Chapter 87
I hurriedly added,
“It’s just that the dress design was nice. I thought even a pile of firewood would look pretty wearing it!”
“And what do you think of yourself?”
“…I guess I could say I’m pretty?”
It’s really hard to call myself pretty while sober. To end the conversation, I stuffed bread into my mouth. The duke sighed.
“As I thought, you’ll need a ball.”
Just what are you expecting from me…
After the meal, I got ready for school.
Just then, Elber came out on horseback. When our eyes met, he smiled brightly, but then froze when he saw the carriage I was about to climb into.
“Sol, what’s with that carriage? I told you I’d take you!”
“I realized you’d have to go out of your way for me. Just go to work comfortably.”
“But still…”
Elber looked as if he’d just been fired. Why do I feel guilty? But I can’t suddenly say, “Then take me after all.”
Part of it is that I don’t want to burden him, but there’s another reason. What if the other students saw us riding together?
‘Looks like the Schlaeger heir really dotes on his little sister.’
‘His future bride is pitiful. How’s she supposed to endure such a favored sister-in-law?’
If rumors like that reached Seraphina, it would be troublesome!
“Well then, brother, good luck at work—”
That’s when Elber spoke in a mournful voice.
“…I see. You don’t even want my help. I understand. Until you feel ready to—”
“Oh, stop digging your own grave already!”
Even pretending is exhausting! I grabbed Elber’s cheeks and pulled.
“If you really care about me, didn’t I tell you to just apologize and leave it at that?”
“I—I did!”
“Then why can’t you forgive yourself? Did you actually make a mistake against yourself instead of me?”
“No! I wronged you! And I apologized, so it’s over!”
“Good! And do you think I’d hate you forever over one mistake?”
“…”
“No, forget it. Just memorize this: Brother is! Even if he makes mistakes, he’s cute!”
“Wh-what did you say?”
He’s really flustered. Maybe I should’ve said “cool” instead? But too late to take it back. I squished his cheeks like kneading slime.
“If I hated you, do you think I’d be doing this, or not?”
“…Nooo.”
“Exactly, I wouldn’t. Think about it. Back at the orphanage, even when you were cranky, I still did this. Remember how I used to wash you?”
“Y-yeah…”
“If I couldn’t hate you then, why would I now? I’m just grateful you became my real brother after that meeting.”
I patted his shoulder. His face was bright red, but at least that guilty look in his eyes was gone.
“Just keep being your cute self, okay? Can you do that?”
“Of course! I can!”
Even his muttering afterward—“Wait, cute?”—was cute.
The carriage soon departed. Maybe it was because it was a Monday morning but I didn’t have to drive myself, or maybe because Elber had finally stopped his endless self-pity, but I felt oddly cheerful.
Outside the window, the thickening leaves announced the approach of summer.
Unlike chilly Flogel in May, Albion already felt like early summer. I wondered if I could even stand the heat come June and July.
…Maybe I should suggest a trip somewhere.
Speaking of which, would that villainous duke even like summer retreats?
Of course, before any of that, there was a wall I had to break through first! I had to invite Seraphina to the ball!
A few days later, the duke sent me the general plan in a letter.
Within a month, here are the venues hosting evening balls. I’ve gathered only the less difficult ones. Choose one.
Some businessman, some assembly hall, some judge, some viscount…
“Not difficult,” he says! Just because they’re not counts doesn’t mean they’re easy!
Still, because of that, when I asked Seraphina to come with me, my nervousness was very real.
“S-Seraphina, Father’s sending me to a ball. It’s my first time, and I’m way too nervous to go alone!”
“Oh my, you just came from Flogel, so you haven’t had your debutante ball yet, have you?”
“Right! And… ah, never mind. Would you come with me? Just having you beside me would calm me down.”
I almost added, ‘I don’t have a mother to guide me,’ but stopped myself.
Sure, it would weigh on her conscience, but I didn’t want to use her like that. Seraphina’s a good girl.
“Of course! I don’t have much experience either, but if I can be a support to you, I’ll go anywhere!”
“Wow, thank you so much!”
“But there’s a problem.”
Seraphina looked down at her clothes.
“I don’t have a suitable dress for an evening ball.”
“Ah…”
“My dorm only has simple clothes. I’d need to get one from home, but I’m not sure if Mother kept them.”
“…Wait a moment.”
Her mention of dresses triggered a memory of the original novel.
After sending Seraphina to Gruner Bandt, the Tilern couple began selling off anything of value—including their daughter’s dresses and accessories.
When the heroine returned home to fetch a dress for a ball, what awaited her was an empty room, even the wardrobe sold.
It was the first time ever-optimistic Seraphina broke down crying.
‘Why… Mother, Father… Am I someone unworthy of having anything?’
I don’t want to see that scene again.
“Seraphina, you said your house is far, right?”
“Yes. It’s in the outskirts, so it’s hard to visit on weekdays.”
“Then don’t bother going.”
“Hm?”
“If you went all that way only to find the dress needed repairs, you’d just waste your weekend.”
“That’s true, but I can’t attend a ball in improper clothing.”
“I’ll get you a dress!”
Her eyes widened.
“How?”
“I’ve got my ways. Recently, I helped an old lady at the temple. Turns out she’s a seamstress! She offered me a dress she no longer had a wearer for. It’ll fit you perfectly!”
“…Wow, what a coincidence.”
Even her ever-positive gaze flickered with suspicion.
Yeah, I know it sounds ridiculous. But in the original story, that’s exactly how it went!
When Seraphina failed to find a dress, she declined a noble’s invitation, only for the noble to scoff at her excuse.
But conveniently, an elderly seamstress nearby, fond of Seraphina from temple volunteering, overheard and whipped up a dress for her. She wore it, stole the spotlight, and conquered the ball!
That was the original storyline. No one would believe me if I said it straight.
That’s fine. From now on, Seraphina won’t need convenient coincidences—she’ll have me.
“Just follow me. I’ll get you an amazing dress.”
On the way back from an old city dress shop, our arms were heavy with fabric scraps, sample books, panniers, and belts the shopkeeper had sold us cheaply.
The completed dress would be ready for pickup Friday.
Even burdened with bags, Seraphina’s eyes sparkled at me.
“Sol, you’re amazing. How did you know a historic atelier was hidden down that alley?”
“I heard rumors. That an old lady there sold fine clothes at low prices.”
“And how did you know she was in a legal dispute with other famous tailors?”
“I picked up information that certain tailors, backed by shady nobles, were aggressively buying up nearby shops.”
“And that she’d been tricked into making unwanted dresses she nearly had to throw away—did you learn that too?”
“Yes. Like I’ve said before, I deal in information.”
“Incredible! And you even knew she volunteers at the Grand Temple and likes me! Sol, you’re practically a prophet!”
“Haha…”
Ouch, my conscience. I’d crammed what took five chapters in the novel into an hour, and my head was spinning.
The seamstress must’ve thought I was insane.
Some random girl bursts in like—
‘Madam! You fought a tailor allied with nobles, didn’t you? And he tricked you into making dresses no one wants! You’re stuck with them, right? Please sell them to me!’
Who wouldn’t be stunned?
If Seraphina hadn’t been there, I’d have been tossed out as suspicious on the spot.
But luckily, the old lady melted under Seraphina’s kind, angelic gaze.
So the story more or less followed the original.
“I’m exhausted…”
“Hehe, Sol. Should I carry your bags?”
“Your hands are already full.”
“But I feel light as air right now! I’ve found out you’re an amazing informant and met a wonderful seamstress!”
She laughed and ran down the road, her bags swinging like angel wings.
She really was like an angel.
…Should I tell her about her future?
That her family will soon go bankrupt. That the Tilern estate will vanish. That her parents will run away in the night.
That she won’t be held responsible for debts as a student, but she’ll be expelled and end up working odd jobs at the temple.
That she’ll eventually be chosen as the Saint.
Would that be any comfort?
The answer was obvious.
Impossible.
I recalled the image of her crying in that empty room.
Even she has a human heart. She couldn’t cry in a house that no longer belonged to her. And the temple is never private—she’d share a room with a maid who’d complain her prayers felt like endless work.
“Sol, what’s wrong? The dorm will close soon.”
“Ah, I’m coming.”
“Isn’t it because your bags are heavy? Let me carry them!”
“I said I’m fine.”
“Hey, don’t run!”
I ran ahead, not wanting her to see my troubled expression.
Seraphina, I’m not a good person. I’m just thinking about using you to stabilize the duke’s household.
I can’t give up on pairing you with Elber…
“Hey, Seraphina.”
“Mm?”
“Do you want anything? Not just making it back before curfew. I mean, in life—what’s your ultimate wish?”
Her eyes went round at the sudden question.
“Why are you asking that?”
“If it’s something I can do, I want to grant it.”
“Ahaha, if you say it like that, it feels possible. But nothing comes to mind right now.”
I’d expected her to say world peace. Not that I could grant it, of course.
As I caught up, she suddenly turned and looked at me, her lips curled in playful mischief.
“Then I’ll say just one wish.”
“O-okay!”
“I want you to never worry about anything when you’re with me.”
“…”
She was serious.
…Which is why, I couldn’t smile.
Friday evening, we checked Seraphina’s dress at the atelier.
In a deep green gown, she was as lovely as a freesia surrounded by leaves.
One glance, and I felt no other dress in the world mattered. What’s fabric compared to what’s inside?
So when my own dress was delivered Saturday, I only checked the fit and immediately shrugged it off.
That’s when a maid panicked.
“My lady, you’re already taking it off?”
“Yes. The party’s tomorrow, isn’t it?”
“Ah, but…”
She gestured toward the closed door.
…Of course. I already knew who was standing outside.
