Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Knight Uniform Conundrums
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Unlike a meal shared with my brother, we finished eating in utter silence. Back in my room, I racked my brain for requests to make to His Highness the Crown Prince, but nothing came to mind. So, I asked Lady Rachel if there were any spare uniforms left in the warehouse to give me a few.
"Today it's difficult, but tomorrow should be possible."
"That's more than enough. If I have any other requests, I'll come find you myself, so feel free to rest in the meantime."
"Yes."
Having received word that I could pick up the uniforms, I flashed a broad smile, unrolled a sheet of paper, picked up a pencil, and jotted down the title first.
Then I tucked the pencil behind my ear and stared up at the ceiling.
Military uniforms are far more difficult to design than one might imagine.
Just think about it: clothing that can be mass-produced for thousands—even tens of thousands—of soldiers, while ensuring freedom of movement, remaining functional even when wet, and resisting tears when traversing forests or rocky mountains. Does that sound easy to make?
And on top of all that, it has to look stylish to some degree.
This is absolutely not the kind of thing one person can whip up alone.
But this job is just tweaking the design of existing uniforms.
The men's knight uniforms serve as the base, and all I have to do is refine them slightly for a woman's figure.
Even an average tailor could handle this, and it could be done in a matter of days.
Of course, just because it's simple doesn't mean there are no hurdles.
There are still plenty of directional choices and nagging issues tormenting me.
My first dilemma was whether the ceremonial uniforms for formal occasions should be skirts or pants.
Considering uniformity and the identity of knights, pants make the most sense.
But with His Highness's orders giving me a legitimate excuse to create H-line skirts, it felt like a shame to let the opportunity slip by.
An H-line skirt that falls to the knees, hugging the body tightly to accentuate the hips.
"I can't pass this up."
There's an old saying: if the body suffers, the mind finds peace.
I can make both and let the wearers choose. That way, I don't have to agonize over it.
When things get stuck, throwing more people at it is common sense—a fundamental rule.
I briefly thought about just asking the knights, but clothing looks different in description, sketches, and reality.
And to avoid hearing "This is a bit..." after it's made, the best approach is to show them prototypes and let them pick.
Anyway, I'm making the practical, rational choice.
"Do you already have ideas in mind?"
As I pulled the pencil from behind my ear and began carefully sketching the skirt and lower body, Lady Rachel's voice suddenly pierced my ears.
"Yes, that's right... Ah...?"
In a daze, I glanced sideways and saw Lady Rachel leaning in slightly, peering intently at my paper.
Why... is she still in my room?
Didn't I tell her she could rest?
I blinked rapidly and locked eyes with Emily.
"......"
Emily shrugged and shook her head slightly.
What is it? Did His Highness order her to monitor me...?
"Um... why are you still here?"
"I was standing by as close as possible to the Young Master, ready to carry out His Highness's orders at any moment."
Lady Rachel stood ramrod straight, answering matter-of-factly.
"I see. That's impressive."
Sensing the rigid formality in her response, I nodded quickly to wrap up the conversation and turned back to my paper.
It was obvious that dragging it out would just frustrate me.
Assuming Lady Rachel was gone, I continued refining the skirt sketch and moved on to my second dilemma.
This was, in my opinion, the biggest obstacle—and the most crucial issue—in this whole project.
Underwear.
You might wonder what the problem could be with underwear, but it's a fatally critical one.
Most women's undergarments are designed with dresses in mind, so the moment women put on uniforms, they have nothing suitable to wear underneath.
The corset serving as a bra is a horrific contraption that hurts just to talk about.
You can't wear baggy ankle-length drawers under pants.
Naturally, that means panties and bras are needed, but if my memory serves, neither exists in this world yet.
To be precise, something substitutes for panties.
Drawers—underpants by that name.
Unlike the baggy male drawers we're familiar with, the women's version resembles modern pumpkin panties, but the problem is, these are for men.
Historically, women once had crotch-covering undergarments, but they vanished at some point.
I don't know the exact reason.
Some say it was due to immigration, others that long, voluminous dresses made them unnecessary. But who cares why.
The key point is, women's panties don't exist right now.
This raises a natural question: how do the female knights here solve this problem?
They must wear corsets on top, but the lower body is the issue.
Obviously not going commando.
They're probably altering drawers to fit.
You might think that's fine, but the empire's elite knights resorting to mending men's panties?
That's horrifying.
After enduring grueling training and exams to join, only to spend time fixing panties and patching clothes? If it were me, I'd be plotting rebellion hard.
Yet this nightmare is happening in real time across the empire.
"......"
I glanced back at Lady Rachel standing behind me.
The simplest approach would be to ask her outright: "Lady Rachel, what underwear are you wearing right now?"
But that would make me a disgustingly polite pervert.
"Hoo..."
Ignore the issue and let the empire's top knights have their morale crushed by bad panties like idiots.
Or become the pervert asking women what panties they're wearing today.
Trapped in this horrific dilemma, cold sweat trickled down my spine.
"Gulp..."
I swallowed hard and ran a quick mental simulation.
If I asked, "What do you usually wear for panties?" how would Lady Rachel react?
Slap me across the face? Or draw her sword and slice me?
Either way, a gruesome end.
But humans are curious creatures—I couldn't hold back.
I widened my eyes and met Lady Rachel's gaze.
"Lady Rachel."
"Yes?"
With a trembling voice, I called out to her.
"I know this is an incredibly rude, impertinent, and shameless question, but there's something I absolutely must know, so I'd like to ask."
I started by seeking permission, phrasing it as politely and indirectly as possible.
Lady Rachel hesitated briefly, furrowing her brow slightly before speaking.
"...What is the question?"
"It's about underwear."
"......"
Lady Rachel's eyes narrowed, her expression cooling sharply.
Well, her face was always like that, but the aura around her turned icy.
Am I going to die like this?
No chance to defend myself?
"Could you explain why you need to know? Make it so I can understand."
Trembling in fear as I awaited her judgment, Lady Rachel mercifully granted me a chance to explain.
"As far as I know, women's lower-body undergarments end at petticoats or chemises, correct?"
Still feeling my neck—miraculously intact—I turned the question back on her.
"Correct."
"Most women wear skirts, so it's fine, but those in pants face a problem with no suitable underwear."
"...Yes."
"That's why, while designing the uniforms, I'm wondering if I should also design underwear for the female knights."
"I see..."
Lady Rachel closed her eyes briefly and nodded.
"Then, what is the Young Master's question?"
"How do the female knights in the order currently handle their underwear situation?"
"......"
Lady Rachel's eyebrow twitched.
Her face flushed ever so faintly as she answered.
"Currently... we alter men's drawers to wear."
"And corsets for the upper body?"
"...Yes. How did you know?"
"I noticed while explaining to His Highness at the training grounds."
I'd seen straps through her clothes when she tugged at her waist.
Probably to keep her chest from bouncing during movement.
A garment that cinched the ribs that tightly would excel at that, but must have been incredibly uncomfortable.
"I imagine it's quite inconvenient in many ways, right?"
"Yes. Corsets aren't suited for mobility."
Lady Rachel gave a wry smile and nodded.
"What are your thoughts on this issue, Young Master?"
"I think new underwear is necessary. As I told His Highness, it's nonsense for the empire's knights to endure such discomfort. But since it's not what I wear, I'm curious what the knights themselves think."
Lady Rachel's eyes narrowed again, her gaze drifting downward slightly.
After a moment's thought, she replied.
"In that case... when I pick up the uniforms tomorrow as requested, I'll ask my comrades."
"Thank you. Please ask as many as possible."
I smiled and bowed to Lady Rachel.
And as I marveled at surviving asking a female knight about going without panties, I began pondering underwear designs in the back of my mind.