That Dress Looks Lovely On You

Behind Lady Shitoen, the head butler was looking at me with a chilly expression that plainly said, “What on earth are you doing?” If there was any saving grace, it was that Lady Shitoen was at least managing a polite smile.

“I have known young master for many years, but there is nothing whatsoever between him and Lord Vandel, so please rest assured.”

The head butler was murmuring something like that under his breath.

Of all people, why did I have to be misunderstood with this idiot?

“Yes, indeed, dear charming lady. He and I are what one might call old school friends.”

With a little heave, perhaps having regained his footing, the arm that had been supporting Vandel grew lighter.

I had just started to feel relieved, when that bastard— for some unfathomable reason, he smacked his lips and kissed me on the cheek.

“This is the extent of our relationship.”

He laughed, “Ha ha ha ha,” so I roared, “Guaaahhh!” and swung at him. Just moments ago he had looked ready to faint, and yet he lightly dodged aside and stepped forward before Lady Shitoen.

“O goddess who has pierced my friend’s heart with an arrow. Would you grant me the honor of greeting you?”

He bowed with utmost reverence.

Pulling that melodramatic nonsense again… But the annoying thing was, this sort of thing actually suited him.

That was what I was bitterly thinking, but—

Lady Shitoen nodded with a smile full of benevolence itself. She truly was gracious.

What was more, today’s dress was unbelievably cute. The one I had seen at breakfast had been lovely too, but this one suited her just as well.

What was that all about? Why did she keep hitting every single one of my preferences one after another? Was there some commander somewhere directing a campaign specifically to conquer me?

That was how I stood there, simply captivated, but then—

I remembered hearing that at Crown Prince Arios’s place, she had practically been kept in confinement.

That in social settings, and even when the Crown Prince went out, the one he took along was that woman called Mail.

King Tania and Lord Balimore had surely sent Lady Shitoen with many clothes and dresses.

So that she would never be ashamed wherever she went.

So that no one could say she was wearing the same outfit again.

She must have entered the Kingdom of Luminous carrying the burden of the entire Kingdom of Tania behind her, feeling that pressure herself.

And yet, most of the clothes she was wearing now had surely never once been seen by anyone in Luminous.

She had had no chance to wear them, and no one to see them.

That suits you, you look adorable, you look lovely.

Surely no one had ever said such things to her.

Realizing that left me feeling unsettled, and just then Lady Shitoen smoothly extended her right hand to Vandel. Vandel took it. I was seized by the urge to slap his hand away.

“My name is Vandel. I assist my father in the County of Sheen. I hope we shall get along well.”

He pressed a kiss to the back of Lady Shitoen’s right hand.

And that, too— looked so perfectly picturesque that it only irritated me more.

“My name is Shitoen. I am pleased to make your acquaintance as well.”

Her pink lips softened into a smile.

Ah, what a waste. I wanted that smile to be for my eyes alone, and yet now this man had seen it.

“I see. No wonder my friend fell into your hands at first sight.”

I wanted to punch that smugly grinning Vandel.

“Not at all. I am the one who fell in love.”

Lady Shitoen said it shyly, and I found myself staring at her.

Judging by her bright red ears and her slightly flushed cheeks, it really did seem to be the truth.

On the one hand, I thought that made me a little happy, but on the other—huh? It’s me, you know. Are you sure about that? I felt like asking.

“To recognize that man’s worth—your eyes are sharp indeed.”

Vandel took Shitoen’s hand, escorted her over, and seated her on the sofa.

“Tea.”

I called out to the head butler.

The head butler gave a bow as if to say, So this ridiculous farce is over at last, and left the room.

I sat beside Lady Shitoen, and Vandel sat across from us.

“He gave me that.”

When I leaned close to her ear and said so, she drew her shoulders up with a ticklish little shiver, then looked toward where I indicated with my thumb.

“Oh my. Are those bones from a whale? Or a dolphin?”

I widened my eyes. She knew what they were.

“You’ve seen whales and dolphins before?”

The Kingdom of Tania was a mountainous region. The sea was far away. I had assumed seafood must be imported from the other Union Kingdoms.

“No… um… that is… skeletal specimens. From my tutor.”

Lady Shitoen hastily offered that explanation.

“Ah, I see. They were in fashion, after all. Skeletal specimens.”

A dozen or so years ago, geology had become all the rage.

The bones of giant reptiles had been found, and the fossils of large beasts from ancient strata—creatures no one could even imagine the appearance of—had surfaced, triggering a great boom in skeletal specimens.

Even in the homes of wealthy merchants and inside royal palaces, all sorts of skeletons had been hung from ceilings like mobiles.

“I’m glad to hear it pleases you.”

Vandel smiled.

“Surely not everything in those boxes is bones.”

I said it sarcastically, but Vandel remained utterly unfazed.

“I think there were furs and dried grass too.”

No, bring something more conventional, you idiot.

“That dress looks lovely on you.”

Resting his cheek on his hand atop his knee, Vandel leaned forward and smiled at Lady Shitoen.

“Thank you very much.”

The moment I saw Lady Shitoen thank him, I grimaced. Damn it.

No, wait. Wasn’t that supposed to be the first thing I said?

As expected, Vandel twisted one corner of his mouth as if to say, Got you. Damn him.

While I was grinding my teeth, Lady Shitoen glanced up at me with those violet eyes.

I-I have to say something!! I have to say something!!

“Y-Your outfit this morning was lovely too, but this one is wonderful as well! It’s, um… well, that. It feels very early-summer-like! Floral, or rather, like those little things, you know, the ones that bear fruit. Red ones. It resembles the color of those flowers, doesn’t it? Lady Shitoen, your skin is so beautiful, so it suits you really well, or maybe it makes you stand out, or something. It’s that, yes. Like you’ve taken in the season, or… gotten ahead of it? No, that’s not right. Um…”

Somehow, I desperately forced the words out.

By then, my speech had turned completely incoherent halfway through, and Vandel had lowered his head and was trembling. That bastard was definitely laughing.

But—

Lady Shitoen looked up at me and gave me a bright smile.

Eyes like amethysts, silvery hair so delicate it felt as if it might vanish if touched, glossy white skin— all of that flooded into me as pure visual sensation, all at once.

And then I became keenly aware that Lady Shitoen was smiling.

At me alone.

Could there possibly be any happiness greater than this?

“I’m happy. Thank you very much. I’m glad I wore it.”

Saying that, she smiled shyly and then used her fingers to fuss lightly with the chiffon part of her dress. Even that somehow felt like she was thinking, Maybe this way will show it better, and it was unbearably cute. It was wonderful. Truly wonderful.

Feeling that, I realized it.

Ahh, I see.

It wasn’t enough just to think these things.

I had to say them out loud like this and let her hear them.

And it couldn’t come from me alone—it had to be said to her by other people too.

I had to create chances for her to hear such things.

Any words would do, and it didn’t matter if they weren’t said elegantly, because feelings had to be properly conveyed.

…And the fact that it was this man who made me realize that was a little infuriating.