Chapter 63: Inadequate Skills

“His Majesty the Emperor requests your presence.”

At the maid’s words, Princess Jasmin scanned the empty seat. Following her gaze, Bliss saw it was where Princess Jenesha had been sitting. Her eyes suggested she knew why the Emperor had called.

“I’ll be right back.”

Princess Jasmin said kindly.

“Yes, have a safe trip, Your Highness.”

Bliss stood and bowed her head to her, and Princess Jasmin gave a fleeting smile before disappearing. After briefly scanning the empty seats left by the two princesses, Bliss sat back down. Until now, she had been too busy observing the atmosphere to do anything, but now it was time to really begin.

‘Will I be able to do well?’

People ready to tear her apart surrounded her on all sides. Taking a long breath to calm her nerves, Bliss looked down at her cloth. She had learned how from Mint yesterday. She said to make the fabric taut in the embroidery hoop and stitch carefully, one stitch at a time.

Bliss glanced around at the others. While some handled needle and thread skillfully, more people struggled with it.

[But why are we starting embroidery so early when the tournament hasn’t even begun?]

[It’s to build relationships and give everyone enough time.]

When she had muttered about how strange it was that the gathering was suddenly formed, Mint had explained. While demonstrating by carefully pushing the needle in, Mint had looked at Bliss and said:

[For those who usually do embroidery, it won’t be difficult. But most don’t. Learning while working takes time.]

[Does everyone make their own?]

[Some don’t, but most do. As you know, gossip spreads easily. If someone doesn’t make their own, it’ll come out one way or another.]

That meant Bliss would have to do it herself too.

‘To think I’d be doing embroidery myself.’

Bliss gently touched the embroidery hoop. Mint had provided it, saying the wooden frame would keep the fabric from slipping.

[You can make patterns like linked chains like this. This is used to express round objects… shall we start with straight lines?]

Though she had received a brief lesson from Mint, that knowledge was only in her head and her hands weren’t yet skilled. At most, she could thread a needle quickly.

‘Let’s just try it.’

Bliss boldly stuck the needle in the center. Not knowing she had already gone wrong from that point, she diligently pierced the fabric with her needle.

***

Duchess Blast internally clicked her tongue while watching Bliss concentrate on her embroidery. Surely she must know why she had been drawn in, yet she showed no tension at all. Or perhaps she had something else in mind.

“Look at Marchioness Adrian’s expression. Anyone would think she was creating some masterpiece.”

Lady Resian covered her mouth with her handkerchief to hide her laughter.

“Her embroidery is such a mess. I knew she wouldn’t be good at it, but this exceeds expectations.”

Another lady nodded in agreement.

“To hold her head high so shamelessly with such poor skills. What was Marquis Adrian thinking when he married that woman?”

“Indeed.”

Duchess Blast wondered about that too. She understood the pretty appearance. However, compared to Latte, whom Marquis Adrian was originally expected to marry, she fell short. She wasn’t particularly kind either, nor did she have any special talents. Though they said Bliss’s family, the Bonitas, had considerable money, it was all gathered through vulgar means, so even her family background was unremarkable.

“We don’t know. Whether she’s earned her place in Marquis Adrian’s bed.”

The other ladies stifled their laughter at Lady Resian’s crude gossip. As they laughed, Bliss briefly looked their way before returning to her work. Taking this as dismissal, the lady spoke with displeasure.

“Acting as if she’s creating something magnificent… it’s absurd.”

Duchess Blast lowered her gaze to look at Bliss’s embroidery. She had barely made a few stitches, yet they were already crooked – there would be nothing worth evaluating when it was finished.

‘Well, embroidery is just an excuse.’

Though she was annoyed that Marquis Adrian dared to propose a bet, she had drawn in his wife out of concern. She intended to watch and interfere from the side.

“Lady Resian, it’s time to start shaking things up.”

“Understood.”

As if she had been waiting for those words, Lady Resian smiled wickedly.

“This is terrible. Everyone, especially Marquis Adrian, was expecting so much from your skills, what shall we do?”

At the mention of Caelan, Bliss looked up with her needle half-inserted into the fabric.

“At this rate, the outcome is obvious. What will we do at the award ceremony with His Majesty present? I’m only saying this because I think Marquis Adrian will win. You don’t take offense, do you?”

“No.”

As Bliss picked up her needle again and concentrated, Lady Resian walked around behind her.

“That’s not how you do it. The lines won’t come out pretty. This will have to be redone. You’ve even punctured holes, wasting good fabric.”

Despite Lady Resian’s clicking tongue, Bliss remained focused on her embroidery.

“Why don’t you let me teach you instead? I’ll teach you very well.”

“I learned the basics already, so I’m fine. I’ll try on my own.”

When Bliss rejected her without a second thought, Lady Resian returned to her seat with a pout. She had done as Duchess Blast instructed and tried to shake Bliss. Lady Resian looked at Jerian, as if saying it was her turn now. Receiving that look, Jerian stood up but approached someone other than Bliss.

“So that’s why you defended that maid so strongly…”

Jerian looked at Latte’s embroidery and smirked.

“You must have related to her situation. Your sewing skills are quite good, as if you make your own clothes.”

Latte’s hands stopped. Though she looked down at her handkerchief, all her attention was on Jerian.

“What good is being from a count’s family if you have nothing to show for it?”

She was openly attacking the fact that they had neither wealth nor power. Even though Jerian’s family held a lower title, they had connections with powerful nobles who could enter princess’s service. In comparison, the House of Hice had nothing except their count’s title. So Jerian showed no hesitation in confronting Latte. Rather, as she continued to dismiss her, Latte blinked rapidly and swallowed, trying to endure. Jerian’s smile deepened at Latte’s obvious innocence, which contrasted sharply with Bliss’s composure.

“Latte, you should teach others. We didn’t even need Lady Resian to step in.”

“Jerian.”

For the first time, Bliss spoke up, though she hadn’t been shaken by Lady Resian’s provocations. Jerian looked at Bliss with displeasure.

“You were once close friends, surely you’re not taking Latte’s side?”

“Side? I thought we were all getting along nicely in one group doing embroidery, but I guess not. So we’re actually divided into sides and competing.”

Jerian flinched at Bliss’s deliberately loud musing. Looking around, she saw others giving her reproachful looks for her slip-up.

“No, that’s not exactly what I meant… it’s just that you’re defending Latte…”

“Then would you, as my once close friend Jerian, help me with my embroidery? As you can see, it’s quite a mess.”

“W-why? Why should I?”

Jerian responded as if dumbfounded, then left the room entirely.

“I’ll stop here for today.”

As Duchess Blast stood up, the other ladies followed suit. Even Princess Jenesha’s remaining lady-in-waiting read the atmosphere and stood, and Countess Azel bid farewell to Bliss before leaving.

With everyone gone and only Bliss and Latte remaining, the room felt empty but the earlier tense atmosphere gradually dissipated.

‘So this is why they called us.’

Bliss sighed while looking down at her embroidery. She knew it was poor even without anyone saying so. They would keep picking at her skills from now on. While wondering if she could improve quickly in a short time, Bliss happened to see Latte’s handkerchief. Then she understood why Jerian had said those things earlier. The flower blooming on the handkerchief was extraordinary.

“You’re good at embroidery.”

“I studied hard. I wanted to give the Marquis a handkerchief with pretty embroidery…”

Latte, who had been mumbling proudly, trailed off. Though she had remained calm when Jerian was tearing her down, she had now made a slip. Latte’s panicked gaze darted around before she finally hung her head.

“Sorry. I guess I let my guard down being alone with you.”

“I don’t mind.”

She already knew that Latte had been hoping to marry Caelan.

“What’s your secret to being so good?”

“There’s no real secret. But if I had to pick one thing…”

Latte stroked her handkerchief.

“I imagine what picture would look good on this handkerchief. Then I gradually bring that imagination to life. Before I know it, it’s complete.”

“Imagination…”

Bliss mulled over Latte’s words.

“I see.”

“What is it?”

“I’m going to try drawing that imagination first. I think I can use the fabric as a pattern.”

Bliss flexed her stiff hand holding the pen.

“You’re going to draw?”

“Yes. Since I’m not confident I can embroider beautifully from imagination like you.”

“But it might show through.”

“That’s fine.”

Bliss held up her pen for Latte to see.

“How could it be worse than what I’ve done so far?”