Just a Touch of Humiliation
Following Elizabeth's lead, we stepped out into the open air.
To be entirely honest, I had no idea why she had insisted on taking us out, nor could I fathom what sort of scheme she was brewing in that head of hers.
Once we left the detached villa, we were ushered into Elizabeth's carriage. True to her reputation for sheer extravagance, the vehicle was lavish to a fault. The interior was packed with so many ornate patterns and glittering decorations that resting one's eyes anywhere was genuinely uncomfortable. It was far more ostentatious than the carriage I had shared with Cecilia on our way to the Academy.
All that flash gave me a lingering sense of tacky excess, to the point where it really wasn't to my taste. Without even realizing it, I found myself thinking how much better Cecilia's carriage had been—clean, elegant, and effortlessly dignified.
"So, where exactly are we headed?"
"I simply wish to introduce Your Highness to places that might prove useful during your stay at the Academy," Elizabeth replied smoothly. "Having resided in a detached estate rather than the dormitories, I am quite familiar with the surrounding geography. I believe my guidance will be of ample service to you."
"Mm-hmm... Well, fine. It seems you have no intention of telling me properly until we actually arrive."
"My apologies."
"Never mind."
Such was the exchange passing back and forth across the cabin. I remained quiet, wearing an indifferent expression as if none of this concerned me in the slightest, refraining from doing anything that might draw attention.
"We have arrived."
"...A boutique?"
"Indeed. After all, is it not inevitable that you will occasionally require new garments? Should such an occasion arise, wearing inferior cloth would be a grave disservice to the Empire. Nor do I imagine that the Imperial Flower would find it particularly agreeable."
The destination Elizabeth had brought us to was a boutique nestled within the bustling commercial district.
Since arriving at the Academy, Cecilia and I had rarely ventured out, making this an entirely unfamiliar neighborhood. I knew a shopping quarter existed, of course, but I had never possessed any reason to visit. The only clothing I had needed was my Academy uniform, which meant I had never set foot inside an establishment like this before.
"This is a boutique I frequent while staying at the Academy," Elizabeth explained. "The proprietor is remarkably tight-lipped, and the garments crafted here rival the works of the capital's finest tailors. While it may still fall short of what an Imperial Princess deserves, I judged it to be the finest establishment available within the Academy's grounds."
"Hmph..."
To be frank, I couldn't help wondering if that was really true. Given that a duke's daughter had personally recommended it, I had braced myself for something far grander. Finding a rather ordinary boutique in a standard shopping street left me a little underwhelmed. For all her dazzling detached villa and wildly gilded carriage, the shop itself looked surprisingly plain from the outside.
"Allow me to show you inside. I am certain Your Highness will be pleased."
"Very well. Serena?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Take this and follow me."
"Understood."
Accepting Cecilia's wide-brimmed hat, I stepped down from the carriage and trailed behind her into the shop. The interior, as expected, was simply a respectable boutique. Perhaps my lack of high fashion knowledge was showing, but my honest impression was that it merely seemed like a reasonably nice clothing store.
"Proprietor? Her Imperial Highness has arrived."
"...Excuse me?"
"Her Imperial Highness, Third Princess Cecilia, graces your shop with her presence. Show proper etiquette."
As I glanced around, Elizabeth raised her voice to announce Cecilia's arrival to everyone present. There were already ordinary patrons browsing the racks, completely unaware that someone of royal blood had just stepped through the front door. But the moment Elizabeth spoke, the atmosphere shattered.
"G-Greetings to Her Imperial Highness!"
"Son, bow your head, quickly...!"
"We pay our respects to the Imperial Flower!"
In an instant, every customer in the boutique snapped toward the entrance, bowing deeply from the waist. A chorus of hurried, clamorous greetings filled the previously tranquil space. Because this was a premier shop in the Academy's commercial district, frequented by wealthy students and nobles alike, the sudden uproar was deafening.
"……"
"...Haah."
Naturally, the spectacle elicited a heavy sigh from Cecilia. Despite her lofty title as an imperial princess, she despised unnecessary fuss above all else. The moment Elizabeth opened her mouth, I had already anticipated this exact reaction.
"Haah... Stop making such a fuss. Everyone, go back to browsing on your own. Do not bow, and do not speak to me."
With that dismissive wave, Cecilia stepped past the bowing patrons and approached Elizabeth, who stood a few paces ahead. Though Cecilia had ordered the crowd to carry on, the onlookers could hardly tear their eyes away from the sight of an imperial princess advancing upon a ducal lady.
Frankly, the whole display rubbed me the wrong way. Elizabeth's actions were far too deliberate. It was painfully obvious she was using Cecilia's status for her own agenda, putting Her Highness on display like a prized exhibit. Far from pleasant, it was irritating to watch.
"Now that it has quieted down, we might as well look at the clothes," Cecilia said, closing the distance between them. "Since you, a daughter of a ducal house, went through the trouble of bringing an imperial princess all the way here, I assume there are garments worthy of the trip?"
I watched Cecilia closely as she spoke. I had expected her to voice a sharp complaint, but contrary to my expectations, she remained perfectly composed.
"Of course," Elizabeth replied smoothly. "There is an abundance of fine attire befitting Your Highness. Among all the establishments responsible for the students' uniforms, this boutique boasts the highest standard."
"Very well. Bring some for me to see. As for the type... yes, a dress should do. Pick out something you believe I would like from what is available here."
"Understood, Your Highness."
Cecilia issued her instructions with calm authority. Seeing her act so dignified and unyielding was somewhat unfamiliar compared to the playful, sharp-tongued master I dealt with in private, which made me a little anxious. I half-feared she might suddenly lose her temper and pull one of her wicked stunts right here. Elizabeth's blatant posturing had annoyed me as well, but she was still a high-ranking noblewoman; treading carefully was the smarter course.
"Shall we... yes, let us sit over there, Serena."
"Ah, allow me to dust off the sofa first, Your Highness! I will brush it down quickly, so please wait just a moment."
"Go ahead."
Once I gave the cushions a quick brush, Cecilia claimed the boutique's largest sofa entirely for herself, settling back in complete comfort. She crossed her long legs and draped one arm casually across the backrest. It was an undeniably arrogant posture, yet paired with her stunning face and voluptuous figure, it didn't feel haughty at all. She simply looked breathtaking.
"Serena."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
I stood attentively behind the sofa where she sat. Back at the dormitory, we often sat together side by side, but here in public, I had to keep to my station as her maid.
"I am bored. Why don't you go pick out an outfit for me, just like the young lady?"
"...Pardon?"
"Just bring back whatever catches your eye. I will not scold you, so go fetch one."
"......Excuse me?"
Her sudden request caught me completely flat-footed. She had casually surveyed the room for a moment, only to turn around and order me to pick out a dress alongside Elizabeth. It was such an odd whim that I couldn't help being bewildered.
"It is fine, so go on. Bring me a dress you think I should wear."
"...Understood, Your Highness."
It made little sense, and it threw me off balance, but I had no choice but to obey. She was my master, after all, and when the master says jump, the maid has to ask how high. There was no avoiding it.
"...Haah."
Letting out a quiet breath, I began strolling through the boutique, casually scanning the racks. I didn't possess some extraordinary eye for fashion, nor did I hold a master's or doctorate in aesthetics, so there was no point overthinking it. It wasn't as if my choice carried any real weight anyway.
It was probably just another one of Cecilia's passing whims born of boredom. Keeping my expectations light, I wandered among the displays, focusing on a single question: What would actually look good on Cecilia? If I picked something overly ornate or ridiculously flashy, she would probably do nothing but tease me mercilessly for it.
"Hmm."
With Cecilia's looks, almost anything would look stunning on her. Even so, grabbing something too ostentatious felt like an invitation for a scolding.
"This is my gift to Your Highness."
"Mmh... It certainly is an exquisite dress. It easily rivals the work of the capital's tailors. The craftsmanship appears exceptional."
"It is a dress based in black, designed to suit Your Highness," Elizabeth explained with pride. "It accentuates your fair skin and silken hair, while the delicate lace and gold embroidery add a lavish brilliance to what might otherwise be a subdued silhouette."
While I was browsing, Elizabeth had arranged an intensely opulent dress directly before Cecilia. Draped over a feminine mannequin, the gown was undeniably high-class. Elaborate, beautiful, and unmistakably expensive, it checked every box for what society deemed gorgeous.
"Well, it is quite pretty."
"Should you wish to try it on, a private fitting room is prepared in the back. Attendants are standing by to assist you."
I glanced back toward them while fingering a rack of clothes. Looking back and forth between the mannequin and Cecilia, a thought struck me—one that might have been far too presumptuous for a mere maid. It doesn't suit her.
Of course, Cecilia would look gorgeous in it. But putting raw aesthetics aside, the dress simply didn't match the person Cecilia was. Over the month I had spent serving her, I had come to realize that despite her striking looks and immense wealth, she wasn't a woman of noisy, hollow luxury. She had a sharp tongue and a wicked streak, sure, but she wasn't frivolous or showy. Perhaps that was why the heavily embroidered gown Elizabeth offered felt so fundamentally wrong for her.
"……"
Pulling my attention away from them, I turned back to search for something more appropriate—and that was when my eyes caught it.
"This is..."
Tucked away in a quiet corner, the dress was pure white, woven from an exceptionally soft and lustrous fabric that caught the boutique's lamplight with a gentle gleam. It featured an off-the-shoulder neckline that left the collarbones bare, yet it possessed no excessive frills or revealing cuts elsewhere. If anything, the design leaned toward understated simplicity.
It closely resembled the style of dresses Cecilia favored on ordinary days—modest in ornamentation, yet impeccably tailored. When worn by someone breathtakingly beautiful, such unpretentious elegance had a way of highlighting the wearer's natural allure far better than any glittering embroidery ever could.
"Hmm... Wait a moment. I will decide after I see what my maid brings back."
"Your maid?"
"Yes. I grew bored while waiting and gave her a small task. Who knows? She might bring back something far more to my liking than yours."
"...Is that so?"
"Heheh... She has not returned yet, so how could I know? In any case, whether it is the one you selected or the one my maid brings, they both come from this shop. What harm could there be? It does not change the fact that the dress was discovered in the boutique Lady Oro graciously recommended."
As I inspected the seams and checked the waistline to ensure it would fit Cecilia's figure, their conversation drifted over to me. Hearing Cecilia's playful deflection, I couldn't help myself.
"Heheh..."
A quiet, slightly wicked chuckle escaped my lips. After all, I had been thoroughly displeased with Elizabeth from the moment she made a scene at the entrance, not to mention the calculating way she looked at Cecilia. As a mere maid, I had no standing to push back against a duke's daughter, but Cecilia was an entirely different story.
"Your Highness. I have brought an outfit as you requested. How does this look?"
"Pfft..."
With absolute confidence, I stepped forward, holding up a single dress on a simple wooden hanger—a stark, pure-white contrast to the dark, heavily embellished gown draped over the mannequin beside it.
Seeing Cecilia stifle a laugh the moment she laid eyes on what I was carrying, the realization finally clicked. So this was why she gave me that order. She could have just told me her plan outright, or handled it in any number of other ways, but she really was a thoroughly wicked woman.
Still, this was an opportunity to join hands with Cecilia and inflict a tiny, harmless touch of humiliation on Elizabeth. It was a subtle slap to her pride that would ruffle her feathers without creating any political incident. Was that why my own lips began curling upward as our gazes met?
Looking at Cecilia, who was already smiling right back at me, I couldn't suppress a grin of my own.