Chapter 16: The Fitting and the Fugitive

Clattering sounds echoed in the dining hall.

Evrys and Iris were having an early lunch.

Of course, eating early didn’t change Evrys’s appetite, so her plate was piled high with food.

Anyone seeing her for the first time would be amazed by the sheer quantity of food she consumed, given her small stature. She swallowed it all as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Iris, now accustomed to the sight, maintained a calm expression.

But a thought crossed her mind.

‘Could eating a lot be the secret to her strength?’ She quickly dismissed the idea.

It was too absurd.

‘It would be better to ask her directly.’

It wasn’t that Iris hadn’t considered it.

When Evrys had crumbs on her face.

When she giggled while reading.

Even when she looked at Iris’s bandaged hand with concern.

Looking into Evrys’s eyes, Iris wanted to ask for guidance.

But she always swallowed the words.

Was it pride?

Or perhaps youthful arrogance, stemming from her still-developing mind?

Or maybe she was simply unsure how to ask.

No one would know the truth unless they could peer into Iris’s heart.

Iris’s silence, however, seemed to have a different effect on Evrys, who noticed Iris staring at her, having stopped eating.

Evrys, her mouth full of meat, looked at Iris, then her expression changed, as if she had realized something.

After swallowing her food, she asked with a concerned look,

“Is your hand bothering you, so you can’t eat?”

Since Iris was staring blankly at her main course, it was a reasonable assumption.

“No.”

“Then why aren’t you eating?”

“I was just lost in thought.”

“I… see.”

Evrys looked at Iris’s bandaged hand.

“Tell me if you need help.”

‘Help? Are you offering to feed me?’

The thought briefly crossed Iris’s mind, but it felt too strange.

“I’ll cut it for you.”

“…It’s fine.”

Iris politely declined and used her good hand to cut the meat.

As if to show that she could manage even without holding the meat down with a fork. Or perhaps, to show off.

“Oh…”

Encouraged by Evrys’s reaction, Iris, caught up in the moment, cut the entire steak into bite-sized pieces.

It was an uncharacteristic, and slightly improper, act.

Snapping out of it, Iris looked at the neatly cut pieces of meat on her plate. ‘It’s a good thing Father isn’t here.’

She was also glad she hadn’t allowed any servants in, except to bring food for Evrys.

Thinking so, she offered the plate to Evrys.

She didn’t understand why she had felt the need to show off.

“Have some more.”

“Huh? Isn’t that yours?”

“Considering our plans for later, it’s better if you eat it.”

“What are we doing?”

‘I won’t refuse more meat.’ Taking the plate, Evrys popped a piece of meat into her mouth and asked.

Iris’s answer made Evrys stop.

“Someone from the dress shop we visited last time is coming this afternoon.”

“…Why are they coming… here?”

‘Is that so shocking?’

Iris, her voice filled with genuine curiosity, continued,

“We need to have a dress made for the banquet. It’s a little late, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Evrys’s face paled, but Iris, oblivious, continued.

Perhaps she didn’t notice because Evrys’s skin was always so pale.

“The madam is very enthusiastic. She wasn’t like that before, but I suppose she wasn’t lying when she said you were her muse.”

“…This is bad.”

“Bad? I don’t think that’s the madam’s name.”

“No, I… why didn’t you tell me sooner? And don’t we have enough clothes already?”

“Since you agreed to attend the banquet, I assumed you knew. The clothes we bought last time were everyday wear. You need a proper dress for the banquet.”

“…Do I really have to wear a dress?”

“That’s a silly question. Of course.”

“…”

The disjointed conversation ended, and silence fell over the dining hall.

Iris didn’t know why Evrys had fallen silent, but she continued eating.

Evrys silently stuffed her face with food.

The once lively meal ended quietly.

“Miss! Where are you?!”

“Goodness, where did she go?”

“She was just here a moment ago…”

“Should we inform Lady Iris?”

“Let’s tell the head maid first.”

“What should we tell the people from the dress shop?”

“One of them looked like she was about to cry.”

“Let’s find Miss Evrys first. You go tell the head maid.”

“Got it.”

“Miss Evrysss~.”

‘Please… don’t find me.’

I knew I was running away.

‘I should have just said I wasn’t attending.’

‘This is so obvious.’

‘No, this is sexist.’

‘Why do all women have to wear dresses? This is discrimination.’

‘Can’t I just… wear a nice suit? Iris always wears those… Aren’t those more casual and comfortable?’

I saw my reflection in the hallway window.

‘It would look good on me…’

“Miss Evrysss.”

Hearing the calls from below, I knew I had to move.

At least my smaller body was useful for hiding.

‘Where should I hide?’

The mansion was huge, so there were plenty of hiding spots, but there were also a lot of people.

Iris said they were running a little late, so if I could just make it through today…

‘I’ll just have to admire the banquet from afar. Or maybe I can disguise myself as a servant and attend…’

‘Would that work with this small body?’

I dodged the searching servants, my heart twinging with guilt as I heard their worried calls. They had been so kind to me.

But I had to do this to survive.

Somehow, I ended up in the kitchen.

I didn’t even know why.

‘Is there honey smeared on me or something?’

The kitchen was as large as the mansion itself.

It seemed empty.

I hadn’t realized how grand it was when I came here at night.

The sparkling clean kitchen was a pleasant sight.

The cupboards on the walls were too high for me to reach, but it was still interesting to look around.

As I ventured further inside, I bumped into someone coming out of a door.

‘So, it wasn’t empty after all.’

The man looked familiar.

“Oh dear, it’s the young miss. What brings you to the kitchen…?”

‘Ah, the man who gave me the cocoa.’

Seeing him in the daytime made him seem even larger.

“Just… looking around.”

“Is that so? I was just about to select the ingredients for tonight’s dinner. Care to join me?”

“Already?”

“Of course.”

“I hope I’m not bothering you…”

“Not at all.”

The man smiled kindly and led me inside.

His face had been shadowed when I first saw him, but now, he seemed rather gentle.

“Did you enjoy the cocoa I brought you the other night?”

“Yes, it was delicious. Thank you.”

“I thought you’d like it.”

“Haha…”

We chatted as we walked into a storage room filled with various ingredients.

Vegetables, neatly packaged meats…

It felt cool inside.

“Wow.”

“We have everything you could possibly need.”

‘Isn’t that… obvious?’

‘Does he manage all of this by himself?’

“But where are the others? Are you working alone?”

“I select the ingredients, and the others prepare them. I’m practically the third in command in the kitchen, you see.”

That sounded a bit… ambiguous, but since he said it with such confidence, I didn’t comment.

“Wow!”

“Now then, shall we—”

The man’s cheerful chatter abruptly stopped.

His face had turned pale.

“What’s wrong—?”

“Evrys.”

I turned towards the voice and saw Iris, her expression rigid.

Exuding an icy aura, she approached, as if determined to treat me like a younger sibling in front of others.

The already cool temperature in the storage room plummeted.

Cold sweat trickled down my back.