BOPE 55

Chapter 55 …

[Status Window]

Username: Chloe Grace
Occupation: Part-time worker / Lord of the Grace Territory
Abilities: 1.5 / Powered-Up Punch (when wearing gloves), Terrain Info Level 1 (Limited to Morta Village), Level 1 Building Knowledge, Basic Agricultural Advice Acquired
Activity Range: 4.2 / Basement Studio, Convenience Store, Borimdang and nearby area, Frozen Dumpling Aisle at the Mart
Traits: 0.4 / Territory still dirt poor. ★ Obsessed with chocolate roll bread. Tends to boast about small favors. Gradually gaining the air of a proper lord. Slightly praiseworthy. Has terrible naming sense.
Territory Citizen Affection: -72,500p (Includes affection from external hires. Oooooh! Finally showing some promise.)
Inventory (Level 4): Storage – Basic Capacity (0/400)
MP: 135 / 86,400

The MP stat had changed, along with the activity range, traits, and citizen affection score.

It bothered Donghee how the number kept creeping up without explanation. Why did the status window remind her of some slick loan shark with a buzz cut?

No matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn’t figure out what that MP was supposed to stand for.

“What the heck is MP anyway?”

She tilted her head and muttered to herself, only to feel the weight of Anna’s curious gaze. Feeling awkward, Donghee offered a sheepish smile.

Blurting out something incomprehensible out of nowhere was bound to seem odd from Anna’s perspective.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

As Donghee brushed it off nonchalantly, Anna resumed tending to Chloe’s hair.

The thick fabric coats for the children were coming along quickly.

To encourage the tailors, Donghee visited the workroom after lunch to check their progress.

As requested, they had made outerwear that was easy to put on and take off—and the designs looked quite good. But the one that caught her eye the most was made by Julia.

Unlike the others, Julia’s coat was a simple design that fell below the knees. The sleeves and torso were wide enough that even children with larger builds could wear it comfortably.

“This coat is Julia’s design?”

Donghee tried on the largest size herself and spread her arms out.

Though it was made for a fourteen-year-old, the oversized fit made it sit well on her.

Julia, who had been nervous, brightened with joy at the sight of Donghee’s satisfied expression. She bit her lip to hide her smile—completely resembling a shy young girl.

Donghee waited for an explanation, but Julia was too flustered to speak.

“Yes, my lord,” said Monel, who had been standing nearby. “It’s a simple shape, so it’s fast to produce. We had a few designs, but Julia’s is the easiest to make and the most comfortable to wear. So now we’re mainly making her design.”

Monel’s hair was still dry and dull, and dark circles clung to her eyes, but compared to when she’d first arrived here, she looked much healthier. Her expression had brightened so much that one might not even recognize her as the same woman.

“I love it. Try adding a hood to the coat. And make scarves too.”

“A hood, on the coat?”

Monel blinked in confusion. A coat was one thing, a hat was another—what did it mean to attach the two?

Donghee realized that words alone might not suffice and looked around.

“Do we have paper?”

Before she even finished speaking, Brenne, who had been sitting nearby, jumped up and handed her a sheet of paper and a pencil.

Calling it a pencil was generous—it was more like a shaved piece of charcoal with rolled-up paper around it to keep it from smudging hands.

“Here you are, my lord.”

“Thanks.”

When Donghee accepted the materials with a smile, Brenne bowed with an awestruck expression.

Her drawing skills weren’t great, but she could manage a hooded coat.

With full concentration, Donghee sketched out the concept and handed it to Monel.

“Can you make this? It’s going to be windy, so instead of carrying a separate hat, it’s easier to have the hood attached. And if you wrap a scarf over it, it’ll be even warmer.”

Monel stared at the sketch in disbelief.

She had never seen a coat like this before.

At first glance, it looked like a robe—but made from thick fabric, it was much warmer and more practical.

“Yes, I think I can make it,” said Julia, peeking over and answering before Monel could.

Her shy demeanor had vanished, replaced by eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought of creating a new design.

She could already visualize how to pattern the pieces in her head.

“And the scarf too.”

“Yes! The scarf too!”

Julia echoed Donghee’s words with a bright grin.

Donghee had the feeling that she and Julia might become very good friends.

As she watched Julia with a satisfied smile, Donghee turned to Monel.

“Your name’s Monel, right?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Monel answered quickly, surprised the lord remembered her name.

Donghee was still wearing Julia’s coat.

“Could you make an outfit for me with Julia’s help?”

“For… for you, my lord?”

Monel, who had remained calm until now, looked stunned. Even Julia was startled, glancing back and forth between Monel and Donghee.

Though they were tailors, they had only helped with repairs or support work on dresses. Monel had made a dress on her own just once—and never for a noble.

Her confidence was rapidly draining as she waited for Donghee’s next words.

“Yes. I want to wear something comfortable like this. Not those long, cumbersome dresses. Honestly, I’d rather wear pants, but Delma would faint if I did. So make me a wide, skirt-like pair of pants.”

Donghee shook the hem of her coat for emphasis.

“Skirt… pants?”

A skirt and pants at the same time?

Monel looked bewildered by the unfamiliar term.

“Yes. It looks like a skirt but is actually pants.”

Monel still didn’t seem to grasp the idea. Julia, who had been listening silently, hesitated, then grabbed a scrap of paper and began sketching.

“Is this what you meant, my lord?”

She held it out with trembling hands, watching Donghee’s expression closely.

To think those hands made such fine clothes…

Donghee took the drawing and examined it carefully. Julia wasn’t much of an artist, but she had perfectly understood what Donghee meant.

After a moment, Donghee clapped her hands.

“Yes! That’s it! It looks like a skirt, but it’s actually pants. Skirt-pants! Can you make them?”

Julia’s cheeks flushed as she nodded.

She was overjoyed to be able to do something for the lord who had given her and her brother a warm, safe place to live.

“Really? Thank you! I’ll look forward to it.”

“I’ll do my best, my lord!”

“Steward, has the farmer arrived?”

A few days ago, Donghee had asked Scrooge to recommend a skilled local farmer besides Helse, since she figured they’d need expert help with cultivating the fields. Helse was already too busy with her current duties.

“He arrived early this morning and has been waiting.”

“He’s here already? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You seemed very busy, my lord. I was waiting for a moment when you were free.”

To a commoner, waiting all day to see a noble was nothing unusual.

Donghee may be in a noble’s body, but she was a commoner to the bone. Seeing people treated poorly due to their class or wealth always made her blood boil.

What seemed normal to Scrooge felt infuriating to her.

“Bring him in right away. Delma, prepare some hot tea and a small meal.”

Sensing something was off, Anna studied Chloe’s face and asked,

“Was lunch not enough? Should I tell the kitchen to increase your portions?”

Donghee averted her eyes awkwardly.

She had scarfed down steamed dural, an omelet, and two slices of buttered bread in a flash.

It had been a lot, even by her standards.

“It’s not for me.”

“Then… ah! Are we expecting a guest?”

Anna’s eyes widened with realization—but it hadn’t occurred to her that the food might be for a farmer.

“No, it’s for the farmer uncle.”

“Excuse me?”