After that, I spent some time wearing the clothes Kyle recommended.
Sitting around like this made me feel like I was just a regular woman without any problems.
I usually never felt this way, but today was different.
Maybe it was because I was picking and wearing only very feminine outfits?
That could be it.
Even though I had a woman’s body, I never lived a feminine life.
I always wore comfortable clothes or pants, living the adventurer life running around, and for the past few years, I had been working as Kyle’s servant.
“How about this outfit, Sophia?”
“I’m sorry, but that short skirt is a bit….”
“Then how about this?”
“Young Master… how could you even think of making me wear that…?”
I could understand the short skirt, but not that.
I already felt uncomfortable with clothes that had any exposure.
Kyle probably knew that too.
But yet here he was….
“How could you possibly suggest an outfit that exposes my shoulders…?”
“Is this not okay either? That’s a shame.”
“Isn’t it a bit embarrassing to wear something like that?”
Kyle, completely male both physically and mentally, wouldn’t get that feeling at all.
It’s different from cross-dressing.
When cross-dressing, you get what they call an existential crisis, but this feeling was completely different, so he wouldn’t understand it at all.
This awkward yet weird sense of embarrassment.
In reality, I was feeling super awkward right now, but I was trying my best to hold it together.
It wasn’t that the clothes Kyle recommended were weird, so at least that was something.
“I think it would really suit you. Can’t you just try it on once?”
“But it’s embarrassing….”
“Just try it once. I really think it’ll look good on you.”
“Young Master….”
I couldn’t understand why he wanted to make me wear an off-shoulder outfit so badly.
There were plenty of other feminine outfits, so why that one in particular?
It was better than the mini skirt, but honestly, I didn’t like it much either.
I had no idea why I had to expose my shoulders.
Is it because it’s hot?
“Sophia, please just try it on once.”
“Even if you say that….”
Kyle suddenly came closer and said this, and I had no idea why he wanted me to wear that.
Wouldn’t it be better to give clothes like that to a princess instead of me?
“Hurry up.”
“Ugh… fine. I’ll just wear this and go out.”
“Alright.” Reluctantly, I went into the changing room and put on the outfit that exposed my shoulders completely.
It wasn’t as embarrassing as the dress I wore before, but it still made me feel awkward.
A top that fully exposed my shoulders—perhaps due to the style, it revealed a bit of cleavage too.
“This is seriously uncomfortable.”
Every time I wore clothes like this, it was really bothersome.
I’m not some pervert who feels happy about showing my body to others, so of course, I wouldn’t like it.
Even when wearing pajamas, the cleavage is visible, and wearing a dress could expose too much; it was truly uncomfortable.
Some outfits were so snug they would even reveal my belly at times.
It was impossible not to say it was uncomfortable.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“Yes. You look pretty.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Shall we go now?”
“Wait, let me change my outfit….”
“It’s fine.”
“….”
Kyle suddenly grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the shop.
“You look really good; you don’t have to worry at all.”
“No, it’s not that….”
I felt so embarrassed about the situation.
Walking out like this, holding hands with Kyle while wearing a completely feminine outfit was super embarrassing.
I was even more embarrassed thinking about how others would perceive me right now.
“What do you think people see us as?”
“That is…”
Lovers….
I figured that’s how it would seem.
No matter how much I felt inferior compared to Kyle, I was sure people would see it that way.
A woman dressed femininely, and a man smiling holding that woman’s hand.
“I think they would definitely misunderstand.”
In reality, we weren’t like that at all, but they would surely assume we were lovers.
People would think that even if it was completely untrue.
It would be hard for others not to think that as we walked down the street.
“Young Master, could you please let go of my hand?”
“Why?”
“Why do you ask? Of course, you should let go.”
Holding hands like this isn’t right.
If it led to misunderstandings, it would really be troublesome.
The people on the street weren’t ignorant of Kyle’s identity, so that made it even more concerning.
Everyone knew who Kyle was, but they were just pretending not to show it.
“It could interfere with your engagement. If someone misunderstood and rumors start circulating that you have a girlfriend….”
“That’s fine.”
“Weren’t you the Eristirol Duke? Things are different now from when you were a kid. So this is….”
“What do you mean by ‘this is’?”
“It’s not appropriate.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Even as I lectured him, Kyle continued to hold my hand.
My concern that this could ruin Kyle’s engagement kept creeping in.
“Ugh… so I really think it would be better if you let go.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want to. Holding hands with you.”
“Well….”
It wasn’t that I particularly disliked holding his hand.
I was simply worried about Kyle.
I had held hands with Kyle before, so it wasn’t like I was against it.
“I’m just worried that people might misunderstand.”
“Then it’s fine to hold hands.”
“Ugh….”
“I enjoy holding hands with you like this.”
“….”
–Thump…
“And honestly, I don’t care if people misunderstand.”
What in the world….
Not caring about misunderstandings?
Could a Duke like Kyle really say such a thing?
“Now, come on, let’s move.”
“… Yes.”
Kyle ignored my worries and kept holding my hand as we walked down the street.
Even though I had walked with Kyle a few times, I could feel the numerous gazes on us.
A lot of gazes.
“…”
And so, we had a date the entire day.
Maybe it had been a while since I had spent this long with Kyle.
It was unexpectedly more fun than I’d anticipated.
“Young Master, did you enjoy being with me today?”
We were still sitting on a bench, not having returned to the castle.
I thought it was time to go back, but we ended up just sitting there for a while.
I asked out of curiosity since we were sitting.
I personally found it moderately enjoyable.
Not having the princess, who was a guest at the castle, around made it more comfortable.
But I thought about how Kyle felt.
He might have found it boring to be with someone like me.
I wasn’t particularly exciting, and we hadn’t gone anywhere thrilling either.
Wasn’t it boring?
“It was fun.”
“Really?”
I was relieved to hear that.
It would’ve been disappointing if one of us found it boring.
If we go out together, I think both should have a good time.
“Yes, it’s always fun when I’m with you, Sophia.”
Kyle said that with a smile while looking at me.
–Thump….
Seeing that smile made me feel a strange sensation.
What was that?
“And if you’re having fun, then it’s even better for me.”
“You know, Young Master… if I were to quit my job now, what would you think?”
I said that while looking at the stars in the darkening sky.
I had thought about it multiple times already.
It was a sudden question.
I never anticipated I would say something like this today.
“Huh?”
I had been considering it for a while but had never mentioned it to Kyle.
With the years I had spent working, I often thought it was time to stop.
But I had never brought it up with Kyle.
“Well, now that you’re an adult and soon to become a Duke… I was hired because I was your private tutor, and I’ve now taken on the role of your direct servant.”
I started this job to not inconvenience the shy Kyle back then, and it led to this.
In a way, I thought I shouldn’t have combined those two roles from the beginning.
It feels odd to serve as both a tutor and servant….
“Honestly, I was hired temporarily rather than being a proper servant, but here I am, still doing the job. I thought it might be time for me to quit since you no longer need a tutor.”
“….”
“Young Master?”
“You’re saying you want to quit?”
“Yes. I wasn’t supposed to do this for so long, after all.”
Kyle’s expression didn’t seem pleased.
Yeah, I understood that.
It’s not easy to process that someone who had worked for several years suddenly wanted to quit.
But I felt that saying it was the right think to do.
“There aren’t many places that hire a tutor until twenty, and I don’t think any family would hire someone like me to serve their Duke. You need someone better.”
“Is that really the only reason?”
“Yes.”
“Well then… let’s talk about this slowly. We still have plenty of time.”
“Understood.”
As Kyle said, there was still a lot of time left.
I wasn’t planning on quitting right away anyway.
I’d have to go over the transition and everything else.
“Ugh….”
“Don’t worry too much. You might find it odd right now, but if there’s someone else, you’ll feel more comfortable too.”
“I get that, but please stop discussing this for now.”
“Yes.”
Anyway, I ended up sharing something I had been contemplating for a long time with Kyle.
He seemed a bit confused, but I thought it would be okay.
With time, Kyle would understand.
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