BSS 84

Chapter 84

“Miss Crowell, breakfast is ready.”

As morning arrived, Chelsea drew back the curtains by the window and placed a tray filled with food beside my still half-asleep self.

Warm bread, fresh fruits, a bit of cheese, eggs, and bacon.

It all looked so appetizing.

I absentmindedly stuffed bread into my mouth before fully waking up.

It had been a long time since anyone had prepared breakfast for me.

Chelsea handed me a warm cup of tea just as I was about to choke while eating, making me a little happy.

‘…What is this, it’s really nice.’

Could it be that I’m suited to the noble life?

I was born a noble, but I had never really experienced a normal noble’s life.

I had yet to make my debut at a party at this age, and I had no common engagement, either.

Of course, I didn’t need one.

‘Ah, I have experienced the bad side of noble life, though. Almost killed by anti-noble factions, treated like a toy by the emperor’s children in Elan…’

Chelsea approached, carefully brushing out my tangled hair as I half-wobbled in my sleepy haze.

It could have felt awkward, but it was somehow completely comfortable and satisfying—I suppose I really am the embodiment of laziness.

“Once you finish your meal, shall I prepare a bath?”

Enjoying a normal noble’s life like this made me realize that this was true happiness.

I eagerly nodded.

“Bath additives are prepared: rose water or lavender oil. Which would you prefer?”

I see… this is heaven!

Even the bathtub was top-class.

Not made of wood, but luxurious marble, and the water was just the right temperature.

Everything flowed naturally, so I didn’t even have a chance to summon Undine to fill the bath myself.

I was only now experiencing what it truly meant to be served.

The noble life is amazing, and baths are amazing!

“Is the water temperature alright?”

“Perfect.”

“Please let me know if you feel dizzy.”

After the bath, Chelsea dried me, styled my hair, helped me into a gown—serving me so meticulously that I didn’t have to lift a finger.

“You must be tired. Please rest here.”

“Huh?”

All I had done since waking was eat breakfast and take a bath; there was no way I could be tired.

“Shall I call a physician if it’s uncomfortable?”

Something felt off.

As Chelsea anxiously examined my face, I realized she was under a major misconception.

“Do you think I’m extremely weak?”

“Eh? Isn’t that the case? I was instructed to take special care since Miss Crowell is delicate.”

“…What.”

“The head steward mentioned that as soon as the guest from Dimitri arrived in Elan, she collapsed…”

“Ha ha, surely not everyone thinks that?”

When I asked awkwardly, Chelsea quietly avoided my gaze.

That was confirmation enough.

I felt like crying.

I’m not that kind of character!

No!

Feeling wronged aside, the party was right around the corner.

I hadn’t changed; I was still cramming.

With only three hours left until the party, I had read just five pages of the book I brought. Including the table of contents.

“Shall we bring out the dress you’ll wear today?”

“Hmm, yes.”

“What color should we go with? And jewelry?”

“I only have one set anyway, so just… whatever.”

With the pressure rising, I answered Chelsea distractedly while focusing on my book.

At the Academy, I had learned dance and etiquette as liberal arts courses, but only in theory—never practiced in real life.

Most of my classmates returned home during breaks to enjoy a full noble’s life, but I always stayed at the Academy.

Excuses about training meant my family never interfered.

Had I gone home, maybe I could have applied the theory?

Receiving my three older brothers’ escort, debuting at a small party normally…

“Miss Crowell!”

“Hm?”

“Forgive me!”

Chelsea suddenly ran up, knelt at my feet, and bowed so low her head nearly touched the floor.

Her frightening expression made me flinch.

What on earth was going on?

“I didn’t do anything! I swear I touched nothing!”

“What are you talking about?”

“There must have been a thief in the room!”

A thief? Impossible with Rai around.

“My shoes, gloves, hair ornament, corset—gone! Even the petticoat!”

Pale and trembling, Chelsea seemed on the brink of despair.

I had instinctively lowered my book in surprise, then looked back at it.

What? It’s nothing serious.

“That was never here to begin with.”

“Eh?”

“I didn’t bring them.”

“How can that be… Then what about the party?”

Is that such a big deal?

I glanced over the book at Chelsea.

“You only need the dress, jewelry set, and makeup kit, right? The makeup set was even borrowed from Irue…”

“B-But the shoes?”

“These.”

I wiggled the straw-colored leather sandals I was wearing.

The nicest pair I had.

“They’ll be hidden under the dress anyway, right?”

“That’s not… true!”

“Who’s going to lift my skirt? Does it matter?”

“No way!”

She shouted at me?

“I’ll get them immediately!”

“Eh, wait…”

Had I been too demanding yesterday?

Before I could stop her, Chelsea ran out of the room.

I was left alone in the large room, dazed for a moment.

“I don’t get it. Are shoes really that important?”

[Shoes are a woman’s soul!]

“What? You’re a spirit, aren’t you?”

Rai clearly didn’t know when to speak or stay quiet.

[Master! Don’t underestimate me; I know the human world pretty well!]

“I’m human, though.”

[True, but you’re so reclusive, your social skills are lacking…]

Clearly, he wanted to die quickly.

[Lacking… if I say that, you’ll kill me, right?]

“Be honest. You know how to kill spirits, right?”

[I don’t. No.]

“You’re crazy and want to die. Right?”

I shook Rai, extracting all his energy while he protested.

Chelsea returned, carrying a huge pile of luggage, while I had only read five pages of my party etiquette book.

I was doomed.

The party dress was very complex.

A thin inner dress, then a corset tightly cinched around my waist—I vaguely feared my insides might burst—then the layers of the outer dress stitched together.

From the outside, it looked like a single dress, but it was actually multiple pieces tied together with laces.

It was designed to emphasize the figure, but also showed the limits of clothing technology in this world.

That’s why dressing took an hour.

Without Chelsea, I could never have worn this dress.

From now on, I would wholeheartedly respect noble ladies who could manage parties so well.

“Haa… I can barely breathe.”

“That’s normal!”

“Do people wear these every day?”

“Some even sleep in corsets. That way, their waist becomes slimmer.”

“I don’t really need it to be slim…”

“Of course, gentlemen also appreciate a fuller waist, like yours, Miss Crowell.”

That sounded far more shocking than any rumors about me being delicate.

Chelsea seemed embarrassed as if she’d made a mistake, but I had already heard it and could never forget.

“Oh, no! These days, being thin… is just the fashion…”

“Full…”

“It’s just that some noble ladies are like that; it doesn’t mean Miss Crowell is fat.”

Still shocked, Chelsea worked hard to comfort me and led me in front of a full-length mirror.