CHAPTER 90……………………………
“Young lady, how about this one? These pretty flowers and the green color will make your freshness stand out even more.”
“Lady Esther, I think this yellow one that reminds me of a baby chick might be better. After all, your cuteness is practically irresistible.”
“The young lady is already ten years old. Chick yellow is too childish. If you don’t know fashion, just stay out of it, Lord Raksa.”
“That’s absurd, Chiffon. Yellow is a bright color that highlights Lady Esther’s radiance. Green only looks dull and muddy. I wonder when you’ll realize that. Frankly, Chiffon, I don’t think your sense of aesthetics is very good.”
“Oh my, anyone would think you were a fashion expert, Lord Raksa. That childish color is ridiculous — this one is much better, isn’t it, young lady?”
“Uh…? Uhh…”
Esther nodded reflexively, caught off guard.
“What nonsense! Look, Lady Esther — to captivate the Duchess’s eyes this time, there’s nothing better than a fabric with this kind of youthful color. See this lace? It doesn’t look too childish. Obviously, this color is more eye-catching and lively, isn’t it, Lady Esther?”
“Uh… right…”
Esther’s eyes flickered nervously as Raksa kept talking without pause.
Sparks practically flew between the two. Esther swallowed hard.
‘Why’s it so intense in here?’
And truthfully, she didn’t like either of their choices.
‘Neither one’s all that cute…’
Besides, now that she was ten, maybe going for something a little sexy wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
In that case, rather than yellow or green, this deep, deep red over here looked much better.
If she blushed her cheeks and puffed them out with candy, she’d be both cute and sexy — wouldn’t that be perfect?
Esther grinned to herself, lost in the thought.
“I want this one! Don’t you think it’s cuter? I mean, I’d look cute in anything, but still…”
She scratched her cheek with a bashful smile.
“I can’t go around making people faint, after all!”
The dress Esther held up with a bright face was — in a word — ghastly.
On Esther’s fair skin, it would make her look like a crimson monster.
A pink dress might have been fine, but this vivid, scarlet-red one was absolutely not for a child.
It was the kind of flashy, provocative red you’d expect to see at a late-night ball.
The lace and decorations were far too much.
Even the neckline was a little low in front and back — which, of course, was exactly what Esther liked about it.
‘Yes, it has to be this flashy — that way people will see I’m moving past just “cute” into being sexy.’
After all, wasn’t ten practically the age of adulthood?
Esther nodded proudly to herself, feeling quite pleased.
Raksa and Chiffon quietly put down the dresses they had been holding and looked at each other.
Their eyes met, and with grave determination, they both nodded.
Then they brought over a pale sky-blue dress from behind Esther.
“Young lady, what about this one?”
“Huh? But I like this…”
“Excellent choice. Chiffon, it seems you do have a good eye after all. As expected of someone chosen by Lady Esther. I agree — this one’s best.”
Raksa smiled, pointing at the dress Chiffon held.
They both completely ignored Esther’s overly glamorous, age-inappropriate dress.
“A cute puppy theme would go perfectly with this.”
“Yes, young lady. With this dress and a puppy motif, you could surely melt the Duchess’s heart.”
“But since I’ve grown a bit, wouldn’t something slightly sexier be better?”
Esther tilted her head and made her case.
“…”
“…”
When both of her loyal attendants fell silent, Esther raised one finger, her eyes rolling in thought.
“Come on, think about it — demon kings always have that kind of sexy vibe, right?”
Mist gathered above her fingertip and formed an image — a half-dressed, sultry demon king.
Raksa immediately smiled and dispelled the image with a flick.
Esther’s eyes trembled in shock.
“But I’m ten now, isn’t it time to start preparing for that kind of look?”
“No, it’s not.”
“It is not.”
Chiffon and Raksa spoke in unison.
Had these two ever agreed on anything before?
No. Never.
Esther puffed out her cheeks, answering her own question.
Just as she sighed and set the dress down, it suddenly went up in black flames and turned to ash in seconds.
“…That’s too much.”
“Young lady, cute things still suit you best,” Chiffon said firmly.
Esther glanced at her, sighed deeply, and looked down at the pile of ashes that would obviously never turn back into a dress.
“…”
“You look so adorable, young lady! This sky blue really was the perfect choice!”
“Indeed… Lady Esther is perfection itself, no matter what she wears — utterly, divinely— ngh…”
Drip.
As blood dripped from Raksa’s nose, Esther flinched back in alarm.
“Kyaaah!”
Chiffon screamed and shoved Raksa in the chest with all her strength.
“You filthy pervert!”
“…”
“I told you not to disgrace yourself in front of Lady Esther! What on earth—!”
Chiffon looked at Raksa in horror.
With blood streaming from his nose, Raksa looked every bit the degenerate he was accused of being.
Even Esther recoiled a step in shock.
She stared blankly at her outfit, then at Chiffon yelling and smacking Raksa, before quietly turning away.
Wrapped in a neatly tied bundle Chiffon had prepared, Esther slipped out of the room as the sounds of screams and slaps echoed behind her.
Outside the dressing room, a boy sitting politely on the bed stood up.
When Sidereus saw Esther, his eyes widened and he smiled brightly.
“You look beautiful, Esther.”
“…Hmm, really?”
“Yeah. It suits you — and you’re cute.”
“Well, the base model is cute.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Satisfied with his honest answer, Esther nodded approvingly and started toward the door.
But when Sidereus moved as if to follow, she quickly shook her head.
“Wait here.”
“…Why?”
“It’s something personal. I’ll be right back.”
After all, she couldn’t let him see her wagging her tail in embarrassment.
“…You said that last time too. But you didn’t come back.”
His words made Esther’s eyes widen slightly. She touched her cheek.
“This time I will. You’re my contract candidate — I don’t abandon what’s mine.”
“…Yours?”
“Mm-hmm.”
At that, Sidereus’s cheeks turned red.
“Yeah… I’m yours.”
“Uh, wait.”
“Okay.”
When Sidereus sat back down, Esther hurriedly left the room.
—Maaasteeer! Take me with you!
—Can’t you ever be quiet?
—I just didn’t want you to not hear me.
How shameless could one creature be? Esther frowned and headed for the study.
A guard stood by the office door.
“Is Grandma in?”
“Yes, young lady. Shall I announce you?”
“Sure.”
Esther nodded — then swung the door open herself.
“Ahem.”
“Grandmaaaa!”
The soldier, who had just cleared his throat to make the announcement, froze mid-motion.
Robbed of his duty, he stared at Esther with a look of pure betrayal.
Esther just grinned and slipped inside.
—Master, you’re so mean. Is this what they call bad luck?
Esther reached out, trying to grab the hatchling, when—
“What’s this, you little thunder-naked rascal.”
“Thunder…? What’s that?”
“It’s a word for someone as grand as you.”
“Ooh.”
Esther widened her eyes and rubbed her chin.
She thought it sounded kind of cool.
‘Nice word.’
She nodded in satisfaction.
“You know, Grandma… huh?”
Just as she was about to pour on the charm, her eyes went wide.
Above her head, the black exclamation mark still hovered —
—but this time, there was something different about it.
