Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Vigil (2)
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Lydia approached, stretching out the measuring tape.
Her unfocused red eyes somehow sent a chill down my spine.
"I'm fine. I'll wait for the tailor to arrive."
I tried to refuse, but the twin-tailed princess was already right in front of my nose.
"No, you can't. You have a dinner with Father soon, so there's no time."
Lydia pouted her lips.
"I'm okay, so hurry up and spread your arms."
Faced with her firm demeanor, I let out a deep sigh.
Then, I casually spread my arms.
"Understood."
As I yielded my body so readily, Lydia swallowed hard.
Unlike her earlier confidence, she seemed tense now that she was actually approaching me.
'Is measuring someone that nerve-wracking?'
I wondered to myself.
The princess placed a finger to her lips and stared intently at my body.
"Aren't you going to do it?"
When I asked, she blinked as if snapping out of a daydream.
"Uh, yeah.... Just stay like that."
The princess first slipped her arms under my armpits.
Then, she cautiously began measuring my chest.
She wrapped around my chest from behind, as if embracing me.
Breathing deeply, she calmly felt along my body.
"You're... bigger than I thought."
"I'm in better shape than at the appointment ceremony."
I'd been training intermittently to stabilize my past life's power.
'Though I'm still far from that level....'
The princess's chest slowly pressed against my back.
She carefully wrapped her arms around me.
"St-still, you're lacking compared to my knights."
"Haha, true. Those guys seem inherently different."
I responded leisurely to Lydia's haughty remark.
Then, the princess quietly pressed her cheek against my shoulder blade and murmured.
"Even so.... I think this size suits you perfectly."
Something soft pressed firmly against my back.
"Yes...?"
When I asked back, the princess pulled away and said.
"No. Now, let's measure your waist."
The princess averted her gaze as if it were nothing.
Then, she slowly groped my sides with both hands.
I felt her fingertips on both my hips.
"...."
Her lips parted slightly.
The princess let out a shallow breath as she wrapped the tape around my waist.
It was apparently her first time touching a man's waist; her movements were clumsy.
She groped here and there on my body, remeasuring several times.
Unlike when measuring my chest, the princess grew much quieter.
Finding it odd, I glanced down at Lydia.
'Her face looks flushed....?'
Especially her ear peeking through her hair.
It was quite red, perhaps from the weight of her earrings.
As I thought that.
The princess glanced at my thighs and hesitated.
"I-I guess I need to measure here too...?"
"Yes, for tailoring pants, you do."
I said without much thought.
But Lydia's face flushed as if she'd hiccuped.
"Right.... Let's measure."
The youngest princess slowly bent her knees.
A bizarre sight: an imperial princess kneeling before a commoner.
However, Lydia was too distracted to notice.
She stared fixedly only at my thighs.
She slowly extended her arm between my legs.
With trembling hands, she wrapped around my thigh.
Then, as she measured with the tape....
The princess's eyes widened at the reading.
"Your legs are incredibly sturdy...."
"Are they?"
The princess stroked my thigh as she carefully withdrew her hand from between my legs.
"Yes. Your body is slimmer than my knights', but your legs are about the same thickness."
Lydia fidgeted with her hands.
"I run with mana around my legs more than using carriages, so it's faster."
"R-right.... Walking is good for you, so keep running on your own two feet from now on."
The princess blurted out something strange without realizing.
Then, she staggered to her feet.
After that, the princess no longer teased me.
She simply clamped her mouth shut and recorded my measurements on the chart.
"Sorry for the wait."
In the meantime, the tailor emerged from the workshop.
Seeing the princess's flushed face, she worried she'd come out too late.
"No, Her Highness measured everything for me."
I kindly pointed to the princess for the tailor.
Lydia slowly nodded as well.
"Yes... Just make the suit to these measurements. I checked them properly...."
The tailor picked up the chart.
True to her status as the empire's top expert, she tailored the suit at lightning speed.
I changed into the received clothes in the fitting room.
The outer jacket was black, but the material was incredibly soft and luxurious.
The inner dress shirt fit my body perfectly too.
'Amazing. Such precise measurements.'
"Now, just pick a necktie."
The tailor pointed to the display rack, intending to guide me.
But at that moment.
Lydia slipped between the tailor and me.
"No, I already prepared a necktie."
'When did she pick it out?'
The youngest princess slyly pulled out a black necktie.
Turning her head away, she handed it to me haughtily.
Black base with Eastern-style gold embroidery.
It even had a pin depicting a leopard, symbolizing Lydia.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
I tied the necktie, feeling it was too lavish.
As I headed for the door.
The princess blocked the exit.
"Wait, stop."
"Is there a problem?"
Lydia pointed at the necktie I'd tied.
"You can't tie an Eastern necktie like that."
"How should I do it then?"
I asked with a puzzled expression.
Then, Lydia approached me impatiently....
"You're hopeless. Give it here. I'll tie it myself...."
Unlike when measuring, she naturally placed her hand on the necktie.
Muttering to herself, she retied it with skilled hands.
"Who else would look after a guy like you if not me...?"
She tied it properly up to my neck.
With a sly smile, she gazed up at me intently.
"Feel honored. It's tied by me personally."
The tailor watched our exchange intently.
Covering her lips with her hand.
"...."
I lifted the corner of my mouth in a grin.
I nearly patted Lydia's head out of habit.
'She'd get mad if I did....?'
Instead, I expressed my gratitude.
"Thank you, Your Highness. Now I see why your Eastern knights are so strong—thanks to your kind heart."
"Of course. I'm not treating you special or anything."
After tying the necktie, the princess hurriedly turned away.
The tailor stared at her retreating figure.
With eyes saying this was a first for Lydia.
Still facing away, the princess pulled out her wallet.
She tried to pay the tailor directly.
"Oh, no.... Your Highness. Your visit alone is infinite gratitude."
"No. I owe you much today, so consider it a daily stipend."
The youngest princess bestowed over 50 gold on the tailor.
Watching, I wore an awkward expression.
'I feel like I'm just receiving too much.'
If I keep piling up favors like this, it could get tricky.
I approached the display rack alone.
And gazed down at the sparkling women's accessories.
"What are you looking at?"
The princess, done with payment, came to my side.
"Oh, just browsing."
"Why's a guy eyeing jewelry that doesn't suit him?"
The princess looked at the accessories too, hands behind her back.
Then, her expression hardened at my answer.
"Naturally, it's not for me."
Realizing it was a gift for someone, Lydia looked up at me intently.
With her back to me, I picked up a necktie pin with a red butterfly.
Then, I asked the tailor the price.
"How much is this?"
"Ah, as an imperial knight, with discount, it's 15 gold."
'15 gold...! In an era where a noble's meal costs 1 gold....'
Lydia watched my startled face at the price.
Seeing me unable to afford a gift for someone, her lips curved up widely.
"Hah, as if a poor guy like you could buy such an extravagant item."
The princess covered her lips with her fist, chuckling.
But....
"I see. I'll take one."
Undeterred by her reaction, I bought the butterfly pin.
The princess followed me to the counter with a flustered look.
"Who are you forcing yourself for?"
She disapproved of me spending big on a gift.
Her unfocused red eyes glared coldly at me.
"Oh, this?"
I smiled faintly.
And told the tailor no wrapping needed.
"Well...."
The recipient was right beside me.
"It's a gift for you, Your Highness."
I picked up the pin.
And attached it directly to the necktie on her chest.
"...!"
Lydia froze at my closeness.
Her red eyes simply stared up at me.
"I've been receiving too much lately, so I wanted to give you something in return."
Her gaze felt burdensome, so I scratched the side of my head.
"Unlike you, Your Highness, I have no eye for these things. I just picked what I thought would suit you...."
I gazed down at Lydia intently.
Then, smiling brightly, I said.
"I hope you like it."
The princess slowly lowered her head.
And stared fixedly at the single butterfly on her necktie.
"It's the same color as my eyes...."
Her twin tails, bowed to look at the pin.
They seemed to tremble faintly.
"Is it alright?"
I leaned down to peek at her expression.
Then, the princess turned away, hiding her face.
"Foolish...."
The youngest princess murmured in a trembling voice.
"Do you think a mere pin would catch my eye, with all Eastern wealth at my disposal?"
As expected of the notoriously fierce Lydia.
I gave a wry smile at her cold response.
"I suppose not. Sorry, haha...."
I awkwardly rubbed my nape.
But.
Looking at the princess's raised face, I realized.
"Still...."
She averted her gaze shyly.
Lightly covering her lips with the necktie, she said.
"It's the best gift I've received lately...."
Her lips hidden by the necktie.
A red butterfly perched atop it.
I stared blankly at the sight.
The 3rd Imperial Princess, whom I'd seen only as a brat until now.
For the first time, I felt a feminine beauty from her.
"Thank you, Veil Mikhail."
The princess smiled slyly.
But this smile was different from before.
"Unlike when I first saw you, you look very mature."
Like any other proper lady.
"I'll treasure this butterfly you gave me."
"I'm glad you're satisfied."
We left the tailor's together.
And arrived at the darkening corridors of the Heavenly Palace.
"Where to now?"
"Father suggested dinner at 8."
The youngest princess pointed to a hill with her finger.
It was the highest villa in the imperial palace.
"We'll have the meal together there."
Arm flexing was starting.
Let's see how well she'd learned.
"I'll escort you to the entrance."
"Yes, thank you."
We headed to the villa together.
And parted at the entrance.
"I hope you have a good time."
The princess replied with a faint smile.
Then, she entered through the gates guarded by imperial knights.
'Phew... what a long day.'
I sat alone in the villa corridor.
Gazing at the Heavenly Palace view below, I waited for the father-daughter talk.
「It's been a while, Lydia.」
The majestic emperor's voice echoed from the villa.
But no matter how I heard it, it didn't feel like addressing a beloved daughter.
'Anyone would think she's on trial...!'
"I greet you, Imperial Father."
As expected, Lydia's voice trembled.
She seemed quite nervous seeing her father after years.
「Yes, take a seat.」
The emperor spoke in a lofty tone.
As if trying to keep the conversation going.
"...."
But.
That was the end of their exchange.
Afterward, only the sounds of forks and knives filled the space between them.
An awkward silence lingered.
'This is maddening...!'
Even listening from afar, I felt suffocated.
I'd taught her so much, yet what was His Majesty thinking....
I sighed deeply, thinking that.
At that moment.
The emperor broke the silence.
「Your attire is lovely.」
It was clearly a casual remark.
But I knew.
Emperor Beaudoin IV had mustered considerable courage.
"Thank you...."
Lydia sounded surprised by her father's compliment, flustered.
「Unlike the dresses you always complained about, this suits you very well.」
"Yes, a close friend recommended the outfit."
The conversation began to flow naturally.
Only then did I close my eyes in satisfaction.
'Was I worrying for nothing?'
As expected of an emperor.
「Is that so? You have a fine friend.」
"Yes, I'll introduce you sometime."
'Huh...? Wait, introduce?'
My eyebrow twitched as I listened.
But I let it slide for now.
「I worried you'd grow rough in my absence. Fortunately, you've become a lovely lady.」
The emperor, who had feared Lydia—aiming to be a monarch—growing mannish.
He praised his youngest daughter in a relieved voice.
"I'm still sorely lacking."
Lydia's shy voice came through.
She seemed pleased by her father's praise.
「You're of age to consider marriage now.」
"Marriage...."
Lydia hesitated at the word.
Then, she spoke in a ladylike voice.
"Please don't worry about that."
I could picture the princess smiling shyly.
At that moment.
"Someday, I'll bring a suitable one."
A chill ran down my spine.
「Yes, I look forward to it. With your discernment, it'll surely be a 'remarkable' man!」
The lion's hearty laugh boomed out of the villa.
He probably imagined some foreign prince or war hero.