Published at 13th of January 2020 10:41:09 AM
Chapter 19
-A situation that even Gigille couldn’t imagine occurred .
Oceanne, the dignified mistress of the house and Bernard's mother, took an interest in Agnes from the first sight .
Agnes was a graceful and beautiful woman . You can tell from a glance that she was refined and grew up in a good environment . So it was natural to like her . But Oceanne was not a person who immediately took a liking to someone from one meeting .
Before becoming a wet nurse, Gigille served Oceanne as a maid, so she understood her well . Hence, this was unexpected .
Gigille initially hoped that this event can bring Bernard and Agnes closer, but the result was more than she expected .
There is one more point that exceeded her expectation .
Thanks to Gigille’s advice, Bernard has decided to get engaged . While she admitted that she was the one pulling the string between the two, she never intended to make it public .
“Who ever thought that kid’s marriage will be decided this soon, I’m truly happy . Gigille, I’m deeply grateful to you . ”
“The achievement this time is not from me, but from Bernard-sama’s effort himself…”
“Now, there is no need for you to flatter him . You really are a good model servant . ”
“ . . . I’m not worthy of those words . ”
Gigille regretted that her ‘becoming fiance strategy’ didn’t work . Rather than waiting for the wedding patiently, she realized that things now progressed more quickly . What’s worse is, the one they were deceiving is the mistress .
If this marriage-talk progress any further, Bernard will be put in a tight spot .
Gigille was greatly remorseful .
Bernard let out a sigh of relief as he heard his mother and Gigille were leaving for the city . Afterwards, he immediately rushed to Agnes .
There were Carol and Celia in the room .
As he thought there was something different on the twin’s atmosphere, he realized their hairstyles had changed . Their hair was braided from the side and put together on the back of their head, just like Agnes’s .
As he thought, women were creatures that can change just by changing their hairstyle alone . Once again, he was impressed .
“You guys, what’s with that hairstyle?”
“Agnes-san tied it for us . ”
“I am currently learning on hair styling . ”
“Is that so . ”
When asked on his opinion, he replied with a safe answer, “It looks good on you two . ”
The twins were happy to hear that .
Carole and Celia, who were in a good mood, asked him if he needed anything with smiles .
“Master, do you want some cafe au lait?”
“Or do you want a tea instead, Master?”
“No, I don’t need it . Instead, leave the room for a while . ”
Even though they were told to withdraw, both of them shook their heads . They moved in perfect sync .
“We are Lady Agnes’s maid so,”
“We need to keep an eye on her every movement . ”
“You…”
Even though he wanted to talk privately, these two were in the way .
But, this was normal for a noble lady . Unmarried man and woman mustn't be left alone in a closed room .
“It’s no use whatever Master says . ”
“You can be alone with Lady Agnes after both of you married . ”
The twins probably learned this aristocratic tradition from their mother .
Annoyed, Bernard glared at them .
“Are you guys disobeying your master’s order?”
“The one we served is Lady Agnes . ”
“It’s not you, Master . ”
Carol and Celia tried to be faithful to their mother’s order .
His opponents were strong, but as he remembered the twins and Gigille’s quarrel last night, a smile crept across Bernard’s face .
“--Then, how about I take you two to the popular cafe in town later . ”
“You mean the White Rabbit Cafe!?”
“You will really bring us there?”
“Only if both of you leave the room . ”
White Rabbit Cafe .
It is a coffee shop built half a year ago which is located in the city and it served exotic sweets .
It’s a cute and decorative cafe with a good reputation, but Gigille opposed as it was not a place for a teenage girl like them .
“ . . . But, Mother said we can’t go . ”
“ . . . She said it is a place for people to mess around . ”
“Going once is alright, right?”
“Is that so?”
“I’m not sure . ”
Carol and Celia were about to agree with Bernard’s proposal . They’ve lost the momentum they previously had .
Just a little bit until they fell . Bernard tried to recall from his vague memory to lure the twins more .
“The strawberry something cake, coated with white cream… that one is famous, right?”
“It’s not a cake, it’s raspberry scone . ”
“Not a white cream, it’s called clotted cream . ”
“Well, whatever it is . If you go accompanied me to do my chores, Gigille won’t complain over a little tea break before we go home . ”
Carol and Celia’s hearts began to sway . The two remembered the gossip they’ve heard before .
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The freshly baked scones with dried raspberry in it . It’s crispy on the outside, but moist inside . The combination of fragrant dough with buttery flavor, sweet and sour raspberry, it will give people who ate it a pure bliss . Coating it with the rich clotted cream is the best way to eat it .
Scones were baked goods that never ceased to captivate the women of the city .
“What to do?”
“What do we do?”
“Choose quickly . ”
The two looked at each other, and they agreed on an answer in an instant .
“We’ve decide . As expected, no means no . ”
“Family rules . Mother’s words are absolute . ”
“ . . . Understood . ”
He had an impression that both of them were needy because Gigille always said so, but in reality they weren’t as needy as he thought .
He ordered both of them to stay in the corner of the room and closed their ears so they won’t hear the conversation .
Carol and Celia obediently followed his order .
“Being a noble lady is really troublesome . :
“For me, it is already a daily routine . ”
“You’re right . Don’t you find it strange if you feel something like that as normal?”
“ . . . It depends on each person, I think . ”
For a moment, Agnes’s expression darkened . But Bernard didn’t notice this as it only happened for an instant .
“--Then, back to the topic . ”
“Yes . ”
He moved to the main topic . Oceanne, his mother, had become really unstoppable now .
“My mother is making a wedding dress for you . ”
“Oh dear . ”
“You don’t look surprised . ”
“Yes . ”
Agnes said that it was normal for someone who has decided to get married .
“Once the engagement is decided, a lady will usually start preparing for the wedding with her mother . For example, writing the invitation letters or making the wedding dress . ”
“Is that so? Wait, no, I mean, once I told her that your mother is… already gone, my mother becomes too carried away . ”
“I see…”
The atmosphere between the two became heavier .
With Gigille’s advice, he asked Agnes to act as his fiance, but it turned into an unexpected outcome .
What will happen from now on . . The answer won’t come right away .
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“Well, it will work out somehow . ”
As if to reassure her, Bernard said that it’s common to cancel an engagement later on .
“When it comes to that, I will take responsibilities . ”
“E?”
“That’s why, you don’t have to worry . ”
If she wanted to move to the countryside and live there, he will help to send her there, and she can also take the bridal gown with her . This was what Bernard means by taking responsibility . But, it seemed that Agnes took it in a different meaning .
“Um . . you don’t have to do that…”
“I don’t have any future plans, anyway . ”
Hearing that, Agnes was surprised .
Bernard, who lost in his thoughts while talking, didn’t realize her changes .
In case he accompanied Agnes to Lazare’s relative, he will need to take a long break from work .
He never took time off his work and never planned doing so before . Seeing Agnes’s distressed face, he once again said there is no need to be worried .
“ . . . Am I troubling you?”
“You’re saying that now?”
“You’re, right . Thank you very much . ”
In this era, “taking responsibilities” is something that usually said before marrying a girl . It couldn’t be helped if Agnes misinterpret it . Furthermore, the way Bernard said it was also wrong . Who would have guessed that what he meant was taking a leave from work to send her to the village .
It is unfortunate that both of their perceptions were too far different .
-- Oceanne was more than eager to make the wedding dress .
When she heard that, Agnes was flustered . Bernard had said he will take responsibilities, but as expected, she mustn’t bother him more than this .
However, the action Bernard’s mother took was far beyond Agnes’s imagination .
After coming home, Oceannu spoke in front of a thick catalog brought by a servant .
“This is the latest catalog for bridal gowns . I’m surprised they are of different models from my time . ”
“Ye-yes…”
It turned out her objective of going out was this catalog .
“It seems you will look good in every dress you wear, Agnes-san . ”
“Thank you very much . ”
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Agnes was trying to pass this situation with a smile on her face . But, this kind of act was her weakness .
“In my time, the sleeves were round . What was it called again?”
“Do you mean puff sleeve?”
“Yes, that’s it . Puff sleeve dress was popular back then . ”
A dress with puffed sleeves and a long skirt flowing from the bottom of the chest was the trend at that time . Oceanne was reminiscing about the day of her marriage, she talked about her experience that day while closing her eyes . The two of them looked into the catalog and turned over the pages but didn’t find the same design .
“Even though bridal dress is a traditional dress, the designs are changing over time . ”
“That is true . However, I always admire my mother’s wedding dress and wish to wear it when I get married . ”
“Maa, is that so?”
The dress Agnes’s mother wore was also a puff sleeve dress .
“Then, how about we readjust that dress, and make some arrangements for the wedding--”
Oceanne stopped her talk midway after realizing something .
Agnes’s house was already ruined . All of its properties had been confiscated .
She apologized to her with a sad expression on her face .
“I’m sorry for being insensitive . ”
“It’s alright…”
To lift up the dark mood, Agnes smiled and asked .
“Do you still have the wedding dress you wore before?”
“Yes, I have it . ”
“Then, may I see it sometime when I have the chance?”
Agnes said that since both of them might married around the same time, their designs may be similar .
“I hope it can be used as a reference when making the dress . ”
Agnes quickly thought of a reason to delay making the dress .
Since her family problem wasn’t resolved yet, she still couldn’t get married, that’s the more reason she didn’t need the dress soon too .
“Is it alright for not following the trend?”
“Yes, I think it is cute . ”
“I see . Then--”
Oceanne agreed with Agnes’s idea .
“It might be good too, right?”
“Yes!”
And thus, the problem about wedding dress was over thanks to Agnes’s quick-witted thinking .