SALP Chapter 36

"What clothes?"

Lanthe turned to look at Rix pushing her back.

"Clothes for Sister Lanthe to wear."

Nina answered in a firm voice instead.

"But I have clothes?"

Lanthe looked down at what she was wearing.

She now had as many as three outfits. One thin coat and one thick coat each. This was sufficient composition to get through one season.

"Uh, well, that is, they're borrowed clothes so we have to return them to the owner."

"That's right! We have to return them!"

Rix and Nina explained in turn, nodding their heads.

"So, you see, if you look closely, Lady Lanthe's current clothes are also slightly too big."

"That's right! They're a bit big for you, Sister!"

Nod, nod. Like a pair of wooden puppets controlled by a puppeteer, the two took turns nodding.

"They're not. They're fine..."

Lanthe examined her appearance glumly.

Today's outfit was one she particularly liked. The bright ivory color was a fabric rarely used in winter because it looked cold, but she liked bright colors. She'd been satisfied that it fit just right and suited her. But to others' eyes, it looked like ill-fitting clothes.

"Come quickly, Sister. We need to take measurements to fit new clothes. You have to stretch your arms like this."

The tailor holding a measuring tape chuckled as if Nina's interference was adorable.

Lanthe couldn't readily extend her arms, bewildered.

"What clothes am I getting fitted for? I don't have money."

"What? Money is, well, what do you call it..."

Rix rolled his eyes, startled more than necessary. This time Nina couldn't answer quickly either, poking Rix's side with a serious expression. They seemed to be looking at each other and pushing something off on one another.

Anyone could see the two were suspicious.

"Excuse me, Lady Lanthe."

Just then Mel entered carrying a lamp and tray. She seemed to have come to change the oil in the lamp burning on the table.

"If it's all right, may I answer on their behalf? According to our castle's policy, guests invited by the Lord receive support in all aspects of food, clothing, and shelter during their stay here as a basic matter. Moreover, since Lady Lanthe is a guest with personal ties to the Lord, I heard instructions from the administrator to look after you without deficiency. Isn't that right, Sir Rix?"

At her explanation flowing like water, Rix nodded his head violently.

"Ri-right! That's it! Our Mel really has an excellent memory. Haha!"

"But..."

If what she said was true, it was all the more awkward.

If this person called the administrator had given instructions to treat her with special care as the Lord's friend, he was making a great mistake knowing only the surface relationship.

Externally, Lanthe was known as Vigo's old friend, but in reality she was something like a prisoner he was holding while pondering how to dispose of her according to his dealings with Derek.

Vigo might rebuke the administrator if he knew.

Moreover, just yesterday they'd had an argument that left both flushed, and were in a cold war.

It was the first night he hadn't fussed this way and that while sleeping beside her.

"Hurry, Sister! You can't go around naked now that you have no clothes to wear."

"But still..."

The tailor also held out the measuring tape with a gentle smile as if to say hurry and extend your arms.

"I don't know if this is all right. Vigo will dislike it. Actually, we even fought yesterday."

It was an indescribably difficult situation.

Though she'd become so desperate she'd revealed even the circumstances of quarreling with him yesterday, Rix and Nina giggled among themselves, delighted about something.

"Don't worry, Lady Lanthe. If by chance the Lord says he won't pay, I'll settle it with my own money, so please put your worries aside."

"That's right! Sir Rix will pay. He's not very rich, though."

"You little thing? This uncle gets praised by his girlfriend for diligently saving money at a young age, I'll have you know. Got it?"

Gi-girlfriend, Sir Rix?

When the surprised Lanthe showed an opening, Rix and the tailor quickly rushed in and spun her around this way and that, taking her body measurements.

Well, she couldn't go around naked, so she did need to have clothes.

"I could just receive clothes someone's throwing away."

Receiving hand-me-down clothes was a common thing. Here too, there must be people throwing away clothes that had become too small or worn out.

"Such jokes! Haha!"

"Such jokes! Hehe!"

Please stop giggling, you two...

"What fabric would you like?"

"Wow, it's pretty! No, that one's prettier!"

Rix and Nina left Lanthe standing there vacantly and made a fuss looking at fabrics.

Lanthe's face gradually stiffened.

Why were there only expensive-looking fabrics?

"Wow. Imported goods really are different. I should make my girlfriend one of these for the wedding."

"I want to wear something like this when I grow up and get married too."

She grew dizzy at the sight of golden silk she'd seen in Newbella, hats sparkling with sprinkled gem powder, and the like. Newbella's palace had been luxurious with various colors and decorations in the scenery itself, so that was that, but if she wore these around this black, ash-gray castle, she'd surely catch everyone's attention as if only the clothes were floating about.

"What appeals to you, Lady Lanthe? I'm completely ignorant about women's clothes."

"No, that's not what I..."

"I like this! Gold! It's like a goddess and super cool!"

"How about this fermented grape color here, Nina? My girlfriend has an outfit in this color and it's really pretty."

"Sir Rix's head seems full of thoughts of his girlfriend seeing pretty clothes."

"Hehe. Was that too much?"

"My stomach hurts. I want to grow up fast and get a boyfriend too. A handsome boyfriend."

"......"

Mel, who'd finished changing the lamp oil, glanced over and spoke up casually.

"Everything those two chose will suit you well. In my opinion, blue tones would also suit Lady Lanthe's skin color nicely. That crimson silk over there is also very bright. But your personal preference should come first, shouldn't it?"

The eyes of everyone in the room sparkled toward Lanthe with burdensome intensity.

"I don't really know..."

Ah, she wanted to escape.

If only Vigo hadn't appeared and caught her just when Dame Skaeli had made that rare suggestion to go to Floretta.

"Then why not just fit one of each type and be done with it? Haha!"

"Sir Rix's opinion isn't bad either. Fine clothes can be worn for a long time."

"Right! No! Just do everything here! They're all pretty!"

"Oh, I think Nina's opinion looks good too. Our Lord—no, the administrator is generous, you see. Haha!"

Whaaat...?

Lanthe's eyes widened as she rushed over to snatch the fabrics they were handling and put them back in their places.

"Then I'll just do one of each. Underwear and a coat, please just one each of the cheapest things."

If Vigo found out, how much would he mock her again?

'You don't know prices or shame. I suppose you plan to shake down every bit of the 20,000 kroner I received...'

His sarcasm seemed to echo like an auditory hallucination, and Lanthe clutched her head.

"Sister, really! What will you wear when you wash clothes? In winter, laundry dries slowly, so you need at least three outfits to feel secure."

"Then two of the cheapest ones. Just one coat is fine. Really."

She practically begged until she got Rix and Nina to shut their mouths.

Mel smiled with the corners of her eyebrows drooping as if disappointed.

"If you insist, how about first fitting three of everything from underwear to coats, then thinking it over slowly and adding what you need?"

No. Even three of each type is excessive. Too excessive. These are all expensive materials.

Besides, there would never be any additions beyond that.

"I'll definitely work to repay you, Administrator..."

Muttering words of apology to no one knew whom, Lanthe just answered yes, yes, to those showing her design drafts.

After the time that made her want to cry finally released her—

"Haah..."

She'd barely returned to her room and was about to rest.

"I apologize for the late hour, miss. I've come having received the Lord's commission to create one pair of fur boots for when you go out, one pair of waterproof boots, and one pair each of low indoor shoes. Please forgive the rudeness, as I heard you had no shoes to wear tomorrow."

A new visitor came looking for her.

Introducing himself as a shoemaker.

"What...?"

Lanthe froze like a statue at the doorway, not comprehending even half his words.

Rix quickly stepped forward as if taking her expression seriously.

"Th-that the Lord commissioned means! All this was the administrator's instruction, but didn't he commission it in the name of the Lord who is his liege? Because it all comes from the Lord's property, you see. Right?"

"Wise words. Hermea's vassals are loyal people indeed."

The shoemaker nodded his head contentedly at Rix's words.

What Lord?

Lanthe struggled to understand Rix's words while gathering her dizzying wits. She didn't know what he'd been trying to say, but seeing the brightly smiling shoemaker, pleasant greetings seemed to have been exchanged.

"Whoa. This leather is really soft. Your feet won't hurt at all."

From Nina's words—rushing over to chatter again though she'd said she was going to rest—Lanthe barely caught the phrase 'three pairs.'

"You're making three pairs? Do people here change shoes that often?"

In Roas, wearing a single outfit for several days and nights until the clothes got dirty, and staying with one pair of shoes until they wore thin and tattered, was everyday life.

"I don't really go far, so I don't need many shoes."

Lanthe waved her hands in refusal, but this time even Rix was firm.

"Oh my, Lady Lanthe, in Hermea it snows a lot in winter and the roads freeze easily, so you need multiple pairs of shoes. You'll also need dress shoes kept clean and ready for formal occasions."

Formal occasions? Did he mean things like festivals or religious feast days?

"Then wouldn't one pair each of boots and dress shoes be enough?"

"Not enough, Lady Lanthe. If your shoes get wet, you'll get frostbite on your feet, right? You need spares too."

"That's right! Frozen feet!"

Oh no. This was really bad.

Just how many errands would she have to run to repay him? Would he even give her more work?

Lanthe felt her vision yellowing.