A cute-looking girl is reflected in the mirror.
Who is this girl wearing a dress with fluffy frills on the chest, revealing her legs, and blushing?
…It’s me.
It’s always like this.
Whenever I casually try to buy shirts and pants, Veronica and Master, especially Veronica, keep handing me other clothes to try on.
When I change into them just because they tell me to try them on, they pat my head.
Then they make me stand in front of the mirror to look at myself.
…Why on earth are they doing this?
At least the reflection in the mirror looks pretty decent.
Since I don’t usually look in the mirror, I’m not often aware of it, but I have a well-balanced body and a pretty face.
My height seems a bit short, but because my face is small, the proportions are fine.
…I realize this fact anew.
“…Are we done now?”
When I sigh and turn around, new clothes are waiting.
“Just try this one last one.”
“…Do you know how many outfits this is already?”
“Originally, you should try on a lot more, but you look tired, so I’m cutting it short.”
“….”
This isn’t just “one more set, sir”… What kind of nonsense is this…? But since it’s really the last one, I go into the dressing room and take off my clothes.
At first, I needed help from others, but after changing so many times, I’ve gotten used to putting on clothes.
I naturally take them off, tidy up, and pick up the clothes Veronica hands me.
Somehow, they look familiar, and when I unfold them, they’re the shirt and pants I usually wear.
If I put on the apron I always wear over this… the set I always wear in the Workshop is complete.
Since they weren’t difficult clothes to put on in the first place, I easily put them on.
After putting them on haphazardly… I feel like something is a bit plain.
Even though they’re clearly much higher quality than what I usually wear.
It must be because I saw too many flashy clothes earlier, right?
I go out, hand over the changed clothes, and look in the mirror.
Seeing how comfortable I feel, it seems it was just my imagination.
Thinking I can just wear this and go, I say I’ll buy it right away, but they tell me the payment is already done.
I suspect Veronica paid for everything.
I approach her as she talks to the clerk and grumble.
“I have enough money to buy this much.”
“…You’re probably happy inside, but you’re just saying that.”
…Ahem, ahem.
Since I’ve been caught, I decide to be honest.
“Well… thank you.”
“…Hmph.”
But something feels strange.
Behind the smiling clerk, I see them packaging clothes.
They were all the clothes I had tried on.
“Veronica, why are they packaging those?”
I wondered if in Jedo, they separately handle clothes that have been tried on, but the answer I hear is completely different from what I thought.
“What do you mean? I’m buying all of those too.”
“Huh?”
Veronica takes a check from her bag and coolly signs it.
An amount that makes me doubt my eyes.
Veronica and the woman who seems to be the shop owner don’t seem surprised, as if they’re used to it.
Only I am startled, and I whisper to Veronica in a trembling voice.
“…Why are you buying all of that?”
“For you to wear?”
“What if I don’t wear them?”
Veronica shrugs her shoulders as if asking what the problem is.
“If you don’t wear them… then you don’t wear them.”
“But that’s a waste of money…”
“Why are you making such a fuss over this? You even gilded your Workshop.”
“Is, is that the same as this?”
I only overextended myself to make the place where I’ll live my whole life more comfortable.
Regardless, Veronica continues her conversation with the shop owner.
“Then send them to the usual place.”
“I’ll do that, miss.”
“…Is everything okay at home?”
“The master said to show your face sometime.”
At those words, Veronica scratches her head, glances at me, and replies.
“…When I have time.”
“And the grandchild—”
Veronica hurriedly covers the shop owner’s mouth. She glares with her eyes, then quickly grabs my hand and leads me out of the shop, telling me to come out quickly.
Master follows us out with a calm face.
With a dazed expression, I look at Veronica and mutter.
“What was that just now?”
“What?”
“It didn’t seem like you were just a regular customer who’s close to the shop…”
Veronica hesitates for a moment before replying.
“This… is one of the businesses our family runs. It’s not widely known, though…”
…So, you mean this huge clothing store is one of the Caltz family’s businesses?
When I tilt my head with a blank expression, Veronica gets upset.
“Hey! You didn’t even know what your f-friend’s family does?”
“…I only knew she ran away because she didn’t want to get married, so I just thought your relationship was bad…?”
“Th-that. Well…”
Veronica suddenly blushes, flustered, and evades the question.
Master, who was watching from behind, lets out a sigh.
“…Let’s stop here and buy some dinner before heading back.”
“Y-yes, let’s do that.”
Since it would be embarrassing to talk more on the street, we roughly buy dinner ingredients at a grocery store and return to Veronica’s Workshop.
As we enter, Cecil comes running and hugs me tightly.
“Welcome back, Asha-nim!”
“Y-yes… Were you okay, Cecil?”
“Yes!”
As I pat Cecil’s head, Claudia comes out following her.
“You’re back? You bought a lot of stuff?”
“Dinner ingredients.”
“I’ll have to show off my skills. By the way, did the thing you went for go well?”
“…Hmm.”
The original purpose went well, but… I’d say I ended up with a bigger problem than that…
“Let’s talk while having dinner first…”
Claudia nods, effortlessly picks up the luggage the three of us could barely carry together, and disappears into the kitchen.
While Veronica and Master tidy themselves up, Cecil smiles brightly and asks me.
“Asha-nim! Are you not going to wear the clothes you were wearing this morning anymore?”
“Huh?”
“They were very pretty clothes, so it’s a shame.”
Then Veronica, who was massaging my shoulders, says with a laugh.
“We bought a lot more pretty clothes, so you should hope Asha wears them often.”
“Really?”
Cecil looks at me with sparkling eyes. Facing those eyes filled with innocent curiosity and excitement,
It’s hard to say I won’t wear them.
I glance at Master and Veronica to ask for help, but
Master shrugs his shoulders, and Veronica awkwardly laughs and avoids my gaze.
“…I’ll wear them.”
“Hehe… Cecil is happy!”
Watching Cecil jump around happily, wondering what’s so delightful, I think it might be okay if I only wear them inside the house.
Yeah, as long as I don’t go out wearing them, it should be fine, right?
With that thought, as I rest, a fragrant smell wafts from the kitchen.
A mesmerizing scent that makes me gulp.
Not long after, Claudia calls us, saying the meal is ready.
As I eat foods similar to what we had at the restaurant, I fall into thought for a moment.
Starting tomorrow… I don’t know how to tell them that I’ll likely be working at what seems to be the Princess’s villa.
…I want to research as soon as possible to return quickly.
But if I want to live with a foothold in the Empire, it’s something I can’t refuse.
…Unless I plan to abandon the Workshop I worked so hard to build and go into exile.
Still… thinking that Veronica and Master will continue the research on my behalf makes me feel a bit reassured.
As the meal nears its end,
I tell everyone that I have to start work tomorrow.
Of course, I also add that they shouldn’t tell anyone else.
They probably won’t give me any particularly important tasks… but rumors wouldn’t do any good.
…Well, the people here wouldn’t do that, but.
Morning has dawned.
With drowsy eyes, I rub them and recall the memo I saw yesterday.
I thoroughly wash my entire body and put on the shirt and pants I bought yesterday.
I don’t forget to take the token the Princess gave me.
But… thinking about it, I remember the Princess didn’t tell me what time to come until when.
“…Maybe she meant to come whenever I think it’s time.”
Judging by my memories from my previous life, I think this is what they call a black company.
While worrying about when I should go, I hear footsteps.
Turning my head toward the sound, I see Cecil and Claudia.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Asha-nim…”
I was wondering when to go, but I feel like I should leave right now.
“…I’m thinking about it.”
…If I go today, she’ll… set a time, right?
With Claudia and Cecil seeing me off, I leave Veronica’s Workshop.
“Asha-nim, have a safe trip!”
Cecil waves both hands and smiles at me. Claudia standing beside her also giggles and waves.
“…Yeah, see you in the evening.”
Waving back at them, I feel a strange emotion.
It was an indescribable feeling.
I walk step by step toward the address the Princess wrote down.
Then, a mansion larger than I expected appears.
As I approach the main gate, a man in uniform appears.
Flustered, I take out the token from inside my clothes and show it, and he guides me inside.
At the mansion’s entrance, the person guiding me changes to a maid.
Following her, the place we arrive at is… what seems to be a bathroom.
“…Um, is this the right place?”
“Yes. It is.”
Then, as if her task is done, the maid disappears like the wind.
“…Does she want me to wash before working?”
Without much thought, I open the door and enter, and warm air seeps out.
Contrary to my expectations, an incredibly luxurious bathroom comes into view.
It’s so spacious and luxurious that it should be called a bathhouse rather than a bathroom.
I sense a presence, as if there’s already a guest.
Soon after, a voice is heard.
“Ah, you’re here? You come earlier than I thought?”
It’s the Princess’s voice.
Author’s Note (Author’s Afterword)
A friend I thought was ordinary turned out to be