episode_0011

After having all the clothes taken away by the nun and putting on white underwear, I felt so embarrassed that I thought my face would explode.

“Well, there’s a mirror here, so take a look.”

The nun grabbed my shoulders and led me to a full-length mirror.

I remembered that there was no mirror in this room before, but it seemed Armand had even prepared a mirror.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and forgot about my embarrassment, just staring blankly at the mirror.

When my blue eyes and eyes in the mirror met, the embarrassment rushed back.

The white underwear reflected in the mirror was very flattering.

Seeing the image of the woman I had only dreamed of becoming my own reflection in front of me, I felt strange.

“Now, just put on the dress.”

The nun seemed excited to dress me up, humming a tune as she picked up the dress.

When I saw the dress that reached down to my ankles, my heart sank.

“Do I really have to wear that…”

“Sigh…”

I quietly sighed and waited for the nun to dress me in the dress.

“Now, take a look.”

The nun stepped aside, and I went to the mirror to examine my appearance.

“Wow…”

The dress, not decorated with jewels but simply adorned with fabrics, suited me very well.

Of course, wearing the dress, feeling the hem fluttering and the touch of bare legs, and feeling a bit uncomfortable with the exposed legs, but I thought I had to get used to it now.

“Now, put on this coat.”

“A coat?”

Why suddenly a coat?

The nun held a blue buff coat in her hand.

“Isn’t this a buff coat?”

It was definitely a buff coat, but the length of the hem was quite short.

“Master Chugui designed it specially for you… Do you not like it?”

“No… I like it.”

Why did Master Roang Chugui go to such lengths to make me a lady? Could it be that he plans to use this favor in the future to force me into a marriage with someone in his family? The thought sent shivers down my spine.

I put on the blue buff coat and buttoned it up.

The coat’s hem came just above my belly button, making me wonder if I could even call it a coat.

After putting on the shorter buff coat than a jacket, I thanked the nun.

“Thank you for going through all this trouble, Sister.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I used to wear this all the time about 50 years ago, so it was fun to dress someone else up after a long time.”

“Excuse me?”

Wearing this kind of dress 50 years ago…?

“By the way, may I know your name?”

“Julia, Sister.”

“No, I mean your previous name before baptism.”

“That’s a bit tricky, isn’t it? Ohoho.”

The nun laughed, covering her mouth.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. I was as young as you 50 years ago, you know.”

Imagining the nun’s 50 years ago that was hard to believe, I left the room.

Armand, Lotus, Aramis, and Laurent all stared at me as if time had stopped when they saw me.

“Master Chugui.”

“What is it?”

“What exactly are you planning to do with me as a lady?”

“Well, this person…”

Armand threw a pen at Lotus’s forehead in response.

“Ouch, that hurts.”

As the pen tip stuck into Lotus’s forehead, he rubbed his forehead.

“I did come out wearing everything, but… this feels quite awkward.”

I chuckled while scratching my cheek.

“Madam.”

Laurent called me in a serious tone.

“You look stunning…”

Laurent raised his thumb and bowed his head.

“Well… thank you.”

Receiving praise made me feel a bit strange, but I thanked them nonetheless.

Looking around, I noticed that not only I, but three others had also changed into different clothes, ditching the casual attire for a more polished look.

“I’m not the only one who changed clothes.”

In response to my comment, Rotos straightened his collar and showed off his outfit to me.

“What do you think?”

“Yeah, now you actually look like a person.”

My words made Aramis and Lorang chuckle.

“If you all have time to chat in front of me, go and solve the case quickly.”

Armand pointed towards the door with his pen.

“Yes, we’ll be back soon.”

“Looking forward to good news.”

Armand nodded and continued to focus on the documents.

While walking through the corridors of the cathedral, the nun from earlier approached me, holding a feathered hat.

“Oh, I forgot to give this to you.”

I placed the blue feathered hat with a white feather she handed me on my head.

“How does it look?”

“It suits you very well.”

The nun smiled at me and replied.

“Then, I’ll go now.”

“May the protection of the divine be with you.”

We exchanged greetings and parted ways.

#

After gathering money and equipment from our respective homes, we decided to meet in front of the fountain.

I entered my room and began to reload my pistol.

I checked the flint’s condition, poured gunpowder into the powder dish, and closed the lid.

Click.

As the lid closed, a crisp sound echoed.

I shook the gun to see if any gunpowder had spilled.

Seeing that it hadn’t, I poured gunpowder into the barrel for the shot, then crumpled paper and placed it inside.

After loading the gun, I tucked it into the hem of my dress on the right thigh.

As I was about to sharpen my knife, Miné entered my room.

“Father said the lady arrived in a magnificent dress, and oh… Your dress is stunning!”

Miné began to admire my dress.

“Indeed, you are a noblewoman. You look so noble in your dress. Oh, what should I do with this?!”

Miné exclaimed as she touched my dress.

“The fabric is so soft.”

“Miné.”

“Yes?”

“I might be back late today, so don’t wait for me and sleep in your room.”

“Really? Will you be back late? Please come back early and play with me.”

Miné clung to my leg with sparkling eyes.

“What’s this hard thing on your thigh…?”

Miné reached into my skirt and pulled out the gun I had tucked on my right thigh.

“A… a gun! Eek?!”

Miné dropped the gun and stepped back.

I picked up the gun, checked if any gunpowder had spilled, then tucked it back into the hem of my skirt.

“Miss, are you going to kill someone…?”

“No, it’s for self-defense.”

I replied calmly, brushing off the dust from my skirt.

“And Miné.”

“Yes… yes?!”

Miné was startled when I called her.

“This gun is worth more than this entire inn.”

Pointing to my right thigh, I said.

“Wha…!”

Miné gasped upon learning the value of the gun hanging from my right thigh.

“I… I dropped it earlier… I should ask…?”

“Shh…”

I gestured with my index finger on my lips.

“If you keep my possession of the gun a secret, you don’t have to ask.”

Miné nodded vigorously with a bright expression.

“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you.”

I put on my belt with the saber and left the room.

“Yes! Take care!”

Miné followed me out and greeted me.

As I made my way down the stairs from the inn lobby, where people were enjoying food and drinks, everyone stopped in their tracks upon seeing me.

“What are you looking at?”

“Ahem!”

When I shot a cold glance, they all pretended to go back to what they were doing and cautiously watched me.

Ignoring the stares, especially those directed at my chest, I continued towards the fountain where we agreed to meet.

As I walked down the street, people passing by would glance at me.

Some even whistled at me as if calling a cat, a gesture that made me feel uncomfortable, but I brushed it off as I needed to gather at the fountain.

Thud!

“Eek!”

Ouch!

“Ahh!”

Suddenly, I heard a scream from behind and turned around.

“Yeong-ae, I’ve come to escort you.”

Laurent approached me, scratching his black hair.

The men who had whistled at me earlier were now getting slapped by Laurent and rolling on the ground.

“Alright, let’s go.”

With Laurent by my side, we headed towards the fountain. Upon arrival, Rotos and Aramis started clapping.

“Whistle~!”

Rotos whistled with his fingers in his mouth.

“Laurent, we did it.”

“We did what?”

When I asked Aramis, he just smiled and didn’t answer.

“Rotos, what happened? What did we succeed in suddenly?”

“Well, it’s something between men.”

“Seriously, we’ve been together for over 10 years and never had such a thing.”

“Nine out of those 10 years were spent rolling in the battlefield, and the other year was spent drinking, so you never had the chance to know about it.”

Aramis retorted to Rotos and then looked at me.

“Well, um… I see.”

I wanted to argue back, but couldn’t find the right words.

“So, which gambling den are we going to?”

“Just like going to the dragon’s nest to catch a dragon, how about going to the biggest gambling den in this city?”

“Conquistador?”

“Yes, there.”

As I answered Aramis, he nodded.

“We’ve never been there before. What if we get stopped at the entrance?”

“You always overlook something. Just with your name and appearance alone, you’ve already secured entry.”

“What about Aramis and Rotos, then?”

“Well, if it doesn’t work, just say they’re your bodyguards and lie to get in.”

“Hmm…”

“Don’t think too deeply about it. When have we ever thought so deeply?”

“True, I guess.”

“Come on, let’s hurry and get on the carriage. I’m dying to see what the inside of Conquistador looks like.”

Rotos gestured for us to come quickly as he climbed onto the carriage.

“Wow, he’s so impatient.”

Aramis playfully smacked Rotos’s head as he got on the carriage.

“Laurent, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

I took Laurent, who was standing still, and climbed onto the carriage with him.

Gambling was considered a sin, wasn’t it?

We, who indulged in alcohol and gambling every day, were well aware that gambling was not a virtuous act according to ethics.

However, as nobles, we always had to maintain a glamorous appearance, and showing a desperate side due to lack of money would ruin our reputation as nobles.

Therefore, we, who couldn’t work, often squandered our wealth through gambling.

So, we deluded ourselves into thinking that by gambling, we were displaying noble behavior.

Of course, now we were simply unable to escape the clutches of gambling addiction.

However, looking at the building in front of us, which was even larger than the cathedral where Armand was, made me wonder, “Is gambling really such an unsavory business?”

We stood there dumbfounded, watching as magic illuminated the exterior of the building, and all we could do was marvel at it.

The noblewomen, seeing us staring blankly at the building, chuckled and led us inside the Conquistador.

Gathering our resolve, we entered the building.

Although we had prepared ourselves to say something in case the guards at the entrance tried to stop us, they simply let us in without any hindrance.

“Enjoy your time, ladies.”

They even greeted us, wishing us a pleasant time.

“Marie, what did I tell you? I said as long as you have your name and face, it’s a free pass.”

Thanks to this face, we were able to enter comfortably, but once inside, the atmosphere felt strange.