Chapter 68: The Clothes Shop
“Master, we’ve arrived.”
“Ah…”
Klaus opened the carriage door for us. I got out first, then helped Cornelia and Lily alight.
“Thank you very much, Onii-sama.”
“Dee, thanks.”
“Not at all.”
It was getting pretty tiring to keep this smile plastered on my face. This was the seventh shop we’d been to. I was seriously exhausted.
Passing through the door Klaus held open, I escorted Cornelia and Lily into the shop.
To an outsider, I might look like an enviable guy with a beautiful girl on each arm, but inwardly, my only wish was to go home and crawl into bed.
The shop only had a counter, with no particular merchandise on display. This was a place where you ordered custom-made clothes.
“Welcome.”
“Yeah, I’d like to have some clothes made at this shop. Show us around.”
“Certainly.”
After speaking with the attendant, we were immediately guided to a private room in the back of the shop. It seemed there were separate rooms for men and women.
“Ria, Lily, you can order whatever clothes you like. I’ll go order some for myself too.”
“Yes, Onii-sama!”
“Mm-hmm.”
Ria beamed with a perfect smile, and even the usually expressionless Lily had a somewhat joyful look on her face as they entered the women’s room.
Seeing them off with a smile, I entered the men’s room.
I’m not really the type to fuss over clothes. As long as they’re fitting for a Viscount and don’t make me look like a pushover, anything is fine.
◇
“They’re late…”
I think I’d been waiting for a good thirty minutes, but neither Cornelia nor Lily had come out of their room.
I’ve learned the hard way from past experience that women take a long time shopping. They’re probably still undecided, but does it really take this long?
“For both Lady Cornelia-ojousama and Lady Lily-ojousama, this is their first time having clothes custom-made… I imagine there are many things they need to decide.”
“That’s true, but…”
It’s understandable that it would take time since it’s their first time and they don’t know the ropes. In that case, I think they should just leave everything to the professional attendant… But they probably have their own preferences.
“It’s a pity, but I’ll go hurry them along. At this rate, we’ll be late for our restaurant reservation. Klaus, bring the carriage around to the front.”
“Understood.”
When I entered the women’s reception area, I saw Cornelia and Lily at separate tables, looking like they were deep in thought.
Guess I’ll go to Cornelia first.
“Ria, have you decided?”
“Onii-sama…”
Cornelia looked at me, her eyebrows furrowed, wearing a rather pitiful expression. What’s wrong?
“What’s the matter, Ria?”
“Well… I just can’t seem to decide… Onii-sama, between this fabric and this one, which do you prefer?”
“Hmm…”
This is the ultimate choice. The “which one do you like better?” from a girl… I’m not particularly knowledgeable about women’s fashion, nor am I up-to-date with the latest trends. There’s no way I can make an appropriate choice, yet if I don’t pick the best option considering Cornelia’s preferences, her affection rating will drop. No matter how you look at it, it’s a game with nothing but disproportionate risks. That’s what “which one do you like better?” from a girl is.
I was already starting to regret casually coming here to fetch Cornelia.
“This one… maybe?”
“You think so too, Onii-sama?”
“Yeah. Which one do you like, Cornelia?”
“I like this one too.”
“Phew…”
It seems I’ve won the devil’s dilemma. I feel like striking a victory pose.
“Then, why not go with this fabric?”
Cornelia likes it. That must be the right answer.
“But Onii-sama, they say this other fabric is more in fashion right now.”
“Fashion, huh…”
That’s a tough one. I personally think she should just make the clothes she likes without worrying about trends, but there’s the reality that she might be laughed at if her clothes aren’t fashionable…
“Then, how about you make both? The clothes Ria likes and the fashionable ones?”
“Is that alright?”
“Of course, it is. You can leave the fashionable clothes to the attendant. Then, order the clothes that are filled with everything Ria likes.”
“Yes! I’ll do that!”
I somehow managed to get through it with the bold move of making two outfits. If she had asked me any more questions, I’m sure I would have slipped up. I just want to be a respectable older brother in front of Cornelia.
With Cornelia’s issue settled, I went over to Lily next. But something seemed different at her table. The attendant looked up at me with a troubled expression. On the table, several See-through Negligees were laid out.
What is this? What’s going on?
“Lily? Are you done ordering your clothes?”
“Dee, which one do you like?”
Lily held up some incredibly skimpy lingerie and asked me. It barely served its purpose as underwear anymore. It was completely lingerie designed to provoke men.
“It’s not ‘which one’! Why are you choosing something like that?!”
“Because I didn’t know which one Dee would like.”
“It’s still too early for you, Lily! More importantly, did you actually order proper clothes?”
“Uh-huh. So? Which one do you like?”
“You’re persistent! Neither of them!”
“Ehh…”
Lily is so precocious…
Despite all this, Lily isn’t just shopping for herself; she’s also buying a present for her mother. She’s a girl who cares deeply for her mother.
If only she’d stop with these seduction attempts… Sigh…