58. Pretty Clothes

58. Pretty Clothes

Numerous people coming and going from the library.

In the midst of the crowd, packed with commoners and nobles alike, a small golden figure was being pushed and shoved through the throng, making its way out of the library.

‘Is anyone watching…?’

Claire’s blue eyes darted left and right, scanning her surroundings. Realizing no one was looking at her, Claire quickly ran outside, clutching a book protectively to her chest.

Claire, who had successfully escaped, hid in an alley before anyone could see her. She let out a sigh of relief.

“Princess, you were here.”

“Heeek?!”

Claire jumped in surprise and looked back. There stood a maid with messy short black hair and tired eyes.

“Did you go to the library? You’ve been reading a lot lately, it’s a good habit.”

“Ah, no… well….”

Claire couldn’t continue, recalling the contents of the books she had recently read. Edel, mistaking her gesture for shyness, continued.

“You never even looked at books before, only swords. It’s a relief that you’ve developed a normal hobby.”

“What’s wrong with liking swords… A great general I know also likes swords a lot, just like me?”

“It’s not exactly a hobby befitting a princess.”

Claire puffed out her cheeks. Her pouting expression made her look like a cute, sulking child, and Edel couldn’t help but reach out and stroke her head.

As Edel stroked her head, Claire asked.

“… More importantly, why do you look so tired?”

“Ah….”

Edel touched the area around her eyes. She could feel her skin, which had become noticeably rough due to accumulated fatigue.

“I suppose the investigation is keeping me busy. We can’t take this matter lightly.”

“Mmm. Try to take it easy.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Edel, about to leave, suddenly turned her head and asked Claire.

“Speaking of which, what kind of book is that?”

“Ughh?!!”

The book, hidden preciously as if it shouldn’t be seen by anyone else. Edel pointed to the book concealed beneath Claire’s uniform, and Claire froze in surprise.

“Th-that, that, that’s just a novel! Uh, yeah!”

“Is that so? I hope you haven’t been fooled by a strange book again and entered a dungeon, have you?”

“W-what are you talking about! I’m not an idiot, I wouldn’t fall for the same thing twice!”

“I understand.”

After chuckling lightly, Edel turned and left. Claire let out a sigh of relief and sank to the ground.

Now, all that’s left is to reach the dormitory without being discovered…

“Claire?”

Claire jumped in surprise at the voice that came from behind her again and dropped the book she was holding to her chest. Someone with a white wolf tail wagging approached and picked up the fallen book.

“This is….”

“Ah, th-that’s…!”

“Ah, this series is fun. I’ve read it a few times too. My sister always gave it to me to read.”

While Claire hesitated, Skadi continued, looking at the book cover adorned with colorful flowers.

“So, the story is about… a girl who accidentally seduces the strongest beings and ends up ruling the world. It was fun how in the end, only women were left in the world….”

“W-wait a minute!”

“Ah- sorry, I almost spoiled it.”

Skadi apologized and handed the book back to Claire. Claire, her face flushed red, quickly took the book and hid it in her chest.

The spoiler wasn’t the important part; what was embarrassing was being caught reading such a book. And to Skadi, of all people, the one who made her face turn redder the more she saw her.

Claire frantically looked for a way to change the subject and suddenly noticed a small child standing next to Skadi. Although small, she was only a few centimeters shorter than Claire.

“Wh-who is this child?”

Various speculations crossed Claire’s mind. Starting with an acquaintance’s younger sibling, perhaps she was Skadi’s hidden younger sister, or even her daughter….

“Ah, this is a younger sister I ended up taking care of. Iris, this is your friend Claire. Say hello.”

“Hello, Unni…?”

Iris, mid-greeting, tilted her head. Skadi gently coaxed her.

“She’s a bit short, but she is your older sister.”

“Yes!”

“I-I see.”

Claire subtly raised her aura and tried to cool her flushed face. Once her emotions had somewhat stabilized, Claire asked Skadi.

“So, where were you going?”

“To buy some clothes.”

“Clothes?”

“Yes.”

Skadi continued.

“Iris likes pretty clothes, so I was on my way to the clothing store to buy her some. Right, Iris?”

“Yes!”

Iris, her silver hair shimmering, smiled brightly. Skadi stroked Iris’s hair and asked Claire.

“Claire, do you want to come too?”

“Huh?! I, I think I need to take some books back to the dormitory….”

“Let’s go.”

A weak refusal implies consent. Skadi picked up Claire and headed straight for the shopping district.

——

“It’s so crowded. Is something happening?”

The street was packed with people. Skadi said as she squeezed through the gaps, carrying Iris on her shoulders and Claire in her arms.

Claire replied.

“It seems to be auction day.”

“Auction?”

“Yes. Well, it’s like… No. It’s just something like that.”

Claire quietly closed her mouth. Skadi nodded and continued to push through the crowd.

After navigating through the waves of people for a while, Skadi spoke to Claire in the middle of the crowd.

“This reminds me of when I was with my sister.”

“Sister… Freya?”

“Yes.”

The situation of pushing through something while holding a small child reminded Skadi of when she carried Freya as a child and fought through attacking monsters, she explained.

“… What kind of place is the North, anyway?”

“There are quite a few monsters… and it snows a lot?”

“Just from the description, it sounds like more than ‘quite a few’….”

Claire murmured quietly. Skadi continued to walk forward, and suddenly felt Iris, whom she was carrying on her shoulders, trembling slightly.

“Iris? What’s wrong?”

“Um… monsters are too scary….”

Iris, her eyes closed and body shivering, spoke. Skadi exclaimed “Ah,” and said.

“Is it because of what I said earlier?”

“Yes… Daddy said monsters are very scary and strong. He said if I don’t behave, a scary monster will come at night and eat me….”

Iris’s voice trembled as she described it, as if she herself was scared. Skadi reached out with one hand and stroked Iris.

“It’s okay, Iris. As long as I’m here, I won’t let monsters harm you.”

“Really…?”

“Of course. Look, if monsters come, I’ll swing my sword and cut them all down….”

As Skadi reached for her sword hilt, Claire, who was in her arms, jumped in surprise and stopped Skadi. She was so urgent that golden aura even enveloped her body.

“Stop! Stop! You’ll cause trouble if you swing it here! Take your hand off the sword!”

“Why are you making such a fuss over just swinging a sword? Iris needs to know how strong big sister is to feel safe….”

“Stop!!”

Claire shouted. Only then did Skadi remove her hand from the sword hilt.

“Okay, okay. I won’t take it out.”

“Phew….”

With the two of them relieved for their own reasons, Skadi continued to push through the crowd. The area was already bustling, and it seemed even more crowded due to the auction that had apparently taken place earlier.

Skadi suddenly looked at the small figures of Iris and Claire and quietly thought.

‘They’re all so small… Seeing them like this reminds me of Freya when she was little.’

A small, cute black wolf. Of course, she was still cute as an adult, but Freya as a child was, naturally, even cuter.

Every time she returned home after Father’s grueling training, her little sister would wag her small tail and trot over, looking up at her and calling out “Unni!” every time. Even from afar, seeing only her, she would call out “Unni!!” and run towards her.

When she lifted her approaching sister and spun her around, her sister would laugh and hug her, tangling their tails together. The happy memories from then were unforgettable.

“Unni!!!”

Yes, even now, her sister’s voice felt so vivid, as if she were shouting right beside her. It was clear that her memories with Freya were truly precious.

-Unni!!!! Where are you going!!! Ah, damn it, why are there so many people!!!!! Move aside!!! Ah!!!

Skadi savored the memory of Freya’s cute voice and finally arrived at the clothing store for her new younger sister.

The store looked quite large at first glance. Skadi gently pushed the glass door, careful not to break it.

As the door opened with a jingle, the sound of a bell rang out simultaneously. The gorgeously decorated interior was revealed, and Iris’s eyes widened. Skadi said.

“Iris, pick out the clothes you like. I’ll buy them all for you.”

“Yes!!”

Watching Iris run off the moment she was set down, Skadi offered what she believed to be a bright smile.

… Meanwhile, Freya, who had been chasing her sister, was swept away by the crowd and disappeared somewhere.