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Chapter 2413: Spreading Aftermath
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It was an accidental encounter, but when I saw Marie-san, looking just a little bit uneasy or rather, visibly intimidated by the aura of the high-class store, I decided to call out to her and approached.
I hadnt come to the pet shop with any particular item in mind to buy; it was more like I had some free time and figured, why not stop by? So, changing plans wasnt a problem at all.
[Hello, Marie-san.]
[ ! ? Eh? Ah, K- Kaito-sama!? Why are you in a place like this? Ah, pardon me. Good day to you, Kaito-sama.]
[Sorry for surprising you. I came to the bookstore on the main street, but after finishing my shopping, I had some extra time and decided to wander around a bit. Thats when I happened to see you Marie-san, are you here to buy clothes?]
While greeting Marie-san, I turned my gaze toward the shop in front of us it was a store that dealt in clothing for nobles. So, assuming she was here for that, I asked, and after taking a deep breath to steady herself, Marie-san replied.
[Yes. I was originally supposed to come with my father, but he had another task in hand, so I came alone However, its rather embarrassing to admit, but up until now, all my clothes have been hand-me-downs from my sisters, and Ive hardly ever bought anything myself. We dont have such high-end noble shops in our territory either so, well, I came here, but I havent quite worked up the nerve to step inside yet]
[Ah, I understand completely. Before I came to this world, I was basically what youd call a commoner here, so I had no connection to fancy stores Walking into one that just radiates luxury definitely takes courage. Well, these days Ive gotten pretty used to it, one way or another]
[Kaito-sama as well Yes, it really does bring up all sorts of anxieties, like whether Ill be able to properly respond when the staff approaches me inside.]
I completely understand how she felt. Theres just something about luxury shops, a unique atmosphere that makes you tense up when you walk in for the first time.
Thankfully, Ive been rather well-off in this world, and Ive had several opportunities to visit high-end stores. By now, Ive gotten used to it, but in the beginning, I really wanted someone to come along with me. In fact, Lilia-san often accompanied me when I went shopping back then.
[By the way, since you came all the way to the Imperial Capital to shop, you must be buying something quite expensive, right? Are you attending a party or something?]
[Ah, no, nothing like that Its true that I came to buy some fine clothes, but not for a party. I just wanted attire that wouldnt seem disrespectful when meeting people of high status.]
[I see]
Wait, hold on. Could this actually be my fault? A while back, I talked with Akane-san and found out that the whole situation around the Ritch Barony had become far more impressive than Id ever imagined
For example, theres the case with Rasal-san, but if there were others introduced by Raz-san who took an interest in the Ritch Baronys ripples, then the person theyd contact would likely be Marie-san.
And Raz-san would probably mention that Marie-san is a friend of mine, too
[Um, Marie-san. Could it be, this is because I recommended it to so many people?]
[Ah, no, well, its true that its related to that, but its not a bad thing! The Ritch Barony is happy that ripple sales have increased, and I did send extra ripples to Kaito-sama, hoping you might recommend it to others Its just that, well, I was a little thoughtless, or maybe too naive Since our connections have expanded in that direction, there are now times when I need to attend meetings together with my father, so I thought I should have proper attire for such occasions]
Yeah, this is totally my fault! Marie-san was kind enough to phrase it gently so I wouldnt feel guilty, but its clear that she now needs expensive clothes because of me.
For that talk about the Lord Trading Company and such, it doesnt feel like shed be there discussing things like teleportation gates with them. More likely, its that when she accompanies her father to meet notable people connected to Rasal-san or Raz-san, she needs to dress appropriately for the occasion.
[Ah, um, how should I say this Im really sorry.]
[P- Please dont apologize! Youve done nothing wrong, Kaito-sama. On the contrary, for me, its actually a fortunate coincidence. I get the chance to buy some fine clothes for myself, which I rarely can, so in a way, Im the one gaining from this. Ive always admired how other noble ladies dress elegantly, but with my familys finances, my older brother and sister had to be prioritized, so this is an unexpected happiness thats fallen into my lap.]
[I- I see. Well, if thats how you feel, Im glad]
Even so, I couldnt shake off the feeling of guilt toward Marie-san, nor the urge to make it up to her somehow And right now, we were standing in front of a clothing store, I had plenty of free time, and she was clearly nervous about entering a high-end shop for the first time hmm.
[Marie-san, if you dont mind, as a small token of apology would you let me buy you a dress? I know you said not to worry about it, but I still feel bad. And since we happened to run into each other like this, maybe its fate or something]
[T- Thats far too generous, but u- um, still, Im very grateful for the thought. And if itll put your mind at ease, Kaito-sama well, the truth is, I was nervous about going into this store alone In that case, may I accept your offer?]
[Yes, of course.]
When I told her I wanted to buy her a dress as an apology, Marie-san thought of it for a moment, but in the end, she agreed. For her, having someone accompany her into a store she had been hesitant to enter alone must have sounded quite appealing, and I had to admit, for an idea I came up with on the spot, it turned out to be a pretty good one.
Serious-senpai : [Alright, lets think this through. Setting aside the rank or price of the clothing, walking into a noble-exclusive boutique together with a noble lady and saying Id like to buy her a dress as a gift Thats a situation where anyone watching would assume youre lovers or something. And theres a fair chance other nobles could be in the store too At this rate, Maries name will spread across the social circles in no time.]
? ? ? : [Yeah, Marie-san really gives off that air of inexperience. Unlike Eris-san or Cornelia-san, she hasnt spent much time in social settings, so she doesnt think about how other nobles might perceive her or what kind of rumors might spread. Though, maybe shes just too mentally drained to think that far right now]
