As the sunset cast a warm glow in the sky and night began to approach, I knocked on the door of a clothing store, having moved with Erin thanks to the help of a fairy.
“Who… Ah, it’s Lady Allen. Please come in.”
The old lady, who had helped create several outfits with the support of the Perverted Apostle, broke into a bright smile as soon as she saw me.
“Do you need a new outfit for an official event? I have several designs in mind, thinking about your achievements…”
“I’m not here to find something for myself. I’m looking for something for Erin.”
“I see…”
The old lady hid her disappointment professionally, but the emotional difference between talking about my clothes and checking on Erin’s was so severe it was almost an advertisement for her dissatisfaction.
“Pick out both Erin’s and my clothes together. Make sure they look good together.”
“…Please wait a moment.”
As she spoke with an excited tone, the old lady left, and I turned my gaze towards Erin, who was tightly holding a maid outfit.
“Young lady. Is it really necessary for someone like me, just a mere maid, to wear proper clothes?”
“Don’t be silly. Are you just an ordinary maid? You’re my personal maid. If you look shabby, I’ll end up looking foolish too.”
“However…”
“Are you worried about standing out more than me? If you’re having such arrogant thoughts, wake up. Even if a crow lands next to you, it won’t be a problem for me.”
I knew Erin felt burdened by my goodwill.
But today, I wanted to forcefully give Erin a proper gift.
She is as precious to me as my other friends, yet she was treated poorly compared to others.
Erin’s kindness towards me is definitely not something to be taken for granted.
When I first met her, Erin felt a great fear towards me.
She had heard many rumors from the servants and personally experienced my verbal abuse, so it was only natural for her to be scared.
Yet, Erin did not hold any prejudices against me. She acknowledged that I had changed and showed me kindness.
I was saved by that kindness. I gained the strength to walk forward with dignity, even amidst others’ contempt.
Erin was truly my savior. Therefore, she deserved appropriate compensation for what she had done.
“If you dislike it and don’t want to accept anything, then that’s just too bad.”
“That’s impossible! How could I not feel gratitude when my precious young lady offers me a gift?!”
“Then just accept it quietly. Got it?”
Upon seeing my smile, Erin hurriedly turned her head, then wiped her eyes with her sleeve and looked back at me.
The redness in her eyes seemed like a dam that would burst with just a nudge.
“Hey. Don’t cry. If you get all teary here, it’ll make me look like a bad person.”
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll try my best to control my emotions…”
“Sigh. Seriously.”
As I wiped Erin’s eyes with a handkerchief, I sat her next to me and patted her shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Enough. If you’re going to cry, just do it properly.”
Every time I said that, it felt like Erin’s sobs grew louder, so I gently pulled my hand away, only to receive a disappointed look from her through her fingers.
Are you really crying? You’re not acting, right? Right?
After some time passed and Erin had calmed down, the old lady appeared as if she had been waiting.
In her hands were two black dresses, and just by looking at the sizes, I could tell whose were whose.
“Lady, how do you like this dress? Your appearances are so striking that I prioritized simple elegance over unnecessary extravagance.”
Not knowing much about clothes, I turned my head toward Erin. With her bloodshot eyes carefully inspecting the outfit here and there, she took her time before finally nodding in agreement.
“Wonderful. It will definitely suit you, young lady.”
“And you?”
“…I think it will suit me as well.”
I smiled at Erin’s shy response and borrowed a changing room to try on the outfit.
Perhaps being used to someone else dressing her, the moment I stepped out, the old lady came over to adjust my outfit here and there.
– Lucy! Look at us!
– Pretty, right!?
– The same outfit as Lucy!
While I let myself be pampered by the old lady’s hands, the fairies flitted around me, showcasing their new clothes.
“Yeah, it looks good on you.”
– Lucy praised me!
– Wow!
– Hehe! I’m so happy!
Did the fairies make their clothes in that short time? This old lady is incredibly fast! At this rate, it’s almost on the level of authority!
“Young lady.”
While I was admiring the old lady’s skills, Erin cautiously made her appearance.
With an aura of beauty that indicated she wasn’t chosen by the Goddess for no reason, Erin showed a lovely appearance, and upon receiving my compliments, she bowed her head once more.
With her, the next place to visit was the most famous restaurant in Academy Street.
Tear la Mas.
A place where I first met Joy, and even having tasted various dishes since then, it remains one of my favorite restaurants.
A popular restaurant with a line always waiting at its door.
It’s a place where nobles and commoners must line up, but today, it was an exception for me.
The moment I stood at the end of the line, without needing to say anything, people naturally parted the way.
It was like a miracle from Moses, something I always caused, but this time, it was different because of the people’s gazes.
Those who usually avoided associating with me now naturally parted with a mixture of awe and respect.
As if even standing in front of me would be blasphemous.
Feeling confused by the worshipful atmosphere, people still only waited for me to move forward.
[If you just stand around all day, they won’t move.]
‘…I feel like my mind is going blank.’
It felt like it was showing me what direction my life would take.
At least it was fortunate that the restaurant had provided me with a private room.
Perhaps my words that I wouldn’t be able to eat properly because I would become a spectacle outside held some weight, as they provided a space for just Erin and me.
‘Grandpa. This food is nothing like what I had before, right?’
[You can really tell that they put in tremendous effort. I’d believe it’s food meant for the royal family.]
It seemed that even the clientele at Tear la Mas was mindful of me.
Sigh… I wonder if I can live a normal daily life like this.
I should just eat since I can’t waste the food.
With a sigh, I took a sip of the soup, realizing that the taste matched its extravagant appearance.
Oh my! I wouldn’t have thought there would be anything more delicious than what I had last time!
Is it because they focused so much on my existence?!
…If this is the case, it doesn’t seem bad to be given special treatment!
Just as I was horrified and taking another sip of soup, Erin, who was sitting across from me, set her spoon down and spoke up.
“Young lady.”
“What? Don’t like the food? Then, do you want to give it to me? I’ll enjoy every bite!”
“What? Oh, of course, if you wish, I can give it all to you, but that’s not what I was trying to say!”
“…Tch. Then what is it?”
“After hearing you say that you feel gratitude towards me, I’ve been pondering how to express my thanks. I concluded that it’s best to just share my honest thoughts, since embellishments wouldn’t please you.”
Erin hails from a small rural noble family.
Despite being called nobles, her family was no different from the surrounding farmers, and she became a maid for the Allen family, sold under the pretext of having to lower her status.
Because of this, when Erin first started working for the Allen family, her self-esteem was exceedingly low.
She thought of herself as a worthless existence.
“However, I changed thanks to being with you, young lady.”
Becoming someone necessary for a noble person brought Erin a reason to live.
“If I hadn’t met you, I would still be just another nameless maid. But when you called my name, I gained value, and now I’m someone whom even the Goddess speaks to. It’s all thanks to you.”
Lucy said thank you to Erin, but Erin had already received more than enough repayment from Lucy. She felt that way, so her gratitude felt burdensome.
“Just treat me as you have until now, as a maid. That alone will allow me to live my life in glory.”
Hearing Erin’s words, I set down my spoon and scoffed.
“I don’t want that.”
“…Huh?”
“I don’t want that. You silly goose.”
“W-Why not?”
“Because I want to be friends with you.”
When Lucy smiled and said that, Erin’s eyes trembled as she bowed her head.
Her ears were flushed, both happy and embarrassed to the point of being unbearable.
“Think about it. Everyone around me is extraordinary. I need a friend with whom I can chat casually without any thought.”
“Do you really think I can take on such a role?”
“That’s a command from your master.”
“…If that’s the case. Yes. Understood, young lady. I’ll do my best to become your friend.”
“The moment you said that, you’re already out as a friend.”
“W-Wait! What should I do then?”
Since Erin had lived her whole life working, the concept of friendship seemed foreign to her.
So, I deliberated on how to explain it to her when a playful idea suddenly struck me, and I broke into a mischievous grin.
“For example, how about this, Erin? Which do you prefer, swords or Prete?”
“Puh! Cough. Wh-What does that mean?”
“Oh, you don’t like either? Your standards are really high, huh?”
“That’s not what I meant! Young lady! I’m just confused about why you’re asking such a question out of the blue!”
“Well, friends talk about these kinds of things.”
“That seems quite distorted in many ways.”
“Shut up and just answer me. Which is it? If it’s for a friend’s love, I’d gladly cheer you on.”
“…Th-That is… um…”
I think I now understand why Joy is so obsessed with love stories.
