“Anis? There’s something I want to discuss.” “You want to talk? Okay… But why do you look so serious?” “I don’t think you’ll like what I have to say…” “Oh…” One day, Euphie approached me without warning, apparently having made up her mind about something. I braced myself. Had something bad happened? But I never could have anticipated what she said next. “I’m embarrassed to ask this, Anis… But could you put up with having a few dresses made?” “Huh? Dresses…? Like, what kind?” “Dress dresses.” “…Who for? Me…?” “Yes.” There must have been question marks hovering right over my head. A dress sounded so simple. But judging from Euphie’s expression, something told me it wouldn’t be. It wasn’t as bad as I feared, but her request certainly raised questions. Why on earth was she asking this? “I guess I’m not too fond of dresses… Why do I need one all of a sudden?” “I received a petition today.” “…A petition?” From where? This situation was so unexpected I couldn’t be sure what emotions my face was showing. Euphie didn’t look too bothered by my confusion. In fact, she seemed to have anticipated it. “I know you don’t like showing up to events or wearing fancy dresses. But I’ve received a plea for all members of the royal family to dress appropriately for their status…” “From whom…? Some noble trying to stir up trouble?” The various possibilities flashed through my mind. Maybe that was why Euphie had such a mixed reaction. No wonder she was expecting a hassle. Yet the next moment, she gave her head a quiet shake. Perhaps I didn’t need to worry after all? But what did that even mean? Why would someone submit a royal petition about my clothing? At last, Euphie gave me the answer. “Anis. It was the dressmakers who submitted the petition.” “Huh…? Why would they do that?” “Because of the royal robes.” “The royal robes?” “Turning articles of clothing into magical tools got people thinking. Everyone is talking about the technology. It’s probably too early to let it become too widespread, but I don’t think it will be long before we start seeing other products being sold.” “Right. I have a few ideas myself.” “So, they’re looking toward the future… And it’s all thanks to you, Anis. They want to repay you for everything you’ve done.” “What does that have to do with making me a dress?” The royal robes had certainly become a sensation. If clothing could be turned into magical tools, it wasn’t hard to imagine the wealth of possibilities. I was happy to hear I had provided some inspiration, and I was grateful they wanted to do something for me. But I couldn’t see why that had taken the form of a petition to make me a dress. “From the people’s point of view, you’ve always been disparaged for your inability to use magic, and you’ve been excluded from royal events. But now, your achievements are blazing a new path for the kingdom.” “Y-yes…” “They know how hard you’ve been working, so there’s a strong desire to support you on the public stage. You could say this request is part of that.” “I—I see… It’s kind of embarrassing, though…” “That’s why they want you to dress in a way everyone can admire. They want to see you shine brilliantly as the kingdom’s most important figure. After all, you hardly ever make public appearances, and you don’t have many opportunities to wear beautiful dresses. Do you?” “I guess not…” I had never been good with flashy events. Ever since taking the throne, Euphie had been handling all the social niceties for the both of us. I wasn’t entirely antisocial, but I liked to stick to small gatherings—which meant I hadn’t had to go out of my way to buy a new dress lately. “It isn’t a complete substitute, but I had some extra dresses made for myself… But they’re insisting they want to make some for you as well.” “O-oh…” “Apparently, word has even reached your mother about it.” “Gah!” My voice sounded like a crushed frog’s. This had reached my mother’s ears?! That was just asking for trouble! “She has always thought you should dress and behave like royalty. And this time, it isn’t just about royal dignity—there’s an economic angle. So she came to me, asking me to bring you around to the idea.” “U-ugh…! Of course she would do that…” I could easily imagine my mother applying pressure with a beaming smile. That image sent a shudder down my spine. “…It’s just one?” “Ha-ha-ha.” “…What’s so funny?” “That was a joke, wasn’t it?” “Oh…” I had tried to hold on to a glimmer of hope, but it looked like this wouldn’t be so easy. If it were, Euphie would have just told me all the details in the first place. “Um, so how many dresses do they want to make…?” “More than I can imagine.” “That many?!” “They’re very motivated.” “Ugh… They could pour their energies into something else, couldn’t they?!” I would be able to cheer them on if their passion was directed at anyone else but me… “Anis. I don’t want you to force yourself. If you really don’t want to do it, just tell me.” “…It’s true that I’m not really looking forward to this.” “Why? Can you tell me?” she asked, looking me in the eye. Honestly, I felt like I should just nod along here. Euphie knew I didn’t like fancy events, and she had already forgiven me for that. But that didn’t mean I could afford to sit on my laurels. I was a member of the royal family, and my reputation was on the mend, so maybe it wouldn’t be so bad getting involved in a few more social activities. Euphie must have thought the same; otherwise she wouldn’t have brought this up. “There might have been issues with your public appearances before, but now that I’m queen, society recognizes your accomplishments. And you’ve attended a small number of parties and events, haven’t you?” “Yes…” “I don’t blame you for not liking them. But do you still hate them so much? I need to know.” “I mean, I’m not very good at them… I’m always scared of making mistakes in front of a crowd.” “So you can’t afford to fail?” “People will think my failure is bigger than just me. That’s why I struggle with it.” I wasn’t completely antisocial, but the events I attended mostly related to magicology or magical tools, where I could focus on theories or scientific principles. Outside of that, I tended to struggle. Especially with grasping the relationships among various nobles or gauging their ulterior motives. That had led to a compulsion in me to not fail. “You’re right, there is a social aspect to it,” Euphie said. “Considering what has happened in the past, it’s understandable you don’t want to take part in all that glamor. But you do realize that isn’t the whole picture, don’t you?” “Yeah…” “There are people who want you to command attention in a fancy dress. They want you to command respect for your royal status. You aren’t surrounded by enemies anymore, so you should put in a little more effort.” Euphie was always kind. I could feel how much she cared about me. It warmed my heart to hear her say all that, and when she told me to push myself, I wanted to try. Still, I was frightened. Probably because of my past experiences. I knew I couldn’t stay stuck in the past forever, though. So I needed to step up and give it my all. “If you’re willing to go that far, Euphie, I’ll give it a shot…” “I see. Thank you, Anis. That’s a huge relief. It looks like I’ll finally be able to deliver some good news.” “…Why do you look like you’re enjoying this?” “Does it upset you that I want to see a different side of you?” “…You’re a sly one.” She really was sneaky, always cornering me until I couldn’t refuse. It tickled me to know she understood me that well. But she was mean at times. “At the very least, I want them to make a few dresses you would actually be comfortable wearing.” “Ugh… Dresses don’t really make sense to me, though… Wouldn’t it be better just to leave it to someone who knows what they’re doing?” “I can’t deny that… But how would you feel if you were asked to make a magical tool and had no direction on what kind of tool to make?” “Ugh… I guess that would be a problem…” “While knowledge is important, there are people who value your feelings just as much as any new discovery, Anis.” “…Fine. A dress, then… Or a bunch of dresses…” “Making a dress for a royal princess is an incredible honor, you know? I’m thinking we’ll order a few, so you won’t have to worry about any more for a while.” “Hmm…” I had found dresses overwhelming in the past. Maybe that was why I had such an aversion to them. This was an honor, I knew. But I was the one who would have to wear the things. “I can’t think of many dresses I would actually want to wear… Can I really not just let the professionals decide?” “Anis. These dresses are being made especially for you.” “I know…” “Don’t you ever think about wanting to look pretty?” “Wh-where did that come from…?” I blushed. Was this another of Euphie’s sneak attacks?! Would I still hate dresses if I took socializing out of the equation? Maybe not… “…How do you see me, Euphie?” I asked. “…? What do you mean?” “Am I…er…cute? Pretty? What kind of impression do you have of me…?” The second the words left my mouth, a wave of embarrassment washed over me. I shouldn’t have said anything. Euphie furrowed her brow as if this was a particularly perplexing challenge. Was my question really so complicated? After a moment, she let out a low groan. “I don’t think my opinion will be very useful…,” she answered in a strained voice. “Huh…?” “I mean, I love everything about you. I love the sparkle in your eyes when you’re chasing after your dreams, and you’re so cute when you try to run away from me. But then, when you get serious, you’re so dignified. And then there’s—” “Stop! That’s enough!” “I thought you would say that.” “Then why did you keep going?!” She was always too direct with these displays of affection! I wished she could understand how they made me feel! My face was burning with embarrassment. I waved my hands to try to cool down, and she asked me a question. “Anis. Isn’t it more about whether you want to be cute or pretty? It shouldn’t matter what other people think.” “…” “…Anis?” “Honestly, I wonder if I’m really all that beautiful. I’m not so sure…” Come to think about it, it was rare for someone to praise my looks. Hmm. Maybe I had been called good-looking a few times? But to the kingdom’s nobility, a pretty face meant very little when you couldn’t use magic. Huh? How many people had actually commended my looks? I tried to think back to people’s reactions toward my appearance, but no memories really stood out. In fact, Ilia sometimes treated me like a dirty dog when I came home all muddy, and my father would lecture me the second he saw my face. As for my mother, she would always assume I was up to some sort of mischief. …Maybe I hadn’t received many compliments over the years? “…Haaahhh…” For some reason, Euphie scowled, breathing a deep sigh as she rubbed her forehead. “Euphie…? What was that for?” “I thought you were improving, but now I see the problem is deeply rooted… I wish I could go back in time and give you a great big hug.” “…Huh? Why don’t you just hug me now?” “I think I shall,” she said, wrapping her arms around me so tightly it was hard to breathe. Euphie was taller than me, and her hugs were almost smothering sometimes. Ironically, that gave me an overwhelming sense of security and comfort. I wanted to close my eyes and surrender myself to her. She held me tight for a long moment. “Anis,” she said. “I take back what I said before about my own opinion not being reliable enough.” “Huh?” “You’re cute. And you have a strong side, too. If some people don’t like your looks, that only means they have different preferences. Okay? You’re definitely cute.” “O-okay…?” She was complimenting me now? First came surprise, then confusion. But she wasn’t finished. “So please, don’t tell yourself you’re not good enough. There will always be people who refuse to see your worth no matter how perfectly dressed you are. Some people will always put you down for other reasons…like being a princess who can’t use magic.” “…You say that like you’ve heard it just recently.” “Ignore those people. They can’t imagine anything different.” With that, she let go and stared straight at me. Her gaze was so intense I wanted to look away. But I couldn’t. It was like I was being drawn in by the gravitational pull of her eyes and couldn’t escape. “You’re an attractive person, Anis. You can dress however you like. So wear something beautiful, be the most stunning version of yourself you can. That’s what I wish for.” “…Euphie.” “If anyone complains, ignore them. Take your place next to me with pride. I’ll protect you.” “All right…” Every time she came out with that promise, it filled me with equal parts joy and guilt. I wished she didn’t need to burden herself for my sake. I knew she would just scold me if I voiced that thought, but I still couldn’t shake it off. Lately, however, that lingering tension was beginning to settle, and I could accept her assurances without questioning them. She had stood by me through thick and thin. To be honest, there were still times I was too scared to hope. But it wasn’t as bad as it used to be. Little by little, I was starting to accept what people were offering me. I was beyond grateful for her. Grateful didn’t begin to express it. “Um, thanks, Euphie.” “It’s no problem at all.” “You know, that gives me a little idea…” “Do tell.” My joy was being with her—and looking back, it always had been. No one was more precious to me than her, but I wanted to make people smile and give them happiness. And I wanted to share my dreams and joys with her. So I wanted tangible proof. She had given me the opportunity to make my aspirations real. “Well, you see…” “A matching dress?” Tilty asked, looking just as grumpy as she sounded. Seeing her in such a bad mood, I couldn’t help but feel pretty good about myself. And so, with a broad smile, I let her negativity pass right over me. “Yes! Our dresses will be the same design, but we’ll mix the colors up to match our personalities. It’ll be great, don’t you think?” “Hmm… I suppose it isn’t such a bad idea,” Tilty said at last. Her body was trembling slightly, until at last she forced herself to look up, pointing at me. “But why are you dragging me into this?!” “Tilty. Marquis Claret kindly agreed to assist in this matter,” Euphie said. “Why don’t you ask him, then?! What on earth is he even doing?!” Naturally, Euphie was referring to Tilty’s father. Apparently, he had been in frequent contact with my own father lately—at least according to my mother. Since abdicating, my father had been using his time to study plants. As part of that research, he was looking for ways to increase crop yields. Somehow, Marquis Claret found out about my father’s research, and the two had been corresponding ever since. Both about the research and personal matters. In any event, Marquis Claret somehow learned of our plan to have matching dresses made, and he decided to involve Tilty in the discussion. I was all for it, but Tilty was understandably furious at the surprise. “Well, you don’t like dresses, either,” I remarked. “That’s because I don’t have any opportunities to wear any.” “Marquis Claret wants you to make an appearance at a gala, though he doesn’t want to pressure you. But he did indicate he would like to see you shine at least once…,” Euphie noted. “So?! Why doesn’t he tell me that to my face?!” “You would only turn him down, wouldn’t you?” “You’re all just trying to force my hand here!” Tilty huffed, shooting Euphie an annoyed glare. Euphie, however, remained unperturbed—which only served to irritate Tilty more. Ignoring them both, Lainie flashed me an apologetic look. “Lady Anis? Are you sure you want to order dresses for me and Lady Ilia as well?” “Yes! I mean, I’m supposed to commission quite a few! And it would be nice if we had some for you and Ilia! Neither of you have had many opportunities to dress up, have you?” “That’s true…,” Ilia answered. Standing next to Lainie, she looked a little uncertain. Did she really dislike the idea that much? “You don’t approve, Ilia?” I asked. “It isn’t that. I’m just in awe. I’m your maid, after all.” “It is a little daunting…,” Lainie added, nodding in agreement. They said that, but Ilia was a nobleman’s daughter, and while Lainie had been brought up as a commoner, her current position left her no room to complain about being overdressed. I couldn’t help wondering if it was really okay to be so caught up in work all the time. But I kept my mouth shut. I knew exactly what would happen if I spoke those words aloud. Like you’re one to talk, they would fire right back. “You don’t need to hold back! You two have done so much for me! I’m just making a selfish request!” “Wow. That has to be the worst excuse to argue against,” said Tilty, thoroughly exasperated. How long had she been listening? And what gave her any right to complain?! Even if Ilia and Lainie tried to back out, there was no way I was letting her off the hook! “Obviously, you’re coming, too, Tilty! Your parents already gave permission!” “…I think I’m starting to resent my father.” “You really hate this that much?” “It’s not that I hate it. It’s just a hassle.” Was there a difference? But before I could press further, she turned to Euphie. “More importantly, are you okay with this?” “With what, Tilty?” “You and Lady Anis having matching dress. You could just have one made for yourself.” “But Anis wants matching dresses for everyone. That’s reason enough to make them. This isn’t a choice I can selfishly make.” “You say that… But if you wanted to, you could.” “Wanting to do something and actually doing it are two very different things.” Euphie smiled—a dazzling, breathtaking smile. Why did it feel like there was an unspoken weight behind it? “Besides, these are the dresses Anis wants, even if there are strings attached. If I can do something to make that happen, I will.” “…Tch. There’s no way to talk you out of this, is there?” “You say it’s a hassle, but deep down, you’re just embarrassed. Aren’t you?” “Don’t put words in my mouth.” “So I was right, then?” “Argh! Shut up! Stop looking at me like that!” Euphie chuckled as she teased Tilty, who finally realized she was just digging herself into a deeper hole. She fell silent with a sulky pout. “Even putting Anis’s wishes aside, I think the idea of matching dresses might be fun. So there’s no need to limit it to just me and Anis. It would be a great way to show off our close relationship. If anything, we could go even further and coordinate everyone’s clothes.” “Like matching family outfits!” I suggested. “That way, you could tell who’s in the same family! I’m sure some kids would love to dress like their parents!” “There’s an old tradition of tailoring dresses to match your partner’s eye color… But this could introduce a whole new cultural element.” “Exactly!” “If we sell them as magical tools, as enchanted garments, they could even become family heirlooms, passed down through the generations.” A new tradition, huh? When it came to traditions, I couldn’t help but think of Lang from the Ministry of the Arcane. How would he react if we told him about this? Would he be open to it? Or would he think I was just stirring up more unnecessary trouble? “Tilty,” Euphie continued, “if you wore a matching dress with Anis, it could serve as a public declaration that she’s your patron and supporter.” “You really think this counts as support?” “That’s very rude.” “You know perfectly well what I mean!” “I suppose I can’t deny it…” “Now, now,” Euphie interceded. “I want your contributions to be properly recognized as well, Tilty. You might not have been as unfortunate as Anis, but you’ve seen your share of unfair treatment.” “Tch. Like that matters now,” Tilty scoffed. Over the years, she had made incredible strides in researching and unraveling various curses. But those accomplishments had never been properly acknowledged—because back then, the old Ministry of the Arcane had refused to accept unorthodox findings. Unlike me, she wasn’t completely unable to use magic, but she still didn’t fit into their mold of the model magic user. And yet I had found a place for myself. Why shouldn’t she have that chance, too? Though perhaps this was just my own selfish thinking. Euphie, I was sure, felt much the same way. That was why she had agreed to invite Tilty to join us. “The kingdom will change, Tilty. Anis and I are going to make sure of that. I want you to be at our side, watching it happen. You’ve helped us so much, and it’s only right we return the favor.” “You’re sure this isn’t just revenge disguised as kindness?” “If you really don’t want to, then by all means, try dissuading Anis.” Euphie’s beaming smile effortlessly shot down Tilty’s feeble resistance. With an exaggerated sigh, she finally raised her hands in surrender. “Uggghhh… Fine. I suppose.” “A-ha! That means you lose, Tilty!” I shouted. “Why are you acting so smug?! You peculiar princess!” “Wow! It’s been ages since you called me that!” “All right, you two,” Euphie interjected with a weary smile. “Enough messing around. Let’s get to work on the dress designs.” Tilty let out a huff, clearly unimpressed. But then, as if something had just crossed her mind, she said, “Wait. Are these dresses going to be enchanted like the royal robes?” “Yes. But they won’t be that elaborate. It’ll just be a subtle effect—something that’ll be nice to have.” “Hah… Looks like we’ll be drawing attention to ourselves, then…” “You’re already rather famous, Tilty.” “Not the good kind of famous, though.” “Which is exactly why we’re doing this—to change that,” Euphie commented. “You’re relentless, Tilty,” I said. “What about the design? Should we keep it close to my usual image?” “What? If we designed a dress around you, there’s no way it would suit me.” “Why not?!” “Because we’re completely different!” “That’s the fun part! It’s time to break new ground! You’re always wearing black, so let’s go with white to shake things up!” “Absolutely not.” “Then how about I match your usual style instead?” “…That sounds like a reasonable compromise.” Compromise? Why was this a compromise?! Yes, our aesthetics were completely different, but still! “If it’s for Lady Anis and Lainie, perhaps we should go for something cute?” Ilia suggested. “Huh?!” Lainie squeaked. “Agreed,” Euphie said with a nod. “We might as well embrace that about them.” “Lady Ilia?! Lady Euphyllia?!” Lainie cried. “What are you suggesting?!” “I mean, a cute dress would be perfect for you, Lainie! It just makes sense!” I remarked. “U-ugh…! Then what about you, Lady Ilia?!” “My style is simple and modest, so something elegant and understated should do.” “Oh, no, no! I won’t allow it! If I have to go through this, so do you! If you’re making me dress up, Lady Anis, then you have to be strict with Lady Ilia, too!” “Calm down, Lainie… Though you do have a point. Ilia is always so plain, which is exactly why we should spare no effort!” Ilia, who had been quietly trying to weasel her way out of the conversation, stiffened as Lainie glared at her with renewed determination. Well, I wanted to see Ilia dressed up as well. I wasn’t about to let her escape. “Right, Lady Anis?” Lainie pressed. “But that goes for you, too, you know!” “Ugh…!” “You’re like two peas in a pod,” Tilty remarked. “I’m honored to be compared to Lady Anisphia, Lady Tilty,” said Ilia. “But that’s far too much. Unlike her, I’m not a total disaster.” “Did you just call me a disaster?!” “My apologies. Would you prefer lazy instead?” “That’s no better!” Once the conversation picked up pace, everyone else naturally joined in, and the room was growing livelier by the second. That was when I noticed Euphie watching us with a soft smile. Come to think of it, she hadn’t said much for a while now. “Don’t just sit there enjoying all this, Euphyllia. Don’t you have anything to say?” Tilty asked. “I already had a general idea of what I wanted to ask Anis, so I thought I would let everyone else work out their ideas first.” “Huh? You’ve already decided what you want?” “I have, yes.” “And what are you going to ask this fool?” Tilty said. “Don’t call me that?” I shot back. “Hee-hee. It’s nothing complicated. I just want Anis to wear a dress in a color of my choosing,” Euphie answered. “You do?” I repeated. Euphie gave me a knowing look, then tapped just below her eye. Almost like she was telling me to pay attention. No, wait… Her eyes… “You want me to wear a dress the same color as your eyes?” “Correct. So long as we can agree to that, I’m happy to let you handle the rest.” “…Wow. No wonder you were keeping quiet,” Tilty said. “You act all sweet and innocent, and then suddenly this.” “What do you mean?” I asked. “Have you already forgotten what she said earlier? Matching your partner’s eye color with your dress is a major romantic statement.” “Ah.” Tilty raised her eyebrows as she pointed this out, and it suddenly hit me. Ilia widened her eyes, as if to say Oh my, while Lainie just smiled at the two of us like we were the cutest thing in the world. Euphie herself, meanwhile, seemed perfectly unperturbed. And she said it so casually. Come on…! “You’d better make sure you have a say in your own outfit, Anis. Otherwise you’ll be letting her decide everything for you.” “Eeep…!” “Don’t scare her like that, Tilty. It’s unkind. I do have a sense of common decency, you realize?” “Not five minutes ago, you said there was a world of difference between being able to do something and actually doing it.” Euphie flashed her an angelic smile, and Tilty scrunched up her face to keep from groaning out loud. Ah… She wasn’t saying she wanted to monopolize me, but she did want to make it clear that I was hers. “I’m looking forward to it, Anis,” she murmured, suddenly leaning in close. “I can’t wait to design our paired dresses together.” Her whisper tickled my ear, sending a jolt down my spine. My face felt like it was on fire. I could never let my guard down with her, could I?! I needed to make sure I had a say in this dress design! If I left it all to Euphie, there was no telling what kind of ridiculous outfit I would end up in!
Chapter 144
24 min read