13 13. Search For Clues.

"Grey? Don't jest, you fool!"

Maria looks absolutely offended, her face growing slightly red with indignation. And she flings her hand against in frustration at which the thin bearded man flinches visibly, jumping away from her. He tumbles with the wrong step, almost flipping his whole work material that was on the tea table in the main living room.

The tailor did come as Elian said and he had finished his tea in one swift motion, visibly eager to start his work.

And by work, I come to realize it's merely gushing and showing off his collection of fabrics. And Globe Lady Maria is extremely riled up by his behavior.

The living room is a large space where one side of the wall is completely made up of french windows and it opens up to the side garden, lust green bushes, and gentle breeze. Aside from a wine display cupboard and a large set of thickly embroidered sofa sets, there is practically nothing else to fill up the room.

Pieces of fabrics, small snippets, and tapes lay flat on the table, small strands of thread falling around it.

"How dare you, Brinley." Maria seethes and turns her chin away, "Sir Adian looks his best in white!"

"It's Briley, actually." The old man weakly mumbles, his finger reaching out for his rough frizzy mustache for comfort.

He is a small, feeble man who stood almost 5"5 and his beige work shirt is too big for his small frame, kept from sliding off his shoulders with brown leather suspenders.

"This grey silk is the perfect material for a ball." He squeaks with a shaky tremor in his voice and his thin hands bring the fabric up at my shoulders. He slowly touches my arm and turns me towards the mirror.

I survey myself.

Well, Adian is...as usual, pretty nice looking. Even with the messy tousled hair and growing dark circles under the eyes.

"Well, it's not so bad," I say.

"Yes!" Maria slaps away the grey fabric and along with it, Briley is also pushed out of the mirror frame, "If you want to humiliate yourself!"

Well, I don't think it's that serious.

I mean, grey is a cool color.

"But sir, a perfect suit does bring the gentleman out." She wriggles her body slightly in excitement, lifting like a shiny white chiffon cloth.

"You must not let the Drane Estate down."

She whispers that, and moves in closer, brushing off the edges of my shoulders and fixes my usual white shirt. A spike of discomfort at this maternal act hits me and I clear my throat.

"Layered chiffon would complete the job."

"Chiffon to a ball! The whole crowd will laugh." Briley speaks up in between.

I almost forgot he was here.

The tailor nudges the grey silk back toward me, who is standing awkwardly with my arms lifted. My arms are actually starting to feel numb and they are swaying as they bicker against each other.

"It seems as though you are trying to defame the Earldom of Marcoxius Drane!"

"Defame? You are just too dramatic"

"Oh shoo! I shall handle this with Sir Adian. Now hop along, Frank needs you for his Lordship's suits.'

"Is he okay?" I ask, watching Briley sniffle as he walks out of the room. He looks defeated but also unable to stand against Maria's energy. He disappears out of the door sadly

"Who? Brinley?" She bursts out laughing, filled with disbelief,

"He's okay. He does his work quite well but he cannot choose a proper color for the life of me. Lord Elian is the only one who still buys suits from him even now."

"Ah."

Maria continues to slide her hands through the pieces of fabric, and then she throws them down the sofa. She turns back at me decisively, grabbing my arms to put them straight up

"You can sew?" I ask nervously, and she casts me a sharp look. This is the first time that she looks almost angry.

"Before I came here…" She laughs softly, a deep throaty one full of reminiscence. She takes a small yellow measuring tape and wounds it around my chest. Then she tightens it abruptly, pulling at it and my body stiffens up, the tape digging in my armpits.

"I worked as a seamstress. It wasn't bad but it was hard work. I would have been stitching my health away if Lord Elian didn't offer me a place in the estate."

She squints at the measuring tape and then pulls it away roughly. I relax my shoulders and watch on as she pulls the measuring tape over the front of my chest.

"Do you..uh…" I murmur, easing into the question hesitantly, "Do you know why Elian married me?"

Maria glances up at me, giving a funny look over my arm. The measuring tape is now around my arm.

"Didn't you marry for love?" Her shoulder goes up in a shrug, "At least that is what everyone says."

"Everyone?"

Another funny look.

"Yes. I came here only a few months ago, we all did and I heard all the big gossip about the fated love of the Earl. It was quite a big talk among the townspeople."

I frown at her, processing what she said. This thing has come up twice now. This...fandom of Elian's marriage. Is this a thing in this era?

"What do you mean? You guys didn't work here before?"

A big sigh escapes her lips, well she looks exasperated now.

"As I said, we came to the estate only a few months ago. Besides, Lord Elian is very notorious for habitually replacing his estate staff. It has already been three times since your marriage."

"So he just kicks everyone out? That easy? Isn't that too cruel? Why does he do that?"

Maria sighs again, this time even louder. The measuring tape pinches at my stomach angrily and I suck in a deep breath.

"God knows! I have no answers!" She flings the tape around in frustration and I back away, feeling that I might get hit. "You should take your questions to that old coot, Frank."

"Frank? Really?"

"Yes, yes. He has been around for a very long time. Even before the previous Earl passed away"

I hum in reply, I shouldn't ask anymore. Maria was exactly the most patient person to talk to.

But Elian…

He fires everyone? And that too three times? I don't think people would do that even at this age. It's just too cruel.

But why? I don't think he would do that just because Adian left with some of the butlers. And maybe some of the maids.

And how long have we been married?

Suddenly, Maria grabs me by the shoulder and turns me around with a strong grip. Now I am facing the long mirror again and yet again, staring awkwardly at my reflection.

"Now, now. Pay attention." She slowly glides up to stand beside me. She moves in closer to fit in the mirror and she is quite average in height, her head reaching my shoulder.

Adian's slender form beside her plumpness. He is much pale and delicate, the touch of exhaustion even adding to his charisma. A stray twirl of silver hair falls in front of my fave and I try to blow it off.

She shakes her head sadly,

"Lord Elian is quite the peculiar man. Absolutely gloomy! He has no life." She lets out a cackle of laughter and her hand grabs her apron as the laughter slowly dies down. She smiles at my reflection and I feel her other hand tapping on my right butt.

I stiffen up for the second time for the day.

"But love does make people blind. Don't worry about it. I shall put you in the finest suit that sweeps away that dark gloominess of his."

She whispers in a conspiratorial voice and cackles out yet another satisfied laugh. Her hand moves back and then comes down with the force of my buttcheek.

Slap.

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