Chapter 26
Bella kept picking up and putting down clothes repeatedly.
“Hmm. How about this one?”
“It suits you well.”
“Hmm… Then between this one and that one?”
“Both suit you well.”
“…Blanshe.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Please look seriously and tell me. If you keep saying everything suits me, I can’t make a decision.”
“I am serious. Everything suits you, Miss.”
“Let’s just stop talking…”
The place where Bella and Blanshe were is the oldest department store in the imperial capital.
However, it recently underwent remodeling and reopened as a sleek and clean place.
Bella and Blanshe arrived at the opening time, but the department store was packed with people.
The reason people gathered was the same as the two of them.
It was because of the remodeling commemorative sale.
“Look at this, Blanshe. This blouse is 70% off.”
“I see.”
“If there’s anything you want, Blanshe, let me know. I can buy you one or two. Hehe.”
“Miss… Forgive me for saying this, but isn’t our budget tight?”
At Blanshe’s worried question, Bella puffed out her chest and said.
“Hehehe… I saved up my allowance for this day!”
“……Miss, you didn’t take next month’s allowance too, did you?”
“Shh! Even if I become rich tomorrow, today’s sale won’t come back!”
“……”
“Your pretty face will get all wrinkled. Cheer up. Ah! Doesn’t this dress look like it would suit Blanshe?”
“No. It doesn’t suit me.”
“Hmm…”
Bella glanced at Blanshe.
In a word, a cool-looking beauty.
Tall with long limbs and a well-proportioned body.
Her posture is so straight, it’s like a mannequin standing there.
But the sad fact is that despite having such a superior figure, Blanshe is dressed in shabby sweats.
When Blanshe works at the mansion, she wears a suit, so it’s fine, but when she goes out on weekends in casual clothes, it becomes a problem.
Her only casual outfit is this one set of sweats.
Since entering the department store, Bella has felt people’s gazes.
Some were directed at her, but some were also directed at Blanshe.
Especially Blanshe, who attracted more attention from women than men.
A beauty who speaks little and has almost no change in expression.
That aspect gives her a somewhat enchanting aura.
Of course, such a beauty wearing sweats makes her stand out even more.
Especially in the luxury section of the department store!
The only woman dressed so shabbily here is Blanshe.
First, we have to do something about that sweatsuit…!
“Blanshe.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Are you going to keep acting stiff even on the weekend?”
“It’s weekend duty. Of course, I get overtime pay.”
“Huh? And you still wore sweats?”
“My uniform is at the laundry. Since I only have one, I have to send it to the laundry on weekends.”
“Sigh… Then since you’re working, I’ll give you an order.”
“Yes. Please tell me.”
“Pick out something suitable to wear here right now. I’ll buy it for you.”
“……Can I refuse?”
Hmm?
Blanshe, who has always been a yes-man, is showing reluctance for the first time.
Bella smiled inwardly and said.
“No. It’s an order.”
“……Understood.”
Blanshe reluctantly nodded and began looking around at the clothes.
If she had ears and a tail, they would probably be drooping.
‘Hehe… So cute. Our Blanshe.’
Still, compared to when I first met Blanshe, it’s a huge improvement.
Back then, I really thought she was a machine.
Bella remembered the girl who showed no emotion and just silently did her work.
“Miss… I’ve picked something.”
“Let me see.”
The outfit Blanshe hesitantly held out was, as expected of the luxury section, made of high-quality materials… but it was sweats?!
“No, why is there sweats in the luxury section? And Blanshe, how did you even find this?”
“I used the process of elimination. I excluded the clothes that would suit me the most, and this was the only one left. But it’s too expensive, which is a drawback…”
“Ah, no. No way. I’m not accepting this. Pick again.”
“Miss…”
“No, no. I’ll pick it myself, so follow me. I don’t want to hear that my bodyguard knight can’t wear clothes.”
“Ah, Miss…!”
Bella grabbed Blanshe’s hand and plunged into the crowd.
The sight was like a general charging into enemy lines.
*
“Welcome, Tristan.”
As the door opened, Arthur Ruelberta, Tristan’s uncle and guardian, spread his arms wide in welcome.
“How is it? The department store our family recently acquired. We completely remodeled it.”
“…Not bad.”
I glanced around the department store.
A chandelier sparkled from the high ceiling, and many young nobles were looking at the displayed products.
It’s as big as a large shopping mall in reality.
“Right? As you can see, we’ve displayed products tailored to the needs of young nobles at the entrance. No one can just pass by. Hahaha.”
Arthur seemed to be in a very good mood.
As expected of someone from the Ruelberta family, he’s very proactive about making money.
The dignified demeanor was nowhere to be seen, and there was just a chatty old man.
“If there’s anything you want, pick it out. Of course, you’ll have to pay.”
So he’s saying to just buy it with my own money…
“Oh? By the way, you brought someone I haven’t seen before?”
“Ah, hello…”
Wendy bowed to Arthur.
“I, I am the Count’s exclusive maid… Wendy…”
“What? Tristan, what’s going on? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t hire an exclusive servant?”
“…I needed one, so I hired her.”
“Is that so? Wendy, was it?”
Arthur tilted his head and looked down at Wendy.
“Y, yes!”
“If there’s anything you want here, pick it out.”
“R, really? Can I?”
“Of course, you’ll have to pay.”
“Eek!”
Seeing that, Arthur burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! Tristan, you hired a very interesting girl. Where did you find someone like this?”
Arthur patted my shoulder.
This situation feels new.
In the original story, Arthur Ruelberta is assassinated by Tristan.
Seeing him alive and laughing happily like this…
“Ah, actually, I was joking earlier, Wendy. If there’s anything you want, pick it out. I won’t make you pay.”
“B, but…”
“Don’t worry. This guy will pay.”
This old man?
Even without him saying it, I came today to buy what Wendy needs.
I spoke to Wendy, who was at a loss.
“Right. If there’s anything you like here, pick it out.”
“Co, Count…”
“Pick something worthy of the Ruelberta family’s exclusive maid. As my exclusive, you must have the dignity that comes with it. I will test your taste here, Wendy.”
“A, a test?!”
“Yes.”
“Ah, understood! I won’t disappoint you, Count!”
Good. She’s spirited.
Just as Wendy was about to take a step forward, she suddenly stopped as if she remembered something.
“Um, Co, Count… This is my first time in a place like this…”
And she sneakily glanced at me and asked.
“Ho, how much… should the budget be…?”
How innocent can she be?
I sighed and answered.
“There’s no budget.”
“Huh?”
“Everything you see here belongs to the Ruelberta family.”
*
“Blanshe. Are we done yet?”
“I’ve tried everything on…”
Whoosh!
Bella pulled back the changing room curtain.
“Huh… It suits you well, doesn’t it?”
“…Does it?”
Blanshe was wearing a black dress with a cut-out back.
“Hmm, we could go to a party like this.”
“…It would be difficult to protect you in such an outfit.”
Blanshe looked over the dress.
It clung tightly to her body, and her thighs were fully exposed.
It felt more embarrassing than not wearing clothes.
“It’s fine. I’m not making you wear this to protect me.”
“Then why…?”
“This is a gift for our Blanshe, who keeps wasting her looks. It would be nice to wear it when a man you’re interested in appears. Hehe. I’m sure any man would be captivated by Blanshe.”
“Is… that so?”
“Yes. Just trust and follow this unnie.”
Bella smiled as she patted Blanshe’s head.
Blanshe silently nodded.
Sometimes, among the things Miss says, there are many that are difficult for her.
Like how women should take care of their appearance, play hard to get, and be modest.
Things that are hard for Blanshe to understand.
At such times, Blanshe thought.
That she could never be like Miss.
That she wasn’t as beautiful, feminine, or knew how to dress up like Miss.
Above all, that she couldn’t be as upright as Bella…
“I’ll wear this, so don’t change.”
“Ah, Miss!?”
She accidentally raised her voice.
Bella found it amusing and giggled as she looked at her.
“Hehe… Why? Should I make it an order?”
“No… I’ll wear it.”
“That’s our Blanshe. Hehe. Please ring this up.”
Blanshe silently watched Bella.
She wanted to protect Bella’s smile forever.
For Bella’s smile, she could do anything.
As she thought that, Blanshe turned her head.
A twisting feeling in her gut.
She had to grit her teeth.
‘Why is that man… here?’
Blanshe’s superhuman eyesight spotted a man in the crowd.
A fat, dirty, and despicable man.
Bella’s ex-fiancé, who hurt her, and the man Blanshe hates the most was right there.
Blanshe couldn’t stay still.
“Miss…”
“Yes?”
“Sorry, but can I go to the restroom for a moment?”
