The next morning, as soon as the sun came up, I was greeted with another pleasant surprise.
“Oh, Head Maid…”
“Good morning, Miss Windsor.”
The head maid had appeared wearing a brand-new uniform!
The black maid dress, made from the new fabric with its subtle blue sheen, suited her face perfectly.
And it wasn’t just her. Thanks to the work assignments that had been sorted out in advance, every servant I passed on the way to the dining room was dressed in a new uniform.
Maybe my excitement was too obvious, because the head maid stopped in front of the dining room and asked,
“Miss Windsor, is something the matter?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. But… now that I can actually see you, you’re really beautiful, Head Maid.”
“Pardon?”
I said “now that I can actually see you,” but I truly meant it. She had only just entered middle age, yet somehow that made her seem even more elegant.
The slight upward tilt at the corners of her eyes gave her a sharp impression whenever her face was expressionless, but considering everything I’d learned about her personality, it probably didn’t mean much.
Being able to actually read someone’s expressions was definitely better than just guessing from their voice or the way they spoke.
Anyway, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment, the head maid’s lips parted slightly.
So that’s the face she makes when she’s flustered.
Seeing the usually composed woman momentarily at a loss for words, I beamed.
“Haha, and the new uniform looks amazing on you too!”
“Ah…”
Only then did her gaze drop to her own outfit. She seemed to assume I had simply been complimenting her clothes in a roundabout way.
“With trade to the outside world cut off, we had no choice but to keep wearing our old uniforms. Thanks to you personally visiting the Ruden Trading Company, Miss Windsor, everyone has received a great kindness.”
“A kindness? It wasn’t anything that grand…”
“No, Miss Windsor. Though none of them said it aloud, everyone had been feeling frustrated. They are sincerely grateful that you risked passing through that dangerous forest to visit the village.”
Well… a few unsettling things had happened on the way back, but from a gameplay perspective, it hadn’t really been that big of a deal.
Still, this time I simply nodded instead of trying to downplay it.
“I’m just glad it helped.”
Come to think of it, the quest had been called <Torn Clothes, Torn Pride>.
The head maid looked far more confident and graceful than usual, and it probably wasn’t just because she’d gotten her face back. The new uniform clearly played a part too.
“Oh, Miss Windsor. Would you be able to spare some time after lunch today?”
“Hm? What for?”
“Now that we’ve received new fabric, the tailoring department would like to make you a new dress.”
Ah, right.
I’d planned on this happening eventually, but I still felt deeply grateful that the head maid had taken the initiative without me even bringing it up.
When we’d first met, she’d been polite enough, but not nearly this thoughtful. As time passed, I could actually feel her growing attached to me.
Almost like a real person…
…Huh?
Now that I thought about it, everyone had seemed strangely stiff and unnatural when I first arrived. But before I’d even realized it, the head maid and everyone else in the ducal castle had begun acting completely naturally.
What was that about?
Could that have been part of the story too, instead of a bug?
“Miss Windsor?”
“Oh! Sorry, my mind wandered for a second. I’d be incredibly grateful if you’d make me a dress.”
“It’s only natural. You are His Grace’s fiancée, after all.”
“Haha… right.”
They’re same, after all. They probably just learn and grow on their own.
Putting the lingering unease behind me, I hurried toward the dining room, where the delicious aroma of breakfast was already drifting out.
***
After the meal, the head maid led me to the tailoring room at the far eastern end of the castle.
At first, I panicked when she told me I’d have to take my clothes off to measure me—which, of course, made perfect sense.
But the moment I found myself surrounded by countless bolts of fabric that looked like they belonged in one of those personal color consultations, I completely forgot about being embarrassed.
“This pale blue complements your complexion quite well, Miss Windsor.”
“R-Really?”
“I believe your hair would suit you better worn loose rather than tied up. Though…”
Standing perfectly still like a mannequin so I wouldn’t get poked by pins, I managed to turn only my head toward her.
A moment later, her cool fingertips lightly touched my arm and waist as if confirming something before pulling away.
“You’re rather thin.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Not unhealthily so, but you’re far leaner than I’d like.”
Really?
Maybe because I saw myself every day, I couldn’t tell at all.
I’ve been eating plenty…
Had I?
I’d been buying snacks from the cash shop whenever I wanted, and ever since we’d gotten a proper food supply, I’d even been eating dessert regularly.
If I’d still lost weight despite that…
It must be all the exercise.
Well, considering I spent every day running all over this enormous castle, maybe it was only natural.
And the pegasus I’d bought to make getting around easier still wouldn’t even let me get on its back—heck, it wouldn’t even make eye contact with me.
Sigh. What a life.
“I’ll tell the head chef to pay closer attention to your meals.”
…I certainly wouldn’t complain if the food got even better, but could the quality really improve any more?
Awkwardly nodding, I endured the long process while the head maid measured every part of me.
By the end, standing motionless like a dress form had become so boring that I started counting the patterns on the ceiling.
“All finished, Miss Windsor. It seems the ladies of the etiquette department will be quite busy for a while.”
“Just… don’t overwork yourselves…”
Worried she might suddenly remember she’d forgotten to measure my fingers or toes, I hurriedly got dressed the moment she was done and practically fled the tailoring room.
Thud!
But in my haste, I ran straight into someone walking past outside.
“Ow!”
I clutched my forehead as I stumbled, only to feel a firm hand catch both my arm and my waist.
“Huh…? Your Grace?”
“Miss Windsor.”
Was this really the second day in a row we’d run into each other?
For a moment I wondered whether this was the “bad” Edwin again, but as soon as he calmly let go of me, the suspicion disappeared.
“What brings you here?”
“The head maid said she needed my measurements for a dress. And you, Your Grace?”
“…The room next to yours is the men’s tailoring room.”
Oh.
Of course. Since new fabric had finally arrived, it only made sense that the duke would have new clothes made too.
While I silently filled in the blanks myself, another familiar notification appeared above Edwin’s head.
[Affection +1 (2/50)]
…Seriously, what was the standard this time?
As if answering my question, Edwin spoke.
“I heard the servants received new uniforms thanks to you.”
“Huh? It’s not really like that… I just fulfilled the assistant’s request.”
“I’ve already heard the full story. Even so, the assistant said it would have been impossible without you, Miss Windsor.”
He trailed off before quietly adding what he really wanted to ask.
“…The castle didn’t send anyone to help, so how exactly did you transport ten industrial sewing machines?”
Hmm…
How was I supposed to explain that?
Abilities like Purification or Restoration were easy enough to pass off as powers I’d always possessed.
But the ring was another matter entirely.
It hadn’t existed before, and then it had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I wasn’t confident I could come up with a convincing explanation.
Besides, following the game company’s advice, I didn’t want to say anything too meta while playing.
So once again, I chose to dodge the question.
“I’m stronger than I look.”
“…Is that how you managed to survive?”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.”
Whatever conclusion he’d reached, Edwin’s expression grew more serious as he extended his arm toward me like a proper escort.
The gesture was so natural that it took me a second to realize this was the first time we’d ever made physical contact like this.
Awkwardly taking his arm, I looked up at him.
“I’d like to help you as well, Miss Windsor.”
“Help… me?”
He nodded.
Then, as though he’d made up his mind, he spoke.
“Geumjok-i, was it? The name of that pegasus.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Hearing the word Geumjok-i come out of Edwin’s mouth felt strangely surreal, but before I could dwell on it, a faint smile appeared on his face.
“I’ll help you become friends with him.”
Note: (geumjok-i) literally means “little piece of gold” or “golden one.” It’s an affectionate term used for someone precious, where 금쪽이 often refers to a child who’s adorable but extremely difficult to handle. Because of that, Koreans frequently use 금쪽이 jokingly to describe someone (or something) that’s a handful.
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