Chapter 227: Chapter 227
However, Rubica didn’t say anything and took another look at Grace. Yes, she was worried about her low-cut neckline.
Highlighting her long neck had been one of the choices, but she knew the girl wouldn’t be able to bear to expose that much of her skin. She couldn’t force her to do what she didn’t want just because it would make her look prettier. Then, she would be no different from Christopher.
‘Yes, it would be perfect.’
She took out a thin linen fichu which she had made during her pastime. The fabric was thin and wasn’t meant for cold weather, but it was perfect for what she had in mind.
She folded it carefully and put it around Grace’s neck. The white fabric covered her breast and made people focus on her pretty neck.
Moreover, it made her shoulder line round and maximized the girl’s unique soft aura. The fichu was the final touch she had been looking for, and Gabriel immediately reacted to the new addition.
“But madam, when did you think of this and make it?”
Rubica hadn’t talked of it when they discussed the plan the day before. She just smiled.
She had imagined many times about what would be right for Grace, but ideas tended to come to her the most when she was actually in front of the person she was styling.
Gabriel knew well Rubica couldn’t say a word in front of Grace, but she just couldn’t help asking. Just like Rubica sought beauty instinctively, she sought answers to her curiosity.
“Are you going to make this in bulk as well?”
Rubica shook her head to the question. Unlike clothes, making a triangle fichu didn’t take much time. People will also get tired of seeing the same kind of clothes too many times.
For a trend to last long, it must have a point where people can add and show off their uniqueness. Rubica decided to make the fichu do the role.
“Well, this fichu can be made as a pastime. Oh, and it can be made of laces instead of linen. I think there can be a lot of unique and various fichus.”
Rubica just shook her head, but Gabriel could immediately tell what she meant by that. She was a really clever girl.
“Linen? Laces? What on earth have you done to me?”
In the end, Grace couldn’t stay silent and asked. She knew Gabriel had been talking to someone who had to be Madam Berry for some time, but she couldn’t see what was going on, which frustrated her.
She didn’t like that her cheeks were no longer covered, and she was eager to know what they had done about her chest. She worried they might have used ruffles made of old-fashioned laces which she had seen in old portraits.
“Hmm, how should I explain this?”
“Just wait a little longer, you’ll be able to see for yourself soon.”
“Yes, Grace. Just hang on a little more. You tend to be stubborn at weird points.”
Rubica smiled to see the girls’ friendly quarrel. She wanted to see how Grace would change after Jennie worked on her.
However, she couldn’t let her know who she was. She lingered, sad that she had to go, but Jennie reassured her.
“Don’t worry. I will do my best.”
Not even Rubica was as good as Jennie at selecting cosmetics for each skin type.
She had been through many jobs because she couldn’t bear to use expensive cosmetics on her clients while knowing it wasn’t right for them, but now it was paying her off.
Rubica grabbed her hand hard with faith and then closed the door behind her.
“Well, now it’s my turn.”
She had been quite shocked when Rubica revealed that she was actually Madam Berry, but at the same time, she could understand it.
She couldn’t understand hard words like business to support the kingdom or revenues, but Rubica told her she didn’t want to give up what she wanted to do because of her status, and Jennie could relate to that.
Plus, thanks to Elise, she had already tasted the joy of smashing that thick shell and presenting the hidden beauty to the world.
It was now time to let Grace know how great her qualities were.
“May I look at the mirror?”
As soon as they removed the piece of paper that had been covering her eyes, Grace looked for a mirror. She was so curious about her new hair and a new dress, but Jennie didn’t give her one.
“Grace, I didn’t know you were capable of making such a fuss.”
“Just wait for a few more minutes. I’m still working on the basis. Have you ever seen a painter work? At first, he would use only dark colors for the background. At that stage, no one can guess what the finished painting would look like. If you see yourself now, you might think this is not what you wanted to be and burst into tears. If you do that, I won’t be able to finish your makeup.”
Jennie was sure Grace would love who she had become even if she were to look at the mirror now, but she wanted to maximize the shock and joy of her transformation.
Soothing and convincing troublemakers was one of her specialties which she hadn’t been able to use since her arrival at Claymore.
“Okay.”
Grace managed to calm down and let Jennie work on her face. After Elise and Gabriel’s transformation, lively makeup had come in fashion. Everyone was using a red rouge like Elise.
However, Jennie decided that Grace needed an elegant style.
Of course, Grace silently moaned to see her chose and use only colors that were not in fashion. She even wished she could jump to her feet and run out.
But she didn’t.
‘No one thought such red lips and splendid dress were right for Elise, and nobody knew Gabriel would look so good with such thin makeup.’
Madam Berry had already transformed two girls. And Grace even believed she had transformed Rubica, formerly a countryside girl, and made Duke Claymore fall in love with her.
“Well, all done.”
When Jennie finished the makeup, Elise removed the cloth that had been covering the huge mirror.
Soon Grace got to see herself, and she couldn’t help being shocked.
“Wow…”
Compared to the dresses she had worn till now, the dress was surprisingly simple. She wasn’t wearing a petticoat and her corset was not tight.
And its silhouette, which was almost in one straight line, was shocking in a different meaning from Gabriel’s dress.
However, she had to admit it was surprisingly suited to her taste.
“This is what I have wanted all along.”
She hadn’t known she would look so elegant and high even with her round face completely exposed. Till now, no matter which style she tried, she had been told she looked so old-fashioned that she should go home and knit with her grandmother.
She shivered, not able to believe her dream had come actually true.
“Don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying.”
Gabriel was ready to tease her to her content, but Grace cut her flat. She took a deep breath, found her gloves, and put them on.
“Well, what should we do now?”
She had been told in advance by Tatiana that there was going to be an article about it. She said she could refuse the offer if she didn’t want all the attention, but actually, Grace had always wanted to be famous for once. She just pretended she didn’t want to.
“First, you must go and meet the duchess with me, and we are going to the king’s palace on her errand.”
The queen had promised to compliment Grace’s new change. She was going to say her simple and pastoral style was right for the values of the kingdom, and talkers would not be able to criticize it easily.
“And we should go to places…”
“How about going to meet our friends?”
“No, we should make a lot of people see you. How about going to, say, the perfume shop?”
“But… going to shops is for maids.”
Grace was cool in some ways, but she was a conservative person in nature. Gabriel looked at her as if she had been looking at a girl from the last century.
Of course, rich nobles who valued their honor had merchants come to their homes instead of going to shops themselves.
“Do you know that boy with brown hair often shows up at the bakery in the next alley of the perfume shop?”
However, youths preferred going to shops, not just to buy things but for coincidental encounters as well.
“You…”
“Yes, I know all about it. Tatiana may look nice, but she’s scarier than me. If you don’t keep this secret, everyone will get to know who the boy you like is.”
Grace’s face turned red. Tatiana was scary, but Gabriel was just as scary. Gabriel then quickly added, “And we’ll also help with your love.”
Only very few can stay strong in the face of love. In the end, Grace lost to Gabriel’s temptation.