Chapter 425

Deciding on Kimono Patterns
Two weeks had passed since we sent the letter to the King’s younger brother, and there was still no reply.
It seems the town he's staying in is quite far, so this delay is apparently within expectations—but still, I can’t help worrying.
That said, I can't spend all my time fretting over it.
I have to decide on the kimonos for the two wives and two daughters of Duke Roberaud.
At the very least, I need to settle on the base colors and the primary decorative motifs.

“Oh my, this is quite troublesome. To think so many patterns can be expressed!”

“Indeed. And to think they can even be combined into a single painting-like design—how incredible.”

“Thank you, I’m honored by your praise. So, was there anything in particular that caught your interest?”

“Well…”

“Hm…”

It seemed the young ladies were still undecided.
The madams of the house, on the other hand, seemed to already have a fairly clear idea of what they wanted.

“Lily, was it? What is considered the most dignified design for a kurotomesode?”

“Let’s see… perhaps a five-crested one with decorative motifs like turtles, cranes, or phoenixes.”

“Hm, such unusual things are drawn, I see. By the way, what do you mean by ‘five crests’?”

“It refers to the number of crests used to indicate the formality of a kurotomesode.
‘Five crests’ is the most formal and used for ceremonial occasions. For semi-formal events like parties, we wear ones with ‘three crests’ or ‘a single crest.’”

“From what I’m hearing, doesn’t that mean we’ll need at least two kurotomesode each?”

“It’s not a problem since kimono culture hasn’t spread widely in this region yet.
Just avoid wearing kurotomesode to overly casual gatherings.”

“I-I see. And, um, are the crests embroidered with the family crest?”

“Sometimes we use the family crest, but there’s also something called a onnamon—a women’s crest. It’s a system that was developed in times when the family crest was considered to belong only to the head of the house.”

“My, how thoughtful the whole system is.”

“But this onnamon is such a fascinating concept too. It allows one to express a lineage separate from the main family crest—how interesting.”

“We must consult Lord Roberaud about this right away.”

These ladies seemed to get along well.
Both daughters were apparently children of the second wife, and they seemed quite close.
Yes, it’s always good to see harmonious relationships.

Thanks to that mood, the kimono patterns were getting decided at a brisk pace.
Everyone had a clear image of what kind of kimono they wanted to wear, which made the decisions easier.
Since I always carried color samples with me, color coordination could be settled on the spot.
They were surprised at how detailed my swatches were, but really, this much is just the basics.
Well, I suppose that wraps up today’s tasks?

“Madam, Young master Cordle is here.”

“Cordle? What’s the matter?”

“He said he’d like to greet the tailor.”

“I see. Is that all right, Lily?”

“Yes. If it’s just a greeting. I haven’t had a proper chance to greet him myself either.”

“The guest has given her consent. Bring Cordle in.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Cordle… if I recall, he’s the younger son.
What could he want with me?

A little while later, in walked a bright-looking young man with neatly groomed blond hair.
This must be him.

“Mother, thank you for granting me your permission.”

“It’s fine. But make sure it really *is* just a greeting.”

Huh?
What does she mean by “just a normal greeting”?
Are there other kinds of greetings besides normal ones?

“Pleased to meet you, Miss Lily! I am Cordle! I know this is sudden, but—please marry me!”

… Ah.
Yeah, that’s definitely *not* a normal greeting.
Now then, how should I even begin to respond to this?

What do you think about this chapter?