Chapter 48: The Popularity Contest, Part 2
IT was time to change into their ball gowns for the dance segment. Iris stared down at her dress in utter despair.
Are you kidding me?! Only a god-tier cosplayer could pull this off!!!
She staggered out of the changing room to where her dance partner was waiting for her, grinning from ear to ear. “I heard you asked a fashion designer to make your dress for you, so I thought I’d surprise you.”
Reseda snickered; she was speechless.
She knew what dress Iris wore during this part of the contest—a run-of-the-mill evening gown. But she didn’t know enough about dressmaking to replicate the same design from the game, so she took all her measurements and put in an order with the most fashionable haute couture atelier in town. Reseda must have found out about it through her father… Her throat tightened.
“Er, Your Highness?”
“Reseda.”
“Prince Reseda, I’m just not sure this design is the most…”
“I’m told that it’s the latest trend among the peasants. And since you’ll need their votes to win the contest, I figured it would appeal to them.”
He beamed; Iris felt her face twitch.
It made no sense. In the game, Iris wore a classy, dark-green, floor-length gown…but the dress she found herself in was nothing like any evening gown. The top part was light-pink with hot-pink accents, angel sleeves, and open shoulders. It hung down to her ankles, but starting around her belly button, the fabric split down the middle, revealing a sheer mint-green petticoat underneath that transitioned into a wrap skirt starting at the knees. This meant everything from the knees down was faintly visible. If the pink parts were black instead, why…she’d look like a villain from a magical girl show!
Granted, it covered a lot of skin, but the translucent petticoat was titillating, appealing to those who preferred to imagine rather than be shown outright. Don’t get me wrong—I love it in theory! Especially the idea of my beloved Iris wearing it. But right now, she was Iris!
“You truly look the part of the Holy Maiden,” Reseda said with a sunny smile. Iris smiled back stiffly. There was no time to arrange for a different dress, and in a sense, it was at least somewhat her fault for not preparing a dress herself. She had no choice but to roll with it.
“…Thank you,” she replied, defeated.
Iris glanced at Camille as she walked out of the changing room. She was wearing a pastel pink dress with puffy sleeves, a frilly mini hoop skirt, and a bright-pink satin corset. Her lower legs were covered in white knee-high socks and cutesy pink Mary Janes with little wings on the heels. If Iris was a Magical Girl anime villain, then Camille was the protagonist!
Well, at least I’m not wearing THAT, I guess.
“Miss Camille, er, that dress…” Even Nigel seemed perplexed. His gaze wandered as he struggled not to look at her legs.
“Does it look bad…? Mégane helped me design it,” Camille responded without batting a lash. She seemed right at home wearing it, too. Perhaps she was used to wearing miniskirts by now.
“It doesn’t look bad, but…” Nigel faltered.
“Just tell her she looks pretty!” Iris cut in. Startled, the two of them whipped around to look at her.
“You look truly stunning, Iris. Like a goddess.” Reseda casually put an arm around her waist; she shot him a withering look.
“Ha ha, very funny. It’s not nice to toy with people, you know.” Iris pursed her lips.
He grinned playfully. “Nah, I mean it.”
“Not sure I approve of your fashion sense, Your Highness,” Nigel muttered under his breath.
“…Say, um, do you think this shows too much skin?” Camille asked him timidly.
She knew the upper and lower classes had different sensibilities; the more time she spent with Nigel, the more obvious it became. And the more she was around him, the more she found herself drawn to him…but considering the difference in social status, she knew she couldn’t expect to ever be with him…
As for Nigel, it pained him to see Camille with her confidence in tatters.
“I think you wear it very well,” he told her sincerely. Delighted, she clapped her hands to her cheeks.
On the headmaster’s cue, the four walked out onstage.