To You Who Was Unlawfully Born
After the Martial Arts Competition ended, a woman approached Jayna and Elia.
“Endless glory and blessing to Delide. Your Highness Elia, I am Countess Milpress.”
[T/N: Delide’s the Empire’s name]
Jayna had heard from her etiquette teacher that,
Countess Milpress was a woman who often held social gatherings these days.
Although her husband had just died, she was gaining popularity for her inheritance, wealth, and unique speaking skills.
‘She also seemed like a completely different person before marriage…….’
“Why are you here?” (Elia)
At Elia’s question, the woman charmingly smiled and greeted her with courtesy.
“When I saw Princess Elia, who is said to be the incarnate of the God of War, at the Martial Arts Competition, I couldn’t help but greet her.” (Countess)
It didn’t matter whether she was polite.
This was the venue of the Martial Arts Competition.
‘Is there really a need to come greet Princess Elia, like a colony of ants would?’ (Jayna)
Other nobles had also seen Elia, but they stayed in their seats and greeted her from afar.
Jayna thought that perhaps the woman in front of them wanted to impress Elia.
Elia also frowned faintly, seemingly thinking the same thing.
Elia hated flattery and sweet talk.
“What a long greeting, I hope you’ve fulfilled your purpose in coming to the Martial Arts Competition.” (Elia)
“Don’t say that. Perhaps you could attend the next ball I hold….… Ah!” (Countess)
No matter how good of a seat Elia had, it was bound to be cramped since it was a seat in a stadium.
Countess Milpress, who was talking to Elia while Jayna was between the two, seemed to have lost her balance and fell towards Jayna.
“My god!” (Countess)
As the countess was falling to the ground, Jayna reflexively caught her arm.
“Oh my……. I’m so sorry.” (Countess)
Looking at Countess Milpress, who would have fallen on the ground, Elia now didn’t bother to hide her displeasure.
“It’d be best if you leave right now.” (Elia)
“I-I’m sorry…” (Countess)
When Countess Milpress staggered up, Jayna found that her dress had gotten torn.
“Gosh, I’m so sorry. How could I ever make it up to you?” (Countess)
The hem of the dress seemed to have been torn when the countess stepped on it and fell.
“It’s alright. After all, you didn’t do it on purpose.” (Jayna)
“But it was such a pretty dress… Is it really alright?” (Countess)
Jayna made eye contact with Countess Milpress, who seemed to be dragging the issue.
“The lady’s beautiful dress is ruined, aren’t you the least bit upset?” (Countess)
Her words gave Jayna a strange feeling.
‘Huh?’
At that moment, one side of Jayna’s chest was scared stiff.
It felt like the Countess Milpress was observing Jayna’s reaction.
‘Am I imagining things?’
But the countess’s face soon looked apologetic once again, and she quietly stepped down. Afterwards, Jayna, thinking she was being oversensitive, focused on the game again.
And that night,
“Miss Jayna! This is bad!” (Yurika)
Yurika had woken up Jayna, saying that she received urgent news from the boutique.
“What happened?” (Jayna)
“Well, I think it’s best for you to see it yourself.” (Yurika)
It was very rare for the calm Yurika to make such a fuss.
Therefore, Jayna got up right away and tidied up and changed instead of complaining about being sleepy;
With the help of Micheal, she instantly went to a boutique with the help of teleporting magic.
“Y-You’re here.”
An employee who had urgently contacted Jayna, bowed her head in an extremely apologetic manner.
“I’m really sorry! I’ve checked with the boutique’s guard several times……!”
“What happened?”
“I know I was the one who contacted you but…… You might be better off not looking at what happend……”
Jane grabbed the doorknob that the boutique’s staff was covering using her body.
“That’s up to me.” (Jayna)
When Jayna entered the room, a cruel scene unfolded before her eyes. She then understood why the staff member warned her.
The mannequin where Jayna’s dress hung on was grotesquely distorted, and the dress, which was crucial for her debut, was tattered, with pieces of it scattered all over.
It seemed that someone wanted her debut, no, Jayna to look like this.
It was clear that someone held a grudge against Jaina.
“Damn it, who did this?!” (Micheal)
She heard Micheal, who was bursting with rage, come from behind her.
However, Jayna, the person directly affected, looked at the room with cold eyes.
The rose petals scattered everywhere reminded her of blood, and there was something written with lipstick on the mirror on the wall.
[To you who was unlawfully born, I sincerely congratulations on your seventeenth birthday, for it will be your last]
* * *
Elia, who learned of the event late, was enraged.
She ordered Micheal to track down the culprit.
“I will slaughter the bastard who did this right away.” (Micheal)
Micheal immediately used tracking magic, saying who dared to ruin his little girl’s debut.
However, the most important issue had not yet been resolved.
“What about the dress for the debutante ball?”
Jayna had to find another boutique right away, but all of them had closed their doors since the debut season had begun.
Elia maids, who were supposed to take care of Jayna’s dress, were restless.
“You could get a new dress…….”
These types of events do happen publicly during the debut season, but asking to make a new dress in an already over-saturated boutique was equal to taking away another’s opportunities.
Elia’s brow furrowed deeply.
She wanted to help Jayna, but she couldn’t help her at the cost of other young ladies who had been waiting for their debut.
“Your Highness, this could potentially ruin Jayna’s one and only debut.” (Maid)
Jayna spoke in a calm voice before Elia had to step forward.
“I’m all right.” (Jayna)
“It’s not all right. A debut is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” (Elia)
“That’s why I said it’s alright. A debut is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for other ladies too.” (Jayna)
The reason why a debut was important to aristocratic ladies was because they needed to find a good groom.
Marriage was a big enough event to change one’s life.
‘But I’ll never get married or anything.’ (Jayna)
Jayna lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a shadow.
At the longest, she wasn’t going to make it past the year.
So, the debutante ball just felt like a larger-than-usual ball.
“I will clearly remember how Your Highness Elia tried to get me the most beautiful dress. That alone is enough.” (Jayna)
Jayna treated all of Elia’s maids with the same respect. All of their eyes teared up.
‘I can’t believe you’re saying that, someone else ruined the debut you’ve been preparing for so long.’
‘You didn’t receive Her Highness Princess Elia’s favour for nothing. Jayna is such a good-natured girl.’
The women who admired Elia were deeply moved, since Jayna’s innate character resembled Elia’s.
“Alright, I’m going to use my authority.” (Elia)
Elia spoke as if she had already made up her mind. Although she didn’t like to abuse her power, the debut of a lady was important.
Elia’s maids welcomed her words, replying that they agreed with her decision.
However, Jayna, the person involved, shook her head.
“You don’t have to. I don’t really care what other people think.” (Jayna)
Elia gently smiled and patted Jayna’s head.
Jayna’s fine hair moved smoothly without getting caught in Elia’s fingers.
“I will not let your debutante be ruined like this.” (Elia)
“Your Highness Princess Elia.” (Jayna)
“There’s absolutely no way that someone will deny a decree.” (Elia)
At Elia’s words, a question mark appeared in people’s eyes.
[T/N: People got confused]
* * *
After confirming that orders for famous boutiques could not be placed, Jayna’s carriage drove away from the centre of the street.
“Unless we order a dress from those boutiques, it’ll be difficult to tailor a dress in places which fit the latest trends.”
“It’ll be difficult to find fabrics, and above all, their lace and embroidery skills will be absurdly lacking.”
Elia’s maids looked worried as they watched the carriage head to a corner.
Elia quietly observed Jayna’s actions, believing in the girl.
Jayna stopped the carriage in front of an obscure building which looked like it would collapse any moment. To say the least, it would be misleading to call it a boutique.
“You won’t be tailoring a dress here, right?”
“Wait, is this the boutique?”
Jayna fully understood their concerns.
‘If I hadn’t read <Sword of Revenge> I wouldn’t have known there was a boutique here.’ (Jayna)
Of course, Jayna didn’t know the exact location of the boutique.
Jayna got off the carriage, looked around and found a person.
“Excuse me. Is there anyone named Rivian Cretchet here?” (Jayna)
Jayna asked for him over and over again. However, the owner of the name never appeared.
Then, the faces of the maids standing behind her became even redder with anxiety.
“M-My brother asked me to tell you to wait, and that he’ll pay you back soon…….”
One person finally came out, while opening a creaking window on the second floor.
She was an innocent, round-glasses wearing lady with a round face.
“P-Please wait. It might take around a week…….” (Girl)
“I’m not here to collect any money.” (Jayna)
Seeing Rivian’s eyes stained with distrust, Jayna opened her palms.
“I came here to give you money. I wish to commission Rivian for my debutante’s dress.” (Jayna)
Rivian was a designer who would make fashionable dresses five years from now.
No matter how quickly fashion trends change, it would still be an adventure to wear a dress considered fashionable in five years.
- I’ll be your chaperone.
[T/N: An older woman who looks after a younger lady at social gatherings. Customary for a chaperone to accompany an older lady, especially if she’s making her debut.]
Jayna believed in what Elia had earlier said.
Jayna looked back. She saw Elia nodding at her with a firm expression.
‘In the end, the social world is all about getting closer to the centre of power.’
The fact that Elia, the hero of not just the empire but the whole continent, was her chaperone was equal to her guaranteeing Jayna’s position in society.
While others would be to get from the edge of society to the centre, Jayna would be able to skip the entire procedure and head straight to the centre of society.
Jayna felt that Elia was trying to convey that with her eyes.
‘As long as I stand next to you, I will never let anyone even laugh at you.’
* * *