Chapter 4 – Merry Stern (Part 1)

The massive steamship resembles a condensed city. Here, people with a wide range of occupations earn their livelihood while afloat at sea. Chefs, musicians, doctors, nurses, and even barbers. Including maids, attendants, and laborers, the list of professions is endless. However, the most similar aspect between this ship and a city would be the cabins. Is there any other place where human classes are so strictly divided? From first class to third class, this ship is categorically partitioned according to the passengers’ grades.

The Merry Stern, a colossal passenger ship that connects Kingston and Issen.

“Are these all the clothes you’ll be wearing on board, Miss?”

Evelyn, sitting at the vanity in her chemise, turned her head. A maid standing by the wide-open trunk was waiting for an answer. The maid, who introduced herself as Julie, was an employee of the shipping company responsible for cleaning and attending to this cabin.

“Yes, that’s all of them.”

“Then I’ll have everything ready after you leave.”

“Thank you, Julie.”

“You’re welcome.”

The maid smiled professionally and swiftly began to take out the iron and board. Watching her for a moment, Evelyn returned her gaze to the mirror. Despite her carefully applied makeup, something still seemed lacking. 

What was the problem? Should I put my hair up completely? Should I have exposed my neckline entirely? 

As she pondered, she impulsively opened the lipstick cap and added another layer to her already red lips.

Focusing on her face and hair, the tools on the vanity were in disarray. Disorder and uncleanliness were intolerable to Evelyn. She rearranged the powder puff, makeup brushes, and hairbrush in their familiar order, then lifted her head to see the cabin’s interior reflected in the mirror.

The cabin she was given was a spacious suite. The bedroom and bathroom were separate, and there was even a small reception area with a two-person round table and couch. Lined with fine cherry wood, this space was wider and more comfortable than Evelyn’s boarding room, and, as expected of a newly launched ship, it was flawless without any scratches.

The Merry Stern is a passenger ship launched this year by Trissen’s largest shipping company. Boldly named after the Imperial Family’s flower, this ship was as grand and luxurious as its illustrious name suggested.

“This is your first time on our ship, right?”

The maid struck up a conversation while ironing the dress Evelyn would wear for dinner. Evelyn turned to face her after tidying up the vanity.

“Yes, it’s my first time. I haven’t been on a ship many times before either.”

“Oh, that’s unfortunate. Now that you’ve experienced the Merry Stern, you won’t be able to take any other ship.”

The maid said with a good-natured grin. Evelyn responded with a smile.

“That might really be true. It’s a very splendid ship.”

“It’s an incredibly splendid ship. Even those who dislike sea travel change their minds after being on this ship. They say it’s almost disappointing that it only takes three days to reach Issen.”

“Hearing that makes me look forward to it even more.”

“You can look forward to it as much as you like. There are many wonderful spots all around.”

The cheerful maid was as skilled in conversation as she was in ironing. Evelyn, seated in front of the vanity, focused on her words.

“Be sure to visit the foredeck. It’s beautiful at any time of the day, but sunset is truly magical. Since the route is southwest, the sun sets almost directly ahead. The sea turns a rosy hue before gradually turning blue, and you can’t imagine how beautiful it is when the evening star and moon rise in the sky. The foredeck is only open to first-class guests, so it’s always quiet and peaceful.”

“You describe it very well, Julie.”

“I learned it from reading novels. I’m quite the bookworm, you see.”

Evelyn smiled a little brighter. The maid continued talking as she ironed.

“There are sunbathing benches on the starboard foredeck. The sunlight will be warm starting tomorrow afternoon, so be sure to go out. During the day, the string quartet performs for 20 minutes every hour on the hour, so keep that in mind.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“On the last day, I recommend finishing your disembarkation preparations a little early. The view of the Issen harbor as it gets closer is stunning. The bright blue sea and the pristine white fortress are truly beautiful.”

“The outer wall and sea of Issen are indeed beautiful.”

“So you know. Do you live in Issen, Miss? It seems you were visiting Kingston. Ah, this dress color is really beautiful!”

The maid exclaimed as she lifted the freshly ironed garment. A dark green satin dress. The maid carefully laid it on the bed and, picking up the corset she had prepared earlier, looked over. It was a sign to try it on. Evelyn rose without a word and walked over. A corset that fastens at the back can’t be worn alone.

After putting on the corset over her chemise, she stood holding one of the bed’s posts. The sound of ribbons being expertly tightened came from behind her, and she absently looked down at the bed in front of her. The bed, with its soft bedding and four sturdy posts, looked very solid. It was large enough for three women to lie comfortably. Staring at the large bed, Evelyn unwittingly thought of the man beyond the wall.

Bryant’s cabin was right next door, separated from hers by just a wall. From the moment he came to fetch her from the boarding house with the chauffeur this afternoon, he handled everything. Thanks to him, Evelyn didn’t have to carry even a handbag, let alone a trunk. The shipping company staff, accustomed to handling first-class passengers, were exceedingly polite. The treatment was so formal it made her wonder if she should have worn something nicer.

After boarding, they each looked around their cabins before heading to the tearoom. In the first-class tearoom, where piano music softly played, a few elegantly dressed passengers sat at the tables by the windows, chatting quietly. It was like a different world from the bustling pier busy with boarding and departure preparations. Evelyn leisurely awaited the departure while sipping tea there. Bryant, who had been on this ship once before, was well acquainted with its layout and facilities. Evelyn realized that bringing her to the quiet tearoom before departure was his way of helping her acclimate to the luxury of first-class accommodations.

That’s why she chose this satin dress to wear for dinner.

“You look really beautiful. It suits your hair color well.”

“Thank you, Julie.”

After dressing, she took out and put on earrings. They weren’t very expensive, but they were among the most glamorous of her jewelry. There was a necklace in the wardrobe’s safe, but she would wear that for the audience. Of course, it wasn’t Evelyn’s but a piece rented from a jeweler. Though the deposit was equivalent to the jewelry’s value, the rental fee was reasonable. Evelyn wasn’t particularly interested in expensive jewelry, but she did have the desire to stand out on important occasions.

“The banquet hall is downstairs. If you go out and walk towards the stern, you’ll find the stairs right away, so it’s easy to find.”

“Got it.”

“After you leave, I’ll finish organizing the clothes and come back. If you pull the handle of the call bell next to the bed, I’ll come up. If you call after 10 PM, a nurse will come, so just let them know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Julie.”

“You’re welcome.”

At that moment, there was a knock at the door from outside.

Evelyn immediately knew who it was. The sound of two gentle knocks, unhurried. A large hand lightly curled, resting on the door’s surface. He would wait until the sound completely faded before slowly withdrawing his hand. Elegant and gentlemanly. The way he made his presence known was just like him.

The maid put down the iron and walked to the door. Evelyn checked her reflection in the mirror once more before standing straight towards the entrance. Her waist, tightly cinched by the corset, stood upright.

The maid opened the door and slightly bent her knees in greeting upon seeing the gentleman. Bryant glanced down at her briefly before looking inside. 

Did he smile a little when our eyes met?

“I hope I’m not intruding.”

“No, you’ve come at the perfect time.”

Evelyn replied with a polite smile. The man standing outside seemed particularly large today, perhaps because he was contrasted with the petite maid. A deep navy evening coat. The purple of his silk tie complemented his dark blonde hair well. He enjoyed wearing such splendid clothes and wore them well. He was very much a Kingston man.

“You’ve finished getting ready. You look absolutely stunning.”

The manner of complimenting a woman’s beauty as if it were only natural. The gaze that seemed to hold genuine sincerity. These were also very much the traits of a Kingston man.

“You’re very kind, Mr. Clifton.”

So Evelyn tried not to get too excited. She responded with a formal acknowledgment and maintained a composed smile. She walked across the carpet of the first-class cabin, the hem of her dress rustling. The scent of his cologne grew closer.

“That dress looks wonderful on you.”

Bryant said to the woman as she approached. A low voice and a gentle smile. A compliment given without fail, even though it wasn’t the first time he’d seen the dress. His eyes made it impossible to doubt his sincerity.

“Shall we?”

The man, armed with such perfect manners, offered his right arm. Evelyn naturally placed her left hand on it. The soft wool of the evening coat and the firm muscle beneath. Feeling those contrasting textures simultaneously, she made a concerted effort not to get too excited.