That question unexpectedly came up yet again. When Violet heard the question, she pretended to cough, causing Cairn, who was quietly eating next to her, to flare up.
“Why the hell is she gonna give a handkerchief to that guy?!”
“I’m just asking, and he has the highest chance of winning. Besides, you’re friends with him, right?”
“Why him of all people!”
“It’s just a formality anyway.”
“I’d rather win the whole thing myself!”
“Graduate from the academy first.”
While Violet was coughing, the heated argument between the bickering brothers continued. The conversation between the two escalated. Even though Cairn hadn’t graduated yet, they argued whether he could participate if there was no one else Violet could give a handkerchief to. It was a pitiful conversation.
Ignoring his younger brother’s complaints neatly, Roen shifted his gaze towards Violet.
“I know your embroidery skills, but still, if it’s the handkerchief of the Lady of the Everett Duchy, it will have significant meaning. You understand this, don’t you?”
In response to Roen’s question, Violet looked at him with an expressionless face. Unperturbed, he continued his words.
“No matter what happens, don’t give your handkerchief to His Highness. Got it?”
“Why not just give it to me! That would be the best, wouldn’t it?!”
They really weren’t going anywhere with this one-sided conversation.
They kept asking questions without really stopping to wait for an answer. After finishing the entire meal, Violet, wiping her mouth casually, opened her mouth as if something had come to her mind.
“Oh, by the way….”
* * *
The items that Violet had ordered arrived quickly. Once again, money was good to have. Looking at the stack of boxes that had piled up, Mary was reminded of the past.
“Wow, what’s all this?”
“Newly ordered paint.”
“Paint? But you already have so many, Milady.”
What Violet had ordered was more paint. Currently, she had almost all the commercially available paint hues. There was no color that she didn’t have, and the raw materials for the paint hues she had were also diverse. Even for the same color, there were paints ground with pearls and paints mixed with gold.
Looking at Violet, who had ordered a new variety of paint in a situation where she didn’t need to buy any more, Mary expressed her curiosity.
“It’s different from other types of paint, Mary.”
“How is it different?”
“It’s a type of paint that can be used on fabric.”
The paint she ordered was a specially crafted paint that could be used to paint directly on fabric. Thanks to the hefty sum that was paid to the alchemist who was persuaded to make this, the specially ordered paint arrived in just a few days.
In her past life, this was called ‘acrylic paint’.
Although the ingredients or principles might differ from what she used in her past life, she specifically requested it to function exactly like acrylic paint.
Violet dipped the brush into the paint and spread it directly onto paper. Mary was surprised to see her painting without sketching. The paint on the brush applied smoothly, and the colors were vibrant.
Violet, practicing by drawing a few shapes, licked her lips. The drying speed was too fast. If she didn’t draw quickly, it seemed she would waste the expensive paint she had commissioned.
Thinking she should address this later, Violet gestured to Mary, who quickly brought pieces of fabric for handkerchiefs.
“Hmm, with this material, the unit price might be quite high. I don’t know if I can use this for test runs.”
“Is it very expensive?”
“Quite so.”
Despite the expenses for both the paint and the handkerchief cloth, Violet, without sketching, drew her second picture. Soon, blue roses and blue butterflies appeared on the handkerchief. Mary, marveling at the mysterious and beautiful shapes of nonexistent flowers and dreamy butterflies, opened her mouth in admiration.
“It’s beautiful…”
“That’s right. But I can’t use this. The colors came out a bit off.”
“Even though it’s so pretty?”
“It’s just for practice anyway.”
Violet chuckled and was about to pat Mary’s head but stopped. Acrylic paint didn’t come off once dried, so she wanted to prevent any unexpected accidents.
Unaware of this fact, Mary chattered on cheerfully.
“How truly marvelous. But will the colors not fade?”
“It’s paint especially made for fabric. Since it was custom ordered, it should be fine.”
Violet smiled. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder. As soon as the paint dried completely, she decided to try washing it to see if the colors would bleed. Mary, not realizing that the noble lady was contemplating handwashing handkerchiefs, admired her in awe.
“I’ve seen many dyes for fabrics, but this is the first time seeing direct drawings on cloth!”
“When you have money, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
“Indeed! There’s nothing money can’t do!”
Violet chuckled, realizing how she had turned the impossible into a miracle with the name of money. Mary, who knew nothing about the lady’s thoughts of washing handkerchiefs, continued to express her amazement.
Looking at the paint again, Violet thought that if it were Roen, he would undoubtedly suggest starting a business venture with this paint. Violet had no intention of starting a business on her own, so it would be entirely Roen’s responsibility.
Really. Despite his constant complaints about being intolerably busy, his work efficiency was simply unmatched.
Well, it’s none of her concern anyway. Violet erased any thoughts of Roen from her mind.
