I was forced to try on one red dress after another, but by the time we were finished, it was decided I would take the very first dress with a rose pattern I had tried on.
Since Lily chose her own, matching clothes as well, we became a pair who would cause anyone we walked by in the city to do a double take as we passed them. She told me before we even entered the store that we’d stand out, so I think she wanted us to get matching clothes from the very start.
After leaving that store, we walked around the various shops to choose out hats, accessories, shoes, and it was only when we had finished choosing out an entire outfit that we took a break.
When we left the dorms we were a couple of ordinary girls heading out into the city, but now, we are a couple of elegant ladies drinking tea at a coffee shop before attending a high-class party.
There were some people who walked past and noticed we were competitors in the Hero Audition, but unlike the people at the commoner’s market, these people just bowed and left us alone. It was kind of lonely. If they’d given me a chance, I would have liked to give them one dance.
“I wonder. I suppose it is a little uncouth to see someone of the same age as you playing around with their parents’ money and call it a noble’s life. Although those parents are merely coasting off their ancestors’ achievements as well.”
I would have thought that living each day like this was so very Lily–spending your time being faithful to your desires–but going by her harsh tone, she probably doesn’t spend her days like this very often.
“Well…. it was fun right? You get to pick out whatever you like.”
“I’m happy you are enjoying yourself. However, there is one last thing for us to choose.”
All the things we choose out were ultimately selected by Lily. She always wanted to hear my opinion, but in the end, she always had final say. Everything she chose looked great though, and since I liked them too, I didn’t have any complaints.
“What’s that?”
“Earrings. I will be giving you one, so the other ear will be open. Here, this will allow you to enter the treasure house.”
Lily reached up and removed one of the earrings she always wears. If I am ever going to enter the treasure house in the castle where my ring is stored, I am going to need a guiding stone. Lily had a few guiding stones processed into her earrings, and it looks like she wants to give one of those to me.
“Is that all right? I’d feel bad taking something that feels so important.”
“It is fine. I wish to keep things symmetrical. For the both of us.”
Lily’s right ear has the same piercing as my left. It would be asymmetrical if it was just one of us, but the symmetry is created when the two of us are together. An overwhelming feeling of happiness rises inside me since the bond between me and Lily is growing stronger, but there is still a small vein of uneasiness running underneath that happiness. Because someday soon, I will have to leave.
“That would definitely make it sound like we’re close. Almost like….”
“Like we are lovers? Possibly. Now, come along.”
I just wanted to reassure myself that things weren’t as bad as I was making them out to be, but that forced Lily to stand up and smile to hide her embarrassment.
We left that coffee shop reluctant to end that short break.
The last place Lily took me to was the most expensive jewellery store I have ever seen. When the door opened, I was greeted to a brilliance on the same level as the mountain of treasure laying in Lily’s vault.
“Lily-sama. A friend of yours?”
Just like all the stores we’d been to before, a clerk with matted down hair immediately came to the front to greet us.
“Correct. Today I hoped to pick out an accessory for my parents’ anniversary. Would you let me see your earrings?”
Lily naturally spun a lie she must’ve come up with in advance for the clerk who immediately disappeared into the back after hearing our request.
After being made to wait a while, the store clerk returned with only a single pair of earrings. One was inlaid with a red gemstone while the other a blue, and they both were supported by two silvery arced rings. The designs kind of reminded me of the ring I got from Don.
“They’re incredible.”
“Lily-sama’s friend has good eyes. These were crafted by the same craftsman who made the famous ring worn by the mobster Don, so there is hardly anything in circulation that could compare. To be honest, I wonder if even these would be suitable for Akatsu-sama….”
The clerk didn’t miss a chance to butter up Lily, or rather her father.
“They would be wasted on my father who struggles to understand a woman’s heart. I will take them.”
“Thank you for your purchase. Then I shall wrap them up for you.”
“They are fine as is.”
“No no! I couldn’t possibly. For something of this price….”
The clerk whispered something into Lily’s ear, and her eyes shot open as she looked over at me. She looks just like how I imagine I looked when I was given Don’s ring. Maybe it’s because that craftsman isn’t alive anymore, but apparently anything he made shoots up in value.
“I-It is fine. I would like to surprise my parents, so just deposit them in a leather bag.”
Lily’s voice was a pitch higher than normal as she spoke with the clerk. I’m thinking there is an extra zero there at the end of the price tag that she wasn’t expecting.
When the clerk headed to the back again to find a leather bag, I started whispering to Lily.
“Is this really okay? It seems kind of expensive. Moreso than everything else.”
“It is nothing to worry about. These earrings hold a special meaning–a connection between you and I. Besides, does it not sound like fate to have a pair of earrings made by the same craftsman as your ring? I care little if that meaningless treasury is emptied. All that will be left is your ring and my mother’s memento.”
I can’t say what the future will hold. The results of the first screening alone have a huge influence on my future.
But in the moment, I found out where the money for today was really coming from. Lily’s vault. In other words, her own pocket. And apparently today was enough to basically drain the whole thing.
“Sure, but….”
“Besides, I will be having you pay me back for it. With your body.”
A lewd voice only I could hear, drowned out by the other customers in the store. My eyes fell to the ground, and I nudged Lily’s arm with my elbow. She grabbed my hand, looking satisfied with herself.
The clerk eventually came back with a leather bag that looked like what you’d use to wrap up nuts. Nobody would look at that and think there was some great treasure inside.
Lily took my hand as she slipped the leather bag into her clothes.
“We have one last stop to make Liffy. Shall we go?”
We left the store together and once again paraded around the noble’s district. I’ve gotten used to having people’s eyes on me, and as a dancer, it honestly feels better to be seen.
The number of people on the street decreased as we moved away from the shopping district, and we kept getting closer and closer to the royal castle. Just as I was getting a little gloomy thinking about how we’d have to visit the treasure house again, Lily brought us to a stop.
I could see the castle from here, but we were far from the entrance. In front of us was a large wall with an even bigger gate. And ten guards who were all bowing to Lily.
“Miss. Welcome home!”
“I’m home. Thank you all for your hard work.”
Lily spoke to each one of them as if she were acquainted. A cold sweat ran down my back as the realization slowly set in.
“Lily-san, is this maybe….”
“My, or rather the Ruhuna, family mansion. No need to worry. My father is not here.”
I was brought down the long, stone pavement leading to a massive mansion, wondering how many steps I was skipping suddenly meeting her family like this.
I was forced to try on one red dress after another, but by the time we were finished, it was decided I would take the very first dress with a rose pattern I had tried on.
Since Lily chose her own, matching clothes as well, we became a pair who would cause anyone we walked by in the city to do a double take as we passed them. She told me before we even entered the store that we’d stand out, so I think she wanted us to get matching clothes from the very start.
After leaving that store, we walked around the various shops to choose out hats, accessories, shoes, and it was only when we had finished choosing out an entire outfit that we took a break.
When we left the dorms we were a couple of ordinary girls heading out into the city, but now, we are a couple of elegant ladies drinking tea at a coffee shop before attending a high-class party.
There were some people who walked past and noticed we were competitors in the Hero Audition, but unlike the people at the commoner’s market, these people just bowed and left us alone. It was kind of lonely. If they’d given me a chance, I would have liked to give them one dance.
“I wonder. I suppose it is a little uncouth to see someone of the same age as you playing around with their parents’ money and call it a noble’s life. Although those parents are merely coasting off their ancestors’ achievements as well.”
I would have thought that living each day like this was so very Lily–spending your time being faithful to your desires–but going by her harsh tone, she probably doesn’t spend her days like this very often.
“Well…. it was fun right? You get to pick out whatever you like.”
“I’m happy you are enjoying yourself. However, there is one last thing for us to choose.”
All the things we choose out were ultimately selected by Lily. She always wanted to hear my opinion, but in the end, she always had final say. Everything she chose looked great though, and since I liked them too, I didn’t have any complaints.
“What’s that?”
“Earrings. I will be giving you one, so the other ear will be open. Here, this will allow you to enter the treasure house.”
Lily reached up and removed one of the earrings she always wears. If I am ever going to enter the treasure house in the castle where my ring is stored, I am going to need a guiding stone. Lily had a few guiding stones processed into her earrings, and it looks like she wants to give one of those to me.
“Is that all right? I’d feel bad taking something that feels so important.”
“It is fine. I wish to keep things symmetrical. For the both of us.”
Lily’s right ear has the same piercing as my left. It would be asymmetrical if it was just one of us, but the symmetry is created when the two of us are together. An overwhelming feeling of happiness rises inside me since the bond between me and Lily is growing stronger, but there is still a small vein of uneasiness running underneath that happiness. Because someday soon, I will have to leave.
“That would definitely make it sound like we’re close. Almost like….”
“Like we are lovers? Possibly. Now, come along.”
I just wanted to reassure myself that things weren’t as bad as I was making them out to be, but that forced Lily to stand up and smile to hide her embarrassment.
We left that coffee shop reluctant to end that short break.
The last place Lily took me to was the most expensive jewellery store I have ever seen. When the door opened, I was greeted to a brilliance on the same level as the mountain of treasure laying in Lily’s vault.
“Lily-sama. A friend of yours?”
Just like all the stores we’d been to before, a clerk with matted down hair immediately came to the front to greet us.
“Correct. Today I hoped to pick out an accessory for my parents’ anniversary. Would you let me see your earrings?”
Lily naturally spun a lie she must’ve come up with in advance for the clerk who immediately disappeared into the back after hearing our request.
After being made to wait a while, the store clerk returned with only a single pair of earrings. One was inlaid with a red gemstone while the other a blue, and they both were supported by two silvery arced rings. The designs kind of reminded me of the ring I got from Don.
“They’re incredible.”
“Lily-sama’s friend has good eyes. These were crafted by the same craftsman who made the famous ring worn by the mobster Don, so there is hardly anything in circulation that could compare. To be honest, I wonder if even these would be suitable for Akatsu-sama….”
The clerk didn’t miss a chance to butter up Lily, or rather her father.
“They would be wasted on my father who struggles to understand a woman’s heart. I will take them.”
“Thank you for your purchase. Then I shall wrap them up for you.”
“They are fine as is.”
“No no! I couldn’t possibly. For something of this price….”
The clerk whispered something into Lily’s ear, and her eyes shot open as she looked over at me. She looks just like how I imagine I looked when I was given Don’s ring. Maybe it’s because that craftsman isn’t alive anymore, but apparently anything he made shoots up in value.
“I-It is fine. I would like to surprise my parents, so just deposit them in a leather bag.”
Lily’s voice was a pitch higher than normal as she spoke with the clerk. I’m thinking there is an extra zero there at the end of the price tag that she wasn’t expecting.
When the clerk headed to the back again to find a leather bag, I started whispering to Lily.
“Is this really okay? It seems kind of expensive. Moreso than everything else.”
“It is nothing to worry about. These earrings hold a special meaning–a connection between you and I. Besides, does it not sound like fate to have a pair of earrings made by the same craftsman as your ring? I care little if that meaningless treasury is emptied. All that will be left is your ring and my mother’s memento.”
I can’t say what the future will hold. The results of the first screening alone have a huge influence on my future.
But in the moment, I found out where the money for today was really coming from. Lily’s vault. In other words, her own pocket. And apparently today was enough to basically drain the whole thing.
“Sure, but….”
“Besides, I will be having you pay me back for it. With your body.”
A lewd voice only I could hear, drowned out by the other customers in the store. My eyes fell to the ground, and I nudged Lily’s arm with my elbow. She grabbed my hand, looking satisfied with herself.
The clerk eventually came back with a leather bag that looked like what you’d use to wrap up nuts. Nobody would look at that and think there was some great treasure inside.
Lily took my hand as she slipped the leather bag into her clothes.
“We have one last stop to make Liffy. Shall we go?”
We left the store together and once again paraded around the noble’s district. I’ve gotten used to having people’s eyes on me, and as a dancer, it honestly feels better to be seen.
The number of people on the street decreased as we moved away from the shopping district, and we kept getting closer and closer to the royal castle. Just as I was getting a little gloomy thinking about how we’d have to visit the treasure house again, Lily brought us to a stop.
I could see the castle from here, but we were far from the entrance. In front of us was a large wall with an even bigger gate. And ten guards who were all bowing to Lily.
“Miss. Welcome home!”
“I’m home. Thank you all for your hard work.”
Lily spoke to each one of them as if she were acquainted. A cold sweat ran down my back as the realization slowly set in.
“Lily-san, is this maybe….”
“My, or rather the Ruhuna, family mansion. No need to worry. My father is not here.”
I was brought down the long, stone pavement leading to a massive mansion, wondering how many steps I was skipping suddenly meeting her family like this.
