They hadn’t even exchanged formal introductions, yet she was already calling her by a nickname as if they were close. Chloe didn’t even pretend to notice the sword Sahara had drawn and pulled her into the dress room.
“Countess, come here. This place is totally heaven!”
“You said it was a big deal?”
“Of course it’s a big deal. Kiekie’s clothes are as expensive as Susan’s dresses, and I want to buy everything I see!”
She let out a happy scream, saying she’d go bankrupt. A princess going bankrupt was an exaggeration, but it seemed Kiekie’s dresses weren’t cheap.
“Can’t the Princess contact your older brother and ask him to buy all the dresses in the wardrobe?”
“I’m not planning to sell myself at a bargain price just because things are tough right now. I have big dreams.”
“Oh, my big older brother has a ton of money. So much that even if Kiekie sewed nonstop for life, he couldn’t even dream of it. Countess, sign an exclusive contract with Kiekie.”
“I couldn’t… A few dresses would be enough.”
She liked the one she was wearing now, but it wasn’t something she’d wear often, so there was no need to covet the entire wardrobe.
“And why would His Highness the Crown Prince buy dresses for me?”
“Ah, is the rumor that you fought with my older brother true?”
Chloe asked with wide eyes. Sahara didn’t know what to say and closed her mouth.
“No, not because I’m interested in gossip… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. I just… thought it would last a while since the atmosphere seemed good.”
“It’s not like that. He’s my lord, and I’m his vassal.”
At Sahara’s firm words, Chloe made a strange face.
“That… Does my older brother think the same?”
“? Yes, probably…”
He must think of her as a vassal, right? She couldn’t be certain thinking of his last appearance, but no matter what he thought, Chesire was the one Sahara served. Chloe nodded with a hum at Sahara’s answer.
“No matter what my older brother thinks, that’s how the Countess feels? That lord and vassal thing? Master and subordinate?”
“Yes, no matter what His Highness thinks.”
It would be nice if he saw her as a good vassal, but even if not, there was no reason to betray him. She was still chasing suspicious people who were monitoring the Crown Prince’s office.
Interpreting Sahara’s words somehow, Chloe nodded.
“I see. That’s good. I don’t fully understand what the Countess is saying, but it’s fresh. I hope it’s not just words. I’ve always thought all women should be stingier with my older brother.”
Chloe said as she hugged a dress and went deeper into the dress room.
“Anyway, I feel a sense of duty to dress you up even prettier and send you to the party. —Kiekie.”
At Chloe’s call, Kiekie came out from inside with a few dresses. Having heard their conversation, his face was serious as he adjusted his glasses.
“I’ve married off all seven of my sisters to men overflowing with everything. Just leave it to me, and I’ll make sure the Countess gets any man she wants.”
“My goodness, look at that confidence. It’s as splendid as the dresses.”
The eyes of the two, who had become soulmates in no time, sparkled.
And one, two. Ten, twenty. Chloe and Kiekie were determined to try on every dress in the wardrobe, and in the end, Sahara felt like she was dying. She, who had always thought ‘let’s do a bit more’ even in harsh training, for the first time wanted to stop.
“Oh, Countess. With that dark expression, you have a deep vibe. It looks poignant too. That concept seems nice.”
“The dress is simple and feminine, giving a pure feel. Pearls would be fine for accessories, but this is pretty too.”
Kiekie brought out a simple accessory set with diamond the size of a fingernail.
“Oh, isn’t that too plain?”
At Chloe’s concern, Kiekie put the necklace around Sahara’s neck.
“It’s like you didn’t try at all, but you did— that’s the outfit. It’s very natural, right?”
“Now that you say it, it does. Men don’t know it takes three hours to style that hair.”
“Exactly. It gives a beautiful feeling without seeming made up.”
“Maybe because the model is Countess Illoud, just wearing it makes me want to buy everything.”
Sure enough, Chloe had already ordered over forty dresses. Of course, Sahara had also signed off on about twenty dresses in a daze. There were also the numerous accessories and decorations the two whispered about, saying they had to get together.
Kiekie said he wouldn’t take money, but of course, she paid him. How could she take dresses made without eating or sleeping for free?
Anyway, dozens of gold coins vanished in an instant. The capital was no joke.
“Kiekie, that beige dress from earlier—can I wear it without alterations?”
“Yes, you can wear it as is now.”
She’d only tried on six beige dresses, but Kiekie understood perfectly. At his answer, Chloe jumped up excitedly.
“Countess, wear that to the palace party tomorrow evening.”
“The party tomorrow evening?”
“We bought such pretty dresses, so you have to show them off, right? Kiekie’s curious about the reactions too?”
“If you wear it, it’s an honor for me. For the weekend party tomorrow night, I’ll give you both the dresses as a service.”
“Oh, not only does he make dresses well, but he’s great at business too.”
Chloe looked at Kiekie in admiration. Kiekie smiled warmly at the two.
“Since Kiekie’s giving dresses too, you have to come. I’ll send a maid and carriage. Last time, you ran off with my older brother, so I couldn’t even brag about my friendship with the Countess.”
“Brag about our friendship? Your Highness, with me?”
She wasn’t sure if they even had that kind of friendship, but if bragging, shouldn’t it be from her side?
“Of course. My heart’s racing just thinking about parading around with the Countess. You don’t think we’re not close, do you? You saw me in my underwear today, after all? So you have to come tomorrow. Got it?”
“That…”
If it’s a palace party, Chesire might be there too. But she said she didn’t want to see him. She didn’t want to catch his eye unnecessarily. Noticing Sahara’s distress, Chloe waved her hand.
“Lately, my older brother hasn’t been coming to parties. I think it’s more important for the Countess to attend first and show your beautiful side before him.”
“Is it important?”
“Of course. In society, what you see is everything. It’d be troublesome if from your debut, his name is attached right away.”
She couldn’t exactly understand what was troublesome, but Chloe kept urging her to attend the party, and Sahara nodded. Buzz had also told her to attend parties more, so it was good to go with someone helping.
By the time the two left the shop, the sun had already set. It was also around the time Chloe’s guard had said about twenty times that they needed to return to the palace. Finally stepping out of the wardrobe and standing in front of the horse, Chloe said with eyes brimming with reluctance.
“Don’t sell dresses to anyone else, and show me new arrivals first. Got it?”
Chloe earnestly implored, and Kiekie nodded with a proud face.
“I’ll send the alterations as quickly as possible. Next time, so you don’t have to come all the way here, I’ll include a catalog too.”
“Good. But I think I’ll have to stop by a few more times for now. There are so many pretty accessories.”
Even as Chloe mounted the horse, she lingered with regret, and that was the end of it. Perhaps pricked by the wire in her petticoat, the horse she rode suddenly neighed and bolted forward.
“Kyaa!”
She clumsily let go of the reins she had grabbed and clung to the horse’s neck, dangling. Because she pulled on the horse’s mane, it ran even faster. The moment she dashed out, Sahara mounted Bel Noir and chased after her.
“Hold on tight!”
“Kyaaa, I think I’m going to fall!”
Sahara leaped from Bel Noir’s back onto the horse Chloe was riding.
“Countess!”
Sahara tried to pry off Chloe’s tightly gripped hands, but the terrified Chloe gripped harder. Sahara drew her sword, held Chloe’s hand, and cut the horse’s mane. As she tried to pull Chloe into an embrace and jump down, the horse, racing madly through the narrow alley, suddenly reared up its front legs high.
There was a small child and a woman in front of the horse’s hooves.
“!”
Chloe swallowed her breath without even screaming. Sahara, biting her lip, raised the sword she held and swiftly slashed. And at the same moment, wrapping Chloe in her long skirt hem, she jumped down from the horse.
Kwaaaak—!!
With what could only be described as a death cry, blood spurted from the horse’s neck like a fountain. The horse, which had reared up and neighed, toppled halfway backward and fell sideways, and boom!! The ground shook. Sahara, who had no choice but to roll several times on the ground, first checked on Chloe. When she lifted the skirt she had draped over her, Chloe clung to Sahara and cried.
“Countess!”
“Are you alright? I’m sorry. I had to kill the horse.”
“I, I’m alive? Sniff, did Charlotte kill someone?”
The horse’s name must be Charlotte. Sahara handed Chloe over to the rushing guards and looked at the two people huddled and trembling in front of the fallen horse.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“We’re f, fine… Kyaa! Oh my!”
As Sahara reached out, the middle-aged woman and child who lifted their heads screamed. The child let out a shrill cry and scampered away, and the woman tightly clutched her hooded robe and bowed her head. It was as if Sahara were some kind of monster.
Were they hurt anywhere? She had slashed the neck from in front to avoid the horse trampling them. She thought she had done it right, but had there been a collision?
“B, Blood, blood…”
“Ah.”
At the stammering words, Sahara realized the blood flowing down her cheek and looked at her appearance. In protecting Chloe, she was covered head to toe in the horse’s blood, and from rolling several times on the ground, the pretty light purple dress was unrecognizable in its original color and shape.
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