Ch.61Debutante (3)

The carriage, carrying shadows, naturally melded into a soft orange glow.

It was the color of a mansion so grand that I still couldn’t believe I owned it. With a bit of exaggeration, one could spot a baby ant with the naked eye even under the night sky.

However, the brilliant illumination of the mansion transformed into monochrome as the carriage came to a stop. And as a certain woman revealed herself from inside, pure white gradually consumed the mansion.

It was Irefi’s color.

“Nepy completed his escort duty. That’s unusual.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Pardon?”

Irefi wore a blank expression at my mismatched response. Thinking about it again, it was an action that could easily be misunderstood.

“No… I just thought I ended up escorting you unintentionally.”

“You haven’t done it often enough for it to become a habit.”

“I’ll do it more often from now on.”

“Well, I’m a former knight captain. Won’t people laugh at us?”

“Miren will take care of all those good-for-nothings with her Miren Kick.”

“Pfft, Miren Kick… I never get tired of hearing that.”

We kept giggling as we entered the mansion.

Miren’s battle cry while delivering her Hectopascal Kick had already become an embarrassing memory we’d tease her about for ages.

Every time we mimicked the situation with poor impressions in front of Miren, her face would turn bright red.

As a bonus, Arnel would vibrate his entire body, unable to burst out laughing.

“Putting the Miren Kick aside… why did Nepy suddenly decide to escort me?”

“Actually, I wasn’t planning to escort you. I just wanted to hold your hand.”

“Oh, I see…”

“I like you, Irefi.”

“Mmm, Nepy. I feel the same, but… um… the servants are watching…!”

“So what? They already know we share a bedroom.”

Various rumors must have already spread. That an unmarried man and woman were already being frivolous. Or that our inappropriate relationship had crossed the line.

Whatever the case, all their speculations were wrong. Our sleeping arrangements were as wholesome as a cleric’s chamber. Simply put, both Irefi and I were pure souls maintaining our chastity.

It might not be very convincing for a man and woman in their late twenties to claim such a thing, but it couldn’t be helped.

“Then shall we… go to the room where we called the dressmaker like this?”

“I could carry you there. Want me to?”

“Ah.”

I saw it. For a very brief moment, her facial muscles expressing delight…

I’m detached from this world’s culture, so I’m not bound by customs. But she was a noble among nobles, a woman warrior who had lived as the captain of the imperial guard. She was accustomed to a lifestyle of suppressing desires.

“Even so, being carried is…”

“Being carried is…?”

“Um…”

“Irefi?”

Suddenly, I felt a gentle touch on the nape of my neck, bewildering me. Only after seeing Irefi’s face drawing closer did I realize the source of the thrilling sensation was her fingers.

“Since I don’t know… please take responsibility.”

“Responsibility…? Huh!”

I felt light-headed at Irefi’s bright red blush as she struggled with embarrassment. I never expected Irefi to allow such a bold display of affection in front of others.

Rather than Irefi, it was I who became awkward at her bold decision. The sight of me stiffly picking her up like a princess must have been quite a spectacle.

‘Wow!’

I was involuntarily impressed by the discrepancy between the firmness of her thighs and her light weight. It was surprising how difficult it was to imagine her as the Destroyer I had fought before.

And the way she desperately buried her face near my collarbone to hide her embarrassment was so adorable…

Just then, excited whispers from around us reached my ears. It was the servants with their wide-eyed gossip.

“My goodness, look at that. The couple has such good harmony today too.”

“Why haven’t they held an engagement ceremony yet when they’re so close?”

“If they’re like this now, what will happen when they officially become husband and wife…”

“I wish they would get married soon. Then Marquess Justitia would stay in the bedroom. At least she wouldn’t come to the kitchen, right?”

‘Head chef, I’m sorry I couldn’t stop Irefi from cooking. Since her Malice is affected by stress, I couldn’t bring myself to stop her hobby…’

Even the servants’ quiet voices reached my ears clearly. While unintentionally eavesdropping, we had already reached the room where we had invited the dressmaker.

With my hands full carrying Irefi, I gently pushed the door open with my foot.

Inside, the spacious room was filled with clothing and staff from the dress shop waiting to assist with the fitting.

Through the maze-like arrangement of numerous outfits, a woman with enchanted eyes approached us.

“My, my! The Marquess couple is so romantic!”

It was the madam who had previously showcased Irefi in a wedding dress. Her eyes, fixated on Irefi nestled comfortably in my arms, were quite uncomfortable.

“That’s enough, please put me down now!”

“Oh, yes!”

I hurriedly withdrew my hands that had been supporting Irefi. Suddenly without support, Irefi’s body floated momentarily.

Normally, she should have landed on her bottom, but Irefi’s strength was abnormal. She maintained her balance supernaturally, as if lying on an invisible bed, and stood up defying gravity.

The madam couldn’t help but be amazed at the rare sight.

“You two are… how should I put it… well, fantastic.”

“Irefi is quite something, isn’t she?”

“Even at a time like this with the compliments, Nepy is really…”

“Are we having the same conversation, Marquess…?”

The madam’s interjection had a hint of lamentation. I cleared my throat to redirect attention to the main topic.

“Ahem. First, thank you for visiting, Madam.”

“Not at all. Thanks to you, I’ve earned the title of being the first dress shop invited to this famous mansion.”

The mansion of a Founding Noble had been treated as a national treasure for 400 years, I heard. That’s why all the servants were affiliated with the imperial household.

The title of being the first dress shop invited to a national treasure would certainly attract attention.

“Hmm. But Madam, you’ve brought so many outfits. I was planning to pick just five or six and be done with it.”

“My goodness, just five or six? This is Marquess Justitia’s first dress showcase in ten years! You must choose with great care!”

“Irefi, should we just buy everything from here to there?”

“No. It’s too cumbersome… and I’ll have to try them all on anyway.”

“Marquess Justitia has been wearing uniforms all this time, so it’s natural to feel uncomfortable trying on dresses. But this is Marquess Justitia’s one and only debutante! Just bear with it this once, Marquess!”

“Ugh. That’s right. For Miren’s sake… sigh!”

The madam’s friendly rhetoric even managed to dispel Irefi’s reluctance. Soon, they began exploring the maze of dresses for the fitting in earnest.

“How about this one, Marquess Justitia?”

The dress the madam recommended was a wine-red dress adorned with elaborate decorations. Irefi expressed her reluctance with drooping eyes.

“Madam, I’m sorry but please avoid flashy outfits or ones decorated with jewels. I shouldn’t wear such things.”

“Irefi…”

A faint shadow crossed Irefi’s face. I could easily guess the reason.

She was someone who would consider even a small happiness a sin. Outwardly displaying it would exceed her permissible mission.

But that was just her circumstance. I had decided to embrace even Irefi with her sins. Out of my pure selfishness, I wanted to make Irefi happy. If guilt put brakes on her actions, I would forcibly push her forward.

“Oh my, is that so? It’s a special occasion, but the customer’s request comes first, so it can’t be helped.”

“No. Let’s choose a dress that suits Irefi best.”

“Nepy? I’m fine. Flashy attire doesn’t suit me.”

“I want to see it.”

“Even so…”

“Hmm.”

I slowly walked until I was right next to the hesitant Irefi. Unable to guess my intention, she flinched with a stiff posture. All curled up, she looked perfect to hold.

“Nepy?”

Irefi called my name cautiously. Without answering, I suddenly embraced her, tightly wrapping my arms around her. Completely pressed against me, her lips hidden in my embrace showed her shock.

“W-what are you doing all of a sudden?!”

“I’m going to stay like this until you agree to wear the dress.”

“There are so many people watching!”

“Indeed, there really are a lot.”

From the madam who kept exclaiming in admiration to the dress shop staff and even some servants. The intense gazes gathering from all directions made the back of my head tingle.

In the end, it was Irefi, with her lingering noble consciousness, who raised the white flag first.

“Alright! I’ll wear it, so anything more than this… later…!”

“Later?”

“In the… bedroom…”

“Oh my, oh my, oh my!”

It was probably an unconscious slip due to her flustered state. Even I, who was pushing her, turned bright red, so how much worse must it have been for her? Belatedly realizing her slip of the tongue, Irefi explained in a tantrum-like manner.

“Ah, just hugging while sleeping is the limit! That’s as far as it goes!!!”

“Of course, Marquess. Certainly. Hohoho… I should have brought some nightwear too.”

“Nightwear?!”

I instinctively imagined all sorts of censored outfits with minimal coverage.

For instance, a short dress where fair skin is faintly visible through translucent fabric. Fitting snugly around Irefi’s slender waist but not extending past her hips. Where one could fully enjoy the smooth texture of the fabric and the delicate feel of her skin even when kissing through the clothes…

“Nepy! What are you thinking?!”

“…… … Nothing!!! Happened…!!!!”

“That’s a lie! It’s definitely a lie!”

“Anyway, Madam? About that nightwear you mentioned.”

“Nepy!!!”

Only after Irefi screamed at the top of her lungs could the nightwear topic be concluded. The madam and I could only belatedly smack our lips.

I was contemplating making a surprise visit to the dress shop behind Irefi’s back sometime.

The madam clapped her hands together and switched to business mode.

“Well then, shall we now try on the Marquess’s dress? With a design that will showcase your charm to the fullest! I’ll take it that you’ve given permission.”

“Ugh, fine. I don’t know when Nepy became so mischievous…”

“Haha.”

While outwardly letting out a carefree laugh, my mind was dominated by a single image.

‘Nightwear… adult pajamas worn by Irefi…’

I inflated all sorts of fantasies alone. Meanwhile, I turned around and hid my foolish face against the wall. The expression on my features as I imagined lewd and lascivious images was obvious without even looking.

‘Even Irefi would wear it for our wedding, right? Wedding… marriage.’

Following the flow of consciousness, the image dominating my mind gradually changed. From Irefi’s figure clad in thin fabric close to nudity, it transitioned to a process of being consumed by memories of the past.

What was projected from my memories was the scene at Chester Estate after returning from battle with Irefi.

That day, Bartlant had asked:

[By the way, you two, when are you getting married?]