Chapter 307 20% To 30%
"You all can go home if you're not motivated. It might be my fault for showing you new magic too easily, but if you keep thinking about other things and can't achieve the original goal, it's pointless."
Less than an hour later, Sara realized that her earlier statement was a mistake. The women, both the maids and the villagers, were all glancing at Sara, having lost their enthusiasm for the original goal of making Amelia beautiful.
The only exceptions were the young 12-year-old Chloe and 13-year-old Maria, who had not yet felt the effects of aging, along with the young designer boy.
"I'm really sorry. That wasn't my intention..."
The maid who had spoken earlier apologized, and Amelia responded with a look of regret.
"Miss Sara, maybe we should stop. Either way, one needs to show people their real self."
"Well, whether I dress up or wear makeup, I'm still the same Amelia. It's normal to want to show my best self to someone I like, and if I'm going to confess my feelings, I should put in some effort!"
"But even with so many people helping me, I'm not as beautiful as Miss Sara..."
Amelia's voice gradually became softer and softer.
"Amelia! Stop it. You are so charming. Your hazel eyes have a smart sparkle, and your straight nose and small lips are really cute, but sometimes the beauty mark by your mouth makes you look so alluring. You have a soft and soothing vibe, but when you talk about Mr. Alexander, I think many guys lose their calm when they see your flushed cheeks."
Chloe follows up on Sara's comment.
"I also think Amelia is charming. The elegant vibe you show when explaining your blended herbal tea or the cosmetics you developed is wonderful, but the way you look when you're in love is surprisingly adorable. And that rich, shiny hair! I didn't notice it when you had it up for work, but it shines so much when you let it down. I don't know what kind of guy you like, but I recommend you let your hair down in front of him when you're alone. And of course, make sure it smells nice."
"Chloe... where did you learn such techniques?"
"It's common sense for noble ladies. It's our duty to find a better marriage partner. So we do our best to be chosen by the most desirable gentlemen."
"That's a sad way to live, isn't it?"
"That's why I want you to help too, Sara."
"Okay, okay."
Encouraged by Sara and Chloe, Amelia gently lifted her face.
"Amelia, look at yourself in the mirror. What we're saying isn't a lie."
"But, my chest is small..."
"Maybe compared to Sophia. But you have at least as much as Thomashiina, right? Proportions are all about balance. If your chest were bigger with your body type, you'd have trouble finding clothes to wear."
Amelia stood still as a boy designer observed her back and the reflection of her in the mirror. He asked his female assistant nearby to hold a measuring tape and take Amelia's measurements.
The women from the village quickly remembered their own work and started moving with purpose. They were also interested in beauty, but unlike maids from lower nobility or wealthy families, they couldn't afford cosmetics because of their lower living standards. They soon gave up, realizing they couldn't pay for the kind of magic that a young lady like Amelia had, and accepted that it was none of their business.
"Nice to meet you. You must be the designer."
"Nice to meet you too. I'm Lucas Willoughby, in charge of the dress design."
"Oh, you're from the Count Harsen family?"
Chloe asked Lucas. It was essential for noble children to remember that the Willoughby family had been the Count Harsen's for 3 generations.
"I'm the nephew of the current Count Harsen. My mother is the sister of the Count Harsen."
"Oh, so you inherited your name from your mother. Did you marry into the family?"
"On paper, yes. But actually, my unmarried mother got pregnant, and it was arranged that she married my father, who was a bureaucrat in Grandchester. After giving birth to me in Grandchester, my mother went on to marry another man. To settle things with the Count Harsen, we had to say my mother died of illness."
'Wow, the mother sounds amazing.'
"Is it okay for you to share such family matters with us?"
"Actually, my father on paper was accused of embezzlement a few years ago and ran away, leaving me behind. So, from a public perspective, I am the child of a criminal. My maternal uncle knows that we are not blood-related, but they said it would be difficult for the Willoughby family to take me in. Still, they don't want to upset the Grandchester family. Therefore, I thought it would be best to explain this properly beforehand if I am to accept a request from the young ladies of the Grandchester family. I don't want you to find out later and feel uncomfortable."
"I see."
'This kid is also a victim of the embezzlement case. Seriously, that Silt Merchant Guild...'
"Lucas, how old are you?"
"I just turned 11 the other day."
"The Grandchester territory has surprisingly many special kids."
"When Sara says it, it sounds convincing."
Sara observed Lucas again. He was about the same age as Blaze and Chris, but he looked a bit smaller than them. He definitely had an aristocratic appearance, and while his clothes lacked luxury, they were stylish for sure.
"I don't intend to blame the child for the parent's crime, so you don't have to worry about that. Anyway, Lucas has a talent for design, and his conversation and manners are proper. He should be at a level where he can be presented in front of other noble young ladies, which is a big advantage for him. Don't you think so, Chloe?"
"That's true. Commoners like merchants and craftsmen often spend a lot of time on basic education. But Lucas seems like he could improve even more with a little polishing. It would be good if he becomes more refined while working, but if you're worried, we can at least get him a manners instructor."
"Thank you very much."
Lucas bowed deeply.
"Alright, let's get to the main topic for today. I want to make Amelia beautiful. Since she's a commoner, she doesn't seek noble beauty, and I think her outfit shouldn't be too formal either."
"Miss Sara, I believe Lady Amelia's charm comes from her appearance while she's working. In her pharmacist's robe, she has a dignified beauty."
"So, you mean that she looks attractive in her work clothes?"
"Exactly. But when she changes out of the robe into casual clothes, she suddenly has a gentle and loving vibe, right?"
"So, there's a gap in her vibe between work and private life?"
"Yes. I think we should create outfits that highlight that gap."
Amelia, who was being praised by Lucas, looked a bit uncomfortable. However, since the other women were busy measuring her, she couldn't look down and was fidgeting instead.
Maria was quick to respond to Lucas's comment.
"Ms. Amelia, you don't wear much makeup while working, do you?"
"Yeah, it often gets in the way of my work. I take a bath before work and wash off any makeup or perfume."
"Even in that state, you look impressive in your work robe. But once you take off the robe, you're not at work anymore, so you should definitely use some makeup and nice-smelling body cream."
"I see, that's another gap, right?"
When Sara agreed, Maria hurriedly brought over some makeup tools.
"Lady Amelia, is it completely not allowed to wear makeup while working?"
"As long as the scent isn't too strong, it's fine."
"Then, while you're working, let's just make your eyes look a bit sharper. And outside of work, we can change it a little to give a softer vibe."
"--Then maybe we should change your hairstyle too!"
Alicia touched Amelia's hair and started trying out loose braids and half-up styles.
The maids, who had displeased Sara and were watching from the corner of the room, began to feel a strong desire to do what they were supposed to do. The maid in charge of clothing wanted to support Lucas's suggestion, and to the other maids, Maria, who was just a girl starting her training as a Lady-in-Waiting, looked a bit clumsy. And above all, Alicia's braiding skills were terrible. Their professional instincts were too strong to just sit back and watch.
"Milady Sara, we are very sorry. Could we please be allowed to do our jobs now?"
Sara glanced at the maid who spoke up, then looked at Amelia. The atmosphere was awkward for both of them.
'I do have my thoughts on this, but considering the future, we should clear this atmosphere up quickly.'
"You should not be apologizing to me."
"You're right. Lady Amelia, we are very rude. Please give us another chance."
The maids all bowed their heads to Amelia. However, it was Amelia who became flustered upon seeing this.
"Um... please lift your heads. I'm just a commoner, and when you bow like that, I don't know what to do."
"I know it may be uncomfortable, but could you please forgive us?"
Then Amelia smiled gently and spoke to the maids.
"I haven't felt uncomfortable from the start. But... I would be happy if you could lend me your strength. It's a bit embarrassing to say this, but... it's my first love, someone I've had a crush on for years. I was just a poor commoner gathering herbs, and I simply followed my master. Now that I've started working here, I've finally been able to stand on my own as a pharmacist. Of course, I'm just a fledgling compared to my master."
"That's not true! Lady Amelia's herbal tea and cosmetics are amazing!"
"Yes! And thanks to the hand cream, my rough hands have improved dramatically!"
The maids looked up and argued with Amelia.
"Hehe. Thank you. Normally, pharmacists are people who heal illnesses, so I might be a bit out of line. But I take pride in my work. If I confess my feelings to my master, I might just be seen as a foolish girl who doesn't know her place. But I want to confront him at least once. My master is already 32 years old, so it wouldn't be strange for him to marry a partner at any time..."
With a slight blush on her cheeks, Amelia spoke about her feelings, looking fragile and very cute. Seeing this expression, all the maids and women of the village felt their hearts flutter. It was the sweet pain of first love that everyone could relate to. Meanwhile, Chloe was in the middle of her own first love.
As for Lucas, the only boy, he almost found himself falling for the big sister. However, he lived surrounded by women and was the type to get excited about various girls, so he calmly kept his emotions in check.
Amelia's appearance became surprisingly refined. Of course, the maids made sure to teach Amelia how to do her makeup and coordinate her outfits properly. From Sara's perspective, Amelia's beauty stood out about 20 to 30 percent more.
As for her clothing, Sara ordered a few casual outfits and 2 formal ones. If she ever had to appear in front of nobles, she might need a dress, but Sara decided it would be better to have one made according to the latest fashion when the time came, so they didn't order one this time.
Also, as part of the supplies from Maiden's Tower, they decided to have new robes made for Amelia and Alicia. The designs for the pharmacist and alchemist robes were slightly different, and if more women started working at Maiden's Tower in the future, they would wear these robes as uniforms suited to their professions.
"Hey Chloe, don't you want to do this with other girls on the capital too?"
"I can do it if you want!"
"Of course, since Chloe is in charge of promoting in high society. Make sure to catch a prince!"
"At least say 'capture' instead. That sounds a bit scary."
"Either way, do your best for Grandchester and the Sophia Merchant Guild."
"I'll do my best."
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