Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Underwear Shopping
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"Lize, which underwear looks better on me?"
"As I mentioned... isn't whatever is most comfortable for you, Young Lady, the best choice?"
"No more of those stock answers—give me a proper response. Picking is harder than I thought, you know?"
I kept asking seriously, but she only responded with that kind of evasive answer... Of course it was frustrating.
Sure, picking out someone else's underwear could feel tedious and awkward, but I wished she'd put in a little more effort.
We were browsing the lingerie store and selecting items for now.
But still... it was proving a bit tricky to choose.
"Hmm... white or black seem like they'd be the most comfortable, after all. Other colors stand out too much."
"Yes."
"You always wear neutral-colored underwear too, don't you, Lize?"
"...Yes."
"Neutral tones definitely won't show through outer clothes and seem much better overall."
I'd seen quite a variety of colors while looking around, but as I told Lize, neutrals seemed like the best option.
Of course, there were plenty of pretty ones in other colors too.
But setting aside looks, considering the designs and my usual outfits, neutrals were preferable.
"Um... no. Should I just try them on?"
"That... would definitely suit you, Young Lady."
"Right?"
In fact, just browsing without trying anything on had been the mistake.
Underwear wasn't something you could judge without trying it?
"Let's start with this one. I've thought it looked good since earlier."
"...It should be fine."
I'd spotted one while browsing and shared my thoughts with Lize.
For underwear, trying it on once seemed far better than judging by design alone.
"Let's try this first? Size-wise..."
I hadn't thought about sizes while browsing, but now... I needed to call a staff member.
We'd been looking around on our own since arriving, but neither Lize nor I did this often, and bust size mattered far more than height or such.
*
After having my bust measured, I entered the fitting room alone.
Underwear shopping, after all?
It was only natural.
"Hmm... B-cup."
Even after living as a woman for quite some time, I still didn't fully grasp bust or cup sizes.
The staff had told me B-cup.
Was this a B-cup?
I couldn't help but think that, even inside the fitting room.
"Hmm... Is a B-cup this size?
My chest had grown considerably since before, but it still looked small to me, and I was surprised this qualified as B.
It barely filled a fist.
"If I'm this size, doesn't that make Lize a C or D?"
I stood there, topless without underwear, gazing at my reflection in the mirror.
If I squeezed my shoulders together like this to gather my chest...
"Whoa..."
Now it looked like a B-cup?
Maybe because my skin was firm and plump—the change felt more pronounced.
Well, for a barely teen body, it wasn't all that exciting?
"Is the size right...?"
Compared to what I'd worn before, it felt much more comfortable around my chest.
The tightness around my shoulders and bust had eased significantly, and the flesh between my breasts.
The pain there had lessened too.
"The design is... decent enough..."
Staring at myself in the mirror, it definitely suited a student—simple and unadorned, just bands to support the chest.
"Lize, Lize. Come here for a sec?"
"...Pardon?"
"Come on, quick."
"Understood...?"
I poked just my head out of the fitting room and called for Lize.
She approached with a puzzled expression but came close enough.
"Um..."
"What's wrong? Is there a problem? Should I call a staff member..."
"No, it's not that. Come in."
"...?"
My current state made it impossible to step out beyond my head.
So I had no choice but to call Lize inside.
Well... I'd called her in while wearing only underwear, so she stared at me in shock the moment she entered.
"How's it look? Good?"
"......"
"Lize?"
"Um... Young Lady?"
"Yeah, what?"
Her eyes darted between my chest and sides.
What was the issue?
The size and design felt fine when worn.
I had no idea why she was hesitating without answering.
"...You startled me suddenly like that."
"Did I?"
"Even so, showing that much skin to someone without proper warning isn't ideal."
"You're not just anyone, Lize."
"That's...! But still..."
I wasn't an idiot who'd bare myself to just anyone.
If I did this around others... wouldn't I seem insane?
I sometimes acted thoughtlessly, and Lize had seen me like that often while we lived together...
"That's unfair."
"...I'm sorry. I was just surprised and..."
"So. How is it? This underwear I'm wearing."
"...It looks perfectly fine. It suits your figure well, and above all, you don't seem uncomfortable."
"Good to hear."
She'd said something odd at first, but soon gave an objective, positive assessment.
The design was neutral and clean to begin with, so there wasn't much to criticize.
"Want to bring the others from outside and swap right here?"
"Pardon?"
"If I change and get your opinion immediately, wouldn't that be easier? The space isn't that cramped since I'm small anyway?"
I thought it was a reasonable idea.
My size relative to the fitting room was a fact, even if only slightly small.
"It should be fine, right?"
"......"
Lize kept avoiding my gaze.
Maybe she found it bothersome, or the fitting room felt stuffy?
***
The southern city housing the Leonhardt Mansion.
As always, nothing special happened there, and the citizens' ordinary lives continued that day.
Except for one person.
"Sigh..."
"Madam... could you stop sighing? The staff has been glancing nervously since earlier."
"........."
"If a noble visits a café and just keeps sighing... they'll definitely be scared."
"It's because I'm worried about Camellia."
"It's just midterms... not some magic tower experiment or test to become the tower master's disciple. Why worry so much?"
"......"
The cause was a letter Camellia had sent to the Leonhardt Mansion a few days prior.
It contained only mundane content: notice of her academy midterms and a greeting.
Camellia had written it without much thought, and Ashley saw nothing unusual upon checking.
But unlike them, Rozalin kept fretting after reading it.
"What if she gets low grades at the academy or feels devastated by poor results?"
"Um..."
"She grew up doing whatever she wanted since childhood. She's bound to be hurt easily... she might even cry..."
If Camellia, the subject, heard this... she'd surely give Rozalin an incredulous look.
And reassure her with comforting words...
"...She's not the type to cry over flunking freshman midterms."
Ashley knew her personality well.
She was awake enough now, but she wasn't one to fuss over every annoyance or rush to help.
"She'd probably shrug off failing anyway..."
"......"
"She might even go out playing with friends once exams end..."
Ashley was spot on, and Rozalin couldn't argue.
Four years had passed since meeting eight-year-old Camellia, and Rozalin had spent more time with her than most.
"...You're right."
Deep down, Rozalin thought the same, but she couldn't fully shake the worry.
"You attended the academy yourself, Madam. I don't get why you're so concerned..."
"It's Camellia."
"She studies well..."
"It's not about her excelling in studies or magic talent. I worry because she's my daughter."
"Oh..."
Ashley widened her eyes slightly in wonder at Rozalin's reply.
Of course, Ashley understood why.
She spent most days sleeping or in bed, but she wasn't ignorant of the mansion's affairs or Camellia.
"...Still, hearing about it only through letters isn't enough."
"But even with all that worrying, Camellia's probably sleeping soundly without a care."
"...I'll halve your next month's pay."
"Eh?"
And so, days, weeks, even months later, Rozalin continued fretting over Camellia at the academy.