“Eek!”

“G-g-ghost…”

The citizens, who had been bustling around with lively expressions, turned pale and stepped back whenever they spotted Mina, Mikhail, and Redin.

Some children and even a few adults we encountered along the way burst into tears.

‘Oh no…’

Honestly, I felt a bit upset.

It’s natural for people to be afraid of ghosts. After all, the world beyond death is unfamiliar to the living.

But it wasn’t the Duke’s fault that things turned out this way, was it?

It wasn’t the Emperor who gave the unfair orders, yet the people of the territory, whom the Duke’s house had risked their lives to protect, were looking at them as if they were monsters…

‘Of course they’re going to be hurt.’

I bit my lip in frustration.

I urged the three to leave the crowded street as quickly as possible, but then something on a stall caught my eye.

‘Huh?’

Could that be… okay?

My eyes widened instinctively, and I approached the stall, looking up.

I asked the owner, who was staring at me as if he’d seen something strange.

“Excuse me, how much is this?”

“What… what did you say…?”

“This, this, this. How much for all of it?”

The owner still hadn’t come to his senses, and it made me furrow my brow slightly.

He finally snapped out of it and calculated the price for the items.

“Th-three silvers…”

“Mina, Mina! Please give me the pouch!”

I tugged on Mina’s sleeve, and she handed me the pouch with some money that the Duke had given us at breakfast.

One, two, three. I picked out three silver coins and handed them to the owner, who bowed deeply, accepting the coins with both hands as if he were honored.

After paying, I returned the pouch to Mina and gestured to Mina, Mikhail, and Redin.

“All three of you, bow your heads.”

“…?”

“Hurry!”

Mina and the two knights exchanged confused glances but obediently bent down.

Feeling satisfied, I placed the items I had bought on their faces and secured them.

I stepped back a few paces and admired the three of them.

‘Great, great. That should do it.’

“…Miss? What is this…?”

Unlike me, the three of them looked bewildered. Mina handed me a piece of paper filled with question marks.

I beamed at them.

“It’s a gift! Now you don’t look so scary, hehe.”

I had given Mina a white mask shaped like a butterfly, decorated with feathers and cheap glitter.

For Mikhail, I had found a hat that looked like the neck of a roasted turkey turned upside down.

And for Redin, I had a mask that resembled a rooster’s head. I admired their new looks with satisfaction.

Hmm, good. Now they’ll be easier to recognize. Aren’t they adorable?

<Ahahaha! What is that?>

<That’s… just like you.>

Selena flipped in the air, laughing, while Rick muttered in a flat voice.

This brat? I tightened my grip around Rick as a form of retribution.

Meanwhile, the people passing by on the street widened their eyes at the sight of Mina and the two knights.

“Are they a theater troupe…?”

“Gosh, man! Don’t say something so reckless, look closely! They’re from the Duke’s house!”

“Really? But with those outfits, they don’t seem scary at all.”

“I agree…”

A few people tilted their heads and relaxed their expressions, and soon others began glancing at Mina and the knights with curiosity, murmuring, “Is that so?”

Although the attention remained, the fear in people’s eyes noticeably faded.

Some, including a few children, even allowed slight smiles to appear.

These smiles were more of genuine amusement than mockery or ridicule, which made me feel triumphant. Feeling proud, I shrugged my shoulders and extended my hand to Mina.

“Let’s go, Mina!”

“……Yes, Miss!”

Mina finally regained her usual smile and grasped my hand brightly.

Though a layer of gloves separated us, the warmth from her touch was unmistakable.

* * *

In that state, we circled the plaza and moved to the opposite street.

Unlike the bustling market we had just left, this place was quieter and more orderly.

Curious, I looked around, and Mina explained to me.

“This area is mainly filled with clothing shops. The dresses made at a place called ‘Moon Atelier’ are of such high quality that even the capital’s nobles covet them.”

Oh, really?

My eyes sparkled at her words, and I eagerly tapped my feet.

“Then let’s go there!”

“Alright.”

Mina nodded cheerfully and headed toward Moon Atelier.

Holding her hand, I hurried along and soon arrived at a well-sized shop.

“Welcome…… Oh my.”

A woman with neatly tied brown hair and warm green eyes stood up reflexively at the sound of the bell, her eyes widening in surprise.

However, her expression was one of genuine surprise, not fear or disdain, which I appreciated.

“Hello!”

I greeted her energetically. She quickly composed herself and responded politely.

“Welcome, Miss. What brings you here today?”

Mina answered on my behalf. She carefully handed a piece of paper with her words written on it to the woman who seemed to be the owner.

“I’m Mina, working for the Duke of Everdeen. I’m currently the personal maid of the young lady here. She wanted to look around, so we stopped by. I hope we’re not causing any inconvenience.”

“Oh, not at all. Feel free to browse, and if you’d like to try on any clothes, don’t hesitate. I’m Beth, the owner here.”

Beth said this and smiled at me, Mina, and the two knights in turn.

Thanks to her kindness, I smiled mischievously to myself.

Hehe, with this, I could proceed with my plan faster than expected.

While holding Rick in my arms, I wandered around the shop and picked up a dress that particularly caught my eye.

<Do you like that one?>

“I’m not actually going to buy it, but… why? Does it look strange?”

<No, I just think it would suit you well. It would look pretty.>

Rick concluded his comment in a straightforward tone, genuinely believing what he said.

His words made me flinch for a moment and look down. I saw his white, round head.

‘…He says things like that so casually.’

To hide my embarrassment, I pretended to scold Rick.

“…What’s with you all of a sudden? Did you get into trouble without me knowing?”

<…What kind of baseless suspicion is that?>

“Alright, fine.”

Rick replied in an exasperated voice, and the momentary embarrassment I felt melted away like snow.

“Do you like that one, Miss?”

Beth approached me and asked.

The plan started now. I exchanged a glance with Selena, who was floating in the air near the fitting room, and raised my voice.

“Yes! Could I try it on?”

“Of course. I’ll assist you.”

Oh no, that’s not good!

I immediately shook my head and moved toward the fitting room.

“No, it’s okay! I can do it myself!”

“Pardon? But….”

Beth followed me with a worried look.

I grabbed the curtain of the fitting room with one hand and raised my chin confidently.

“It’s really fine. I’m not a child who can’t even button up on her own.”

“Pfft.”

As soon as I finished speaking, strange sounds escaped simultaneously from Beth, Mina, Mikhail, and Redin.

“Okay, okay. Then….”

Beth nodded, her voice slightly trembling for some reason.

Over her shoulder, I saw Mikhail and Redin giving me enthusiastic thumbs-ups with their gloved hands.

They seemed to be teasing me. I shot them a brief glare before closing the curtain tightly and stepping inside the fitting room.

Selena poked her head through the curtain.

<Are you ready? A staff member will pass by soon. Shall we start on the count of three?>

“Alright!”

Selena winked at me and disappeared again.

I hung the dress I brought on the fitting room wall and lay down on the floor to peek outside through the curtain.

Nearby, I heard the sound of a clothes rack being dragged.

One, two….

“Oh my, ma’am! There’s fabric over there…!”