Chapter 8 (1/2)
The Translator:
Yukkuri Oniisan
The Editor:
Frost, theDefend
Volume 1
Chapter 8
*Mira’s POV *
*clang*clong*clang*clong
At the same time that the first morning bell resounded from Central Spirit Society, a *knock*knock* sound came from the door.
「Come in?」(Mira)
I answered while still half asleep, and it sounded as if large amount of people entered the room.
What happened!?
I jumped onto my feet in panic, and the maid-sans stood up in line.
「Good morning, Mira-sama」(Maid 1)
「Good morning.」(Mira)
I returned the greetings from Carla Giralda-san[1], the leader of the maid group and then tilted my head in confusion.
The maid-sans stood in a row holding five bundle of colorful clothes such as pastel blue, candy pink, or pearl green, and also carries hair ornaments made with high craftsmans.h.i.+p.
「Good morning, Mira-sama. Today is the preparation for the New Year Festival, although you might still want to sleep but you should wake up soon.」(Maid 2)
The one who spoke without beating the bush was Emel Sheeda-san[2]. Just like Carla-san, she was a maid that was a.s.signed to me.
These girls are the daughters of the landless n.o.bles ―― the so called low ranked n.o.bles ―― and are sent to work as a maid at the Royal Palace to learn proper manners through observation. By the way, both of them are 17 years old, the age where they would search for marriage partner. If I had to say the difference between both of them, then it might be that Emel-san has a very charming hourgla.s.s body. However, it doesn’t mean that Carla-san had a thin looking body. She had a standard appearance. It was just that Emel-san was more amazing.
At any rate, what is happening? Preparation for the New Year Festival?
That reminds me, today is the Twelfth Month, Fourth Week, and Seventh Day, the so called New Year’s Eve. Since even a village held the festival throughout the New Year’s Eve night, of course, the capital also celebrated similar festival. The scale would be different than the village’s though.
Because there might be stalls that didn’t exist in the village, I thought about visiting them together with Gai, but…… why am I currently being raided by the maid-sans?
Furthermore, weren’t Carla-san and Emel-san the only maid-sans that were a.s.signed to me?
「Now then, since there is no time remaining, please first receive the water cleansing magic.」 (Carla)
Leaving Emel-san to the bed making, Carla-san took me, who has just woken up and is confused by the development, to the center of the room. Then I was suddenly surrounded from all sides by four maid-sans whose face I didn’t recognize. They turned their palms towards me. It’s a bit scary.
「Consume our mana, o Spirit of Water, and purify her. Aqua MundaPure Water.[3]」(Maids)
At the same time, when the spell incantation was recited, a Spirit that looked like a 3 years old child appeared. The blue light that was produced from the maid-sans’ mana enveloped me.
*splash* Suddenly, I felt as if I was plunged into water; however my body didn’t get wet at all. As the light grew dimmer, the watery sensation disappeared. My night sweats were completely cleaned off.
Although during the travel, I also received it from Guze-san or the newly arrived Knight-sama in lieu of a bath, but no matter how many times I personally experienced it, it still felt strange. I wonder why I didn’t get wet.
Which reminds me, I haven’t seen Guno and the others since this morning. Maybe they were intimidated by the maid-sans’ strict appearance?
「Next is the fitting session. Filseria-sama has lent her dresses to you. Since Mira-sama has smaller build than Filseria-sama, we might need to shrink it a bit. Which dress will you choose?」(Carla)
The maid-sans unfold the five dresses with different designs, but I unconsciously made a step back.
「Umm, why do I need to choose a dress?」(Mira)
「Of course it is because Mira-sama will attending today’s party.」(Carla)
「……Where?」(Mira)
「Isn’t it the party that is sponsored by the royal family?」(Carla)
「I never heard about this before!?」(Mira)
「Is that true? But we had received the order from our superior. If we didn’t prepare Mira-sama for the party, then we will receive a scolding.」(Carla)
Au… That is sly you know. Since she has said something like that, then I couldn’t just escape from this situation, put on my best clothes that I brought from the village, and sally forth to the city.
「I leave the dress choice up to you.」(Mira)
I resigned and allowed myself to be content as a dressing doll.
I wore the five dresses in succession and, in the end, the dress that matches my eye color seemed to suit me best, so I wore the pearl green colored dress. Just when I thought that I was finally liberated, I still need to pick hair ornaments one after another.
Please let this end already.
「How about this?」(Maid)
「I think the one filled with lace is nice, don’t you agree?」(Maid)
I heard the maid-sans’ conversation as they were enjoying themselves while decorating me, while I had the thousand-yard-stare.
At any rate, as expected of royalty. Not only are the clothes made from the fabrics of the highest quality, in addition to allow the clothes to show the wearer’s silhouette, they weren’t using a belt, but instead, tucks or darts[4] to make fitting tight. They also use plenty of fabrics; there was also ma.s.sive curtain like skirt.
By the way, when I arrived at the capital, I happened to notice this while walking through the city. Even the female servants who go out shopping also wore tight fitting one piece dresses, so this might be the fas.h.i.+on of the city. Since in the village, we prioritize practicality, I was surprised when I saw it for the first time.
Furthermore, the dress that I wearing now not only had laces and frills, but also adorned with precious gems. Doesn’t this mean that the dress cost a fortune?
「Alright, it’s finished.」(Maid)
In the mirror that was much bigger than the mirror in my house, my reflection was so dressed up that I could be mistaken as an ojou-sama (high cla.s.s lady) from somewhere.
「Fine feathers make fine birds…[5]」(Mira)
「To begin with, it suits you.」(Maid)
On top of the pearl green dress, I was wrapped with a thin white shawl. My hair, which was only shoulder length, was also arranged. The hair ornament was white with a pearl green organdy[6] like flower petal attached into it. In the middle of the flower are precious gems like diamonds and sapphires…… EH? Is this the real thing!?
「This, the thing in the center of hair ornament…」(Mira)
「Yes, it’s jewels.」(Emel)
Why are you saying this without any hesitation, Emel-san!
Even when there were already gems attached to the dress, but even the hair ornaments too!?
Is this really something that children should wear!?
「It’s alright, since you are lovely.」(Maid)
The other maid-sans agreed in satisfaction, however the problem wasn’t that.
A walking fortune. I am no royalty but I am walking with a fortune. Just thinking what would happen if I lose them makes me s.h.i.+ver in fear.
✦✧✦✧
Since the party is a lunch buffet, today’s breakfast was lighter than usual, but…… to be honest, I don’t have the appet.i.te. The reason was that I was afraid of getting a stain on the dress. If they want to turn me into a dressing doll, why didn’t they do that after breakfast? I thought about this, but if they really did that, I’m afraid I would feel worse from stress.
「You are really lovely, Mira-san.」(Ainseld)
The first thing that The Prince does was to compliment me, but I could barely reply to him with my thanks.
「It really suits you. Shall I order them to make a matching dress with me for the Summer Solstice Festival, Mira」(Ainseld)
「Eeeeh! That is something too good to be wasted on me!」(Mira)
「Do you hate the idea of wearing a matching attire with me?」(Ainseld)
「Uugh」(Mira)
Was it because it was unexpected that I would decline, but he stared at me with a moist eyes and I found myself to be at loss for words.
「Since you receive the Royal Family’s patronage, you might need to attend large parties. Just think of this as for the Royal Family’s sake, could you accept the dress? Since it might be a necessity in the future.」(Ainseld)
The Prince’s was backing up his words, so I couldn’t help but to look up at him with reproachful feeling in my eyes. Can I not go to today’s party? Or rather, what kind of future do I have where a dress will become a necessity? If I had a hard time, could I p.a.w.n this at the p.a.w.nshop? I don’t want to arrive at that kind of future, but I thought that I could at least have that as an emergency funds close at hand.
While we were having this kind of conversation, Gai, who was wearing the Prince’s clothes when he was still a child, had this unusual look at him and also didn’t say anything. But then, with an expression that he had reached some kind of understanding, he spoke out.
「Fine feathers make fine birds!」(Gai)
How rude! I know that I had said it myself but hearing the other say it still makes me mad.
「Gai-kun, you can’t say that to a girl you know.」(Ainseld)
The gentlemanly Prince earnestly started to lecture Gai. It might go in one ear and out in another, but please do your best.
✦✧✦✧
We entered the needlessly large party hall and, after we sat on the seats for the people who have received the Royal Family’s patronage, the party begun.
The n.o.bles entered one after another, and then kneeled in front of the king to give their greetings. It looks tediously boring. Gai, who was sitting beside me, was captivated by the buffet-style, mountain of feast that was arranged in a line. It seemed that for him, today’s breakfast was too light and insufficient. I envy Gai who didn’t know what a mental tension is.
「Because of your support, this year as well, our country had pa.s.sed another year in peace. I want to show my grat.i.tude as we head towards another tear. I want you to enjoy today to your heart content, and recharge your spirits for another year!」(King)
The King brought his opening speech to an end by lifting his wine gla.s.s.
「Cheers!」(King)
「Cheers!」(n.o.bles)
All the n.o.bles said in a chorus, and the party started.