episode_0096

Unlike Monday, when I was scratched by my mother all day long, Tuesday passed without any special events.

Preparing for the banquet was such a tedious task, and since my mother and older brother were mostly handling the preparations, there wasn’t much for me to do.

The only special thing was that my father, who had been caught up in the mess I caused, barely managed to escape the Ministry of Magic headquarters on Tuesday evening.

He must have suffered a lot during that time, because although his appearance was neat, the atmosphere around him and the color of his being had changed to a very gloomy state when he returned.

Thanks to that, I saw my father hugging my mother tightly and showing affection for the first time in a long while.

Since we grew up, he had been refraining from such displays, perhaps out of shyness, but yesterday, he ignored my embarrassed mother patting his back and rubbed his cheek against her neck.

Perhaps it was thanks to my mother, who pretended to dislike it but didn’t push him away, and my father, who clung to her persistently, that my older brother and his wife also started to exude a subtle atmosphere.

I thought I was getting diabetes.

After getting through Tuesday, being forcibly injected with sugar between lovebirds, Wednesday finally arrived.

“Ugh…”

How annoying.

I confidently vowed to go out, but I can’t help the annoyance that’s innately etched into my being.

Still, except for the annoyance, I felt more energetic than usual.

I slept well, my condition wasn’t bad, and I was in a good mood.

Once I overcame the reluctance to get out of bed, I felt a bit more motivated afterward.

I had a simple meal, took a bath, headed to the dressing room, and changed into formal attire with Emily’s help.

I can put on everyday clothes by myself, but formal attire has many pieces and is complicated, so it’s difficult to put on alone, and the fit is slightly off.

“Young master, it’s all done.”

“Okay.”

So, I changed clothes with Emily’s help for the first time in a while.

Emily, who helped me put my arms into the long frock coat, stepped back while I fastened the buttons and slightly adjusted the mirror in the direction I was standing.

“Hmm…”

After fastening all the buttons, which numbered over ten, I touched my neck and approached the mirror.

A coat, jacket, and pants unified in a dark navy color.

A shirt and cravat unified in white.

It had been almost seven months since I wore a complete formal attire, including a coat and cravat.

With more clothes than usual, I felt a subtle awkwardness in my movements.

It’s always like that at first when clothes get thicker, so it didn’t bother me.

Rather, I felt a bit uplifted because I was properly dressed up after a long time.

“Ugh…”

However, I didn’t like the cravat around my neck.

A cravat is like a scarf that existed before neckties, and the feeling of wearing it isn’t much different from a necktie, but the problem is that it looks like a bib.

Compared to the ruff that was popular before I was born, which looked like a frilled-neck lizard, it’s a pretty decoration, but no matter how much I try to hypnotize myself that it’s okay, I can’t shake the feeling that it’s old-fashioned.

If there was at least some color, it would feel like a scarf, but white is the most neat and tidy impression for cravats, so for big events like this, you have to wear a white cravat, even if it looks like a bib.

It couldn’t be a more terrible thing.

“I should have made a necktie sooner…”

I muttered in a sullen voice and turned away from the mirror.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I think I can go out like this.”

“Yes.”

“Then, is it your turn now?”

As I fiddled with the cravat and spoke nonchalantly, Emily flinched her shoulders and looked at a box placed on one side of the dressing room.

“Ugh…”

And a sense of tension settled on Emily’s face as she placed her hand on her chest.

“Haa… Hoo…”

After repeating deep breaths several times, Emily turned her head toward me, stuttering like a lagging online game character.

It’s cute to see Emily so nervous, unlike her usual self.

“T, then, young master, c, could you please excuse me for a moment?”

I was already planning to step out, but before I did, I pointed to the box containing the clothes and said.

“But can you put that on by yourself?”

“Um…”

The wrinkles on Emily’s forehead deepened.

It’s a simpler dress compared to those of nobles, but since it’s intended to be worn at a banquet, it has hooks on the back.

Even if it’s just hooks, it would be difficult to perfectly fasten all the hooks that run from the shoulder blades to the center of the waist by herself.

“Even if it’s a bit difficult… I think I can put it on by myself.”

Emily nodded and said it was possible after finishing her thoughts, but her expression was half confident and half doubtful.

“If it’s difficult to do it alone, there’s no need to go through the trouble of putting it on.”

I picked up a bell placed on a nearby table and shook it lightly.

– Tring tring

“Young master, did you call?”

At the same time as the clear sound of the bell rang, the door of the dressing room opened and a maid bowed her head and entered.

“Ann, please help Emily change her clothes.”

“Yes, where are the clothes?”

“They’re in that box over there.”

“I understand.”

“Y, young master?”

Emily, who had turned pale at Ann’s appearance, hastily grabbed my sleeve.

As a maid, she would feel burdened to be served by another maid while changing.

“Please, can’t I put it on by myself?”

“No.”

But I had no intention of sending Ann away.

We have to prepare properly before going, and it would be embarrassing if the person attending me is dressed sloppily.

Besides, what’s my job? A clothes maker.

I caused such a fuss making clothes, but the servant I take with me is a mess?

Who would look for me if I can’t even take care of the clothes of the person next to me?

“Ugh…! I don’t think this is right.”

“Don’t talk nonsense and quietly get help. If you wear it wrong, I’ll be the one getting cursed out, not you.”

“Ugh…!”

Upon reminding her of that fact, Emily frowned and gently bit her lip.

With her practically declaring surrender, I shifted my gaze to Ann, who was watching us from the side, and said.

“Ann, do you happen to know how to do makeup?”

“I know how to do simple things.”

“That’s good.”

Satisfied with the answer, I smiled and pointed to a small box placed on the table.

“The tools are in there, so just do blush and lips lightly, just enough to see a subtle color, got it?”

“I understand.”

“Young master? Even if it’s the clothes, I think it’s okay not to do makeup…?”

“……”

Emily attempted to resist again, timidly.

I stared at Emily quietly and pointed to Ann and myself with my finger.

“Are you going to get it from Ann? Or are you going to keep refusing and get it directly from me? The moment I pick up a brush, it won’t end lightly.”

The moment she says she doesn’t like it one more time, I’m going to drag her straight to the sink and start with basic makeup.

I’ll make her feel to the bone what it’s like to slather on all sorts of oils, powders, and color cosmetics, starting with washing her face.

“… I’ll just stay still.”

“Okay.”

Emily, who rolled her eyes back and forth and looked at me and Ann alternately, felt my sincerity to some extent and chose Ann with a resigned face, drooping her shoulders.

I secretly hoped she would choose me, but this wasn’t bad either.

Her original features aren’t bad, so she’ll come out pretty no matter what I do.

“Emily, I’ll be waiting in the entrance hall, so come there when you’re all ready.”

“Yeees…”

Now that I have to leave, I told Emily where I’ll be and smiled and lightly patted Ann’s shoulder.

“Then Ann, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

_

Standing in front of the entrance hall, looking at the stairs and waiting for Emily, my heart is beating a little faster.

Usually, Emily would be standing there waiting for me, but it’s quite refreshing that I’m waiting for Emily today.

“Are you all ready?”

“We’re almost done.”

While killing time with my arms crossed, tapping my forearm with my finger, my mother came down amidst her busy schedule to see me off.

I told her there was no need to do that, but I guess she’s quite worried about me.

“Hmm…?”

My mother, who was moving her eyes busily as she slowly came down the stairs, frowned and pointed next to me with her finger.

“But why are you here alone? Where’s Emily?”

“I asked her to run a small errand for a moment, she’ll be back soon.”

“Ah, I see.”

My mother’s expression softened at my answer.

Gently raising the corners of her lips, my mother stood in front of me, lightly placed her hand on my shoulder, and gently tidied up the collar of my coat.

“Why don’t you dress up like this more often? You’re such a dashing son when you’re well-dressed, it’s hard to see this side of you.”

“I’m deliberately hiding it because it would be a disaster if I were too handsome.”

“Geez, I gave you one compliment and you’re already becoming so arrogant.”

“Ugh…!”

I threw a joke as a prank, and my mother chuckled, grabbed my nose, and shook it lightly.

“Still, I’m right that you’re handsome, right?”

“Of course, who’s son are you? I met your father because of his face, you know.”

“To say that, I think my mother is more of a catch.”

“Oh my? Look at this?”

Even though she knew that half of it was just lip service, my mother seemed to be secretly pleased, and she let go of my nose.

“By the way, when is Emily coming, who went to run an errand?”

“I know, she should be coming down soon…”

Time was running out.

Now I have to get on the carriage to have a little leeway…

“Hmm…”

“Ann, aren’t you going down too fast?”

“Emily, we don’t have much time left, how long are you going to dawdle?”

“It seems like she’s coming down now.”

“I guess so.”

Looking at the stairs with worried eyes and wondering if I should go up, I heard Ann and Emily coming down noisily from upstairs at that moment.

The preparations were finished a long time ago, but it seems it took a long time because Emily was hesitating.

“I, is this right, Ann?”

“What does it matter, the young master ordered it?”

The voice is getting louder.

Noisy footsteps.

When the hem of a black skirt was slightly revealed on the landing.

“Ugh, seriously! Hurry down!”

“Ah, w, wait a minute…!”

“Oh…”

With Ann’s edgy voice, Emily, who was pushed on the back, popped out and revealed her appearance.

“Ugh… What should I do…!”

Although it was a very brief moment, Emily, who made eye contact with me, immediately covered her face with both hands.

And she comes down the stairs, being dragged by Ann.

“Young master, I’ve decorated her very beautifully as you asked.”

“You did a very good job.”

Ann, who brought Emily to me, spread her chest wide with a smug expression.

Giving Ann a look of satisfaction and praising her, I shifted my gaze to Emily, who was still covering her face with both hands.

“Emily! What are you doing…!”

“Ugh… I know, I know…!”

Emily, who was poking her side and pressuring her, and whispered to her, lowered the hands that were covering her face and glanced at me anxiously.

“H, how is it, young master…?”

“It suits you well, you’re incredibly pretty.”

“Ugh…”

“The necklace suits you well too, I knew it would suit you.”

“Th, thank you…”

Emily, whose face turned bright red at the following compliments, bowed her head and shrugged her shoulders.

“Wait, necklace…?”

“Does it look good to you too, mother?”

“That’s true, but… Is that perhaps the one I gave you?”

“Yes.”

“……”

My mother, who widened her eyes, looked at me as if she had encountered a lunatic.

If she’s a quick-witted mother, she would have immediately recognized the owner of the other necklace.

“I, I don’t remember raising my son to be a playboy…?”

My mother mumbled something in a bewildered voice, even stammering, but I pretended not to hear anything and turned my head.

And I lightly grabbed Emily’s hand and turned my back.

“Then Emily, let’s leave quickly, it’s late.”

“Ah, th, yes…!”

I left the townhouse as if fleeing before my mother came to her senses.

“Ah…”

I thought I heard my mother’s sigh before the door closed, but it’s urgent now.

I’ll explain when I get back.

Probably…