The Sleeping Devil

New Novel - Read Here

As I sipped my tea, I jotted down tasks on my mental notepad.

Preparing the presentation for Margot, searching for a property to serve as a facility once I received approval, selecting a slaughterhouse, drafting regulations I could finalize by persuading Margot, and then…

After finishing my meeting with Sergio, I took a short break in the salon with Johan.

“Agh, this is annoying! Enough already! Just hurry up and take this off!”

“No way! Wait until you’re back in your room! The salon is a battlefield for nobles!”

“A battlefield? It’s just you and the lady here!”

Mary wasn’t only kind; she was also incredibly attentive. Perhaps I should leave Johan in her care for a while. That said, I was truly short on dedicated maids… or rather, I lacked both ladies-in-waiting and an aide.

Typically, one would begin looking for a lady-in-waiting after enrolling in the academy. Some already had one upon enrollment, but unless they were of particularly high nobility, it wasn’t necessary.

That said, I did belong to the relatively high nobility category.

Finding an aide would be even harder. An unmarried woman wasn’t expected to have an aide, as she wouldn’t be managing an estate or business.

More than merely an age issue, the fact that I—a woman—owned a business was already an anomaly. It seemed unlikely that I’d find an aide willing to work for me.

“Hah… I wish Licht could’ve been my aide.”

I let out a sigh, and Mary chuckled.

“Oh, but Licht is truly hopeless when it comes to studying. I think becoming a knight suited him better.”

“But I don’t even need a knight escort…”

That conversation earlier reinforced the thought—was it really right to give others a just cause to take lives?

It was normal in this world, and, to be honest, it didn’t even weigh on my heart. But precisely because of that, I hesitated.

Well, whatever. I had more immediate problems to deal with.

…

“What do you think? This is just a part of my collection.”

“You could hold a dress exhibition with these.”

“!”

In David’s guest room, dresses were spread out everywhere, and more than a dozen mannequins—borrowed from Dior—were lined up.

All these outfits were ones David had brought. So that mountain of trunks was for this…

The excitement over beauty products must have led them to borrow mannequins and dress up Ellie, Ann, and even Sarah.

“This is amazing! I was born in the countryside, so I rarely got to see such glamorous outfits, except during my academy days!”

Sarah clasped her hands together, gazing dreamily at the dresses.

“Then I suppose you must be familiar with these styles? The shapes are the same, but the fabrics are different.”

“Yes! Back then…”

Both Mary and Sarah had completely adapted to David’s feminine speech and were now chatting like close girlfriends.

I, the little one, was the only one left out.

That said, I did have some—just a little—memory of a sixteen-year-old’s dreams, so I knew a thing or two.

Dior had also instilled knowledge into me recently, so I recognized some of these outfits.

“There are one-piece dresses as well.”

“Yes, but separating the bodice and skirt creates a tighter waist and a more beautiful silhouette.”

There were also dresses from the past that Dior had mentioned, but seeing them in person, they did seem outdated. Despite all the fabric, they made the wearer look bulky.

“Since Ellie is here today, shall we have her try one on and demonstrate?”

Ellie, who had been rummaging through the outfits, quietly stepped next to David. With Ann’s help, she began undressing.

Mary and the others seemed a bit surprised at first, but as David continued explaining the outfits in detail—even during the change—their discomfort about his gender gradually faded.

“There are so many laces.”

“Hehe, that’s why the phrase ‘undoing the laces between a man and a woman’ exists… Oh my, was that a bit too soon for you, Lady Sheriel?”

With a meaningful smile, David began selecting a dress.

Ellie’s dress was a simple brown one, typical for maids, yet even so, there were many parts to remove. To make the skirt fuller, a rolled-up piece of fabric was tied around her waist—a trick unique to maids.

When the long corset that lifted her chest was removed, all that remained was a thin cotton chemise and knee-length drawers.

That was the same undergarment I wore.

“Let’s start with the dress Lady Sheriel will be wearing from now on!”

Oh… this is…

It was the type of dress Dior often wore—one with a large, voluminous skirt. Inside, multiple layers of ruffled petticoats were inserted.

Ellie’s corset was laced up so tightly that I almost gasped just from watching. The petticoats were tied with strings, and then a grand embroidered skirt was placed over them.

“Once upon a time, hoop skirts made of boning were in fashion, but eventually, they returned to fabric petticoats like these. Those were lightweight and functional, yet in the end, aristocratic vanity won out.”

Why was there such an obsession with voluminous skirts in this world as well?

More than merely emphasizing one’s figure, it was a way to flaunt wealth.

The ability to use luxurious fabrics in abundance was a symbol of prosperity.

“I heard it was because they made sitting down difficult.”

“That’s only an issue at tea parties and in the academy. It’s true that they can get in the way at desks.”

Apparently, they weren’t as inconvenient at evening parties. David, who explained that they were light and airy, swiftly continued dressing Ellie in the remaining pieces.

She slipped her arms into the matching top piece from the front, and the back was fastened with hooks. It was a little loose, but dresses were designed to fit snugly against the body.

Her waist was cinched tightly, and from the sharply cut V-shaped bodice, the voluminous skirt flared outward.

Just when I thought it was finished, more decorations were added—lace collars, corsages at the waist, a short cape-like jacket… There were so many unnecessary embellishments.

Every morning… I have to wear this…? This is going to be tough.

“This will be your attire at the academy. At evening parties, you’ll expose your shoulders and neckline, but academy wear is the same as tea party attire.”

“David, we need to come up with a new outfit quickly. I can’t afford to lose any more of my sleep.”

For someone like me, who still couldn’t wake up early, this was a nightmare. If I was going to the academy to study, why did I need to dress up so much?

But I also understood that the academy was half a social arena. Dior would never allow me to disgrace my family name with improper attire.

“If you’re looking for something quick to put on, I recommend this. However, the fabric is extremely heavy.”

David effortlessly lifted a mannequin dressed in a structured gown made of thick, heavily embroidered fabric—something that resembled an opulent curtain.

It had a similar silhouette to the dresses I wore for tea parties.

“The weight… I’ll just use reinforcement magic.”

I had an abundance of magic, so I might as well use it for things like this. It would also help with petrification prevention. At this point, I couldn’t afford to care about fashion trends. If my sleep was reduced any further, I’d die of exhaustion before turning to stone.

“The shoulders are a bit restrictive, so it’s not ideal for the academy.”

“How about using a knight’s uniform as inspiration?”

For men, the basic outfit was a shirt with a jacket. Some had high collars, while others wore open-collared jackets with ties, but they weren’t as constricting as women’s clothing.

“A blouse with a skirt is a style favored by wealthy commoners, but…”

“How about using the heavy, stiff fabric only for the visible parts of the torso, covering the shoulders with a cape like this? The sleeves could be made of shirt fabric, and instead of puffing out the skirt, we could use tucks to allow for more movement… That way, it could be a one-piece dress, right? Ah, and I think adding slits to reveal a layer of thinner fabric underneath would be cute. The length just needs to be below the knees, correct?”

For things I didn’t know the names of, I demonstrated by manipulating actual garments or pointing out elements from other outfits that matched my vision.

I was aiming to take the best aspects of different styles and combine them.

“My, my, my! Lady Sheriel! This is wonderful!”

David, his voice cracking with excitement, spread out a large sheet of paper and began sketching furiously. As expected of a merchant’s second son, he spared no expense in using high-quality paper.

Only after he had captured his inspiration on paper did he finally answer my question.

“As for the length, I believe it should still reach the ankles. Clothing that exposes the backs of the knees is considered improper.”

In this country, even maids didn’t wear knee-length skirts. It wasn’t about hiding the legs, but specifically about concealing the backs of the knees.

I thought, “But we wear socks, so isn’t that fine?” However, apparently, the back of the knee was considered something only family or lovers should see.

“But I feel uneasy when my legs are too constrained. I wouldn’t be able to move properly in an emergency.”

“A young lady would never find herself in such a situation,” he countered.

I had heard this many times before from other dressmakers.

Clothing that eliminated all functionality was, in itself, a mark of nobility.

Everyone would shake their heads, saying, “You don’t need to move around like a maid.”

My requests shattered the admiration and fantasies that commoners held for noble attire.

It wasn’t that I wanted to climb trees or run through fields. I just hated feeling restricted and didn’t want to be in a situation where I was helplessly pinned down.

“I won’t be running around, so please make the dress comfortable to move in. Surely, Lord David, you understand how much discomfort women endure for fashion?”

“That’s true. Enduring that discomfort with a smile is part of being a lady, but beauty shouldn’t require suffering! However, if the skirt is too short, people will gossip.”

“Yes, I often got comments like, ‘Your shoes are peeking out,’” Sarah added, her shoulders slumping as she recalled unpleasant memories from the academy.

Essentially, it was an insult implying that her dress was too short because she couldn’t afford proper attire.

I wondered, What’s the equivalent of “too short” in this world…?

“What if we turn it into a fashion statement by making stylish shoes the highlight instead?”

“Aaaaah! That’s brilliant! Orasteria pays so little attention to footwear! In places like Taria, they have refined shoe designs—slender high heels, knee-high lace-up boots—but here, the fashion remains stagnant!”

So high heels existed, after all.

Still, I hoped they wouldn’t catch on. They were painful, exhausting, and made it difficult to step firmly.

In Orasteria, the standard was ballet-style flats tied with ribbons. Their soles were reinforced with thin wood, but they remained soft and comfortable to wear.

“Lord David, can you make shoes as well?”

“I will train shoemakers! There’s no need to do everything myself.”

“That’s true. I should learn from that approach. Then, let’s design matching dresses and shoes… Do you think we can complete them within four years?”

“Of course! While making the outfits you need now, we’ll research suitable academy dresses along the way.”

I had four years left before I outgrew children’s clothing.

Since we were combining existing techniques, sewing itself wouldn’t be an issue.

The real challenge was ensuring the outfit maintained an air of elegance even without the traditional voluminous skirt.

“By the way, is all the sewing done by hand?”

“Huh? What else would we use besides our hands?”

What’s the word for a sewing machine? It probably exists somewhere in another country if I search for it.

“Um, you know how spinning wheels are operated by foot pedals? It’s a little different, but I was wondering if there might be a device where a fixed needle, threaded with string, moves up and down while fabric is fed through it… May I borrow some paper?”

My family had a treadle sewing machine at home, so I sketched a rough diagram in the corner of David’s paper. I didn’t know the intricate details of its mechanics, but as long as I conveyed the basic concept, that should be enough.

“W-what is this…?”

“It’s called a sewing machine. Though, I doubt you’d find it under that name. You operate it by pressing the foot pedal, which moves the needle up and down, stitching with both an upper and lower thread.”

“I'll find it!! And if it doesn't exist, I'll have it made! We trade with the craftsmen of the Beirin region, after all!”

Wow, impressive. Beriard has very few trading partners, so this is incredibly helpful. It feels like I could ask David for anything and he’d find a way to get it.

“Oh, I almost forgot something important. Aside from dresses, I also need men's clothing for exercise. Could you tailor a functional outfit based on knight attire?”

“Of course! That is my specialty! I’ve spent so much time trying to make practical outfits look a little cuter. I never actually wore them outside, though! Ohohoho!”

Well, at least she’s honest about it. She looks like she’s having fun, so that’s good.

David planned to reorganize his family's business responsibilities and set up a proper workshop. While searching for a shoemaker, he would also tailor my exercise attire and look for a sewing machine.

Being well-versed in managing people, David wouldn’t be handling things himself but would instead focus on overseeing operations. I needed to set up a system like that for myself as well.

Ellie would have to play dress-up a few more times, but through that, I had learned a lot about this country’s fashion.

For now, we decided that I would sketch any new shoe or dress designs and send them to David. That gave me a clear roadmap.

Tomorrow, I would have my measurements taken, finalize the design for the exercise outfit, and host a tea party with Dior.

The spa salon was fully booked and couldn’t be reserved right away, so we promised to visit another time.

David had prepared an array of outfits that even Dior didn’t have, which made it easy to communicate what I wanted. It felt like everything had settled into place…

Just as that thought crossed my mind, another issue regarding medical research came up, giving me yet another headache.

Thanks for reading 🥰 😊