CHAPTER 46…..
Even though I’d been doing whatever I wanted, the hack author’s silence was making me uneasy.
If he was going to interfere, he would have done it already…
I had no idea what he was plotting, but I decided to take it easy. If the hack author didn’t meddle, that only worked in my favor.
As I was reviewing the applications and deciding the interview order, the butler entered my study holding an elegant box.
“Master, the sword scabbard you ordered has been completed. Would you like to inspect it?”
“Bring it here.”
To counter Owen’s abilities, I needed Lulu.
The problem was that Lulu was too heavy to carry around.
So I had secretly commissioned a magician to craft a special scabbard—one imbued with weight-reduction magic.
Finally, I can go out again.
I’d been holed up in the mansion waiting for the scabbard’s completion. Running into Owen by chance while unprepared would have been a disaster.
“The academy’s autumn opening ceremony is next week, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Master.”
Coincidentally, the academy’s autumn opening ceremony fell on the same day as the first test of Ruspel’s Sprinkler.
“They’ve also asked whether you will attend the ceremony. How should I reply?”
“…”
“Master?”
“Wait.”
“Yes.”
I crossed my arms and waited patiently for the notification window.
Let’s see if he stays silent this time too.
Even after a long while, there was no damned sentence popping up.
Even though this was an event related to the protagonist.
So I can really just keep doing things my way?
Fine, hack author. While you’re at it, don’t ever interfere again. Without you, things are moving along smoothly—I might just reach the ending at this rate.
I nodded readily.
“It’s the same day as the experiment anyway. Tell them I’ll attend.”
“Understood.”
“And make an appointment at a dress shop this afternoon.”
“Wouldn’t it be more convenient to call the designer here?”
“It’s not a dress for me.”
“…Are you planning to prepare a dress for Miss Piace?”
“I can’t send a child sponsored by House Ybrandt to the opening ceremony dressed carelessly.”
“I’ll make a reservation at the most renowned children’s boutique in the capital.”
“Get Piace ready as well.”
“Yes, Master.”
I handed over the files I had been looking at.
“The top ten here are the final candidates. Schedule the interviews and notify them.”
“Yes, Master.”
The butler left with the documents.
As soon as the door closed, I quickly opened the box.
Inside, wrapped in crimson velvet, was the scabbard.
Amethysts were set all around it, and a large diamond adorned the center, scattering dazzling light.
“Oh, not bad. Everyone, come take a look. What do you think?”
— Oh my! Is this our Lulu’s new outfit? Lulu, do you like it?
— Lulu likes it. I think it’s beautiful as well.
— Damn, isn’t it flashy? You’ll only be able to see Lulu.
“I made it flashy on purpose. It’s supposed to be a family heirloom—wouldn’t it look weird in a plain scabbard?”
The gnome placed Lulu into the scabbard.
The purple blade matched the amethysts perfectly, while the diamond brightened what could have been a dark, heavy look.
— Oh, oh, doesn’t our Lulu look dashing? I might fall for it.
— Yes, it’s truly splendid. I’m jealous.
— …Well, it does suit you. Right, gnome?
— (Nod!)
The spirits, who had been twirling Lulu in the air, handed the sword back to me.
Once I strapped the scabbard to my waist, it felt fairly weighty.
“Even with the weight-reduction magic, it can’t completely remove the weight, huh?”
Still, thanks to its lavish design, it didn’t look strange even with a dress.
“It’s a little heavy, but carrying it won’t be a problem. Lulu, we’ll be together from now on.”
Woo-woo-woong. Lulululu, fwoo-woo.
— I can’t believe I’m seeing this again… Sniff, why am I crying? Hiiing!
— It’s been so long since Lulu smiled like that. It must be really happy.
— Ugh, why’s this making me emotional? …Gnome! Don’t wipe my eyes! Damn it, that’s embarrassing… I said stop! That’s not tears, it’s snot!
The spirits sincerely congratulated the ego sword for returning to its master.
That afternoon, I headed to the boutique with Piace.
The maid accompanying me today was Caroline, Piace’s personal dresser.
Having been impressed with Caroline’s fashion sense before, I didn’t hesitate to choose her as our escort.
Today, I intended to clean out the boutique.
While I was excited at the thought of a glorious spending spree, the carriage remained quiet.
Caroline seemed too afraid of me to even breathe properly, and Piace was unusually subdued.
Caroline glanced at me nervously, then whispered to Piace.
“Young lady, are you sleepy?”
“Mm… a little…”
“You mustn’t sleep. Please hold on a bit longer.”
She seemed worried that Piace might nod off in front of me, which would be unseemly. Caroline’s voice trembled faintly.
I pretended not to notice and kept my gaze on the window.
The glass reflected Piace, half-dozing, and Caroline fidgeting beside her.
I must’ve lost my mind, playing hide-and-seek with her for eight rounds last night… I should’ve taken it easy.
And this was usually Piace’s nap time, too.
Being dragged out like this must’ve made it hard for her to stay alert.
I brought her along since her birthday’s in a few days… Maybe I should’ve just let her rest.
No helping it now. I’d just shop quickly and return.
The boutique the butler had booked didn’t feel like a children’s dress shop at all.
The air inside was delicately perfumed, and the décor was luxurious.
It was the kind of place more likely to appeal to parents than children—naturally, since parents were the ones spending the money.
No wonder they’re the most successful in the capital. Clever.
The designer, who had been waiting, greeted me with delight.
“Duke Ybrandt! It’s an honor to meet you. I’m designer Ellis.”
“You’ve prepared everything, I trust?”
“Oh, of course! The butler informed me, and I’ve selected dresses that will suit the young lady. Please, this way.”
I sat with Piace on the sofa.
Around us, a dozen dresses and accessories were neatly displayed.
“This is a small gift to commemorate your visit. It’s nothing much, but I hope you’ll accept it.”
Ellis handed me a small box.
Inside, decorated with flowers, was an embroidered handkerchief—clearly meant for Piace, not as a bribe for me.
Nice service.
I set the box down and leaned back.
“Piace, go ahead and choose.”
Piace, who had been in a daze since entering the shop, hesitated.
Oddly, her expression was very dark.
“D-Duke…”
“What is it?”
“Do… do I have to… go to the orphanage?”
“The orphanage?”
“You’re trying to… send me away, aren’t you? I know… I know it.”
“…And why would you think that?”
Piace bit her lip, her big eyes already shimmering with tears.
“Before… the marquis once bought me a gift… but that night, when I woke up, I was in a carriage.”
“A carriage?”
“A c-carriage going to… the orphanage.”
“…”
“I begged the coachman to take me home… but he said no. He said my home wasn’t the marquis’ house anymore, it was… the orphanage.”
So her adoptive parents had bought her a gift right before abandoning her.
If they did it out of guilt… they were real bastards.
They should have told her instead, so she could prepare herself.
Come to think of it, what’s going on with the request I sent to the information guild? I haven’t heard back.
Well, I could guess the gist without seeing the report.
“I… I don’t… want to go to the orphanage. I… I want to stay… with you, D-Duke…”
As she began crying harder, her stutter grew worse, to the point that it was difficult to understand her.
Sigh…
I knew her stuttering was the result of emotional wounds.
She didn’t stutter at all when she was with me in my crow form.
It was only in front of people that she froze up and stumbled over her words.
You bastard who made Piace like this, just wait. When you realize she spoke fluently all night with me, I’ll make you feel exactly what I felt.
Having once been abandoned, Piace now lived with the constant fear that she might be cast aside again.
What she needed was not gifts—
—but the absolute certainty that she would never be abandoned.
That was all.
