I've Tried Going Back to Life After Dying - Chapter 26

Atrey’s family home employed several skilled seamstresses.

This was because his mother, as the head of the viscountcy, often had to make public appearances.

“Then perhaps I should hire more seamstresses for my household as well?”

“Mother is just obsessed with fashion,” Atrey replied. “She’s too particular about clothing details and got tired of explaining them to dressmakers every time.”

He continued, “Besides, she often remakes and recycles her dresses.”

Noblewomen, at least outwardly, were not supposed to wear the same dress twice. The higher their rank, the more strictly this was observed. Many ladies would never wear an evening gown again after a single ball.

But this wasn’t an absolute rule. The lower the rank, the more lenient the expectations.

Atrey’s mother, frequently appearing in public as the family head, couldn’t afford to commission a new dress for every occasion, so she employed seamstresses to alter and refresh her wardrobe.

“I think I’ll do the same. While it’s fun to summon foreign merchants, doing so every time feels excessive.”

Hildegard, who had once been the wife of a marquis, wore dresses of fine quality despite complaining they were too plain or dark. Her party dresses, especially those made to match Clifford’s, were particularly exquisite.

Passing down well-worn garments to servants was also a mark of high nobility. The servants who received them from Clifford seemed to consider it an honor.

Hildegard usually donated such items to churches and orphanages, fulfilling what she saw as a noble obligation.

Less than ten days after discussing dresses with Atrey, his uncle and he paid her a visit.

“Wha—? It’s already finished?”

Hildegard’s dress was complete.

With her parents present, they lifted the lid of the dress box and gasped in unison.

“I want to see it on the dress form,” her mother said.

At her request, the maids carried the dress form into the parlor and draped the gown over it.

“Ah!”

Once again, her parents and Hildegard marveled.

“Such a beautiful color somewhere between blue and viridian.”

Bathed in sunlight from the window, the dress shimmered with an iridescent glow, like a jewel beetle’s shell.

The fabric had a refined sheen, no doubt due to its high quality.

When she touched it, the texture was as smooth as expected.

The deep blue hue matched Hildegard’s sapphire eyes, her color.

“Atrey, is yours made from the same fabric?”

“Obviously. They’re meant to be a set.”

“……”

Why did that make her feel so embarrassed?

“Hmm? Isn’t the neckline a bit too open?”

“It’s an evening gown. Of course, it is.”

Atrey, who kept saying “of course,” seemed far more knowledgeable about fashion than Hildegard. Lauren had claimed Atrey didn’t care much about such things, but that was clearly wrong.

“But the back is…”

It was completely open, leaving her skin fully exposed.

Her body was that of a maiden, but her mind was forty. Hildegard’s middle-aged modesty kicked in.

In her past life, the dresses she wore had been far more conservative.

Once, she had tried on a fashionable halter-neck gown—champagne gold, of course.

The draping from her neck to her chest was exquisite, and even her maid had praised, “My lady, you look stunning.” But Clifford had objected immediately.

“Your back is practically bare. It’s like walking around naked.”

Despite being ready to leave, Hildegard had rushed back to her room to change. They had barely made it to the ball on time.

Remembering that bitter memory, she realized this was the most skin she’d shown since that dress. The sensation of her past and present lives overlapping sometimes left her in painful confusion.

“It suits you. Mother has an eye for these things, she wouldn’t be wrong.”

Atrey’s mother, the fashion enthusiast, did indeed have excellent taste. With the same golden hair and amber eyes as Atrey, his tall, elegant aunt was a beauty.

“I’ll trust your mother’s judgment.”

This life was granting Hildegard many new experiences.

“Also, this is from her.”

“Eh? What is it?”

“A congratulatory gift for becoming the heir, apparently.”

The long, fabric-covered box was unmistakably a jewelry case.

“But if it’s a celebration, I would’ve expected another dress.”

“That would be from me. Mother’s gift is for you as a future member of the ‘Lady Heads’ Friendship Circle.'”

There was indeed a gathering exclusively for female heads of noble houses. Literally named the “Lady Heads’ Friendship Circle.” Atrey’s mother served as its secretary.

Incidentally, the chairwoman was the wife of the current prime minister, a duchess.

“May I open it?”

“Of course.”

Hesitantly lifting the lid—

“Ah!”

Once more, her parents and Hildegard gasped.

“This is…”

Was this really okay? Not that the quality was lacking. The necklace and earrings were crafted from high-grade amber. Their intricate hues, shifting subtly with the light, were breathtaking.

But wearing them meant adorning herself in Atrey’s colors.

“Mm…”

Her father groaned softly before exchanging a glance with his brother.

The two men, one in his prime and the other not far behind, stared at each other for a long moment.

“It’s lovely, Hildegard,” her mother finally said, her voice bright.

“To receive such exquisite amber I couldn’t be more honored.”

“Mother…”

Her mother smiled gently.

For her first evening social event, Hildegard had been gifted a dress and jewelry by her aunt, the lady head, and her cousin.

As she felt another path opening before her, joy and pressure mingled with a bittersweet farewell to the past.