The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 137
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
After Igmeyer left the castle, Amber, who got up later, received various reports regarding the ski events.
The most important of these concerned the tourism products, as artisans who would become the first generation of ski craftsmen gathered.
“Now, watch closely and follow along.”
About twenty women, all skilled in embroidery from their respective villages, listened attentively.
Amber skillfully embroidered camellias in front of them, and as they followed her hand movements, they nodded in understanding without needing further instruction.
“We’ll be making handkerchiefs, pillowcases, and decorative items. Can you manage that?”
“Yes, Madam.”
“I’ve prepared plenty of fabric, so let’s get started. I’ll give a special gift to the one who does the best work today.”
It was wonderful that there was no need to teach them step by step; speed was essential now.
With the artisans working on the products, Amber headed straight to the glass workshop.
Among those who had come from Shadroch was a glass artisan.
“Oh, Princess! You’ve arrived!”
The rough-looking elderly woman was Biche, the head of the Shadroch glass workshop, and a close friend of Amber.
“Grandmother Biche!”
“I was making glass just as you requested. What would you like?”
“I want to make snow globes.”
In Shadroch, there was a popular tourist item called the flower globe, a decorative piece with flower petals encased in a round glass orb.
Was it useful? Perhaps not, but it was beautiful. And there were certainly things in the world that people wanted just for being pretty.
“Those who come to this cold place will surely want to take home a souvenir.”
“Oh? So, we’ll use snow instead of flowers?”
“Yes. But since snow melts quickly… I was thinking of cutting pieces of shiny fabric that look like snow. I want to use snow, monsters, and camellias as motifs.”
“I understand. The toy makers will handle the contents, so I’ll just need to make sturdy glass orbs.”
Grandmother Biche nodded, a reassuring presence.
‘Next, I need to check how much food is left in the castle. That’s important too.’
After Igmeyer left the castle with the knights, everyone came looking for Amber. She had officially become the Mistress of the North.
Amber took pride in her role and happily managed her tasks.
‘Ah, I’m hungry.’
After getting caught up in her work, she realized she had missed snack time and felt quite famished.
She hurried to the dining hall, where a well-cooked chicken leg with mashed potatoes was served in front of her.
It looked perfectly golden on both sides…
‘Ugh.’
Why did it smell so off?
If the chicken wasn’t handled properly, it could produce such an odor, and eating it could lead to serious trouble.
Amber, aware of the concept of food poisoning, hesitated before calling the head chef.
Everyone else was eating without issue.
‘Am I the only one who can’t eat this?’
Or perhaps her portion was just off.
With many guests present, rather than making a scene, she decided to wait and see if the problem persisted before subtly calling for the chef. She pushed the plate aside.
Instead, she started on the salad topped with chicken b****t, which was perfectly fine.
‘Maybe it’s just the chicken leg that’s weird.’
As she nibbled, the village women nearby exchanged glances and whispered.
“Oh, she’s eating so little, she looks like a fairy!”
“We can’t do that. Don’t even think about copying her.”
“Right! We can’t eat enough!”
“That’s because our husbands would drive us crazy if we didn’t eat!”
“Or our sons would!”
After spending the day stitching camellias, the women were in high spirits at the banquet.
At home, they barely had time for their sewing jobs, let alone preparing meals, but here, they were being served food made by a chef.
Anyone who didn’t appreciate that was out of their mind.
The women laughed and chatted throughout the meal, quickly becoming friends.
Amber watched them with a hint of envy and set her fork down.
‘This is enough of a presence to keep the pace.’
It was time for her to retreat. After a long day of focused work, she felt a throbbing headache coming on.
“Oh, Madam… you haven’t eaten much…”
“That’s enough for me. I’d like a glass of wine with cheese, so please send it up.”
“Understood.”
The maid guarding the dining hall looked at her with concern.
Amber naturally brushed it off, thinking she’d enjoy a drink and then head to her bedroom.
However, a moment later…
“Ugh!”
As soon as Amber caught the smell of the cheese, she clamped her mouth shut again.
This time, it was the unbearable stench that overwhelmed her.
‘What is going on?’
Staring blankly at the cheese, she confirmed there was no mold on it and bit her lower lip in frustration.
‘No way… it can’t be.’
In truth, Amber wasn’t one to indulge in food. Being a princess, she had a refined palate and could hardly swallow anything that wasn’t completely fresh.
When she lived as a princess, she only ate freshly slaughtered meats, fresh fish, and various vegetables lovingly grown by the palace gardeners, along with seasonal fruits from Shadroch’s local specialties.
