I Don’t Want to Be a Lady

The emperor’s official letter arrived early in the morning, and things happened.

“I beg your pardon? What do you mean there’s no estate? Where can you even find someone with a title but doesn’t have an estate?”

Charter, who was dealing with Arianne’s fiery anger, couldn’t open his mouth hastily. Under the pressure of Arianne’s unstoppable outburst, he had no choice but to accept her anger right now.

“Those despotism men! I knew this would happen! No wonder they agreed that they would give me a title!”

“You stuffy men! I knew this would happen! That’s why I said I would give you a title!”

Charter was only guilty for not soothing her anger.

Madrenne shook her head as she alternately looked at Arianne, who went mad, and Charter, who bowed as if he had committed a mortal sin.

With that temperamental head, Lady really held the vein of Duke Kaien. By the way, that vase… It’s obviously a top-notch product… Madrenne’s eyes moistened as she looked at the object that was once a vase that lay horribly shattered on the floor.

Arianne, who had been huffing for a long time, finally fell down on the sofa as if she had run out of energy. While looking at her, Charter began to read the back of the official letter.

“…As it was judged that there were difficulties in the management of the estate right away, it was decided that we would pay 1,000 gold per month on behalf of the estate. And since there is no estate, the baroness’s surname is specially permitted to be used as ‘Devit,’ which was bestowed by the emperor.”

Arianne, who had been listening quietly, turned her head toward Charter. Those glowing eyes sent chills down his spine for an instant.

“1,000 gold? Are they going to give me 1,000 gold every month?”

“Yes, Arianne. It says so.”

Arianne, who was pondering for a while, asked Charter. “How much is the average baron’s income?”

As expected, her calculation is clear. Chartered spoke frankly, “From what I know, the income of a baron with a small estate is about 3,000 gold.”

“Hmm. Not even half of that.”

Charter’s face hardened. He and Luiden tried their best but only got less than half of the average. They couldn’t help it no matter how much effort they put in because Duke Krow was there.

Duke Krow yielded the title matter but insisted that he wouldn’t give up on the estate, and all other nobles agreed with his opinion. It was fortunate that Arianne at least received the allowance.

I, who had no way of knowing Charter’s mind, saw his face and felt sorry for him. He must have thought I’m being greedy again… But what’s wrong with being greedy? I’m just being honest.

Some people said that ‘money isn’t everything in life,’ but I felt they were dishonest. Of course, money might not be everything, but could you live without money?

Isn’t eating and living the most important things in life? Only when the problem of eating and living were solved could you live a life beyond that. So, after all, isn’t money the most important thing? Still, I thought that the idea of earning 1,000 gold would be better than the bother of managing the estate.

“It’s alright. Then, where’s the 1,000 gold?”

I had no family members to feed. I could buy a small building every month with that money, right? Then it would be 12 buildings in a year! I could be reached from those real estates too! Ah, that’s right… the taxes… Maybe I could afford 3 buildings in a year?

It was Arianne who quickly turned on her happiness circuit. Staring at her with deep black eyes, Charter said, “A monthly allowance of 1,000 gold for a non-hereditary title was the best I could do. I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry about? I just want to say thank you for working hard for me.”

Arianne, who read Charter’s sincerity, smiled brightly at him as if she had never been angry. Her smile made Charter’s heart skip a beat. What is this? Am I sick?  Charter, who was scratching his chest with a strange feeling, didn’t know what he felt and dismissed it as if he had overworked himself lately.

I was overjoyed to receive the large sum of money unexpectedly. I thought they would give me an honorary position at the most, but to give allowance too!

1,000 gold in a month! Suddenly, it occurred to me that with this money, my contract marriage might not be necessary. Still, I dismissed that thought when I saw Charter scratching his head, looking down at his chest with a serious expression on his face.

Well… the more money I get, the better. Yes, the more money, the better, right?

* * *

“Madrenne! Why are you so slow? We have to get out quickly.”

“Yes, Lady. Wait a minute. Calm down. It’s done now. Do you know anyone who has faster hands than me?”

“But why are you so slow? I told you I was in a hurry!”

“It’s just… because there are so many layers to wear for outdoor clothes. Corset alone takes up so much time.”

I frowned at Madrenne’s complaint and said, “Who made this stuff which makes you not even breathe properly? I will find them and punish them with a mace!”

“It’s a hassle, but isn’t this all to show off the beauty of a woman?”

“Who the hell decided that a woman’s beauty was things like a thin waist and protruding breasts? I will find them too and punish them with a mace!” I shouted. The suffocating corset was like my situation as a woman.

Madrenne shook her head and said, “Lady, you said you were in a hurry.”

“Then let’s get out of here. We must hurry up and match my clothes for the title ceremony.”

“Ah! Then why don’t we go to Gaveniel’s dressing room, which is famous these days? Lady is a baroness now, so you should wear that much.”

I snorted at Madrenne’s words. “That’s ridiculous. When you receive a title, you must wear an epaulet, but how can a dress suit that?”

Madrenne widened her eyes at my words. “Lady! No way! You’re not going to get coat tailored now, aren’t you?”

“N…No. The Duke! I have to ask him to stop Lady…”

When Madrenne looked for Charter with a pale face, I blinked my eyes and said, Charter went out at dawn because he was busy, so stop and follow me quietly.”

Eventually, after Arianne’s excited steps, Madrenne, who looked like she was being dragged to a slaughterhouse, followed her. She couldn’t understand wearing an epaulet for a lady. Still, she had to remain silent as she knew that as a mere servant, she had no right to disobey her master.

Will we be able to fit any coat today? Madrenne’s concerns were valid, but Arianne thought there was nothing impossible in this world.

* * *

“Fargamo’s Clothing Store… It looks good here. Let’s go in.”

“Yes…”

As I opened the door bravely and entered, the clerk standing at the cashier’s counter looked surprised. While I approached the cashier’s counter, he just looked at me without saying a word.

“The customer service attitude here isn’t good. Aren’t you not even going to say a greeting?”

Only then did the clerk open his mouth. “Ah. Greetings. What did you come for?”

In fact, this clothing store only sold men’s clothing, and it was usually customary for them to come directly, call the staff to the mansion, or order their servants to do the work. It was natural for the clerk to be embarrassed because no noblewoman ever entered the clothing store.

But what does that have to do with me? In my mind, just because it had never happened before, was there any law that said it wouldn’t happen in the future?

“I’m here to fit the clothes. I need a coat to wear at the title ceremony next week,” said me with gentleness. The clerk’s eyes widened when he heard my words.

“…do you mean you’re going to fit the coat?”

“Yes. Is it possible to make it within a week?”

The clerk blinked for a moment at my words, sighed, then said, “I’m sorry, Lady. This place only deals with men’s clothes. Lady should go to the women’s dressing room across the street.”

“You mean you can’t make me a coat?” I asked sharply.  

“I’m sorry, lady.”

The clerk only repeatedly said sorry. I was angry, but I had no choice. Turning around to the point of making a sound, I left the store as it was.  

“Any store that doesn’t behave like a merchant should go out of business!”

While saying it angrily, I immediately headed to the next clothing store. But neither the next clothing store nor the very next clothing store could make her coat. Rather, the clerk of the first store I stopped by was the most polite, and since then, I almost got kicked out of their sarcastic attitude. Everyone in the clothing store looked at me as if it was nonsense to match a coat.

“Those guys are really too much! Is this the last clothing store?”

I entered the last remaining clothing store and repeated the same situation. The last clerk’s words made me explode. 

“Lady, if we match Lady’s coats, the reputation of our clothing store will fall to the ground.”

“Ha. You say your reputation will go down because of me? In case you haven’t heard the rumors yet, I’m going to be a baroness soon! How much do you need? How much?”

I was angry with the repeated rejection, waved the bundle of money, and fired back at the clerk. In response, the clerk didn’t lose and added another word. “Even if Lady becomes a duchess, our clothing store won’t match your coats.”

“!”

Only then did I realize. Nothing would change if I even became a duchess, not a baroness. My title wasn’t the problem, but my gender was the real problem. I left the clothing store without saying anything and looked blankly at the sky with a feeling of dejection.

They can’t do it because I’m a woman? If I were a man, all of this would be natural. No, I probably didn’t even need to participate in the hunting competition. I would have grown up as the eldest son to succeed the family.

But I’m a woman. And fortunately, I have a lot of money. A whopping 1,000 gold every month!  I was a woman who knew how to give up what I had to give up and use what I had. My steps moved again with energy.

First of all, what about being rich? There’s nothing money can’t do. I thought so, and this time I headed to the dressing room, a women’s clothing store. But the dressing rooms were no different.

“Ah, Lady. I’m sorry, but we can’t make a coat for you in our dressing room.”

“Why?”

“That’s… because it is unacceptable. There is no such thing as a woman wearing a coat.”

“It’s not acceptable……. I know what you mean. Then bye.”

I left the dressing room without much success, just laughed out loud. Seeing me like that, Madrenne cautiously opened her mouth. “Lady…”

At that time, a little boy protruding from the next alley threw something at me. And he shouted out loud, “If a woman is crowned, this empire will be ruined!” That boy then quickly ran away into the alley.

“…”

I stood still there as if nailed to the spot, with dirt on my dress. People passing by me were whispering and looking closely at me as if they were wondering what was happening.

“What is this! Lady! Are you okay?”

“…”

“What a damn bastard! If he gets caught, I won’t let him go!”

“…him.”

Madrenne reacted immediately to my muttering.

“Yes?

“…ch him.”

Madrenne, who couldn’t hear properly, asked, “I beg your pardon? Lady?”

“That boy. Right now, catch him!”

At Madrenne’s words, Arianne looked up and stared at her. Madrenne hurriedly moved her feet, startled by her terrifying eyes, as if she would kill someone immediately. What kind of eyes… At a time like this, she’s definitely the bloodline of Count Bornes.

I, at this moment, had reached my limit. If someone passed by, I might take out the gun I bought on my thigh and shoot them. Even those who didn’t know me felt instinctive, but they only whispered from afar and couldn’t come closer.

First of all, I need to change this dress. Looking around, I frowned. A row of clothing stores and dressing rooms in the city were the places that had turned me down. I would rather die than go back there.

Deciding to walk a little further through the shopping street in the city, my steps moved. The place where my heavy steps stopped was a shabby dressing room located at the end of a shopping street. But the name of the dressing room…

“Mr. Jacob’s Dressing Room? A dressing room owned by a man? What is this openly absurd yet fresh naming?”

It’s interesting. This is the only place left anyway, so let’s go in.

Rattle.

When I opened the door, a handsome clerk with a slender physique and dark eyebrows welcomed me with a bright smile.

“Welcome. Welcome to Mr. Jacob’s dressing room.”