Chapter 49

It has been a while since my last update, but I will be updating more frequently from now on, so please look forward to it!

"By the way, I have also brought the cloak for my mother-in-law. Let's work on it together."

"…Mimosa, why… why didn't you ask me first…"

My youthful mother-in-law, with a set of purple cloak and sewing tools before her, covered her face with both hands and spoke in a voice that was on the verge of tears—no, this voice was already crying. She spoke to me with a voice filled with tears.

I was taken aback and moved from sitting opposite her to sit beside her, patting her back to comfort her.

"I… I can't sew. You see, the specific reason is… okay? This is a secret…?"

"Yes, if my mother-in-law says it's a secret, I will keep it absolutely confidential. So, what is the reason…?"

My beloved mother-in-law, with tears welling up in her eyes, her eyes red, her eyebrows raised, and a serious expression, looked up at me, completely hunched over and dejected. For someone who usually has such good posture to be this dejected, I might have done something wrong.

"…There are no maids around, right?"

"Yes, it's just the two of us, Mother-in-law."

After looking around the room, my mother-in-law, with a determined look, tried to pull a needle out of the pincushion.

Or rather, she tried to pull it out.

"This… In my hand, I'm holding the part from where I pinched it to the back of the needle, and the other half is still stuck in the pincushion."

"I can't… I've never been able to hold a needle. My fingers are just too strong…"

"Really… I can't believe it… Can't you control it?"

"I can handle cutlery and wooden pens, but glass pens are no good; they crack immediately. I come from a samurai family and was trained in swordsmanship and horseback riding from a young age… I think that's why, but whenever I try to hold something delicate, it breaks."

That's why she doesn't do her own hairpins or hair decorations, my mother-in-law explained, looking completely dejected.

I thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered and rummaged through the sewing box.

It's usually used to protect the fingers from the needle, but it might be just right for my mother-in-law to protect the needle from her fingers.

"Mother-in-law, please put this on your fingertips. I made a few for fun, so please choose one that fits your fingers."

"Oh… What is this?"

Curiously, my mother-in-law picked up the thimble made of leather. It's a tool used in quilting, where a metal and a leather thimble are worn on the fingers of each hand, but if my mother-in-law wears the leather one, she should be able to hold the needle.

"It's called a thimble. It's used for quilting, but today we'll use it to protect your fingers. The leather is soft, so I think you'll be able to hold the needle."

"Hmm… These two seem just right. Will these do?"

As a hobby, I made various sizes using different leather scraps.

The ones my mother-in-law chose were a large thimble that fit halfway up her thumb and a slender thimble that fit up to the first joint of her index finger.

"Then, try holding this basting needle with those fingers. There are plenty of basting needles."

"Ugh! …I, I'll try."

Tentatively, my mother-in-law, with the thimble on her finger, picked up the basting needle and… lifted it from the pincushion.

"Great! You did it, Mother-in-law!"

"Amazing, Mimosa! I held a needle!"

"Then, I'll thread the needle, and let's practice with a handkerchief. Don't worry, we have a week, so we can practice sewing the cloak."

"Can I really do it…? I've never held a needle in my life, and now I have to do needlework…"

"Of course! With your imagination, I'm sure you'll find it fun soon."

"I'll try…! Oh, but being able to hold a needle… I'm so happy. I've always wanted to make a handmade gift for him…"

"This time it's a cloak at Father-in-law's request, but working with leather is a different kind of needlework. You can make a gift for Father-in-law in a way you enjoy. —Even if it's needlework now, I'm happy to share my secret of energy with you, just as I always get energy from your stories."

I could feel my face melting. The adorable mother-in-law in front of me is the strongest when she holds a pen.

Doing something together with her felt like a dream.

"Yes, let's start with embroidery… I'm also interested in leather goods. Then, Mimosa, I'll teach you how to write letters beautifully one day."

"Oh, that's… a secret technique, isn't it?"

"It's fine, I'll teach you anything to my beloved daughter. So, what kind of thread should we use? What will we sew on the handkerchief?"

"Well, I was thinking of using a shiny purple thread to match the cloak… Since the handkerchief is white, let's use a shiny white thread and sew a vine. It might look plain, but it will look luxurious if we add it to the edge."

"Sounds good, let's do it!"

While protecting my mother-in-law's fingers from the needle, I placed the handkerchief in a wooden frame and threaded a shiny white thread through another needle.

Let's start with the basic stitches, without rushing. I'll do my embroidery later on my own… I want my mother-in-law to enjoy her first experience with a needle.