THE TAILOR'S SHOP

6 months ago, Before current events.

At a bus stop near Hye Rin's house:

"I'm telling you I'm almost there, the bus just happen to be late."

Hye Rin says over the phone to her friend knowing well she just arrived at the bus station.

"You've been on your way for over an hour! You're lucky I'm in a good mood today. You better get your ass here quickly...*CUT*"

Hye Rin's friend Soo Jung ends the call making Hye Rin chuckle.

Sitting down to wait for the bus at the stop, Hye Rin looks around to find any form of entertainment for herself except her phone.

"The author of this book must be making a fortune, the poster and ads are everywhere. It's even getting a drama adaptation."

"Should I try my luck with stories?"

Hye Rin moves closer to the billboard taking a closer look at the characters.

"This redhead is pretty. Oh, my bus is here."

Hye Rin makes her way to the bus with her phone vibrating.

"I'm on my way!"

~~~

"I'm telling you it's good. Let's go to the restaurant together in summer."

Hye Rin says taking a sip of her hot chocolate. She notices her friend isn't paying attention and she's looking seriously at her phone.

"Are you talking to your boyfriend?"

Hye Rin asks getting the attention of Soo Jung. Shifting towards Hye Rin, Soo Jung shoves her phone in her friend's face.

"I'm reading this Manhwa, the title is "And So It Begun". It was going smoothly at first but my anger level is rising. How can he leave this stunning girl for her!"

Soo Jung rants to Hye Rin who scrolled up the screen a few times.

"The red hair is pretty. The black hair should have upped her game not to get things stolen from her."

Hye Rin says giving the phone back to Soo Jung.

"I wish you'd read it so you can understand my frustration. Anyways, how are you holding up these days?"

Soo Jung says dropping her phone. The two friends spent the rest of the day eating and gossiping of course.

~~~~~

Present Day, Count Sullivan's Mansion.

"AREN'T YOU THE LADY FROM THAT ONE MANHWA!!!"

"What are you saying... Your dress looks nice today, let's go to the shop together. Mother left first because she has somewhere to branch at."

The redhead girl who I recognize correctly makes her way towards the door.

"Am I perhaps...No...That's not possible..."

I say to myself feeling dizzy. I tap on Ruby's shoulder, who's walking towards the door.

"What's that lady's name?"

I ask Ruby still feeling dazed.

"That's Lady Letitia, your elder sister and the 1st child of the house."

Ruby says dragging me outside the house. One sentence,

"How rich are these people?"

Two carriages pull up in front of the house and maybe it's just me... There's some discrimination here.

"Why don't you join me instead? we can go to the shop together in my carriage."

Letitia says entering the fancy carriage. I reluctantly enter the carriage and sit opposite Letitia who's smiling subtly at me. I have no time to return the gesture because my thoughts are running out of control.

"So I'm in a manhwa"

I chuckle sarcastically to myself.

"I'm now Lady Vivian"

I think to myself taking a glance at Letitia. She has long red hair and beautiful blue eyes. Her nose is so pointy I can feel it cutting into me.

Her clothes look like it's made of the finest silk and the red attire with rose patterns makes her look like royalty.

I take a second glance at myself then back at Letitia...What's this? Does Vivian really have a bad taste or the family is discriminating against her?

Her carriage looks quite rundown too compared to Letitia's. Now that I think about it, The woman who closed the coffin in the show is...Letitia?

I'm not sure if she's a friend or foe. I shouldn't get too invested in this world since I'll be going back soon. A good night's sleep will do the job, I'm sure I won't last long in this place.

~~~~~

We soon arrive at the shop and just the exterior looks fancy. Is this some brand store from back in the day?

Not just Letitia's carriage but about 7 more carriages stop in front of the shop at the same time as us. The ladies come down from their carriage and I must say, I look more like a handmaiden to the ladies than their pair.

Despite this, I raise my head high and follow Letitia and the ladies into the shop.

The interior looks more bigger and stylish than you'd think. Beautiful dresses hanging on mannequins, hats and bags are on display.

"Welcome my ladies. Please follow me this way."

A lady who looks like a walker leads us towards another door, away from the main shop. A stair leads us to an underground room. This place looks more grand than the previous room and some older women are already there chatting with teas and desserts.

"The ladies have arrived."

The lady who led us into the room left immediately after calling the elder's attention to us. The ladies did a curtsy bow and I did the same a little late while making sure to stay at the far back, away from attention.

While keeping my head down, I detect a pair of shoes in front of me. I raise my head to see a woman with red hair too. She's quite plump and almost Vivian's height. She has sharp and discerning eyes I almost feel like I'm nothing in her presence. I can tell immediately that this woman is Letitia's mother and Vivian's mother...I guess.

"How do you do..."

"Mother..."

The awkward silence can be felt by everyone in the room.

Did I do something wrong? Why isn't she responding?

...

"You should have woken up earlier to have your morning greetings, haven't you learned anything from your sister? Why am I just getting a greeting when we live in the same house!"

That, that wasn't what I was expecting. Does she have a beef with Vivian prior? Aren't the last born the one who gets away with everything?

"Apologies Mother."

Everyone chuckled at my words and the woman walks towards a chair with clear annoyance on her face.

Did I say do something wrong? Isn't this how they talk?

It's been an hour and I must say, these people love gossiping.

"Have you heard about Lady Stefany's daughter recently?" A woman in a blue dress with a sequence replies.

"I heard she's pregnant, that's why she hasn't been attending any social gatherings?"

Another woman in a brown dress says earning a chuckle from other women.

My supposed mother whose name is Della, Countess Della Sullivan who I think is the ring leader here as everyone is all smiley at her. She's being measured to get a new dress and Letitia is sitting with the young ladies and giggling with them.

Me?

I'm sitting with the young ladies also but I get shunned every time I try to say something.

"I can't believe you two are sisters. You're nothing alike."

A girl in orange cloth says. She seems to be about Letitia's age also.

The girls laugh and another one says;

"You say that every time but it still gets me all the time."

I look at Letitia expecting her to defend me, Vivian, her younger SISTER! But, all she does is smile not uttering a word.

I scoff taking a sip of my tea. I can grab what's going on here.

Vivian is a pushover. A BIG one at that.

"Will you like to get measured, my lady?"

A lady who seems to be working here asks me after taking a measurement of another lady.

"Of course, I was wondering when it will be my turn."

The ladies looked at me like I just said something out of the ordinary. Countess Della gives me a slight frown which is later covered with a smile when another woman talked.

Is it weird for Vivian to even order clothes? Am I her stepdaughter or something?

I raise my arms to let the lady measure my bust size while I use my eyes to read the room.

"I know I'll be going back soon, I should get Vivian some good clothes to fill the dressing room."

I spot a fashion magazine and pick it up when the lady is done measuring.

People respect and judge you based on how you dress. It's always been like that, whether it's in real life or in fiction.

"Do you see any designs you like, my lady"

A woman in a silver dress asks me. Even though the cloth is plain, it looks very fancy and good on her. I return the woman's warm smile with another and point at a dress in the magazine.

"This looks nice"

"And this one too," I say flipping the page.

"Can I have this in Teal and this one in black?"

The woman smiles and marks the pages while recommending other clothes to me.

Time goes by and thanks to the woman whose name is Grace and who's also the owner of the huge tailor shop, I wasn't bored for the rest of the visit.

"Thanks for visiting my ladies. Have a safe trip home."

The woman bows and goes back into her shop

Everyone is getting in their carriage and as I'm about to enter Letitia's, someone stops me.

"You might have to find another way to get home today."