Volume 10 Chapter 15 How To Compliment A Dress
Sir Rail took my hands with a really happy expression.
"Princess, that looks great on you. So cute! I'm not really into women's clothing, but when you wear a dress, it feels really special. You look so lovely."
"Thank you, Sir Rail. You look wonderful too."
"Hehe, thanks. I'm not a fan of noble clothes; they're hard to move in."
Sir Rail usually wears light, easy-to-move clothes like an adventurer, but today he looks like a Duke, just like Sir Roxas.
Dressed up, Sir Rail really resembles Sir Roxas.
Sir Roxas is──
"Sir Roxas looks the same as always."
"Well, that's probably true."
"I mean, you always looks great because you take care of your appearance."
Sir Roxas frowned a bit.
He seemed a little annoyed. Saying he looks the same isn't really a compliment, so I thought for a moment and added──
"Uh, I mean... Lydia."
Sir Roxas's ears turned red.
It seems that saying he looks like a Duke, as usual, was actually a proper compliment.
"You're, um, cute too..."
"Thank you."
He complimented me with a slightly higher voice. Sir Roxas doesn't seem used to complimenting women.
"Princess, I want to be with you all the time, but today you have a role to play. I'll be watching you as you bless His Majesty. Let's be together after it's over, okay? I'll come to ask you for a dance."
"Sir Rail, I practiced with my father. So, um, I'm all set."
"Yeah. Princess, I'm looking forward to it."
"I'm..."
"Roxas isn't great at dancing, but I practiced properly."
"Sir Roxas, are you going to dance with me too?"
"Oh, uh, well, if you don't mind."
"I don't mind at all!"
I smiled at Sir Roxas, who suddenly became shy.
Behind us, my father was mumbling, holding Nel-Nel, "Rail, Roxas, just what kind of relationship do you have with Lydia..." while Eir-Eir perched on his shoulders, and my mother, holding my father, scolded him, "Sir Fer, if you meddle in our daughter's relationships, she'll dislike you."
To bless Sir Stefan, I needed to go to the waiting room at the back of the grand hall, not the main gathering area.
I parted ways with Sir Rail and headed further into the palace with my parents, passing alongside the grand hall.
Many nobles were already gathered in the grand hall, greeting my father with respect.
He was responding cheerfully, looking like the Head Priest.
Since today was an important day, security was tight.
Knights from Leonsroar and members of Saintwise, who usually didn't participate in security, were stationed for protection.
Everyone here were familiar faces who had come to dine at Lobelia.
"Lady Lydia, you look especially radiant today!"
"Ms. Lydia, that dress suits you! Seeing you like this, you really do have that Saint vibe."
Mr. Leavis and Mr. Noctis greeted me, and I bowed slightly in response.
"Mr. Leavis, thank you as always for the clothes for Eir-Eir."
"Oh, it's just a hobby. I'm glad you like them."
"Did you make this?"
"Yes."
"People really can be surprising."
Today, Eir-Eir were all dressed up. With ribbons and shawls, she waved one hand at Mr. Leavis, exclaiming, "Pumpkin!"
"Lady Lydia. Today, I will do my best to ensure your safety with all my heart. So, please enjoy the coronation and the dinner afterward to your heart's content."
"Ah, Ms. Lydia. Leonsroar feels the same way. So, please rest easy."
"Thank you very much."
I bowed once more.
After parting with the two, my mother smiled and said, "Lyd-Lyd has a lot of acquaintances, huh?"
My father muttered again, "I don't know those 2... a new guy..."
As we entered deeper into the palace, the nobles disappeared, and it became a bit quieter.
Mr. Lucian and Sir Ciel, who seemed to have been waiting for our arrival, bowed deeply and said, "Please, this way," guiding us to the waiting room.
Mr. Lucian was in Leonsroar's uniform, but it was more extravagant than usual.
Sir Ciel wore Saintwise's robe, but it had more decorations than normal.
Their hair and clothes were neatly arranged, making them look good to begin with, but they appeared much more mature──though they were adults already──looking quite impressive.
My parents said they would go see King Zeere's face first and would be back soon, then stepped away.
I was led to the waiting room with Mr. Lucian and Sir Ciel, and they graciously helped me sit in a velvet-upholstered chair, holding my hands.
It felt strange that they weren't as casual as usual when talking to me.
It was also a bit lonely.
"Lady Lydia. First, there will be the transfer of the crown to His Majesty. After that, you will bless His Majesty. Please wait a moment. Would you like something to drink?"
Mr. Lucian knelt on one knee and bowed to me.
"Lady Lydia, we will protect you. Until the time comes, please stay calm and at ease."
Sir Ciel's tone was also formal. Even the way he spoke was different from usual.
I puffed out my cheeks. Eir-Eir, resting on my lap, also seemed a bit grumpy.
Dad is sitting on the chairs that were prepared. Mer-Mer has already started to doze off, and Ms. Famine and Nel-Nel have their eyes closed, snuggling up to each other.
Looks like they're all tired from getting ready since morning and the long trip.
"Why do you talk like that? It feels like we're meeting for the first time..."
"Sorry... Please don't make that sad face. I just want to whisk you away right now."
"...Yeah, I feel the same way. I almost wish I could drop everything and take you somewhere far away."
"Actually, I'm a bit nervous and feel like going home, but I'll be okay. I'll do my best."
Mr. Lucian and the others are acting so formal, which makes me even more nervous than I already am.
But since I've decided to push through, I can't run away.
"Just so you know, we have our positions to think about. Today is an official occasion. As a Saint, I had to treat you accordingly."
"Everyone is watching us. It wouldn't be good for us to act like we don't take you seriously."
"Sir Roxas was just like usual."
"That's just the difference in status. We're not nobles."
"Please let me apologize for making you sad... I really wanted to talk to you like I usually do."
"Then just act like you usually do. If I say it's okay, then it's okay, right? I'll be using the power of the Saint...!"
"Hehe... That's true. Lydia, thank you. You look more mature and beautiful today than usual. That white dress suits you so well. I really want to whisk you away right now. I could head to the church like this."
"Ms. Lydia, you're so cute. I'm not good at decorating my words like Lucian, but you're really adorable. So cute, Ms. Lydia."
Mr. Lucian and Sir Ciel have switched back to their usual tone and are showering me with compliments.
They say I'm so cute that I can feel my face getting hot.
"Um, well, when I get complimented too much... it makes me happy, but it's also embarrassing..."
"Ah, Lydia. That face is so cute... I don't want to show it to anyone."
"...Honestly, I really want to just grab you and run away."
As I was blushing and flustered, eventually my father and the others came back.
Seeing me all red, my father turned pale and said, "Lucian, Ciel, you didn't do anything inappropriate to Lyd-Lyd, did you...!?"
My mother casually said, "Oh dear, were we interrupting something?" and laughed.
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