Chapter 94
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 94
Translation: godsn
Alice, being led along by her, stepped out of the room and asked:
"Is this something to be thankful for, Eki?"
"I wanted to go shopping with Alice. I thought it would be fun together. To be honest, I also wanted to see how Alice would dress up."
"If that's the case, you should've said so from the beginning."
Echinacea abruptly stopped walking and turned to look at Alice.
"Would you have come with me if I'd just said that?"
"Yes."
"...Because we're friends?"
"...Isn't that the case?"
"N-no, no! Y-yes, that's right."
Flustered, Echinacea quickly answered before sharply turning her head away. Alice couldn't hold back her laughter. When the two emerged together—Eki with reddened earlobes and Alice giggling—Fatima, who had been waiting at the dormitory entrance, tilted her head in curiosity.
"What's with you two?"
"It's nothing. Let's go, Senior."
Echinacea hurriedly urged them forward. Fatima rolled her dark eyes, glancing alternately between Eki and Alice before shrugging her shoulders and leading the way.
The boutique Fatima introduced occupied an entire two-story building—quite a large establishment. The first floor offered relatively affordable options, while the second floor appeared to be reserved for more distinguished clientele.
Echinacea, Alice, and Fatima began selecting outfits by trying on dresses displayed on the first floor. Though there were still about ten days until the banquet, ten days wasn't enough time for custom orders. Their only options were to choose ready-made garments for alterations or have minor decorative changes made.
"Alice, try this one, this one."
"It doesn't look much different from what I'm wearing now."
"What are you talking about? It's completely different! Alice, your slender, tall figure suits these clean-cut dress styles."
With a sigh, Alice changed into the dress. The attending clerk gasped in admiration.
"Oh my, it looks wonderful on you."
"See? Hmm, but I think it might be better without the panniers. Excuse me, do you have any dresses that accentuate the lower body line?"
"Of course. They're Western-style imports that are quite trendy these days. Would you like to see them?"
"Yes, please bring them. Preferably in light tones—whites or blues."
"And simple designs, if you would. You have excellent taste, miss."
The clerk winked before going to fetch the dresses. Alice opened her mouth to protest but, seeing Echinacea's obvious excitement, could only sigh again. Eki had pushed her own dress selection to the back burner, wholly engrossed in dressing Alice up. With her tall stature and elegant demeanor, Alice was well worth the effort of outfitting.
As Echinacea studied Alice's short hair—barely reaching her neck—and pondered what hairstyle would suit her best, Fatima walked by in a newly changed dress.
"...Senior, wait a moment."
"Hmm?"
"You're not actually planning to choose that dress, are you?"
"Why? Isn't it nice?"
Fatima tilted her head before spinning around. The vivid blue dress—covered in red floral embroidery larger than palm prints—fluttered along with her long, braided black hair. While Fatima was cute, that dress absolutely was not. Echinacea swallowed back a deep, rising sigh.
She had spent fifteen years living completely detached from high society. Yet even so, she still remembered some of the fashion trends from when she was twenty—fresh into adulthood and full of excitement. Even if she hadn't remembered, one glance around the boutique's displays would have given her a sense of current trends. Before becoming entangled with the Magic Sword, this had been basic knowledge for her.
"Senior, not that one... Ah, this. Try this one instead."
"But I like flashy ones! The more embroidery, the better."
"Hmm, then how about this? This one also has embroidery but will suit you much better than what you're wearing now."
"Isn't the color too dull?"
"If you try it on, I think you'll change your mind."
"Hmm..."
Fatima furrowed her brows as she examined the dress Echinacea had handed her, then took it and disappeared into the dressing room. With the help of an attendant, she changed and soon emerged with a radiant smile.
"Wow, this looked so plain on the hanger, but it's gorgeous on me! I really love it!"
"Clothes never show their true colors until you try them on."
"But how did you know, Eki?"
"Experience and observation. It's not so different from recognizing someone's swordsmanship once you understand the blade yourself."
"That's amazing... I always just wore whatever my maid picked. Got scolded whenever I chose for myself."
Fatima giggled brightly. Echinacea could feel her own prejudices solidifying.
'So this is what officer cadets are really like...'
The cadets of Agenka were sword prodigies filtered from geniuses gathered across the continent. Naturally, most were hopeless at anything unrelated to swordsmanship. Even among noble-born women like herself, they were worlds apart from the young ladies Echinacea used to associate with.
It wasn't a matter of which was better. She simply realized that what this moment required wasn't her swordsman self, but the count's daughter who'd once been deeply immersed in high society. And truth be told, Echinacea found this rather enjoyable.
Fatima, who'd been marveling at her reflection, suddenly whirled around to face her. Her large, round eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Eki, I need shoes and accessories to match—will you help me pick?"
"Of course. Alice should come too."
"Pardon? I thought we were only buying dresses?"
"Alice, you don't have proper shoes. Surely you weren't planning to wear leather boots with that dress?"
"......"
The attendant who'd stepped out earlier returned, pushing a rack laden with western-style dresses. Slipping between them, she studied Echinacea's hair and asked cautiously:
"Excuse me, you are Echinacea Roaz, correct?"
"Yes, that's me."
"There's someone looking for you on the second floor."
"For me?"
"They spotted you while passing by and asked if the young lady with pink hair was Echinacea Roaz. The person searching for you is Dame Teresa von Franc Almari. Will you follow me?"
"Ah... Yes."
Echinacea answered in a daze. Why was Teresa here? And seeking her out? What could it be? The first thought that flashed through her mind was her advice to Mihail. Had Mihail sparred with Teresa? If not that, then what?
Regardless, when a Giosa Owner summoned you, no cadet could refuse. At the mention of Dame Teresa, Alice's eyes shone with admiration as she saw Echinacea off. Leaving Fatima and Alice behind, Echinacea followed the attendant alone to the second floor.
Likely decorated for special clientele, the second floor had a markedly different atmosphere—more luxurious, quieter, with several parlors ensuring guests wouldn't cross paths. The attendant guided her to one such parlor.
"You may enter."
With a polite smile, the attendant withdrew. Expanding her senses, Echinacea could tell Teresa was the only one inside. Pausing before the door, she adjusted her attire. Having gone out with Fatima and Alice, she wore no hat or veil—just a simple jeweled pin left her face completely exposed.
'...It's fine. Teresa doesn't remember.'
Had she remembered, Teresa would have been there when Yurien held back the Specter in White Crow Canyon. Despite this logical conclusion, her tension refused to ease. Though she'd crossed paths with Teresa multiple times since returning, this was their first private meeting at such close quarters.
Echinacea checked her appearance once more in the hallway mirror, took a deep breath, and opened the door. The moment she entered and closed it behind her, a voice lower than most women's greeted her:
"You're here."
Teresa sat perched on the sofa, her long, wavy golden hair tied back haphazardly, still in uniform. Flipping through a thick dress sample book on the table before her, she gestured toward the opposite sofa without looking up.
"Have a seat first."
"Good day, Dame Teresa von Franc Almari. I am—"
"No need for introductions. I already know."
Echinacea cautiously took the seat opposite Teresa. Only then did Teresa raise her head, her green eyes studying the girl intently.
Teresa stood taller even than Alice, her body honed to perfection through rigorous training. While her younger brother Mihail resembled an angelic, slender-featured youth, Teresa's sharply defined eyes and strong jawline radiated toughness. Yet their shared lineage remained unmistakable.
"First time we're meeting properly, isn't it? Squire Echinacea Roaz, cadet." Teresa's gaze swept over Echinacea as she spoke with a faint smile. Before Echinacea could respond, Teresa cut straight to the point.
"Mihail came to see me yesterday. We sparred for the first time in ages."
So it was about Mihail after all. Echinacea felt both relieved and slightly tense. Mihail had struck her as too proud to mention her, but apparently he'd confessed during their spar that she'd given him advice.
"I'd never heard of House Roaz before. Did some quick research—turns out your family has barely produced any knights. No recorded interactions with our house either. Different country to begin with." Teresa muttered this almost to herself as she turned pages of the sample book, her attention seemingly divided. She picked up a quill and began jotting dress numbers on a nearby sheet of paper.
"Meaning you'd have had zero opportunity to witness Franc Almari swordsmanship... or if by some chance you did, you couldn't have properly observed it."
After noting several numbers, Teresa set down the quill. Her eyes locked onto Echinacea's with laser focus.
"So explain this—how in the world do you know about the Franc Almari secret technique? Answer me, Echinacea Roaz."
"...Secret technique?"
"Don't play dumb. Mihail told me everything. You used that very move against him from your first encounter, didn't you?"
Teresa's gaze turned glacial—a mix of wariness and probing intensity. Echinacea found herself genuinely bewildered.
'A secret technique? A family secret? Surely she doesn't mean that parry?'
This made no sense. She'd simply instinctively identified the weakest point in Franc Almari's defensive stance, calculated the most efficient strike, and executed it. Nothing more.
[Ooh, secret techniques sound important! Like super classified stuff! If Master figured it out, does that mean we have to fight to keep the secret? Wow, if we fight, we'll have to kill her!]
The magic sword, which had been dozing boredly while dresses were being selected, now chattered excitedly. Echinacea mentally cursed the blade while hastily formulating an excuse.
"Dame Teresa, if you're referring to the attack method I showed Cadet Mihail, that was merely an improvisation during our spar—"
"Franc Almari swordsmanship," Teresa cut in sharply. Her words came out crisp and deliberate, like letters being firmly pressed onto parchment.
"Is founded upon counterattacks built from defense, hence its defensive focus. Franc Almari descendants first learn to become an iron wall. And when that wall is perfected—"
Teresa gripped the quill like a sword. Its swift, clean arc through the air traced the exact trajectory Echinacea had demonstrated to Mihail. She pointed the quill at Echinacea.
"—they experience that wall being shattered in a single stroke. By receiving the very technique you taught Mihail from their seniors."
"..."
"Only after being completely broken do they forge their true iron wall. This time, they build their own impenetrable defense upon the foundation inherited from their ancestors. To withstand the Franc Almari secret technique. The same foundation—"