Chapter 28: Party Preparations

Therese didn’t come out right away even though the class had ended.

At least for Therese, there was no chance of a mishap where she didn’t know the class had ended because she had overslept during class.

If so, then maybe the professor called her for a moment. 

Should I wait long? I tried to wait patiently outside. I couldn’t even look into this classroom because if I did, the professor would scold me, saying “How dare a mere maid—“

“Let’s go.”
“You came out early?”
“Hmm? Oh.” 

As if she understood what I was about to say, Therese nodded once and handed me what she was holding.

A pure white envelope. Golden decorations. A red wax seal stamped with a stylish insignia. What kind of letter is this? The wax seal was the insignia of an eagle, which any family that considered themselves to be of some standing would use.

“Open it and read it.”
“Yes. But, who sent this letter?”
“Elsa Tareia. She’s a young lady from a marquis family from the Diorseon province.”
“Aha….” 

Due to various recent events, Diorseon didn’t give me a very good feeling.

Still, seeing Therese’s nonchalant expression, I wondered if it was alright. I took out a small knife from my pocket and broke the wax seal.

It was a letter saying that the Tareia family was holding a small party and that they would be honored if she would attend and grace the occasion.

A ball.
A party.
The so-called high society.

However, invitations have become very rare these days. In the first place, she wasn’t well-regarded due to the stiff military atmosphere of the Jurden family, and with the discord with Prince Edwin on top of that, no one invited her.

Edwin, being a prince, seemed to be well-invited here and there.

“It’s a little sudden.”
“Really?” 

Therese had an expression that said otherwise. Of course, I thought it was probably because this girl named Elsa had already given Therese a preliminary explanation when she handed her the letter.

“That girl, she’s Cecilia’s friend.”
“Pardon?” 

A face did come to mind. Cecilia, although she usually hung around with one to two, and sometimes even four, men including Edwin, there was usually one or two women in the group as well. Then it must mean that one of those two is Elsa.

“It seems she was friends with Cecilia even before that accident. I heard they are friends with similar hobbies.”
“But why the young lady…….”
“I don’t know either. I think Cecilia might have asked her.”
“Hmm.” 

There would be no other reason than that. I had guessed that it might be because we were meddling in Western Diorseon, but it seems that was just a guess.

“Should I attend?”
“……Ahaha. It’s, subtle.”
“That girl is really troublesome.”

Below the invitation, the words S,T.i. were faintly scattering magic. It was Elvish for Scline Grea’Iia, which roughly meant I look forward to a good day.

If one imbued it with magic and read it as it was, the meaning of attendance would be conveyed to the party organizer. If you didn’t want to attend, you could read Herhrn Kiiane’Iia. In other words, It seems it will rain, imbuing it with magic. 

Does it have a similar role to R.S.V.P.?

“Give it to me.”
“Ah, here you go.”
“Scline Grea’Iia.”
“Ah……?” 

She answered as soon as she received it. For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood, but it was certain that she had said she would attend.

“It turned out well. I should prepare a pretty dress.” 

What do you mean, it turned out well? What does that mean? It seemed Therese was aiming for something else at this party. I don’t know what she’s aiming for—

“Then shall we go right now.”
“Pardon? Ah. Yes. I’ll help you get ready to go out.”

***

“It suits you quite well.”

When we went to the clothing store, Therese suddenly started picking out clothes for me.

From pitch-black suits to one-piece dresses that resembled school uniforms, fluttering gowns, and even pitch-black mourning clothes—she kept making me try them on.

I felt like a doll in a dress-up game, but it was Therese who was going to the party, so I couldn’t understand why she was picking out clothes for me.

What I’m wearing now is a dark gray blouse and a pitch-black high-waisted skirt.

A corset and suspenders that connect from the corset and are worn over the shoulders.

And also, black, long thigh-high socks.

“The skirt length. Should we shorten it a little?”
“Ah, my lady?”
“Cornelia has pretty legs. It’s better to show them off a little more.”
“Pretty, you say… well, ugh. When a perfect young lady like you says that, I just feel embarrassed.”

It’s not that I was happy I couldn’t go back, but I think it’s better to be cute if it’s going to be like this anyway.

It’s only natural, but isn’t it much better to be pretty and cute than to be ugly?

And I was quite satisfied with my current form.

Even if it’s not enough to be compared to Therese, it’s enough to make me feel happy when I look at it.

It turned into a rather narcissistic story, but since it doesn’t feel like my own face, I wonder how it is.

“Perfect, what are you talking about? Albert, can you shorten the skirt length a little?”
“Of course, my lady. Would it be alright if it’s at a height where the knees are barely visible?”
“As expected, Albert. You know so well.”
“It is my pleasure. Then will you decide on that outfit?”

Therese looked at my face.

It feels like she’s asking for my opinion, but—

To be honest, she’s been doing a good job picking things out on her own all this time, so now I feel…

“If you’re happy with it, my lady, then I’m fine with it too.”
“That’s not what I’m asking. What do you think? There’s a mirror over there.”
“It’s cute.”

Again, even if it feels narcissistic to others, it feels a little different to me personally.

It feels like dressing up a character avatar.

If you think of it that way, there’s no reason why I can’t honestly say it’s cute.

However, if I think of it from the perspective of having to wear it myself, well…

No matter how good the material is, the structure of the clothes is unavoidably uncomfortable, and short skirts are a concern.

“What is this? This voice that sounds like it has sincerity but doesn’t.”
“My lady. There’s a saying that clothes make the man. I think Miss Cornelia is probably a little surprised and flustered by her own appearance with wings.”
“I’m a little worried if she’s flustered by something like this.”
“Of course, she’ll get used to it. I, Albert, guarantee it with the history of my tailor shop.”
“Alright. Then let’s do that. I’ll take this outfit.”

Now, it’s decided.

The end.

I thought I was past the stage of caring about clothes.

It’s not easy.

I think the cause of my defeat is that I was too used to my maid’s uniform.

But it’s really sudden.

Why my clothes?

I can only pray that she’s not thinking of making me attend the party.

A mere maid like me, sipping wine among noble young ladies in these clothes, will get a hole in her stomach.

“What is the nature of the party the lady is attending?”
“Well—”
“Right. Is it for cleanup?”
“…Cleanup?”

A rather ominous word came out of Therese’s mouth.

“I see. Does the lady have a partner?”
“I do. They are friends who look good in golden capes. But they are not very polite, so I think they will come in simple casual clothes instead of golden capes.”
“A ruffian in a golden cape. I’ll prepare the fabric you usually prefer.”

A golden cape.

I only know one person who wears such clothes.

If it’s cleanup, is Therese thinking that the dragonkin of Western Diorseon will fail?

And if it’s a fabric that Therese prefers, it must be that bulletproof and sword-proof fabric.

“I think you will also need to cover your face.”
“Prepare a moderately cute veil cap. It would be nice if it had horns so I can pretend to be a dragonkin.”
“Understood. When does the party start?”
“This weekend. It’s a bit of a rush, but it’ll be fine, right?”
“Of course. Lastly, will the lady be wearing this outfit again in the future?”

In this neighborhood, expensive clothes also grow.

It sounds a little strange to say they grow, but when the clothes were first tailored, it was possible to cast a spell on the fabric to make the clothes fit changes in body shape.

The reason I, who had entered my growth spurt, could wear the same maid’s uniform for several years was thanks to that.

If it’s an outfit she’ll wear again in the future, it means she’ll cast the spell on it now.

But if she has to hide her identity, she might not wear it again.

If that’s the case, then of course, it’s better not to waste it.

“It’s my gift to Cornelia. Don’t worry about the price, and put in all the options you can. Make it the best clothes possible.”
“Understood, my lady.”
“Th-thank you.”
“No. I’m sorry I can only do this for you.”
“If so, how about visiting this place for the lady?”

Albert interjected and handed Therese a business card.

Therese took it, glanced at it, and her expression stiffened with an “ah—“

It was an expression of not having thought of it at all—what on earth did she see?

“Let’s go right now, Cornelia. Change your clothes.”
“Pardon? Yes.”
“Where should I send the clothes? Should I send them to the Jurden mansion?”
“No. Send them to the dormitory. The address is—”

As soon as we came out, I was led from Albert’s hidden dressing room by Therese’s hand, who seemed to be in a hurry no matter how I looked at it.

Where are we going?

I wanted to ask, but Therese had a very excited expression, so it was a little awkward to ask.

And we arrived after walking for a short while.

I thought Albert must have recommended it because it was nearby.

“Lenikian Curiosities No. 4? It says antique shop.”
“Uh-huh. You know, I don’t think I’ve ever thought about your weapon.”
She added, “I’m a weapons dealer, you know.”

But why did we come to an antique shop?

Isn’t it normal to go to a blacksmith?

I’m grateful that she’s being considerate, but if it’s a weapon, can’t we just go to the dwarf’s neighborhood, who is our usual regular?

I had various questions and things to say, but I kept quiet.

There’s no reason to spoil her fun by saying them.

“Hello. What kind of product are you looking for?”

As we entered, a clerk asked for our business with a smile.

Therese silently handed the clerk the business card she had received from Albert.

The clerk looked at it, then entrusted the counter to another clerk next to him and went inside.

After a few words of conversation from inside, he came back.

“Please come in.”

When we went inside, there was a large warehouse, as shops often have. And when he pushed one side of a wall stacked with various antiques, it opened with a rattle like a door.

…It was the same as at Albert’s.
A secret hideout—nice.

Inside, there was a small room with many drawers, like a safe or a medicine cabinet, and one person.

“Welcome. My name is Dietrich Judgarn. Is there anything you are looking for?”
“Albert recommended a stiletto called Areille.”
“My, my. You’re looking for a very rare item.”

Dietrich frowned exaggeratedly.
Then he smiled.
And he opened the highest drawer among the drawers and took it down, drawer and all.
Inside the drawer, a single flawless black stiletto was wrapped in a white, soft cloth.

“It looks more ordinary than I thought.”
“Haha. A legendary weapon is usually like that.”
“A legendary weapon? I didn’t hear that from Albert.”
“That Albert. He didn’t tell you the most important thing. This Areille is the very greatsword that the hero Gunther Claudius used to take the life of the ancient dragon Drakeas who descended upon Ardenkilaina thousands of years ago.”

“Look,” Dietrich said, taking out Areille and imbuing it with magic.
Whoosh.
Flames erupted along Areille’s blade, and then they hardened into the form of a flaming sword.

Is it a little like a lightsaber? Cool.

To be honest, I want it, but that legend is suspicious. No matter how I look at it, it seemed like a scam. He said it was a greatsword, but what Dietrich was holding was at most a longsword.

“Haha. I thought you might say that, so I deliberately saved the main course for later. Sing, Areille.”

The flames died down, and ice froze along Areille. This time, it could certainly be called the form of a greatsword.

Something.

Something is very cool.

“I’ll buy it.”
“Eh. Ah, my lady.”
“What’s the point of looking at anything else when you have that look in your eyes?”

Ah.

Oh.

She really is a goddess.