MDCR 36

Chapter 36

The gown that Irix was wearing right now revealed her chest and stomach even with the slightest movement. More than half of her thighs were visible too.

“This is the kind of outfit that makes people think, ‘What a weird outfit.’ Wearing that outside is basically public indecency.”
“Shut up.”

I lifted the gown and tried it on Irix’s shoulders. It was a bit small, but if I loosened the waist strap all the way, it might fit. The fabric and stitching looked sturdy, so as long as Irix didn’t get angry while tensing her shoulders, she wouldn’t end up with a fate like the Empress’s gown.

By the way, why was she so angry? She had been lying on the chair sleeping, and I had only come in to wake her up. But she suddenly jumped up in shock and tore at the expensive gown.

“…Fine.”

Irix took the clothes and went into her room. I tried not to look at her thighs, which were clearly visible every time she walked, but the brightness of her pale skin made it impossible not to notice.

A little while later, Irix came out after changing. Fortunately—the miracle of miracles—the clothes I gave her fit, just barely. If the original Elpini had worn them, it would have looked like she was wrapped up in a blanket. I really don’t understand why someone would carry around something that big.

“It looks like something an extra would wear in a Passion Play.” Irix said gloomily.

True enough. It looked more like a stage prop than clothing. Well, this is a fantasy world, so maybe someone would wear that.

Zephyr turned his head and pressed his lips together. I pointed at him.
“Zephyr, if you keep acting like that, I’ll take your clothes off myself and give them to Irix.”
“How exactly would you do that?”
“There’s always a way. Curious? Want to find out?”

Finally, Zephyr shut his mouth. But Irix growled.
“I don’t want the clothes that guy wore.”
“I didn’t say I was giving them to you.”

Just then, the snake, which had now woken up, flapped its wings at Irix. Its eyes widened, and it flicked its tongue rapidly. It seemed very moved. Irix apparently thought she wore those clothes for the snake’s sake.

“The snake seems to like it.”
“It’s a viper’s taste, what do you expect?” Irix sighed and slumped.

“Fine, I’ll wear it. I just hope there’s no one from our school on this train. Otherwise, they’ll think I’ve finally been kicked out of the dukedom.”

Irix tightened the uncomfortable outfit around her body and said,
“Zephyr, prepare the carriage as soon as we get off.”

Zephyr sighed deeply.
“Your Grace, please.”
“Why?”
“I should make it clear. I am not your personal attendant.”
“You’re my father’s aide, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I am the Duke’s aide. So I only follow his orders. I’ve never received an order to serve you personally.”

Irix didn’t get angry or act incredulous. She crossed her arms, looked at him calmly, and asked,
“So, what orders exactly did you receive?”
“I was ordered to follow you, Your Grace.”
“I see. Then if I prepare the carriage and ride, you’ll come too, right? You have to follow me. You can’t just chase after the carriage, can you?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then your legs will be so much more comfortable, won’t they?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“And you’d enjoy that comfort but do nothing?”
“I don’t mind walking.”
“…….”
“If you really want to ride the carriage, have the attendant do it.”
“You know there’s no attendant.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t you report their death?”
“Then you should have said ‘former attendant’ precisely.”

Zephyr’s story never became the main story. Probably because I killed him before Irix even became the secret villain.

The train gradually slowed, and an arrival announcement was made. This was the central station of the archipelago. Time to get off.

Resigned, Irix picked up my bag and headed to the exit.
“That’s my bag.”
“…I’m carrying it to cover your legs.”

Her legs were far too long to hide with a bag. When I looked at them with a questioning gaze, Irix’s face turned red again.
“Stop staring. It’s already humiliating enough.”

I decided I had to save her from some of that shame.
“Irix, come here.”
“Why?”

I handed her the scarf I had prepared. Irix looked at the floral pattern as if she wanted to die.
“What’s this for?”
“Use it to cover yourself.”
“Cover what?”
“Your face. At least no one will recognize you then.”
“How would that work?”
“Bow your head.”

Irix reluctantly bowed after glancing around.
“Lower your waist too.”

She did, but it wasn’t enough. I pressed the scarf onto her head, covering her entire face except her eyes. She looked somewhat like a French high school student protesting against pension reform, but it worked well enough.

Irix had gone from wearing a strange outfit to being a strange boy with her face covered—but what could be done? This was the best option.

Finally, the train stopped. They had arrived in the city ruled by the Emperor and Empress—the heart of the empire and the scene of countless incidents.

The moment the train stopped, chaos erupted. People flooded the platform, loudly calling out passengers’ names. Those who got off the train ran to embrace each other. They were passengers from the accident train, crying and wailing. Because of this, Irix’s odd outfit didn’t draw much attention. Luckily.

“Anyone know where a clothing shop is?” I asked. Maimon raised his hand. Of course, Zephyr wouldn’t step forward.
“I know a shop. Follow me.”

Maimon led us through narrow, winding back alleys of the city, moving as quickly as a squirrel. Irix and Zephyr, both large and tall, had to crawl sideways like crabs.

“This is it.”

After passing through several narrow alleys, we arrived at a second-hand clothing shop.
“This shop has the cheapest and best clothes around here.”
“Oh, okay.” Irix said, staring blankly.

I had forgotten how much Maimon’s wealth was. The clothes piled inside were a heap of rags that Irix, with her taste and cleanliness, could never tolerate.

I tapped Irix’s hesitant back.
“Hurry and choose something. We can’t go to another shop now.”
“I know, I know.”

Irix was annoyed but then paused.
“Why?”
“The money… was on the train.”
“…….”

That money was probably between the shirt and pants of Irix, whose journey as clothing ended on the canyon floor.

“Why did you only remember that now?”
“I didn’t think about it.”
“You mean the money?”
“Yes, the money.”
“…….”

For Irix, money was always either in her pocket or handed to her by an attendant. Now there was neither pocket nor attendant.

I looked at the shop. It wasn’t a place that offered credit. Cash only.
“I have money, so I’ll lend it to you. Just pick something first.”

Zephyr had no love for humanity, Maimon no sense of intelligence, but I had both.

“I’ll pay you back soon.”
“Just pick something.”

Irix looked at the pile of clothes. All were rags, and she, with no eye for usable rags, didn’t know what to choose. Zephyr still didn’t help, but Maimon, who tried to do something, stepped forward.

“How about this?”
“No.”
“How about that one?”
“No.”
“This one—”
“No.”

The snake brought a shirt over, and she accepted it.
“You like it?”
“No, I don’t. But if I reject it, the viper will feel bad.”
“……”

Maimon suggested something else, but Irix immediately snatched it and threw it away.
“No.”

Dejected, Maimon whispered apologetically,
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t like the clothes. Why are you the one feeling hurt?”
“I gave you clothes you disliked. I’m sorry for making you dislike them.”
“I don’t dislike you. Pull yourself together!”

Irix lost her temper. I thought about picking something myself, but as an outsider, I didn’t know the tastes or standards here. Everything seemed strange.

“Hey, customers.” The shop owner called out.
“There are better ones inside. More expensive than this, but what can you do?”
“How much?”

Irix’s expression said it was as much as toilet paper. I had no idea if it was expensive or not.

Finally, Zephyr, who had done nothing helpful so far, spoke up.
“Pick a cheaper one. It’s shameless to impose on someone else.”

Zephyr never helps, but he sure knows how to interfere.