“Sophia, is it okay if I step out for a bit because of the dress today?”
“Yeah.”
It wasn’t like I hated the idea enough to put it off any longer.
I was just curious that I’d be taking my dress to an amazing tailor who even has connections to the royal family.
Anyone would find that fascinating, even if it wasn’t me.
Most nobles wouldn’t even get to enjoy such luxury.
To think the princess would personally introduce us and help out—it was absurd, even to me.
I was lucky to have a student, or rather a temporary boyfriend, to make this happen.
“Then I’ll go after dinner with Your Highness.”
“Okay.”
A dress, I still couldn’t believe it.
All this fuss just because there wasn’t a suitable size available seemed ridiculous.
Was it just me, or were Princess and Kyle a bit too proactive?
If it had been me, I would’ve procrastinated just a little to think it over.
*
“Does it fit your mouth?”
“Of course.”
“And Sophia?”
“I feel the same.”
It was a question asked again even though we had just discussed it yesterday.
Was it out of courtesy, or if it didn’t suit us, was she planning to discard it and make a new one?
I just said it tasted delicious because it fit my mouth perfectly.
Kyle, being picky with meals, had also said it was fine.
Anyway, the food was delicious.
The place Kyle and I went to before was tasty enough, but nothing matched the imperial palace’s meals.
Not exactly on the same level as what a princess eats.
But maybe because a high-ranking person was present?
I didn’t feel as relaxed as I did then.
“I’ve already talked to the tailor, so you just need to show up. Listen briefly to the explanation and get your measurements done.”
“Oh….”
Got it.
It was fascinating since I had never had clothes tailored before.
There must have been many processes before this, but I was relieved it was all sorted at the princess’s level.
“…”
“There’s no need for the person next to you to worry, so please stop.”
“?”
Who?
Were they referring to me?
I wasn’t worried at all.
When I turned to look at Kyle, he wasn’t doing anything either.
Is he crazy?
It couldn’t be.
I probably just misunderstood something.
*
“Princess, it’s been a while. I hope you’ve been well.”
“Yes, I’ve been well. I hate bothersome things, so should we get straight to it?”
“Yes~”
The building we entered by carriage definitely had the feel of a clothing store.
Not too big, not too small, just right for a neighborhood shop.
“…”
“…”
I was slightly surprised that the owner of such a store had ties to the princess.
Both Kyle and I were taken aback.
“You two, come inside quickly. What are you doing over there?”
“Uh, yes….”
I followed Kyle inside.
The owner was a young woman, contrary to my expectations.
She was older than me, but when I heard “shop owner,” my mind pictured someone different.
“By the way, Your Highness, are you interested in new dresses?”
“I have plenty of those.”
“Haha, that’s true.”
The princess and the tailor seemed to be quite close.
They looked like they had known each other for years.
“So, is this person going to wear the dress?”
“Oh, yes.”
When the owner pointed at me, I reflexively responded.
After working in a castle and various places, responding instinctively was just a habit.
“Hmm….”
“…?”
The owner suddenly began to slowly scan my body from top to bottom.
Is this part of the craft as well?
The gaze felt a little ticklish, but I could handle being looked at.
I was fully dressed, after all.
“Shall we start by taking off the clothes?”
“Yes!?”
“Oh, I mean let’s get your measurements right.”
“Oh. Ah….”
That was what she meant.
Of course, if I was here for custom-made clothes, taking measurements was a must.
I was just surprised because it was so sudden.
“…”
“…”
“….”
And then we all looked at Kyle.
For one reason.
Both the princess and the shop owner, and I, as a woman, were here.
But Kyle was?
“…I’ll step out for a moment. Would 10 minutes be enough?”
“5 minutes is fine.”
Kyle sighed once before stepping out of the room.
He looked a bit pitiful.
He was suddenly booted out.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Showing my body to Kyle was embarrassing.
Showing a woman’s body to another woman and showing it to a man are entirely different matters.
“…”
“Okay, for now take off everything but your underwear. It might be a bit embarrassing, but it’s for the dress.”
“Uh, okay….”
I took off the pants and blouse I was wearing.
It wasn’t nearly as embarrassing as showing Kyle, but I still couldn’t help feeling a bit shy.
“Does the princess really have to see?”
It’s not like the princess was Kyle, and it wouldn’t be okay for her to look at my body without reason.
Kyle had seen my body a few times, but the princess wasn’t in that category.
Even in underwear, it was still embarrassing.
“I need to see so I can report back to Prince Kyle later.”
“Uh…?”
“Sophia, tell me which style suits you, what your exact bust size is, what your bottom measurement is, and your hip size….”
“….”
Listening to the princess made me genuinely start to worry about the empire’s future.
Anyway, the shop owner brought out a measuring tape and began to measure me.
Height, waist, hips, bust—everything you need to make the clothes.
There could be a slight discrepancy when wearing them, so I understood why.
After all, the wrong fit could make the clothes look strange.
“Oh wow… that’s big.”
“….”
So, measurements were taken.
Some odd lines occasionally popped up, but nothing inappropriate happened.
In many ways, the shop owner’s ethical standards were normal.
“Is it all done?”
“Yup.”
Before I knew it, I was wearing a light garment over my underwear.
I was wearing extremely short shorts.
A bit embarrassing since my thighs were fully exposed, but I had to wear something that wouldn’t obstruct the creation of the dress.
If it was coming off, I chose quick removal outfits; if not, I went for types that wouldn’t show under the clothes.
“Well, since we’ve taken all the measurements, let’s just try on some of the made clothes hastily. You’ll need to come in a few more times.”
“Okay.”
I wasn’t foolish enough to think the clothes would be ready right away.
I actually thought today was just for taking sizes, but luckily it wasn’t only that.
The shop owner brought over some luxurious fabric and made comparisons…? Evaluations…? Whatever she did.
I guess she was checking if it would suit me.
“Hmm….”
The fabric I was seeing now was probably for creating the black dress Kyle requested.
The quality was obviously upscale from the look of the material.
It felt as lavish as the dresses worn by nobles at last time’s debutante ball—if not even more.
Was it because it was black?
Black really was the best.
It wasn’t for nothing I always made Kyle wear black clothes.
“That’s enough for today. If anything else comes up, can I just send a letter to the palace?”
“Yeah, don’t send it to a strange place, just always send it to me first.”
“Yes.”
Thus, the first preparations for making the dress came to an end.
It finished sooner than I expected and we did more than I thought.
“Owner? Let’s have tea together sometime. Then I’ll be heading in?”
“Please take your time.”
We lightly waved goodbye to the shop owner and stepped out of the store to enter the carriage.
It wasn’t even evening yet.
Were we heading right back to the palace?
“This will probably continue in this way, Sophia, right?”
“Yeah.”
It meant the format of what would happen next would mostly involve listening to the shop owner, her asking me things, and me answering.
“You’ll probably be able to ask Prince Kyle for his desired design or style near the end. The shop owner looked like she had some pride.”
“Hmm… got it for now.”
Today, I had nothing to say.
All I did was look at sizes, decide on fabric, and exchanged a few words with the shop owner.
*
So, after having dinner in the palace, we returned to our room.
All we had done was dress-related tasks and had a dinner with the princess, so why did I feel so drained?
Well, I roughly knew the reason.
“Why is everyone giving me those looks….”
It was excruciatingly uncomfortable.
In Eristirol, the territory residents had great awareness and didn’t stare at me like this.
Even if they did glance, it was just a quick look.
No one stared at me like they were here.
Except for Kyle.
“That’s probably because Sophia is so pretty.”
“I am?”
They thought I was getting looks because I was pretty?
No way.
“If I were that pretty, every time I went down in Eristirol, I would’ve attracted attention, but that didn’t happen.”
It’s just that the people here are strange.
They were just too interested in others.
If it was about me being pretty, wouldn’t someone have asked for my address at least?
You have to have at least some experience to know about hunting.
“Anyway, that’s not it. People in the capital just have too much interest in others.”
“Sigh….”
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