Chapter 99: Dress Fitting

“Lovely! It suits you well!” “Yes, truly. A wonderful outfit.”

Receiving words of praise from Mother and Yulia-sensei. Wrapped in a new dress, I listened with somewhat mixed feelings. Estelle next to me seems genuinely happy, but I feel a little embarrassed. In my previous life, cute clothes didn’t suit me well, so that feeling is ingrained… To think I would end up wearing Gothic Lolita-style clothes in another world… As ordered, my outfit is based on black and white, but not overly frilly. No standard headdress either. Not many ribbons attached. Black ribbon at the chest, white blouse, black corset skirt, overall a chic and calm image. White and black mix nicely, and matching with Kohaku-san makes me happy though. Estelle‘s is generally a white and pale cherry blossom-colored dress. Sweet Lolita? But this one isn’t overly flashy either, gathered in a calm feeling. Well, because I designed it… If it was Sweet Lolita on Earth, it would probably have more ribbons, fluttery and frilly.

“A dress matching the color of Lady Sakuraile‘s hair!”

Don’t know why, but Estelle has high tension. Estelle should have several dresses of the same color though.

“It was a dress design unprecedented until now, but I think this will be accepted by young ladies before adulthood. Not just gorgeousness, but a dress mystically expressing the ephemerality and beauty due to immaturity.”

Madam of the dressmaker Couturier speaks excitedly. Well, understand it’s for underage girls rather than adult women. On Earth (over there), adult women wore them normally though. Here, women don’t expose legs once they become adults. Being able to wear skirts around knee-length is only for now. Though exposing bare legs isn’t looked upon well, so both Estelle and I are wearing tights. With this, shouldn’t be cold even at an outdoor party.

“No problems with the dresses then. Next is jewelry accessories.” “I have prepared several items likely to suit the young ladies. All are masterpieces crafted by master artisans.”

Thinking it’s finally his turn, the waiting jeweler uncle steps forward, and when employees open jewelry cases lined up on the table, colorful jewelry of various sizes are lined up there. No really… I get smacked by the common sense of upper aristocracy every time in places like this. Told you children don’t need such gems.

“Let’s see how it matches your face.” “Haa…”

Mother goes behind me and puts on earrings with large emeralds. How many ten thousand yen is this…? If Earth, definitely tens of millions level I think…!

“Yup, same as Sakura-chan’s eye color, good. But maybe something a bit cuter is better.” “If so…”

The jeweler uncle takes out another accessory and shows Mother. Beside us, Estelle was also having accessories put on by Yulia-san. Unlike mine, looking at it you can tell it’s a simple design. Probably affordable price too. Basically, this kind of accessory implicitly shows the trend of the house, so even lower nobles often stretch to wear good things. But that’s for the wife of the house head or young ladies of marriageable age; I think excessive accessories for children are unnecessary, me. Estelle seems to have liked one earring. Simple earrings imitating cherry blossoms.

“Mother. I want the same one as Estelle.” “Oh my? Hmm… not bad. If cherry blossom, it fits Sakura-chan’s name perfectly. Shall we go with that? Fufu, matching clothes and accessories.”

Mother accepted my proposal. Good grief, relieved. Contrasting Estelle‘s joy and my relief, the jeweler uncle drops his shoulders slightly. Ah, bad move. From the uncle’s perspective, high-class accessories should have sold… I feel sorry. Let’s throw a lifeline.

“This necklace seems likely to suit Mother. Emerald and Sapphire look like Father and Mother.” “My, really? Will it suit me?”

I recommend an expensive-looking accessory in the case to Mother. One imitating Emerald and Sapphire small birds, colors of Father and Mother’s eyes. Depicting a harmonious figure touching beaks together. Mother has the maid put on the necklace.

“How is it?” “Suits you very well, Mother.” “Yes, yes. As the Young Miss says, it suits you very well. Something that can make Madam’s beauty shine even more.”

Seizing the opportunity, the jeweler uncle explodes with sales talk. Rest is up to you, uncle. Good luck.

◇ ◇ ◇

“As His Highness the Crown Prince said, Her Highness the Ninth Imperial Princess seems to be looked down upon lightly even by the maids she brought.”

Next morning, Ritsu combs my hair with a brush while reporting so. Regarding that Imperial Princess of the Empire, I asked Ritsu to gather information. Ritsu‘s subordinates, the Nanane Clan, are already lurking in this Royal Capital, spreading their information network. Their hands extend even to the hotel where the Empire’s party is staying, seemingly able to obtain minor information immediately. As expected, they can’t get close around the Imperial Princess, but Ritsu‘s subordinates have the tape recorders I gave them. It’s possible to secretly record conversations.

“Is that because her mother’s status was low after all?” “That is right. Also, the ‘Gift’ received from Gods seems to be not very practical…” “Ah…”

The one-per-person ‘Gift’ received from Gods is said to have usable ones and unusable ones, so-called hits and misses. The power of ‘Gift’ is immense, hence life can be determined by that ‘Gift’. Those who obtained useful, powerful ‘Gifts’ are ‘Winners’, those who obtained difficult to use, ineffective ‘Gifts’ are ‘Losers’; such ‘Gift’ supremacism-like custom inevitably exists among nobles. Apparently same in the Empire. I think ‘Gift’ depends on usage though. Can’t understand stories like a martial noble family treating a child coldly for not receiving a combat-type ‘Gift’. Child has no sin or fault. If complaining, complain to God. Isn’t ranking things received from God disrespectful in itself? My [Store Summoning] is useful only because I can summon Earth’s stores; originally, it would have been a so-called ‘Miss Gift’. Summoning stores of this world wouldn’t have much merit. No, if stores have indestructible effect, maybe usable as a huge shield.

“Mother’s low status or ‘Gift’, those are things Ninth Imperial Princess can’t help. Really stupid…” “As expected, no blatant contempt in front of the Fourth Imperial Princess, but in unseen places, there seems to be blatant harassment or intentionally audible sarcasms.”

After all, she is an Imperial Princess. Doing such things in front of the same Fourth Imperial Princess would be seen as mocking the entire Imperial Family. Can they judge that much? Even so, irritating. Too insidious and persistent in unseen places. Regardless of birth, her status is far above maids and knights. If the Ninth Imperial Princess says firmly, being taken lightly might stop… but seems impossible with that child’s personality… Well, opponents probably know that and are taking her lightly, while posing respect on the surface. I hate the Empire, but I feel that child isn’t a bad child. If that timidity was all acting, that would be terrifying. What kind of poison woman would she become in the future. Well, don’t think so.

“The reason Ninth Imperial Princess came here seems to be due to interference from the Second Imperial Prince. The Fourth Imperial Princess was apparently against bringing an immature person as it would be the Empire’s shame, but the Second Imperial Prince said she would get along since she is the same age as Lady Sakuraile.” “Second Imperial Prince is the person closest to next Emperor, right?” “That is right. Ostensibly First Imperial Prince is Crown Prince, but due to poor health from illness, rumors say Second Imperial Prince will eventually become Crown Prince. Second Imperial Prince is a hardliner close to the military, so not very happy for the Kingdom.”

Nnn…? Second Imperial Prince is a hardliner wanting to attack our Kingdom, right? Why did such a Prince send the Ninth Imperial Princess? Tried to investigate what kind of existence I am before attacking? Well, can’t ignore an existence that slaughtered a Dark Dragon in one hit. But a six-year-old? Won’t go to war? No, if harm reaches family, I will crush with body and soul though.

“Plotting something?” “Maybe. Among the imperials who came, there seem to be many Second Imperial Prince faction members.” “Does that mean Fourth Imperial Princess is also Second Imperial Prince faction?” “No, Fourth Imperial Princess seems to be neutral faction leaning. Doesn’t seem to openly oppose Second Imperial Prince.”

Asking in detail, the Empire seems broadly divided into three factions. Hardliners not hesitating to use military force like war, moderates considering peaceful diplomacy and trade profits, and neutrals who are neither. Second Imperial Prince is hardliner, First Imperial Prince is moderate, and Fourth Imperial Princess is neutral. Our Kingdom is like that too, every country seems similar. Just in the Empire’s case, the bottleneck is the Emperor being rather hardliner too. Also the moderate First Imperial Prince being weak from illness and future uncertain. Even being Emperor, seems can’t easily change the Crown Prince. Apparently the First Imperial Prince’s mother’s family, high-ranking nobles, possess strong political power. But if the First Imperial Prince suddenly passes away, wouldn’t the balance collapse with a bang? With Estelle‘s ‘Gift’ that heals all illnesses, might save First Imperial Prince but… No no, can’t send precious friend to such a scary country. Can’t quite grasp the Empire’s scheme. For now, need various cautions. Might blame some blunder on us and push unreasonable demands. Fourth Imperial Princess has to be left to Empress, Grandmother, and Mother, but I have to keep an eye on Ninth Imperial Princess. Haa… The day itself seems likely to be a hard day…