Ch.72Chapter 72. The Beginning of the Incident (1)

Elaine looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror and smiled awkwardly.

Perhaps it was because her clothes were different from usual, but even her smile felt awkward.

Flutter-

As Elaine quickly turned her body, she hurriedly grabbed her fluttering skirt hem with her hand.

A dress she couldn’t remember when she last wore.

It was something she had only worn once when she was very young.

Her reflection in the mirror wearing the dress looked so awkward.

The sound of the long, voluminous skirt fluttering when she moved quickly was also very awkward.

‘I should just go with my usual…’

Looking at her incredibly awkward appearance, Elaine thought this wasn’t right.

Yes, even if there was a party, it was just a formal one.

She didn’t plan to stay at the party for long anyway.

She shouldn’t overdo it with a dress and just go as she usually would.

“Oh my! Miss, it suits you so well!”

“Huh…?”

It was just as she was about to undo the dress buttons.

Maria, Elaine’s personal maid, came in and started clapping.

“Miss! You look so beautiful! I thought the dress would suit you well because you have such a nice figure, but to this extent…”

“I-it’s not that special.”

Elaine took her hands off the buttons and looked down.

Instead of her usual comfortable knight’s uniform, she saw the voluminous skirt rising up.

A dress with white and yellow harmoniously blended together.

Though awkward and uncomfortable, the colors were pretty.

“No, it is! I wondered when I’d ever see our miss wearing a dress. Ah…”

Maria seemed genuinely moved, unable to take her eyes off Elaine as she kept expressing her admiration.

Seeing this, Elaine looked in the mirror again.

‘Does it… look okay?’

To Elaine, it felt like she was forcing herself to wear clothes that didn’t suit her.

“You said there’s a party today, right? Ah, at this level, no matter which noble lady comes, none could be prettier than our Miss Elaine.”

“N-no, that’s not true.”

Elaine waved her hands in embarrassment but couldn’t hide the smile that naturally formed on her lips.

If it were the usual Elaine, even if there was a party, she wouldn’t have worn a dress.

No, she wouldn’t have attended the party in the first place.

‘It definitely feels different from usual.’

Elaine thought as she stared at the mirror.

Even to herself, she looked so different that she wondered if it was really her.

The longer she looked, the more she thought she might actually look pretty, as Maria said.

‘Should I… go like this?’

With Maria continuously offering praise and admiration, Elaine gradually gained confidence.

The reason Elaine tried on a dress instead of her knight’s uniform wasn’t simply because there was a party today.

It was because she thought about the people who would be attending the party with her.

Among them, she thought of Ryuyeong, who would surely feel awkward at such a noble party because he was a commoner.

Elaine was certain.

That Ryuyeong had the skills to not only receive love calls from nobles but also potentially receive a noble title from the empire.

Therefore, he would need to get used to such parties in the future, and she needed to teach him the basics properly.

For that, Elaine thought she needed to set an example herself.

Wearing a dress instead of a knight’s uniform was basic manners for women.

That was all.

With no other intentions whatsoever.

“Here, try this on. I’ve been keeping it because I thought it would suit you…”

“…Really?”

Elaine quietly looked at the necklace Maria brought, thinking this way.

The jewel, neither too big nor too small, sparkled nicely.

“There. Like this…”

‘Yes, if I’m going to do this, I should do it properly.’

Elaine looked in the mirror while making a rationalization that wasn’t really a rationalization.

The necklace Maria was placing around her neck was sparkling brightly.

It was definitely pretty.

This would probably look pretty on anyone.

“Wow! It suits you so well! Go like this today! Phew. You’re going to have a hard time today.”

“…Why?”

“Because all the boys will be flocking to you!”

“W-what!”

Elaine was clearly embarrassed by Maria’s words.

She could feel her face burning and turning red.

“Leave your sword behind today! Does it make sense to carry a sword with such a dress?”

“Um…”

At Maria’s words, Elaine’s gaze turned to the sword reflected in the mirror.

While a sword didn’t match her dress attire, she was hesitant.

‘Leave my sword behind…?’

As Elaine hesitated, Maria continued.

“Come on, Miss. It’s a party day, will you need to draw your sword? You said you don’t have classes either.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Ah, ah, ah. I’m confiscating it. Hurry and go like this.”

Elaine nodded at Maria’s firm tone but couldn’t take her eyes off the sword reflected in the mirror.

‘Well, just for today.’

Then she nodded as if she had made up her mind.

Just for today would be fine.

‘Is this really me…?’

Elaine looked at her reflection in the mirror again.

A perfect noble young lady stood in front of the mirror.

To think this is me.

Thump-

She felt her heart racing for no reason.

**

A social party for nobles.

I’ve been to a few before.

Every time, I felt that this wasn’t my style.

I already don’t like crowded places, and on top of that, having to force conversations with others.

“Sigh.”

But what can I do?

I must attend today’s party.

I quickly grabbed one of the formal suit sets Addy had prepared for me and put it on.

After getting dressed, I tested my movement.

I might need to move vigorously today, and I didn’t want to be hindered by my clothes.

‘It’s comfortable.’

Even though I was wearing a shirt, it didn’t restrict my movement.

Addy must have thought ahead and prepared comfortable clothes.

As expected of my secretary.

Finally, I adjusted my appearance while looking in the mirror.

A black formal suit set that looked like I was going to a funeral.

The same color as my hair.

“Okay.”

Woong-

I teleported immediately.

When I arrived at the dormitory, Erika had already left, and no one was there.

I thought she wouldn’t be able to leave the boys’ dormitory without my help, but Erika is Erika after all.

“Phew.”

I opened the dormitory door with a determined sigh.

The party was about to start.

Students from other classes probably gathered early to prepare their booths, but our class didn’t need to.

So we agreed to meet with everyone just before the party started.

That’s why there were hardly any people in the boys’ dormitory.

When I went outside, I finally started seeing students.

Everyone was dressed up elaborately.

The female students were all wearing flowing dresses, and the male students were in neat suits.

‘Is this why they chose today for the plan?’

Looking at the students’ attire, I suddenly had that thought.

While the male students were one thing, most female students were in dresses.

They wouldn’t be able to move quickly if something happened.

<We’re already inside the party venue>

<Got it. I’ll be there soon>

<When the captain comes in, I’ll be watching the situation from outside>

<Okay>

As I headed to our meeting place, looking around the academy that was more excited than yesterday, I heard Erika’s voice.

It seemed Erika and Yuria were already inside the party venue.

So far, everything was going according to plan.

“Ryuyeong!”

After waiting briefly at the place where we were supposed to meet the others, I heard a familiar voice.

It was Cynthia.

‘She does look different.’

As she had told me in advance, Cynthia was wearing a dress.

Cynthia walking awkwardly in a blue dress.

The atmosphere was completely different because she was wearing clothes unlike her usual self.

“Did you dress comfortably?”

“Hehe. Of course. I’m wearing pants underneath.”

“Good job.”

I had given Cynthia the difficult request to wear a dress but make sure it was comfortable to move in, just in case something happened today.

Cynthia grinned and lifted one leg to show me.

It definitely looked comfortable to move in.

Agnes and Marie arrived next.

Both had excited faces and were wearing elaborate dresses.

And then Elaine arrived.

“I-I’m late. The clothes were uncomfortable…”

“Oh.”

“Wow. Elaine, you’re so pretty.”

‘This is unexpected.’

I hadn’t expected Elaine to come wearing such a dress.

Elaine wore a dress with an appropriate mix of yellow and white, with her hair braided back.

She even wore a modest necklace that complemented the otherwise bare neck area.

“You’re pretty.”

“Y-yes, yes. What? What are you saying!”

“Ah. Sorry.”

Elaine was startled and shouted at my thoughtless remark.

I hadn’t noticed until now, but seeing her all dressed up, she looked pretty, so I blurted it out, but maybe it was a bit rude.

“Um…”

While Elaine was flustered by everyone’s compliments, Emily finally arrived.

While Elaine stood out compared to others, Emily was even more noticeable.

“…Looks like everyone’s here now.”

“…Yes.”

Unlike the other female students, Emily wasn’t wearing a dress or any makeup.

Emily wore the same clothes as usual, with her hair roughly tied back and her large glasses adjusted.

Anyone could see she hadn’t yet recovered from yesterday’s incident.

I wanted to ask her properly what was wrong, but let’s wait just one more day.

“Shall we go in then?”

“R-Ryuyeong.”

“Yes?”

“M-my shoes are uncomfortable, could you help me…”

“Ah, of course. Here.”

So, holding Elaine’s hand and escorting her, we entered the party venue building.

I’m starting to get nervous.