When That Door Opens - Chapter 9
Is this what they call a coincidence? Yvonne pondered while looking at the passing scenery outside the swaying carriage. She was on her way to Count Alpen’s manor, spurred by a letter that had arrived at her shop the day before.
The sender was the young lady of Count Alpen, requesting a dress and asking Yvonne to come to the manor the next day if she accepted the commission. Yvonne read the brief letter over and over, standing before the count’s servant who was urging her for a quick response.
The Alpen family was so prestigious that even Yvonne, who knew little about the nobility, had heard of them many times. The request from the Baron family had already felt overwhelming, and the name of Count Alpen was even more intimidating.
“What are you going to do?”
The count’s servant, frowning, pressed her again. His attitude was overbearing, treating her with disdain despite being of similar age and commoner status, just because he was employed by the count.
“I…”
Yvonne couldn’t bring herself to refuse easily. Jerome’s words, encouraging her to take the leap, kept echoing in her mind. She couldn’t manage to say, “I’m sorry, but this is beyond my ability.” Instead, different words slipped out.
“Please tell the young lady that I will visit tomorrow.”
Thus, Yvonne accepted the commission from Count Alpen. The fear of her decision kept her awake all night. She stayed up, hoping for Jerome’s visit, but he didn’t come. It was unlike him not to visit at least every three days.
* * *
“Hey, we’ve arrived. Get off.”
The coachman of the passenger carriage banged on the side of the carriage and said. They had already arrived at Count Alpen’s manor. Yvonne, carrying her heavy belongings, got off the carriage to find an elderly butler with white hair waiting for her.
“Follow me.”
The butler clearly saw her struggling with her heavy load but showed no intention of helping. He simply turned his back and walked away briskly.
However, Yvonne did not resent him for this. It was actually decent treatment for a butler in such a grand noble house not to outright ignore or mistreat her. As she struggled to keep up with the butler, her eyes widened.
‘This is a noble’s mansion.’
She was so astonished that she momentarily forgot the weight of her luggage. The floor was covered in smooth, rare white marble, and the walls were adorned with luxurious silk instead of plain plaster. Even the vases by the windows exuded a sense of opulence. The interior of the noble’s mansion was a shock to Yvonne.
Throughout her life, she had heard countless times that nobles were fundamentally different from commoners. Seeing the interior of the mansion, she finally understood. These were the kinds of things one was born into. It was inherently different from her life of waiting until dawn for her mother to come back from the tavern, eating a single piece of bread, and curling up to sleep.
Yvonne tried hard not to show her amazement and shrank her body, fearing she might accidentally break something valuable.
“Wait here.”
The elderly butler guided Yvonne to the drawing room and then walked away, leaving her alone. In the lavish space, she felt increasingly nervous. She had chosen the prettiest dress she had made herself for this important occasion. Yet, despite her efforts, she felt the most insignificant in this room.
“You must be Yvonne, right?”
The voice was very cheerful. When she turned around, she saw a young woman in her early twenties with a bright expression approaching her. With light blonde hair almost silver and clear skin, the woman resembled a newly blossomed tulip. Yvonne immediately knew that this was the young lady of Count Alpen who had summoned her.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Alpen. I am Yvonne.”
“Oh, I dislike formalities. Please, have a seat and make yourself comfortable!”
“…Yes.”
Surprised by the countess’s casual attitude, Yvonne followed her lead and sat down.
“Thank you for accepting the commission.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you for entrusting me with such an important task.”
“Oh, actually, some people advised me against it.”
Lady Alpen shrugged, bringing the teacup to her lips.
“It’s for a significant event, you see.”
“A significant event…”
“A wedding of an acquaintance. It’s quite a high-profile affair, and there are difficult people, so I need to make an impression.”
Yvonne couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of people the young lady considered ‘difficult’. She pressed her lips together and stayed silent.
“Still, I wanted you to make my dress. I have a maid named Mary who wore one of your creations, and I was immediately impressed! I knew I had to have my dress made by the person who crafted that outfit.”
