“……!”

Rona’s face stiffened, perhaps flustered by the employee’s sudden confession of conscience.

She forced her lips into a smile and grabbed the employee’s shoulder tightly.

“Rain, what are you saying? Don’t you remember what we talked about earlier?”

She gritted her teeth so hard while speaking that her words kept breaking off in the middle.

“You said the dresses were damaged because of the Miss.”

“I never said that.”

“This is really……!”

Despite her small build, the glasses-wearing employee seemed to have a principled and bold heart.

No matter how much her boss pressured her with half-threats, she steadfastly spoke only the truth.

Anyway, since I was watching this absurd discord with an expressionless face, Rona glanced at me and laughed awkwardly.

“Hohoho, there really seems to have been a misunderstanding. I’m sorry. But the other dresses also looked really good on you, Miss, so how about just purchasing them?”

Does she think I’ll fall for that kind of talk now?

Looking at it, she seems to have been dumping such charges on customers like me who have money but insignificant families.

Since this boutique also has high nobles as regulars, she probably has nothing to fear.

Just as I was about to sigh and say something—

“I don’t think so. Miss suits bright and cool-colored clothes. You should avoid colors that are too saturated or murky.”

The glasses-wearing employee once again offered an opinion contrary to Rona’s.

I pondered her words carefully and thought,

‘She doesn’t just have principles, she seems to have some ability too.’

Rather than simply saying this or that dress suits me, the fact that she precisely pinpointed color types gave off the scent of an expert.

“Of course, Miss basically has the looks to pull off any outfit decently, but it’s better to wear clothes that suit you even better.”

“Shut your mouth, Rain! Don’t interfere with business and go do your work!”

Rona’s face turned bright red as she burst out in anger.

The glasses-wearing employee’s shoulders flinched, then she quietly bowed her head and left.

And a moment of silence flowed.

I grabbed the shoulders of Rona, who seemed to be desperately racking her brain, and smiled brightly.

“You have a capable employee, Rona. I guess this is why Cream Rose succeeded.”

“……!”

She glared at me with a face that seemed to feel excessive shame for some reason.

What’s with her, is she feeling guilty?

“Please watch your words, Miss.”

“That’s what I should be saying. If you got caught trying to dump charges on a customer, shouldn’t you apologize first?”

“……”

Rona bit her lips tightly and answered through gritted teeth.

“I’m, sorry.”

“I hope you do business honestly from now on, Rona. I’m embarrassed for you.”

I turned around haughtily, paid for the dress, and left the store while whispering to Carl.

“I was pretty charismatic just now, right?”

“……Until you said that.”

Carl chuckled as if incredulous.

Just as we were about to get in the carriage waiting near the store and leave.

“Wait a moment!”

The glasses-wearing employee rushed out of the boutique and ran toward us.

I looked back at her with a puzzled face.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“I have something to tell you. But before that, the bottom part of your dress is slightly torn.”

“Oh, really?”

When I checked in surprise, the lace attached to the dress was indeed slightly torn and dangling.

Why didn’t I notice this?

“Just a moment.”

The employee crouched in front of me, took out a sewing kit, and expertly mended the dress right there.

Hmm, I can sense an expert’s aura here too.

“The boss holds grudges for a really long time. She knows many noble people too, so honestly she has an arrogant side.”

“Really?”

“Yes, all done. Then please be careful going home.”

The employee who had neatly finished and stood up bowed her waist.

Her roughly braided, disheveled blue hair swayed briefly.

“Rain. Your name is Rain, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Thank you. I received a lot of help from you today in various ways. You really have a brave and meticulous personality, don’t you?”

At the sincere compliment, the corners of Rain’s mouth twitched slightly upward.

“Hmm, please remember what I said, and if other boutiques recommend murky or garish clothes, come right out. It’s a place with no eye for fashion.”

“……But didn’t you guys do that a bit too?”

I asked, suddenly puzzled while listening to Rain’s words.

I clearly remembered that except for the last one, they had generally recommended dresses with high saturation or excessive designs.

Rain, who had paused for a moment, tapped the ground with her toes and answered quietly.

“That was…… because the boss told me to bring those, so I had no choice. Only the last one was what I chose.”

“I thought so.”

No wonder she suddenly picked out a really nice dress.

“Your boss has no eye for fashion, but you do, don’t you? If you opened a boutique, customers would really flock to it.”

“……”

This was also a sincere compliment from me, but this time Rain didn’t smile and just clutched her skirt.

Soon she bowed her head and saw me off.

“Please go safely.”

“Uh…… okay. Goodbye.”

As I got in the carriage leaving Rain behind in the ambiguous atmosphere, I thought.

‘Will I be able to come here again?’

Judging from Rain’s words just now, it seemed to mean I shouldn’t revisit if possible.

What a shame, this place has the most influence among young ladies……

Come to think of it, isn’t the boss going to badmouth me?!

I was seriously worried for a moment, but seeing Rain’s small figure through the window, I pulled myself together.

There were other high-end boutiques, so I didn’t need to feel regretful already.

***

The next day, I visited a boutique that was said to be frequented by nobles in their 30s and 40s.

It was too dignified a place for me, but instead the customers who came were influential people in high society.

“Welcome, this is Sorsha Boutique. I’ll guide you this way.”

Unlike at Cream Rose, an experienced-looking employee came out to greet Carl and me.

As I was following him inside……

“Lady Sharofe?”

A familiar voice called me sweetly. When I turned my head, an unexpected person was standing there.

“……Head priest?”

“Wow, we meet here of all places. Nice to see you. Have you been well?”

The head priest, still boasting beautiful looks today, smiled brightly.

It’s like someone turned on a hundred light bulbs around that man.

“Yes, how about you, head priest?”

“I’ve been well too. Did you come here to get clothes tailored? It might be a bit heavy for a lady to use.”

“I was just curious though. What brings you here, head priest?”

“Same purpose. This place handles temple ceremonial robes.”

Ah, I didn’t know that.

The head priest smiled gently and naturally placed his hand on my shoulder.

“This worked out well. Shall we look at clothes for each other?”

“Uh……”

Just as I was about to nod, enchanted by the holy face that had come close—

“Please maintain proper distance.”

Carl grabbed the head priest’s arm and pushed between us, blocking my front.

“And please refrain from unnecessary contact with someone else’s master.”

“Since you’re such a tough knight, it’s quite painful. Rushing in like this…… you’re just like a well-trained dog.”

The head priest looked at Carl with his lips slightly downturned.

“But you should know where to b*tt in and where not to, shouldn’t you? How about letting go unless you want to be arrested for assaulting a priest?”

At the gentle threat, Carl’s brow furrowed deeply.

Worried that something big might happen to my bondservant, I stepped forward.

“Carl, let go of the head priest’s arm.”

“……”

Carl followed my words obediently despite his displeased expression.

I spoke to the head priest who was rubbing his freed arm, seemingly really hurt.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry, since it was physical contact without my consent, our Carl probably reacted sensitively. You understand, right?”

It was a subtle hint that if he reported my bondservant for *ssault, I wouldn’t stay quiet either.

The head priest, who had looked surprised for a moment, soon smiled mysteriously.

“Seeing you come out like this, he must be a knight you cherish quite a bit…… Then, shall we both just let this pass?”

“Good.”

I secretly felt relieved that things didn’t escalate further.

The head priest returned to his friendly face and asked.

“Anyway, we’ll look at clothes together, right?”

“Hmm……”

I hesitated for a moment.

The head priest is a bit unsettling, but he’s a male lead candidate I’m considering, so I shouldn’t refuse, right?

When I readily nodded, he smiled brightly.

“Then I’ll guide you to a more spacious room.”

The employee led us accordingly.

We entered a room that looked luxurious at first glance. Carl, who had been staying only behind me, stepped in last.

Thud.

But the head priest blocked his entry by placing a hand on his shoulder.

“……What are you doing.”

“Isn’t it a bit much for a mere knight to come in here?”

“Ha.”

Carl’s lips twisted properly as he let out an incredulous breath.

No, are these people going to fight again!

As I hurriedly tried to stop them, the head priest spoke to me in a gentle voice.