Chapter 32
Embarrassed, Vieta twisted from side to side and subtly tried to take her clothes off in front of the mirror, but Laura grabbed her by both shoulders, foiling her escape attempt.
‘Yes, this is what I look like now.’
After eight years, and with the woman in the mirror before her, Vieta had half resigned herself to the fact that she had once been a man.
“Now, I’m only going to say this once, so listen carefully.”
Laura raised a finger and poked Vieta right in the cheek.
“Vieta, your skin is fair, so basically every color suits you. And your eyes are truly captivating.”
At Laura’s blunt praise, Vieta began fidgeting with her fingers.
“…I don’t know why your hair is this color, but the short bob and waves give you such a lovely, girlish feel.”
This time, Laura’s finger pointed to Vieta’s collarbones and shoulders.
“Your neck is slender and pretty, and your collarbones form such a lovely straight line. Hiding collarbones like these is a sin. Your breasts are modestly full and pretty, your waist is nicely defined, and your legs are long and shapely. So Vieta, clothes that bare your collarbones and shoulders while really cinching in your waist look best on you.”
Seeing Vieta’s face turn completely strawberry-red, Laura continued.
“So this is how you compliment someone. You could say that the outfit makes their shoulders and collarbones look beautiful, or that it brings out their sexy silhouette.”
After finishing her little lecture, Laura chuckled at Vieta.
“So this time, won’t you compliment me too?”
Under Laura’s intensely expectant gaze, Vieta studied her carefully. After agonizing over it for a long while, Vieta finally opened her mouth.
“Laura, your complexion is on the darker side, so I think vivid colors suit you well.”
“And?”
“…Y-your breasts, too….”
A crisis had descended on Vieta. Laura’s ample breasts were undeniably attractive, but could she really say outright that Laura was attractive because her breasts were large?
“…I think that outfit really brings out your sexy charm, Laura.”
While Vieta marveled at her own quick wit, the corners of Laura’s mouth lifted.
“That’s much better than before!”
Laura continued modeling various outfits in front of Vieta, and as time passed, Vieta grew increasingly resentful of her own meager creativity and vocabulary.
After thoroughly ransacking the store, Laura chose one outfit from among the many and headed for the register. Vieta followed behind her, carrying the clothes Laura had picked out for her.
“I’ll buy this for you. It’s a return gift for the desserts.”
The moment Laura picked up Vieta’s clothes, Vieta’s face went rigid.
Vieta had no idea how many spoons Laura had at home, but it was easy to tell that she was not well-off. Laura had joined the pilgrimage to earn money before her wedding, and the somewhat expensive outfit that suited her best was still hanging on the rack.
“It’s all right. I’ll pay for mine. And I’ll pay for these, too.”
When Vieta brought over the clothes Laura had chosen as well, Laura stopped her this time.
“Vieta, you’re making me feel bad.”
“No, it’s fine. I have plenty of money, so don’t worry about the expense.”
It was a blatant lie. She was in debt, but she did not want to be so stingy that she could not even buy her friend a wedding present. She had the ability to earn money, and she only needed to repay the debt before she returned.
“Thank you. But next time, you have to let me buy something for you!”
Laura’s eyes grew misty with tears. Vieta grinned as she paid, and the two of them left the clothing store with their hands full.
With their shopping finished, Vieta assumed they would head back, but Laura dragged her along, saying there was still somewhere else they had to go.
In front of a pink-hued shop not far from the clothing store, Vieta nearly screamed before she could stop herself.
“The underwear here is pretty good. And the prices are cheap, too.”
Oh, God, Buddha—no, Aurea, have mercy.
'How am I supposed to wear underwear like this!'
The bride-to-be was remarkable in more ways than one, and Vieta wailed inwardly.
***
At two in the afternoon, after spending the whole morning shopping, Vieta and Laura went looking for a café where they could have a light meal.
The southern sun blazed overhead, but thanks to the rattan awning, soft sunlight spilled across the table. Since Vieta was unfamiliar with southern cuisine, Laura ordered a simple lunch from the server on her behalf.
Once the server had confirmed the order and left, Laura said with a smile,
“What did you think? Shopping was fun, wasn’t it? Let’s have fun this afternoon, too.”
“What are we doing this afternoon?”
“It’s a secret! It wouldn’t be fun if you knew in advance.”
While Vieta was engrossed in one of Laura’s risqué stories, the server brought their food to the table.
Vieta’s eyes widened at the extravagant food she had never seen before. Various kinds of seafood grilled to a golden brown, fruits giving off a sweet-and-sour fragrance—everything was unfamiliar.
“You just peel the skin right off like this and eat it.”
Following Laura’s instructions, Vieta picked up a piece of fruit from the salad bowl.
Once she peeled away the strange brown-and-red skin, soft white beads were revealed.
She bit into one lightly, and an endless stream of sweet juice flowed out, whetting her appetite.
“Try this, too. For this leg, it’s easier to eat if you snip this part lightly with scissors.”
Laura tenderly placed food onto Vieta’s plate like a mother.
“Aren’t you eating, Laura?”
Laura’s small plate had only a little sauce on it and otherwise remained the same white as when it had arrived.
“My wedding is coming up soon. It’s a woman’s unavoidable fate.”
Laura waved her hands up and down and let out an exaggerated sigh.
“Come on, you’re perfectly fine as you are. And I heard somewhere that fish doesn’t make you gain weight.”
When Vieta lifted a well-grilled fish from the main dish and placed it on Laura’s plate, Laura burst into hearty laughter.
The meal was enjoyable. Laura was a natural conversationalist with a talent for making people feel at ease.
While listening to Laura chatter and stuffing the last piece of fruit into her mouth, Vieta spotted a suspicious person and tilted her head.
The person had appeared out of nowhere and melted into a secluded alley between two buildings in an instant.
Vieta could have assumed they were merely a beggar, but she could not tear her eyes away from the alley where the person had vanished.
The thick cloak was completely unsuited to the hot weather, and the aura emanating from them was deeply strange.
“Vieta, you asked earlier what we were going to do, right? We’re going to an open-air theater this afternoon!”
Laura said this with sparkling eyes, but Vieta kept thinking about that person and could not focus on the conversation.
“I’m sorry, Laura. I had something to do this afternoon, but I completely forgot.”
“Oh, then it can’t be helped. I’ll look after your things. See you at the lodgings.”
Despite Vieta’s rudeness, Laura asked no questions and continued smiling until the end. Watching Vieta hurry out of the shop, Laura muttered to herself,
“I’ve dressed up so prettily for once. It would be nice if I happened to meet a prince….”
***
Fulcare and Blanc were also making their way around Bingsho. Wearing a black wig, Fulcare shaded his eyes with one hand and said,
“Are you all right?”
“No.”
Blanc merely endured the scorching sunlight in silence. Judging by his frown, the glare seemed to be bothering him, yet he appeared not even to have the strength left to raise a hand and block the sun.
“I told you to rest. Why did you insist on coming along?”
“…You said it was good to keep moving even when it was difficult.”
“Don’t you remember what I said after that?”
Fulcare’s face tightened. He had said that continuing to move despite the difficulty would help Blanc’s body adapt to the mana more quickly, but he had also clearly added that there was no need to push himself.
“…What did you say?”
Blanc’s feet tangled as he walked with a half-dazed expression.
“Careful. I won’t catch you next time.”
Fulcare hurriedly caught Blanc as he began to fall.
How had a casual stroll somehow turned into a matter of survival?
Fulcare shook his head in disbelief and pulled out his wallet. As luck would have it, there was a drink stall nearby. He had to feed the prince something before he collapsed.
“What do you want to drink?”
“…If I have to choose, apple juice?”
Fulcare ordered two drinks at the stall, then dragged Blanc over to a nearby bench. After sitting down and chugging the apple juice children might enjoy, Blanc’s expression relaxed slightly.
“…How do I look to you?”
At the incomprehensible remark, Fulcare nearly spat out the coffee he was drinking.
When he stared at Blanc in astonishment, Blanc let out a deep sigh and continued.
“I don’t seem like much of a crown prince, do I?”
Fulcare set down the cup he was holding.
He had sensed it earlier, too, but Blanc was being unusually hard on himself.
Fulcare did not know whether it was because of his inferiority complex toward Gavin or for some other reason, but if he left the prince alone like this, Blanc might break down just as Vieta had in the past.
“I’m not sure what you’re worried about, but don’t push yourself. To be perfectly frank, even if you aren’t crown prince material, His Majesty isn’t going to depose you or kill you right away. Of course, Charles could kill you even now…. Well, if you do somehow die, I’ll tell Theodore and have him revive you. So don’t think about anything and just keep doing what you’re doing now.”
Blanc’s violet eyes widened for an instant, and a small giggle escaped him.
Fulcare tasted the bitter acidity of his perfectly roasted coffee and turned his gaze away. Amid the lively southerners, a familiar figure came into view from behind. It was Vieta.
“Wasn’t that Vieta just now?”
Blanc asked, pointing toward the place where Vieta had disappeared.
“Are you going to follow her?”
Fulcare did not bother mentioning that it might be dangerous. Even if the prince was an idiot, he ought to know that much.
“You said you’d bring me back to life if I died, didn’t you?”
'…What a troublesome fellow.'
Had he brought this disaster upon himself? Fulcare clicked his tongue and rose from his seat.