60: The Masked Noblewomen / Another Sanada / Roast Pork Sandwich with Honey Mustard 6

After eating the dinner prepared by Maureen, taking a bath, and changing into her nightwear, it was already night. It was time for Jill’s reading session. Containing her excitement, Jill began searching for books in *The Acacia Book*.

“Now then… I have a few books in mind…”

What Jill had thought of during her conversation with Nora earlier in the day was whether it was possible to make only the handles or shoulder straps of a bag.

If it was just about repairing the handle, simply sewing together hemp or similar fabric into a strap shape would suffice. That alone would make it functional enough.

However, at that moment, Jill remembered something from the textbook on *Yūzen* dyeing. Naturally, *Yūzen* dyeing is used for items like long-sleeved kimonos. And with such kimonos come numerous accessories besides the fabric. Among them is the *obijime*, a braided cord used to secure the *obi* sash.

A braided cord (*kumihimo*) is a string made by braiding colorful silk or cotton threads. It’s not particularly complex. Much like straw braids, it’s quite simple. However, there’s endless potential for the application of such cords beyond securing an *obi*. For instance, they can be used to tie up a gift, or to secure the lid of a box holding precious tea utensils.

The path from Nora’s request to a gift for the lord’s wife was clearly forming in Jill’s mind.

“If I can make beautiful cords, I think I could do all sorts of things… and perhaps even something that would please the lord’s wife.”

Of course, cords exist in the Kingdom of Dailan Magic as well. However, most are hand-braided from thick, sturdy threads like hemp. The idea of creating elegant yet durable cords by braiding thin, delicate threads as with *kumihimo* had not become widespread. To add flair, it was common to use leather or fabric cut into cord-like shapes. Jill’s attention to *kumihimo* had sparked a conviction: “If I can make these, something interesting is bound to happen.”

“That said, there sure are a lot of types…”

The methods for braiding cords turned out to be far more numerous than Jill had imagined. In terms of shapes, there were round cords with circular cross-sections (*maru-uchi himo*), square cords with rectangular cross-sections (*kaku-uchi himo*), and flat cords resembling ribbons (*hira-uchi himo*). Moreover, there were countless techniques and tools for braiding them.

However, there was a slight problem. For example, there would be no issue using them to wrap gifts. They could also be used to tighten a bag’s opening or for small items like wallets or handbags. They might even work as a cord tied around the waist. But when it came to heavy-duty applications like shoulder straps for carrying heavier items, Jill had concerns about their strength. To fulfill Nora’s request, Jill delved into various books to find something that seemed suitable.

“Beginner’s Guide to Kumihimo”—this one had clear explanations but lacked in-depth techniques.

“Overview: The Culture of Threads and Cords”—this didn’t seem like much of a how-to book.

“Accessory Lessons: An Introduction to Decorative Knots”—oh, this one’s pretty… but it focused more on knotting methods than on making cords themselves.

As Jill lost herself in one book after another, drowsiness began to creep in. Realizing she might oversleep if she continued, she decided to pick one final book for the night.

It wasn’t a book specifically about *kumihimo*.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t even about cords, but about textiles and fabrics, which could be classified differently.

However, it bore the name “cord.”

“Let’s Make Sanada Himo with a Handmade Loom”… Sanada as in the clan of Bannerman Sanada?

Intrigued, Jill flipped through the pages casually.

At first, she read without much thought. But soon, Jill realized something.

The quality of cord she had been searching for was right here.

“Oh, this is perfect. It seems sturdy enough, the design can be customized… and moreover, this is…”

Sanada himo lacks the elasticity typical of other braided cords.

It does not stretch, maintaining firm strength.

In other words, it is ideal for applications like shoulder straps.

Additionally, its range of potential uses is vast.

It could even be adapted as straps for sandals.

Above all, Jill had envisioned a specific application.

A perfect use for binding cords with tea utensils.

“This will work…!”

◆

“Master.”

“Yes?”

“You pulled another all-nighter, didn’t you?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You did, didn’t you?”

“I… I slept.”

“How long?”

“…About three hours?”

“That’s not sleep; that’s a nap.”

“…You could say that.”

Jill felt guilty at Maureen’s pointed sigh.

It was hardly surprising to be found out. On a normal morning, Jill would be elegantly sipping tea and enjoying breakfast while waiting for Maureen. But today, she had holed up in the workshop, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she worked on her projects.

“Don’t push yourself too hard. So, what are you working on today?”

“I haven’t gotten to the ‘making’ stage yet. I’ve been writing.”

“Writing? That’s unusual. A letter?”

At Maureen’s question, Jill chuckled softly.

“No, it’s a blueprint. For a loom.”

“A loom? That’s quite an ambitious project you’ve taken on.”

“Well, I’m not planning on making anything too elaborate.”

Sanada himo could be woven by hand, but naturally, having a tool like a loom would make the process much more efficient. That said, Sanada himo is only about 1 to 2 centimeters wide, so a small-scale loom would suffice. Jill figured that even a compact loom, small enough to fit on a table, could greatly enhance productivity. She had started by designing the loom itself.

The book Jill had read, *Let’s Make Sanada Himo with a Handmade Loom*, detailed how to build a loom for Sanada himo using materials like wood or thick cardboard available at stores called “home centers” or “100-yen shops.” Her curiosity had expanded from “I want to make kumihimo” and “I want to weave Sanada himo” to “I want to build a loom.”

“So, does this sudden activity mean you’ve thought of something?”

“Yes… I think I’ll be able to show you something very interesting.”

“Oh?” Maureen smiled meaningfully.

She must have noticed Jill’s confident attitude.

“Then I’ll look forward to it. What about the shop?”

“Oh.”

Jill suddenly remembered she was planning to dive headfirst into making Sanada himo.

As a result, Jill had completely forgotten about what to do with the shop’s operations.

Maureen shrugged with a wry smile.

“Well, I figured this would happen. Carol and I can handle manning the shop. That’s why we gave you the day off yesterday, remember?”

Realizing she had been supported behind the scenes, Jill blushed with embarrassment.

“I-I’m so sorry for being such an unreliable manager…”

“Well, it’s part of a maid’s job.”

“You’re far too versatile… I’m worried I might end up relying on you too much. Oh, but I’ll still come to the shop. I want to discuss something with Mr. Garda, so I’ll probably be working or meeting upstairs. If anything comes up, I’ll head straight to the shop.”

“Alright, today’s schedule is set. No dozing off, got it?”

“Got it!”