left.
However, Khanna, who was supposed to follow her out, was still standing there.
“Madam?”
“… um, Your Grace. About the dress we just talked about. Whose design is it?”
“Whose design? It’s your design, of course.”
Rubica said that as if it was only right. However, Khanna just stood there and smiled awkwardly.
“You have something to say, right?”
“… yes.”
Khanna looked around. Rubica told the maid to wait outside as they had something to talk about in private. After the door was closed again, Khanna sighed deeply.
“Your Grace, this design isn’t mine. I just mended it a little. You made its main idea of decorating it with knots. You invented that knot.”
Rubica looked troubled at hearing that.
“But…”
“Yes, you are the duchess.”
Khanna said sadly. The designer was a profession for widows and daughters of ruined noble families who had trouble with making their living. It wasn’t a job for a lady of high rank whose husband was still alive.
Wives of aristocrats were supposed to present handkerchiefs and clothes they made, not sell them.
If a noble lady sold clothes she made, it was dishonorable and proof of the fall of her family.
“I’m fine with it being known as your design.”
Rubica said so, but Khanna couldn’t say anything for a long time. Her lips were quivering, so Rubica asked her to sit down.
“I’m sorry. I was just too excited and determined to do this… but the moment I realized the design wasn’t mine, I knew I shouldn’t do it.”
Rubica was surprised to hear that.
She hadn’t given much thought to that. If she could introduce pretty dresses and have people wear them, she didn’t care about who got the credit for that.
“But it doesn’t matter to me.”
“… it does matter to me.”
Khanna couldn’t handle her feelings and grabbed her skirt. She had been receiving the dignity of a designer lately, so seeing her not being able to hide her feelings made Rubica guess she had a story.
“Your Grace, I studied at a famous boutique at the capital before I met my husband. I didn’t make any dress after I was married. My husband said my talent was too good to be wasted like that and asked me to work again… but while I helped with his work, I couldn’t even stand to look at the fabrics and needles.”
Rubica was now really shocked. Khanna had always looked so happy to talk about dresses and laces. She enjoyed clothmaking that much, so it was hard to believe what she was saying.
“Something happened to you.”
“When I was studying at the capital, I had this dear friend. He was four years older than me. He was great at sewing, active, and ambitious. I liked him and I liked his talents. I believed he would shine one day.”
Khanna’s eyes twinkled, although just for a moment. Rubica knew what that feeling was. She had also been drawn to Lord Sesar’s dream when she first met him. That must have happened to Khanna.