While we were repairing the territory devastated by Schneider’s faction with the help of Nick and the others and raiding their strongholds, we received a summons from the king addressed to the master of Trundle. We couldn’t very well ignore it.
“Lady Serephione!” Mrs. Marcus hugged me and began to cry. It had been a long time since we’d met, and she was a cute old lady now. Lou hastily moved from my shoulder to my head, stepping on Miyu in my pocket, who yelped. I patted her large back and lifted my tear-stained face.
“If you’re the new master of Trundle...what happened to our Lady Erza?” she asked.
“Mrs. Marcus... My grandmother will visit here again, so don’t worry.”
“So that means... Ah... Lady Erza...” Mrs. Marcus weakly fell to her knees. Sasara, who was accompanying me, gently helped her up and sat her on the sofa.
Following Gardner’s evacuation orders, all schools were closed, and people who could leave the capital fled to the suburbs. The Marcus Trade Company had kept its doors open in the middle of the capital, where the supply flow was uncertain and people were sparse, despite the war.
“I’m glad to hear that Lady Erza is okay. It’s thanks to her patronage that we’re able to do business. This young lady has also been visiting often lately.” She smiled at Sasara.
Sasara was the only female executive soldier in active duty now that Elise had quit. I imagined she was super popular because of that. Nobody would bother the shop knowing that Sasara liked it. I glanced at the M mark on Sasara’s uniform.
“Thank you for keeping your promise, Mrs. Marcus.”
“I’ve done nothing, Lady Serephione.”
Looks were important. Sasara’s gorgeous uniform and spotless appearance served as self-protection. I have to do something to thank her... or so I thought, before I realized it was unnecessary. She’d shown mercy to a saint. There would be a bigger reward for that than I could give.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“Has my grandmother left any of her gowns here?”
“Four of them. They’re ready for delivery.”
“I’ll help, but I want two of those tailored to fit me and Sasara. By the end of the day!”
“So, you need a dress suitable for a master... Who are you seeing?”
“I’ve been summoned by the king,” I chuckled.
“My... That means the queen will also be in attendance... You’ll have to look strikingly strong and beautiful. This will be the Trundle family’s first audience with the king.”
“Exactly.”
“Uh, Serephi, why are you having one tailored for me?”
“She’s going to take you along, of course!” replied Mrs. Marcus exasperatedly.
“Y-You are?”
Mrs. Marcus gave a sidelong glance to the panicked Sasara and stood up. “Lady Serephione, there will be no need to tailor Lady Erza’s gowns. Come this way.”
She led me to the fitting room in the back. Her pupils opened the sliding doors of the wall-to-wall closet. I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of colorful, extravagant gowns.
“Cuuute!” exclaimed Miyu, the most feminine in our party. She poked her face out from my pocket and wagged her tail in excitement. It kind of hurt where it was hitting me...
“These are gorgeous... What are they for?”
“Lady Erza had all of these tailored for you. We can’t have you wear these six, since the designs are too childish...but I think the others will work if we just alter the hemline.”
“Why...?”
“Lady Erza had five dresses made for you per season while you were away. She said that dresses are a woman’s battle armor and that you never know when you’ll need one.”
Grandmother...
A pure white dress on the very end caught my eye.
“This was her most recent order. We received it by letter. It’s a wedding dress for you. Congratulations on your engagement! Lady Erza ordered that it be white with light blue accents, and to make it the best in the world! Those were all of her instructions.”
Grandmother...you dummy! You didn’t have to do this while you were feeling ill...
The dress was simple, lustrous, and had light blue stitching in some key places.
“It’s like Lou...” whispered Miyu.
It was playful, like Lou bounding through a pure white field of snow. Anyone who knew that I lived with Lou would smile when they saw it. This wasn’t the kind of thing you make in secret in case of an emergency! It was something to fuss over with me to decide...
This...isn’t battle armor, is it?
As the successor to my perfect grandmother, nobody would let it slip if I made a mistake. I took a deep breath to cool my head.
“Which would you recommend, Mrs. Marcus?”
“Let’s see... How about this one? The Trundle coat of arms is woven into it.”
The top part was solid white silk, but the Trundle sword and snake—probably the lesser dragon—were woven into it like a pattern. The skirt was black satin. It was elegant.
“Miss Sere, it’s my father! This will look great on you!” Miyu the maiden urged from my chest pocket. I know, I know.
“Wouldn’t this be shocking to the queen?”
Mrs. Marcus chuckled. “Then how about this one?”
“Ohh!” Sasara exclaimed.
It was made of a thin, shiny gray fabric, resembling a man’s frock coat with a stuffed collar. The waist was marked by a sash-like belt with pearls sewn on it, and below the waist, it extended in an A-line down to the knees. Knight-style pants in the same fabric could be seen starting at the overlapping section.
It was a pantsuit! The first of its kind for a woman in this world, apart from knight school students and military uniforms! There was plenty of room to hide a knife in the voluminous fabric of the top. This was...the new and improved version of my ninja outfit.
Also...
“Serephi, you can’t show your ankles. It’s unseemly.”
“But grandmother, I can’t fight if the hem isn’t short. If it’s unseemly, then I can just wear pants and boots!”
“Well, isn’t that innovative... I’m sure that will look nice on you, my Serephi.”
My grandmother hated me showing my ankles...so why would she want me to wear this?
“These pearls were brought in by Lady Erza and processed here. They’re lovely ones from Regan Island.”
Oh, the lesser dragon gave Miyu’s present for him (I collected them, though) to my grandmother. Jeez, can’t anyone use things for themself?
“The lesser dragon’s protection is on each pearl,” said Lou. “He must have sensed the unsettled times and wanted to protect Erza.”
I’m...I’m loved and protected by adults who act before they speak.
“I choose this one. I’d like to change the embroidery a little bit if you don’t mind. Also, I’d like a matching one made for Sasara if possible. I’ll reward you handsomely!”
“Of course! Just leave it to the Marcus Trade Company!”