Lawless Zone Requitas, Part 7 — Sirien Ilensia
"It looks good. White has always suited you."
"Really? Then I definitely have to buy this."
It was right after we purchased the pure white dress and hat. Just as I was picking out a couple of outfits for Isha, the shopkeeper approached me with a subtle, knowing smile. Perhaps she saw me as a big spender and wanted to work her sales magic? I was fully prepared to shut her down the moment she became annoying.
"My lady, I would love to style your hair. Why don't you take a seat over there for just a moment?"
"My hair? There is no need to go to such trouble..."
"Trust me, I will make you look absolutely stunning. Enough to leave the gentleman you came with completely breathless."
"Leave Rajen... breathless?"
"Don't you want to hear the word 'beautiful' slip from his lips? Let's make it so he won't be able to help himself."
"B-beautiful..."
Before I knew it, I had followed the shopkeeper and was sitting in the chair. Two assistants immediately set to work, gently brushing out my hair.
When I was a child, the maids would brush my hair every morning. There would be warm water, soft towels, and oils that carried a sweet, fragrant scent. Once my hair was styled, I would parade around the castle like a knight clad in full armor, ready for battle.
At the cabin, I had relied on Hena's gentle touch. But after we parted, I had to manage on my own. Deep in the forest, I had lacked the luxury of worrying about such things. Even afterward, simply running a comb through my hair was the absolute limit of my abilities.
I had shown Rajen my disheveled, messy hair far too many times. Was that why? Other men on the street harbored wicked desires after catching only a fleeting glimpse of my face, yet Rajen had never once looked at me that way.
It wasn't that I wanted my treasure to behave like those vulgar men. But what if it was because I lacked charm? What if, in Rajen's eyes, I could never be seen as a woman? Just harboring such doubts made my heart ache with a dull, throbbing pain.
The shopkeeper smiled warmly.
"Do you usually only wear that style, my lady?"
"Hmm?"
"You seem to prefer modest, understated clothing. The outfit you wore when you first walked in was the same."
"Showing bare skin is... embarrassing..."
"Then I suppose you have barely shown any skin to that gentleman of yours?"
Showing my bare skin to Rajen... My head bowed of its own accord. It wasn't that the thought repulsed me. If any other man were to look upon my bare skin, I would find it utterly disgusting and offensive. But if it were Rajen... it would be different. Still, I wasn't ready yet. I wanted to take things a little slower. Just enough time for me to prepare myself.
Prepare? For what? Suddenly, my face burned hot. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs, refusing to calm down. I couldn't understand why I was acting like this. This had been my struggle for the past four years. I wanted so desperately to make Rajen fall in love with me, but whenever I stood before him with that intent, my mind and body refused to cooperate. No matter how firmly I resolved myself, my defenses crumbled in an instant. My composure shattered so easily, leaving me creaking and stiff like a broken doll.
"Well, that is... I mean..."
"Your reaction just now gave me all the answer I need."
"Ah..."
"But isn't this actually a golden opportunity? Men are incredibly weak to a woman's sudden transformation. You will definitely make him fall head over heels."
The shopkeeper gestured to one of her assistants, who promptly wheeled over an entire display rack.
"I selected a few pieces that I know will look spectacular on you. Why don't we start with this one?"
It was a black evening gown. The neckline plunged low, leaving her collarbones and shoulders completely bare. Under normal circumstances, it was an outfit I would never have even glanced at. I still felt a deep-seated aversion to exposing so much skin, and I despised wearing restrictive clothing that hindered my movement.
"Just trust me this once, my lady. Do you have any idea how many couples I've seen pass through Requitas? I understand the minds of men better than anyone."
In the end, I was powerless against the witch's silver tongue.
"Oh my goodness... Oh, my word! You are the type who hides an incredibly slender figure beneath your everyday clothes."
"Ah! P-please don't touch me."
"My apologies, my lady. It has been a very long time since I've seen such a gorgeous silhouette. And your skin is so remarkably fair! Do you know this is the first time I've ever seen skin so flawless? There are countless women in Requitas who make a living solely on their looks, yet none compare to you. How on earth do you care for it?"
"I... I don't, really."
"They say the world is unfair, and they are absolutely right. You had best not say that to anyone else, or you'll make them die of jealousy."
The new undergarments pressed a fraction too tightly against my chest. I didn't dare look down at my own body. Perhaps out of habit, my head kept dropping from sheer embarrassment, but I knew that if I actually looked down, I wouldn't be able to handle what I saw.
Where had it all gone wrong? I had only undressed for a moment to try on the gown, but then the shopkeeper had suggested that I might want to update my undergarments as well. Since we had to buy some for Isha anyway, I had agreed to look at a few options—and that was my fatal mistake. I had completely forgotten that this district transformed into a bustling red-light zone at night. Consequently, the selection of undergarments the shopkeeper brought out included pieces so scandalous they made my head spin. Even the "tamer" options were far from modest; an array of provocative, borderline indecent lingerie was laid out before my eyes. To make matters worse, the shopkeeper had already set aside a few choice pieces, insisting they would suit me perfectly. This was unacceptable. I had to draw the line there!
"Even if you have no intention of showing it, a lady must always pay close attention to her undergarments. You see, these are a woman's secret weapon."
"A secret... weapon?"
"A face veiled in silk always appears far more mysterious and alluring than one fully exposed to the world. Undergarments work the same way. It may not happen today, but who knows? Someday, an unexpected turn of events might leave you exposed."
Her words instantly conjured a memory of the Sanctuary Forest—specifically, that cave on a rainy day. Our clothes had been completely drenched, forcing us to hang them along the cave wall to dry. Back then, I had been so young that sheer embarrassment was the only thing on my mind. But looking back on it now, I felt a sudden urge to slam my fists against the wall. Did Rajen still remember that day? He absolutely could not. If he did, I would find a way to erase that memory from his mind myself.
"In moments like those, a carefully chosen set of lingerie will utterly steal a man's soul. After all, it is a sacred, mysterious realm normally hidden from their eyes. He won't be able to help but fall completely, helplessly in love with you."
"A-are all men really like that?"
"Oh, absolutely. Ten out of ten, without fail."
I found myself imagining Rajen's face flushing red. It was a difficult image to conjure, yet the mere thought made my heart flutter with anticipation. And once again, by the time I snapped out of my reverie, I was already wearing the undergarments the shopkeeper had selected for me. It was a crushing, absolute defeat.
It felt as though if I tugged the hem of the black gown even slightly, the delicate lace of the undergarments would peek out against my pale skin. Terrified that something might show, I nervously adjusted my collar over and over again as I walked back to Rajen. Will I look strange? What if he laughs at me for trying too hard? If Rajen reacted like that, I knew I would burst into pathetic, miserable tears on the spot.
"H-how is it? Is it too revealing? Since my shoulders are completely bare, it feels a bit empty... If you think it looks strange, I can go back and change into something else right now."
What am I even saying? I'm rambling. Stop stuttering and speak properly. This isn't like me at all.
But when Rajen finally spoke, I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from curving upward.
"No. No, it's not. It looks great. You look beautiful. It really suits you. Yes... it really does."
"R-really?"
On the way back from the boutique, a comfortable silence settled between us. Neither of us spoke a word. I simply reached out first, and Rajen took my hand in his, just as he always did.
So when Rajen suddenly came to a halt, it felt entirely out of the blue. We were merely passing by an ordinary bench. There had been no warning, no prelude to his sudden pause.
"Sirien. Would you mind sitting there for a moment?"
"Hmm?"
"It will only take a second."
Once I sat down, Rajen dropped to one knee before me. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a small, red box. It was elegantly wrapped, so beautifully presented that anyone could tell it contained a gift.
Could it be? No, surely not... My heart began to race with wild anticipation.
"R-Rajen?"
"I realized I've never given you a proper gift before. It isn't anything incredibly expensive, but... I wanted to pick something out for you."
From the box, he lifted a delicate bracelet of silver and crimson. Rajen gently took my hand, guiding my wrist forward, and fastened the clasp himself. The shimmering band caught the light, looking almost surreal to my eyes. Was I dreaming? The sheer weight of my happiness made the moment feel entirely detached from reality. Time itself seemed to grind to a halt.
The pedestrians strolling past, the crisp breeze sweeping through the streets—everything served as a slow-motion backdrop to my overwhelming joy. The bracelet Rajen had given me sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight. The tiny rubies embedded along its length shone like the most precious treasures in existence. Normally, I despised boasting about the things I cherished. But in this very moment, I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs to anyone who would listen.
Look at this. The most beautiful bracelet in the entire world is on my wrist.
I wondered if I was truly allowed to experience such perfect happiness. A sudden, sharp anxiety gripped me—what if I woke up from this? If this is a dream, please, never let me wake. Even if I had to relive this single loop of time for eternity, I prayed with all my heart that this was reality.
"It looks beautiful on you. Do you like it?"
"U-uh... hic..."
Ah, this was bad. I shouldn't cry. My vision was blurring. I needed to imprint every detail of this moment into my memory, yet like a fool, my tears spilled over, completely uncontrollable. My body moved before my mind could stop it. Since I had already lost my composure, I threw myself forward, burying myself in Rajen's embrace to savor every second. Only the solid, comforting warmth of his body assured me that this was, indeed, real.