A Strange Commute

A cute-looking girl is reflected in the mirror.

Who is this girl, wearing a flowy, frilled dress that reveals her legs, and blushing?

…It’s me.

It keeps going like this.

Whenever I casually try to buy a shirt and pants, Veronica and Master, especially Veronica, keep handing me different clothes to try on.

When I change and come out after being told to ‘just try it on,’ they fix my hair.

Then they make me stand in front of the mirror and look at myself.

…Why are they doing this?

Perhaps it’s because my reflection in the mirror looks quite good.

I don’t usually look in mirrors, so I haven’t had much chance to realize it, but I have a well-proportioned body and a pretty face.

Although I seem a bit short, my small face makes my proportions quite good.

…I’m realizing that fact anew.

“…Are we done now?”

I sighed and turned around, only to find new clothes waiting.

“Let’s just try this one on too.”

“…Do you know how many outfits this is already?”

“Originally, you were supposed to try on a lot more, but I cut it short because you looked tired.”

“….”

This isn’t just a “one more set” situation… Still, since they said it was truly the last one, I went into the changing room and took off my clothes.

At first, I needed help from others, but I’d changed so many times that I’d gotten used to putting on clothes.

I naturally took them off, tidied them, and picked up the clothes Veronica handed me.

They looked familiar somehow, and when I unfolded them, they were the shirt and pants I usually wore.

If I put on the gown I always wear over this… the set I always wear in the Workshop would be complete.

Since they weren’t difficult clothes to begin with, I put them on easily.

After fumbling them on… I felt like something was a bit plain.

Even though they were clearly much better quality than the clothes I usually wore.

It must be because I’d seen so many flashy clothes before this, right?

I went out, handed over the clothes I’d changed out of, and looked in the mirror.

Seeing how stable it felt, it seemed my worries were unfounded.

Thinking I could just wear this as is, I said I’d buy it right away, but they told me it was already paid for.

It seemed Veronica had paid for everything.

I approached her, who was talking to the shop assistant, and grumbled.

“I have enough money to buy this much.”

“…You’re just saying that, but you’re probably happy about it inside anyway.”

…Ahem.

Since I’d been caught, I decided to be honest.

“Well… thank you.”

“…Hmph.”

But something was strange.

Behind the smiling shop assistant, I saw clothes being packaged.

They were all the clothes I had tried on.

“Veronica, why are they packaging those?”

I wondered if they handled worn clothes separately in the Capital, but the answer I heard was completely different from what I expected.

“What do you mean? I’m buying all of those too.”

“Huh?”

Veronica took out a check from her bag and coolly signed it.

An amount that made my eyes doubt.

Veronica and the woman presumed to be the shop owner didn’t show much surprise, as if they were used to it.

Only I was startled, whispering to Veronica in a trembling voice.

“…No, why are you buying all of them?”

“For you to wear?”

“What if I don’t wear them?”

Veronica shrugged as if to say, ‘What’s the problem?’

“If you don’t wear them… then you don’t wear them, I guess?”

“No, it’s a waste of money….”

“Why are you making such a fuss over this much? You even gilded your own Workshop.”

“Th-that and this are the same?”

I just went a bit overboard to make the place I’ll live for the rest of my life more comfortable.

Regardless, Veronica continued her conversation with the shop owner.

“Then please send them to the usual address.”

“Yes, Young lady.”

“…Is everything alright at home?”

“The Master-nim sent a message asking you to show your face once in a while.”

At those words, Veronica scratched her head, glanced at me, and replied.

“…If I have time.”

“And your grandchild-“

Veronica hastily covered the shop owner’s mouth. She glared with her eyes, then grabbed my hand and led me out of the shop, telling me to hurry up and come out.

Master followed behind with a serene expression.

I stared at Veronica with a blank expression and muttered.

“What was that just now?”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t seem like you’re just close as a regular customer….”

Veronica mumbled for a moment, then replied.

“This… is one of the businesses our family runs. It’s not a well-known fact, though….”

…So, this huge clothing store is one of the Calz Family’s businesses?

When I tilted my head with a dumbfounded expression, Veronica bristled.

“Hey! You didn’t even know what your fr-friend’s family does?”

“…I only knew that you ran away because you didn’t want to get married, so I just thought your relationship was bad…?”

“Th-that. Um….”

Veronica suddenly blushed, flustered, and stammered her words.

Master, who had been watching from behind, sighed.

“…Let’s stop here and buy some dinner ingredients before heading back.”

“R-right.”

Talking more on the street would have been embarrassing, so after roughly buying dinner ingredients at the grocery store, we returned to Veronica’s Workshop.

As I went inside, Cecil rushed over and hugged me tightly.

“Welcome back, Asha-nim!”

“U-uh, yes… Have you been well too, Cecil?”

“Yes, I have!”

As I stroked Cecil, Claudia followed out.

“You’re back? You bought a lot of things, didn’t you?”

“Dinner ingredients.”

“I’ll have to show off my skills. By the way, did what you went for go well?”

“…Hmm.”

The original purpose of my visit was resolved well… but I ended up with a bigger problem, so to speak….

“Let’s talk about it over dinner first….”

Claudia nodded, then effortlessly lifted the luggage that the three of us had barely managed to carry together, and disappeared into the Kitchen.

While Veronica and Master were recovering, Cecil smiled brightly and asked me.

“Asha-nim! Are you not going to wear the clothes you were wearing this morning anymore?”

“Huh?”

“They were very pretty clothes, it’s a shame.”

Then Veronica, who was massaging her shoulder, said with a smile.

“I bought a lot more pretty clothes, so I hope Asha wears them often.”

“Really?”

Cecil looked at me with sparkling eyes. Facing those eyes full of innocent curiosity and excitement,

it was hard to say that I wouldn’t wear them.

I glanced at Master and Veronica, asking for help, but.

Master shrugged, and Veronica smiled awkwardly, avoiding my gaze.

“…I’ll wear them.”

“Hehe… Cecil is happy!”

Seeing Cecil jumping up and down with such joy, I wondered if it would be okay to just wear them inside the house?

Yeah, as long as I don’t wear them outside, it should be fine, right?

As I rested with those thoughts, a fragrant aroma wafted from the Kitchen.

An alluring scent that made me gulp.

Soon after, Claudia called us, saying dinner was ready.

Eating dishes similar to what we had at the Dining room, I fell into thought for a moment.

Starting tomorrow… I don’t know how to tell them that I’ll be commuting to what is presumed to be Her Highness the Princess’s Villa.

…I want to conduct research to return as soon as possible, but.

If I want to live in the Empire, I can’t disobey.

…Unless I plan to abandon the Workshop I painstakingly built and go into exile.

Still… thinking that Veronica and Master will continue the research in my stead made me feel a bit reassured.

As dinner was nearing its end.

I informed everyone that I would have to start going to work tomorrow.

Of course, I also added that they shouldn’t tell anyone else.

They probably won’t make me do anything too important… but it wouldn’t be good for rumors to spread.

…Well, the people here wouldn’t do that, though.

*

*

*

*

Morning dawned.

I rubbed my eyes with a blank stare, recalling the memo I had seen yesterday.

I thoroughly washed my entire body and put on the shirt and pants I had bought yesterday.

I also didn’t forget to bring the token Her Highness the Princess had given me.

But… thinking about it, I realized that Her Highness the Princess hadn’t told me what time to arrive.

“…Does she mean for me to come whenever I think it’s the right time?”

According to my memories of a past life, this kind of thing was called a Black Company.

While I was wondering when I should go, I heard footsteps.

Following the sound, I turned my head and saw Cecil and Claudia.

“Are you leaving already?”

“Asha-nim….”

I had been wondering when I should go, but now I felt like I had to leave right away.

“…I’m thinking of doing that.”

…If I go today, she’ll set the time… right?

Bidding farewell to Claudia and Cecil, I left Veronica’s Workshop.

“Have a good trip, Asha-nim!”

Cecil waved both hands and smiled at me. Claudia, standing next to her, was also giggling and waving.

“…Alright, see you tonight.”

Waving back, I felt a strange sensation.

It was an inexplicable feeling.

I trudged along towards the address the Princess had written for me.

Then a mansion appeared, larger than I had expected.

As I approached the main gate, a man in a uniform appeared.

I hastily pulled out the token from my pocket and showed it to him, and he guided me inside.

At the entrance of the mansion, the person guiding me changed to a Maid.

Following her, the place we arrived at was… a location presumed to be a Bathroom.

“…Uh, is this the right place?”

“Yes. It is.”

Then the Maid disappeared like the wind, as if her job was done.

“…Does she want me to wash before working?”

I opened the door without thinking and stepped inside, and warm air wafted out.

Contrary to my expectations, an incredibly luxurious Bathroom was visible.

Perhaps it should be called a Bathhouse rather than a Bathroom.

It was a place that spacious and luxurious.

I felt a presence, as if there was already someone inside.

Soon after, a voice was heard.

“Ah, Lord. You’ve arrived? You’re earlier than I expected?”

It was Her Highness the Princess’s voice.