The moment I entered the room, Eric spoke up, shocked. “What!? Why are you wearing that!?”
By “that” he means...my uniform? I looked down at myself. Was something wrong with it?
“Wait, Lucia, why are you in your uniform?” Sir Celes objected.
“Huh, is it weird?” I asked, as I started to worry. This was what they told me to put on, but... Maybe it was wrong after all?
“You really just continue to surprise me. It’s amazing how you do it,” His Highness chimed in.
“Um... I was told to wear this...”
Even the prince is going at me! I was really at my wits’ end. What should I have done? Should I have changed into my festival dress, or the light yellow one I got from Miss Lella? But I’d worn my festival dress on our return to the capital, and I’d taken it off to bathe. I didn’t have it anymore. Where even is it!?
“Once Maria gets back, Father will see us each separately...” Realizing I was worried, the prince offered me an alternative, “Do you want to change?”
“If this would be improper... Yes...”
“I’ll have a gown prepared for you.”
With a clap of the Prince’s hands, the butler that I had seen before appeared silently. Amazing. Where had he been?
“Godfrid, have a gown prepared for Lucia.”
“A gown, you say...” Sir Godfrid looked troubled at His Highness’s request. “Your Highness, ladies’ gowns are made to fit each woman.”
“Really? So she can’t just wear one of Maria’s or Mother’s?”
“Both the Sacred Maiden and the late Queen are different sizes. And I do not believe His Majesty would allow Lady Elvira’s to be used. If Miss Lucia was instructed to wear that uniform, I advise against having her change.”
“I see... But why was she told to wear that...”
While His Highness looked bitter, I rushed to smooth things over. “Um, I’m alright with just wearing this! I’m used to it, so it’s more of a relief. It will be fine!”
“But wearing it makes you look like a servant.”
While I felt good wearing my uniform, the prince and the others didn’t seem to think well of it. Like a servant... Your Highness, you realize I was originally a laundrymaid, correct?
As we were talking, Miss Maria was led through the open door.
“Sorry to keep you all waiting! Wh— Lucia, what are you wearing!?”
Miss Maria was wearing a gorgeous deep green gown. It was covered in gems, and the full skirt, embroidered with golden thread, draped elegantly. One side of the skirt was raised, showing layers upon layers of champagne gold tulle.
“Um... It’s...”
“What — is someone bullying you!? I bet they’d do that! Let me at ’em! Who did it!?”
“Wait, Maria. I understand why you’re angry, and I agree... But since you’re finished, Father will begin seeing us now. If she was told to wear that, it probably was someone’s bullying, but...”
“Probably... Of course it was! Something’s definitely up, when she’s in that and I’m dressed up like this! If she’s wearing that, I’m taking this off!”
“Miss Maria!” I exclaimed, attempting to sway her attention.
“If I’m a Sacred Maiden, so is Lucia! Why am I getting treated so much better? They just shoved her into some basic dress!”
“This was originally my uniform as a laundrymaid. It’s fine.”
“Your uniform? Then I’ll wear my uniform, too! They kept it, right? I want us to wear the same thing!”
“Miss Maria!” I grabbed her hand before she could rip her decorative flowers off, shaking my head slowly. “You can’t. You’re dressed up so prettily. It would be a waste for you to change.”
“But—”
“I’m used to wearing this. I wouldn’t know what to do if I was dressed in something like what you’re in. So this is fine. And you’re the official ‘Sacred Maiden.’ You’ll be seen by people, and the gown really does suit you, so it’s alright.”
“Lucia...”
Looking at the butler, His Highness spoke up, “Godfrid, are you sure there isn’t anything else you could get for her to wear? If not a gown, at least something a bit more formal.”
“I will go look.”
“Is that alright, Maria, Lucia? I apologize for the problem, but please, try to bear with it.”
Miss Maria reluctantly nodded at Prince Edoardo’s suggestion. Seeing her agree, Sir Godfrid bowed to the prince before leaving silently once again.
“Fine. I’ll stay in this. But why is everyone in this castle so awful?” Miss Maria whined. “This is a castle. They’ve gotta have a gown or two lying around.”
“He said that there wasn’t anything that would fit me. Gowns are made to specific measurements, so they couldn’t get one for me this soon. You got measured for your gown, didn’t you?”
“Ah... Yeah, I did. But they don’t have mass-produced dresses around anywhere? They should have some things in different sizes.” She sighed, mumbling about how they were unprepared. But she immediately perked up, grabbing my hand. “Anyway, I’ve been thinking, and I wanna go home after your wedding!”
“What!?” I screeched, shocked at what she said. W-Wedding!?
“You’re having one, right? Of course you are. Celes has to have one, right?”
“T-That’s right...”
“We will. But I don’t really want to show everyone else Lucia in her wedding dress.” Sir Celes immediately nodded with a serious look on his face.
“I’m just gonna ignore the rampaging loser,” she said, turning away from him. “It’s our triumphant return from purifying the Cristallo Sacro. Celes getting married now would be so exciting!”
Miss Maria looked ecstatic, but I didn’t think the ladies of the world would be as happy... ‘The Dragonslayer’ was quite popular, after all.
“I’m pretty sure the captain’s wedding would turn into a bloodbath...” Eric muttered with a sour look on his face. I wasn’t the only one thinking it, but it was true. Instead of congratulations, there’d be curses.
“I’ll shut up anyone who objects. Ed will help, right?”
“Of course, for Lucia and Celestino’s sakes.”
It was then that Sir Godfrid returned to call us to the audience chamber. “His Majesty is ready for you. He would like to see you all one by one. Your Highness, since he has already seen you, please wait here. And about Miss Lucia’s outfit... Unfortunately, there was nothing else available in the castle. Though a few dresses were found, none of them would fit.”
Sir Godfrid bowed apologetically to both the prince and I. Wearing my dress is totally okay with me, honest!
The prince bit his lip, scowling when he heard the news. “But she’s...”
“Um, I really am fine! If this isn’t improper, I’m alright with wearing this.”
“Lucia...”
“We can’t leave His Majesty waiting,” I added.
The prince finally nodded — incredibly reluctantly, though — and said, “Alright. Then you should go first, Maria. It should be about rewards and things like that. I’ve already told him that you wish to return home, so you should just repeat that. Afterwards, the order should be Fernando, Reynard, Celestino, Eric, Gaius, and lastly Lucia. Father was very happy to learn that both Maria and Lucia succeeded in purifying the trees.”