We ended up purchasing many fabrics from various old-guard households, many of which had been made using very high-level techniques from ages past. They were extremely valuable learning materials for us. I took a few to show the embroidery professors at school, and both the professors and research students alike all exclaimed with glee. They each took a fabric and began fervently researching it.
Ultimately, out of everything we’d bought, there weren’t any other double-sided embroidery pieces. The double-sided-embroidery-turned-dust-rag was the only one we could find, so Lady Ekatarina and I both began studying it. After graduating, Lady Ekatarina had won the award she’d been aiming for and was granted a position as a research student.
The more we looked at the double-sided embroidery, the more impressive we realized it was. In the areas that used the finest threads, they’d undone them into fibers that were thinner than even hair. The technique was incredibly impressive. Both the tiger on the back and the lion on the front seemed so realistic that I wouldn’t have been surprised if they began moving at any moment. They were truly so intricately made, I couldn’t help but gasp.
Every stitch was made with intention. The parts of the eyes that needed to match on both sides did so where they needed to and were very precisely different where that was required too. Despite using all kinds of strings, the tens of thousands of stitches were skillfully blended. The technique was unbelievable. Whoever did this must have been one of the leading embroiderers on their continent.
“It seems that this was made by two people,” Lady Ekatarina concluded as we sat in the embroidery room of the Sevensworths’ estate.
Lady Ekatarina was sitting next to me on the sofa while we closely examined the cloth together. I agreed with her theory. The higher the skill of an embroiderer, the more their personality shone through. The habits and techniques displayed, as well as the feelings each piece evoked, were completely different between the front and back.
“If double-sided embroidery is something that’s done with two people, then how about the two of us revive this technique?”
“Oh yes, let’s do that! I’d be more than happy to assist!”
It had been Lady Ekatarina’s dream from when she was still a student to revive this double-sided technique. I really wanted to help her realize this dream. But also, I was absolutely charmed by this style of embroidery. I wanted to study and learn this wonderful style and then make a wonderful piece of my own. It wasn’t going to be easy, but I was confident that the two of us working together could succeed. This was the day that our challenge began.
✦ ✦ ✦
The deliberation over Sir Gino’s title concluded. Up until now, he’d held both the inherited ducal title of House Sevensworth as well as the title of grand duke that he’d declared himself when founding the Grand Duchy of Sevensworth.
However, now that His Majesty had returned to the throne, father became the premier duke and chancellor of Luchizua once more. His position would be to work with the king to guide and manage the country, as he had done for nearly twenty years, since he was very familiar with His Majesty’s brand of politics.
Meanwhile, Sir Gino was in charge of managing the Grand Duchy of Sevensworth. The original Sevensworth territory was already stable, so he was mostly focused on stabilizing the areas that had once belonged to Thorsdale. That being said, it was proving to be quick work. One big reason was that the instigators of the rebellions, House Lillard, had been destroyed, but there was also one more surprising reason.
“We humbly ask that you become a saint, Grand Duchess Sevensworth,” the pope of the holy country of Waltdiez said, bowing his head from the sofa opposite me.
Since the pope himself had wished to speak with me, we were hosting him in the fifteenth drawing room of the First Palace of the Grand Duchy of Sevensworth, called the Corydalis. Sir Gino was here as well, sitting right next to me.
When we’d rushed back to the Sevensworth territory after the fake emergency message from my mother, we’d been attacked by House Lillard and other houses from the former country of Thorsdale. The conscripted soldiers had had no choice but to follow orders, so they were released after one to two months of labor.
When they returned home, they talked about what happened, and rumors spread that I was a beloved child of the gods. According to depictions, children of the gods looked like humans but with white wings on their backs, which was exactly how I’d appeared when I fought against Lady Francess and her allied armies. This was the other reason the territory was stabilizing under our control.
“What would you like to do, Ana?”
“I’d like to accept.”
“Are you sure? I thought you’d prefer to stay out of the spotlight since you don’t like troubadours making songs about you.”
“That’s true, but even so...I’d like to accept.”
Sir Gino was correct that I disliked songs being written about me. I especially disliked that one about the princess kick. After all, I was a lady, and I would absolutely never do something so unladylike. However, I couldn’t deny that simply by being the subject of rumors, I’d contributed to the rebellions dying down. If I was officially recognized as a saint, I was certain that things would get even better.
I knew very well how hard Sir Gino was working to stabilize this territory. If I accepted the pope’s request, I’d be able to assist Sir Gino as his wife even more. I can do this!
“There are some conditions for my wife becoming a saint. I’d like you to waive any requirements for her to make appearances at ceremonies.”
Oh my. He called me his wife. Heh heh heh. I’m Sir Gino’s wife. Heh heh heh. Oh, what a wonderful ring that has. That aside, I was beginning to wonder what my duties as saint would be. When I asked, Sir Gino explained that my obligations would normally include going to ceremonies in the holy country of Waltdiez, which occurred almost weekly. I’d essentially have to live in the holy country. I had no idea... If that’s the case, maybe I should think a little more about this. Since Sir Gino would be busy managing the former country of Thorsdale, he wouldn’t be able to leave very often, which would mean we’d be apart quite a lot. I didn’t want that.
“Well, there’s no precedent for a saint to not attend these ceremonies...”
“You owe us a debt, remember? I’d like to cash in that favor now.”
Sir Gino only told me after the meeting was over, but apparently, he’d predicted a while back that I’d be asked to become a saint. He looked into what it entailed and found out about the obligation to attend ceremonies.
When we’d first spoken with the pope about making the official story that the cure for my curse was a gift from the gods, Sir Gino had been sure to emphasize that we were doing the church a favor and would thus be owed a favor in return. In his mind, he was saving this for when I accepted the position of saint. Considering the amount of donations that would flood the church after the announcement, Sir Gino suspected they’d easily say yes to his condition since it paled in comparison to the benefit they’d be receiving. Sir Gino was very impressive. He’d already anticipated this situation so far in advance and had come up with a solution all on his own. He’s truly amazing.