Chapter 147 – Morning Preparation

When Ann opened the door to the dressing room, there was already a group of people gathered there.

Two women were around a mannequin that were holding Ann’s wedding dress, while there were four other women gathered near the dressing table. 

Ann recognized the two women who were busying themselves around the wedding dress, they were the dress’ designer team whom she had met before when they came to take her measurement and to consult the design with her.

If she remembered correctly, they were the top designer boutique in the capital, the Chateau de Fable Boutique. They were ordered by the Schwartzen house to create a wedding dress that she fancied.

As for the other four women before the dressing table, it was easy to digest that they were the beauticians that would do Ann’s make up and hairdo today.

Among four of the beauticians, Ann recognized two of them. 

They were Joy-san and Belle from Barbara salon.

Ann’s expression lit up seeing them here. 

Vanessa-san didn’t lie when she said she would make the arrangements and that I shouldn’t worry!

“Joy-san, Belle! You’re here!” Ann happily greeted them.

“Annette-sama!” Joy-san and Belle quickly saluted her.

Ann still felt awkward seeing the acquaintances who were casual with her to suddenly act with formalities, but she knew it wouldn’t be good if the others were to see and misunderstand that Joy-san and Belle were being rude to Ann.

“Greetings, Annette-sama. This would be our first meeting. I’m Melba Kline, and this is my assistant, Essie. We are from Le Rouge beauty parlor. Today, we will be collaborating with Barbara salon to handle both your make up and hairdo.”

A young woman who was dressed professionally said with perfect etiquette.

This mannerism… She is either a noble, or has learned noble etiquette for her work.

Ann calmly analyzed as she greeted Melba and Essie.

Le Rouge beauty parlor? Where have I heard about them before…

Ann suddenly thought to herself and started to look inside her memories.

“Ah! Have you ever handled Laura–the saintess’ make up or hair do?” Ann asked.

“That’s correct. We have handled Saintess Laura’s get up during national events,” Melba answered happily.

I remember now!

Ann finally remembered.

She was talking with Laura about her wedding preparation, and Laura noted Le Rouge beauty parlor as one of her recommendations for make up and hairdo. 

For national events where she represented the kingdom or had the ‘saintess’ identity emphasized, sometimes they would assign an outside vendor for her get up.

Wait… being entrusted to handle the saintess’ appearance… Doesn’t that mean Le Rouge beauty parlor is something else?!

Ann thought to herself.

“Let’s start with your make up first. I’ll be handling your make up alone, while Essie, Elle, and Joy will go to your mother and sisters first. Later, Joy will return to handle your hairdo with me. Would that be alright?”

“Y-yes, Melba-san. I’ll be in your care, then…”

It seemed like they were just finished setting up all the equipment needed. 

Ann saw the items they had set up on the dressing table.

Damn, be it in the modern world or this world, there are just too many items for make ups and hairdo! 

I get confused every time I see them… I admire people who do this kind of job!

As Ann sat down, Elle, Essie, and Joy excused themselves to go handle the other females of the Doussier family. 

Melba quickly started working on Ann’s make up.

“Yes, the people from the Barbara salon had done a nice treatment indeed. Your skin looks good. Your hair and your eyebrows have been tended as well,” Melba commented as she applied make up on Ann’s face.

“I’m glad you think they’re good!” Ann was happy to hear that she wasn’t being too biased for their attitude alone.

She was also surprised to hear Melba appreciate Barbara salon’s work.

Barbara salon was a nobody salon, after all. It was just a small salon whose customers were mostly commoners.

Meanwhile, Le Rouge beauty parlor was one that was highly sought out by nobles. 

She didn’t think such a prestigious beauty parlor’s people would be willing to work together with Barbara salon. 

“Melba-san… are you not feeling slighted that you were asked to collaborate with the people from Barbara salon?” Ann couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked.

“Pardon? No, I mean, it’s your special day, Annette-sama. I’ve seen plenty of nobles who felt insecure having their make up and hairdo done by someone who hadn’t done theirs before. It’s only natural to seek familiarity for important events,” Melba answered courteously.

“But those nobles you spoke of… I assume their ‘beauticians’ are either people handpicked from among their family’s servants or salons who are quite well-known, no?” 

Melba then chuckled, “You guessed correctly, Annette-sama. Now, I am sure you are wondering why we are willing to collaborate with Barbara salon, right?” 

Ann nodded like a chicken.

Highly sought places normally have a haughty attitude, right? 

But I don’t sense anything like that from Melba-san. She seems to not be someone who’s two-faced.

“Well, you see… I was originally a commoner.”

“I see–wait, you what?!” Ann was surprised.

“My family was quite wealthy for a commoner, but we weren’t originally nobles,” Melba started explaining.

“I have always had passion for make up and hairdo. It might sound like bragging coming from the person herself, but others admitted that I had good skills ever since I was a child. After coming of age, I decided to become a beautician. Business was always rolling, and there were some noble customers as well, but most were from low-ranking nobles. High-ranking nobles seemed to have an interest in my service, but they hesitated because of my origin as a nobody. Other salons either looked down on me for this, or were trying to recruit me.”

“Did you not join them?” Ann asked.

Melba shook her head.

“I did try once. I didn’t like how they restricted my freedom and judgement. After that, I never bothered accepting their recruitment, even if they were to tempt me by telling me I’d have high-rank nobles as my customers soon. It seemed like a trap and I didn’t dare to try. At anyhow, my business was already good back then.”

Ann nodded, finding Melba’s explanation plausible. 

“And then, everything changed after my family was bestowed with the Baron title due to my family’s contribution in the revolution.”

Ann tensed up a bit automatically when she heard the word ‘revolution’. But then, she realized she was no more the former king’s daughter, so she could relax. 

“Slowly, higher rank nobles began swarming my beauty parlor. It continued until Le Rouge beauty parlor reached this point,” Melba said with a proud smile.

“So, I am not opposed to collaborating with Barbara salon. They are nice people, and their skills are good as well. It shows their sincerity and passion. They are important, you see. You can train their technical skills, but if they don’t have passion and sincerity in their craft, you won’t be able to hone it to them.” 

Ann felt like Melba had a good insight. 

The two of them continued conversing happily as Melba handled her make up. 

During the conversation, Melba spilled how they had been in contact with the people from Barbara salon prior, to discuss their plan about Ann’s appearance. 

“It helped that they had handled you before and that they knew your preferences,” Melba noted.

Then…

“Ah, you’re just in time, Joy. We’re just finished with Ann’s make up. After she changes into the dress, we shall do her hairdo,” Melba greeted Joy who had returned. 

Ann opened her eyes and looked at her face after makeup was applied to it.

She was surprised, yet satisfied, to see that the makeup applied was indeed per her liking.

Not too much, but not too little. It was just perfect. 

The original body was born with naturally sharp features that might give the impression of a villainess. Though it had been toned down after the appropriate hairdo and eyebrow styling, sometimes her expression could look harsh.

And this makeup of hers made sure she looked innocent and pure, masking the sharpness of her natural facial features. 

It was more in line with her personality. 

She didn’t really expect more, to be honest. Just that she didn’t wish for a makeup artist that would emphasize her sharpness and give her this harsh look. She knew there was a beauty type like that, and some makeup artists liked emphasizing the sharp look.

Therefore, she was very satisfied with Melba’s makeup.

If it were in the modern world, she would definitely give her a ‘like’. 

Afterwards, Ann changed into her wedding dress with the help of the Chateau de Fable Boutique.

She then sat again to have Joy and Melba collaborate to do her hairdo.

The collaboration went smoothly and before long, Ann was done with her preparations.

Ann stood before the mirror, feeling a little unreal. Her wedding dress was made of soft ivory silk that flowed down her body, the skirt spreading gently like ripples on water whenever she moved. The lace along the neckline and sleeves was delicate, adding elegance without being too showy. The dress fit her neatly before falling into a light train behind her, forming the classic ‘wedding dress tail’.

Her hair had been styled half-up, the top section braided and pinned with small pearl ornaments, while the rest fell in soft waves down her back. A few loose strands framed her face, softening her usual sharp features.

All that remained now was to lower the veil and cover her face.

“This… this is amazing! Joy-san, Melba-san, thank you so much for your hard work!” 

Ann first thanked the two women who were just done with her hairdo before she also thanked the boutique’s people. 

“Well then, I will go to the other room to work on your mother and sisters’ as well. But do not hesitate to call me out if you need me for something,” Melba said after she felt that her job was done.  

She then left the room, along with the boutique’s people, leaving Ann with just Joy-san.

“Joy-san, shouldn’t you also go to the other room?” Ann asked Joy-san, who was tidying up her hair a little bit more.

“They are mostly done, Ann-sama. Melba-san went to do the final check,” Joy-san explained.

“I see,” Ann nodded.

“Ann-sama,” Joy-san called out gently.

“Yes?”

“Congratulations on your wedding. I can’t believe that we get to be part of your wedding. I didn’t think we could even attend your wedding, let alone becoming part of it. Thank you so much for the opportunity you’ve given to me and my family,” Joy-san said.

“Don’t mention it. I’m someone who knows how to repay someone else’s kindness and sincerity, so it’s only natural,” Ann said.

“But this is too much for that, Ann-sama…”

“It’s not! I was educated to repay someone’s kindness tenfold if possible,” Ann said. 

“You’re so kind, Ann-sama. …Please be careful in the future, especially if what you told me about the rebel party is true. Especially since you’ll be remaining in the capital,” Joy-san said, half whispering.

“I will! Wait, does that mean you agreed to Vanessa-san… accepting my mother’s offer?” Ann asked.

Joy-san nodded, “We’ll move to Doussier family’s territory and set up a salon there. We’ll depart together with the Doussier family after the wedding, so this… might be our farewell.”

Ann was happy to hear this good news.

As Joy-san thanked her once more, Ann’s heart was filled with warmth.

My presence here managed to help someone else. What more could I ask for?

As for the future…

Ann thought about what she knew would happen from the game’s plot. The core conflict was the rebel party. Soon, they should begin making their moves, no longer trying to be discreet.

Ann understood that she had already changed the game’s plot and as a result, she might not be able to accurately predict how things would turn out from hereon. 

Still, her knowledge of the game world might still be useful. 

Moreover, her husband and her friends are here in the capital. If the capital were to fall, it would also be dangerous for others living outside the capital, and that would include her adoptive family.

She couldn’t just escape and turn a blind eye on them, especially if she could be any of help. 

But now, she wanted to focus on her wedding day first!