Why didn't I think of this before?
I've felt similar discomfort before in Salt, so realizing this idea only now seemed almost unfair.
I started with a simple eye patch.
But the cheap eye patch made from discarded monster skin was so thick, it made my face feel suffocated. Because of this, I often had breakouts the next day.
So, what's my next option? Blackout curtains!
Not only did it block out light, but it also provided excellent insulation. In my dismal life as a slave, it was a small but precious source of comfort.
The only downside? It was not aesthetically appealing.
“Since I just sewed up random pieces of discarded leather, calling it a curtain was a bit of an exaggeration.”
At the time, it didn't matter because it was just for my use.
But now, a few people naturally came to mind as potential recipients – Bonita, Eddie Liam, and even his ruthless employer…?
Since this was a gift, I didn't want to make it randomly like before.
I couldn't expect them to hang a torn curtain in their rooms, even if it was a gift.
“…there has to be better material.”
As I stared absently at the hot soup in front of me, Bonita's worried voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Aren't you hungry?”
“Bonita, do you know what kind of cheap and thick fabric?”
"Huh? Canvas?"
She blinked at my sudden and irrelevant question.
“I'm not sure what fabric...but there's a lot of leather.”
“Oh, right. Blair Duchy is full of monsters, isn't it? Are there any discarded items?”
“Hmm...”
Bonita was deep in thought, looking serious, before suddenly raising her head as if she had remembered something.
“What about Pauletta’s skin?”
As expected, it did not disappoint.
“Boletta skin?”
“A flock of boletas have nested at the foot of the Iskard Mountains. These birds often come down to attack livestock or destroy crops.”
Boletta was a common monster in Salt as well.
These animals were not strong individually, but because they traveled in packs, herbalists who entered the mountains during their breeding season sometimes ended up injured—or worse.
"Their numbers have increased so much in recent years that we carry out regular culls. But their by-products, including skins, are difficult to get rid of."
"Really? How does the skin feel?"
“It's not very flexible, and it doesn't breathe well.”
“Unbreathable?”
Since curtains also act as insulation, a fabric that allows a lot of air to pass through will not be ideal.
Based on what I've heard so far, Bulleta leather seems to be a great material.
I felt a sudden spark of inspiration, so I asked excitedly:
“What about the pattern?”
"Oh, the pattern? It used to be considered very elegant, so there was a demand for it as a rug. But since there are better materials, no one really wants it anymore."
"Oh? Where can I see him?"
“Miss, you should at least finish your meal first!”
Bonita shook her head as I looked ready to jump.
“Perhaps the Grand Duke is the one who knows best about these matters.”
“…Does he know anything about this kind of thing?”
I strongly suspected that collecting leather was one of his hobbies.
While I was thinking about the Grand Duke's unexpected interests, Bonita added:
“Well, because he leads the hunting parties himself.”
“Oh.”
This was new news to me.
Should I go and ask him directly?
Other than brief discussions about our comic book business, I haven't interacted with him much since the Magic Tower incident.
If you can make suitable blackout curtains, that might help him too.
“Thank you, Bonita.”
I smiled at her as I scooped a spoonful of the now cold soup. She smiled at me in return, even though the dark circles under her eyes were almost touching her chin.
“...Do I look that bad too?”
Seeing her so exhausted hurt my heart.
This only reinforced my belief that blackout curtains should be used.
* * *
“Why are you suddenly interested in Pauletta’s skin?”
His voice sounded completely exhausted.
And his face...and even more than that.
It's been a long time since I last saw him, but he looked particularly tired today.
Since he accepted my sudden request for a meeting without hesitation, I assumed he was free. But the towering pile of documents beside him indicated otherwise.
At this point, I wondered if he was only going along with me because I was making him a lot of money.
As I studied it with some sympathy, an idea occurred to me.
“But it still looks good.”
The slight blackness under his eyes only added to his mystery.
I must have been staring for a very long time because his voice brought me back to reality.
"princess?"
“Oh.”
When I realized I was staring at him silently, a strange feeling of embarrassment crept over me.
“Sorry. I was just distracted...”
“Were you thinking about something else while sitting in front of me?”
Honestly, I was thinking about it, so it wasn't completely 'something else'. But I couldn't say it out loud, so I waved my hand frantically.
“No, I mean... I'm sorry...”
"Never mind that. Let's get back to the question. Why are you looking for Boletta's skin?"
This was not an uncommon topic to ask about, but he seemed particularly curious about my reasons.
This time, I answered without hesitation.
“I heard that Bulleta leather is considered useless in the Duchy. I wanted to see if I could develop it into something more practical.”
“There's a big surplus of it, so I'll ask Liam to set aside some for you. But what exactly do you plan to use it for?”
“Oh...”
I had a clear answer.
You can't sleep, I can't sleep, and no one in this palace gets enough rest.
So I want to make blackout curtains using excess boletta leather.
It was a simple explanation, but for some reason, I hesitated.
Maybe I didn't want him to know I was doing it out of pure good faith.
I shook my head and took a step back.
“It's not the time to share that yet.”
“…Not the right time?”
He frowned slightly.
“Yes, I'm still in the planning stage.”
“But surely you can at least share a general idea?”
“Well... I'd rather not raise people's expectations until I have something concrete.”
“……”
“……”
“...Okay. Do whatever you want.”
huh?
huh?
'What was this?'
His voice was calm as usual, but somehow, it sounded like he was complaining.
I ignored the strange feeling and quickly bowed my head.
"Thank you."
“Okay. You can go.”
As I was about to leave, his voice called me to come back.
"I am waiting."
"Yes?"
He stared at me with an ambiguous expression before speaking slowly.
“…Once you get the idea, will you tell me then?”
His unexpected behavior left me momentarily confused.
But this was a surprise gift – I can't spoil it now.
“Hmm, maybe not.”
"…Show."
His lips curled into a thin line before he silently returned to his documents.
As I walked out of his office, I stopped just outside the door, lost in thought.
Was he disappointed?
Logically, there was no reason for him to do so, and yet his dark, subtle tone left me feeling strangely uncomfortable.
Still…
“Maybe this is just my imagination.”
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