Chapter 663: Daily Life
Chapter 663: Daily Life
I was sure Vanessa felt the same way.
Even if she thought we were about to have sex, she’d be much happier if I asked her out on a date instead.
“……”
That’s what I thought, but for some reason, Vanessa just stood there, showing no sign of moving.
Instead, she just stared at me, her eyes seeming to say she wanted to tell me something.
Could it be…
“Vanessa. I’m just asking to be sure, but… do you prefer sex over a date? If that’s the case, I won’t refuse…”
“That’s not it!”
When I cut straight to the chase, Vanessa denied it, her voice uncharacteristically sharp.
It seemed that even my iron-masked butler hated being misunderstood like that.
I was only half-joking, so she didn’t need to get so serious.
“Then why are you just standing there? I told you to go change for our date.”
“…Ngh! …I don’t.”
When I told her again to go get changed, Vanessa averted her gaze and mumbled in a voice smaller than usual.
It was the complete opposite of how she’d raised her voice earlier, but this behavior was just as uncharacteristic of her.
What on earth was wrong?
“Hm?”
“…Well. …I don’t have any.”
Don’t have any?
No. Wait a minute. Hey. Don’t tell me.
“…Casual clothes?”
In response to my question, Vanessa gave a small nod, still avoiding my eyes.
Seriously? I mean, I knew she was a workaholic, but this…
Even I had clothes other than the armor and cloth outfits I wore in the dungeon.
“And here you are, the one who owned this revealing cosplay maid outfit…”
I was so dumbfounded that I took out the maid outfit we’d used so much during last night’s ‘play’—which I hadn’t even washed yet—and muttered as I showed it to her.
“…Ngh! It is not cosplay! It is a butler’s uniform for tropical regions!”
Even as she said that, it seemed Vanessa was well aware that the maid outfit gave off that kind of vibe.
The fact that she was raising her voice like this was the biggest proof of all.
Well, I guess that was a relief for me.
I’d pulled it out of my inventory in my shock, but there was no need to show her proof that I’d had a ton of fun playing around with another woman in her clothes.
Before Vanessa could spot any traces of last night on the maid outfit, I hurriedly stuffed it back into my inventory and spoke.
“Anyway. So, you only have your butler uniform.”
“…That is correct.”
We were about to go on a date, and now I’ve ruined it from the start.
She was probably thinking something like that.
Vanessa mumbled, her expression once again slightly crestfallen.
But unlike her, I actually felt a little happy.
Whatever the reason, that iron-masked butler had been subtly showing her emotions on her face for a while now.
In other words, she was starting to show me her feelings outwardly. Couldn’t you say she’s opened up to me more than before?
“Then should we just go like this?”
“…Like this, you mean?”
When I spoke lightly, as if it were nothing, Vanessa looked at me with a slightly surprised expression.
“Yeah. It’s not like we’re dating our clothes. Besides, it’s my fault for not telling you it was a date when we made plans yesterday. And more importantly, I’m just wearing cheap cloth clothes myself, so I’m in no position to talk, right?”
The truth was, I’d planned to change into a proper outfit while Vanessa was changing, but there was no need to mention that and make her feel guiltier.
“…Thank you.”
Of course, even without me saying anything, it seemed Vanessa had already picked up on my consideration for her.
As expected of a butler, she’s quick on the uptake.
Anyway, that’s how I ended up leaving the mansion in my cloth clothes, with Vanessa in her butler uniform.
If anyone saw us right now, they’d never think we were on a date.
No, a date is about us enjoying ourselves, so we don’t need to worry about what other people think.
Still, this wasn’t right.
I wasn’t talking about the clothes.
“Vanessa. Instead of walking behind me, how about you walk beside me? You’re not on duty as a butler right now, are you?”
I turned around and spoke to Vanessa with a wry smile.
That’s right. All the way from the mansion to here, Vanessa had been following me from one step behind—a position you could call the butler’s proper place.
“…I see.”
Only after I said that did Vanessa reply in her usual blunt tone and come up beside me.
Her blunt tone now felt quite different from her usual one.
Should I say she was so nervous she’d become stiff?
That much was clear just from seeing how fidgety she was, maintaining an awkward distance from me—neither too close nor too far.
“How about we link arms, like we’re on a date?”
“…Ngh! No. I couldn’t possibly…”
“Why not? You’re not a butler right now, are you?”
“……”
When I said that, Vanessa once again fell silent.
This was dangerous. I was just planning on a normal date, but teasing her was starting to get more and more fun.
This line, ‘You’re not a butler right now, you’re my woman,’ was just too useful.
“Kuh…”
In the end, after glaring at my arm for a long while, Vanessa snatched it.
It was a swift movement, as if she were applying a joint lock, but after grabbing it, Vanessa gently hugged my arm.
Ah, I don’t mean the soft feeling of her breast brushing against my elbow; I mean her actions were literally gentle.
Of course, the feeling of her breast was also incredibly soft. Hehet.
However, even while linking arms with me, Vanessa didn’t close the distance between us much.
She was the type to feel awkward just standing next to me, so I guess it was too much to expect her to cling to me while linking arms.
Can’t be helped.
I decided to be satisfied with the fact that she’d linked arms on her own and took it upon myself to close the distance between us.
Let me be clear, it’s not because I wanted to feel the sensation of her breast more clearly with my entire arm… I only had a tiny bit of that intention.
“Ngh…!”
As I closed the distance, I felt Vanessa’s body flinch and tremble through our linked arms.
Her innocent reactions, so different from her appearance, were pretty cute.
Well, aside from the slight blush on her face, her expression remained as blank as ever.
“Shall we go, then?”
“…Where to, sir?”
Finally looking a bit like a couple with Vanessa, I asked her with a satisfied heart. She, however, seemed unable to calm down, answering half a beat late with considerable fidgeting.
“Where else? It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
And looking at her, I gave a triumphant smile.
So, the first place we stopped by was none other than a clothing store.
To be honest, this wasn’t a place I particularly wanted to come to with a woman.
But with Vanessa, with Vanessa, maybe it would be different.
Holding onto that faint hope, I suppressed my shopping trauma and made my way here.
Besides, going on a date dressed like this was a bit much, wasn’t it?
It’s not that I care what others think, but there’s the mood to consider, right?
They say your clothes can change your mindset. If Vanessa kept walking around in her butler uniform, she might unconsciously think she’s still on duty.
“…This will suffice.”
And thankfully, my faint hope was realized.
Understanding my intentions, Vanessa entered the clothing store, picked up a suitable outfit nearby, and immediately tried to pay for it.
“Kuhuk! Vanessa! I believed in you!”
“Kuh…! Why are you suddenly acting like this?!”
Her cool and swift shopping almost brought me to tears of gratitude.
Well, Vanessa, who was suddenly pulled into my arms, looked quite bewildered.
“No, it’s nothing. More importantly, Vanessa. Don’t you think you chose that a little too carelessly?”
Gratitude is one thing, but I still have to point things out.
We’re picking out clothes for our date, after all. Choosing too hastily is a problem in itself.
“Is that so? While it is not the work of a master artisan, I heard this craftsman is famous for producing inexpensive, high-quality garments. The design is also in line with current trends, draping the body without being too tight, while subtly emphasizing the waistline to enhance femininity…”
In response to my question, Vanessa began to evaluate the clothes in her hand with a serious expression.
…Come to think of it, I’d forgotten she’s a master of domestic affairs.
When you think about it, all of Diana’s countless clothes in the mansion…
It’s more reasonable to assume Vanessa prepared them all rather than thinking Diana bought them herself.
In short, there’s no way she wouldn’t be knowledgeable about clothes.
Does that mean she didn’t just pick it randomly, but actually put some thought into it in that short amount of time?
Thinking that, I took another proper look, and just as Vanessa described, it was a rather elegantly designed outfit.
Well, I still don’t know much about the clothing designs of this world, though.
“…If it is not to your liking, would you like to choose one yourself, Master Guwon?”
Perhaps mistaking my stunned silence, Vanessa put the clothes she was holding back in their place and glanced at my expression.
“No, I’d rather not choose myself. I’m not very confident with this kind of thing. I don’t even know what’s in style these days.”
No, if it were my original world, I wouldn’t be this bad.
It’s not like I lived my life naked. I paid attention to trends, you know.
But this world, I really have no clue.
What can I do? My fashion sense was accustomed to my original world for 24 years.
Besides, after coming here, I’ve mostly just worn cloth clothes under the excuse that ‘a handsome face completes the fashion,’ so I paid even less attention. That’s why I’m even more clueless about the fashion sense here.
“But, if Vanessa insists on wearing something that I like…”
“Ugh!”
As I muttered that with a smile, Vanessa’s body flinched as if she’d sensed something.
It’s too late to sense the danger now.
“How about you pick out a few candidates, and then I’ll make the final choice from among them? That way, we can pick something we’re both happy with, right?”
“…I see.”
At my reasonable suggestion, Vanessa seemed to relax as if her tension was for nothing, her voice returning to its usual calm as she agreed.
Oh, Vanessa. Isn’t it a bit too early to be relieved?
“Ah, and just so you know, no pants. The bottom has to be a skirt. A one-piece dress is fine too.”
“Wh-…!”
The outfit she chose just now also had pants, so I had a hunch, but it seems Vanessa was indeed planning on wearing pants.
Among my women, Sara is enough of a pants-wearing character.
Even Sara pleases the eye by wearing tight pants that show off her legs or low-rise pants that reveal her hips.
But for her to try and wear pants that completely hide her body’s lines… I can’t let that happen.
“You’re wearing something I want to see, right? You’re not going to insist on pants, are you? Even when I’m saying I want to see you in a skirt? On a date? Don’t tell me you can’t even do that much for me? On our first date after becoming a couple! Surely not! There’s no way?! Right?!”
“Kugh…!”
Thanks to my brilliant persuasion skills, Vanessa ended up letting out a groan, glared at me, then spun around and started looking through the store.
See? When people talk things out sincerely, they can always come to an understanding.
“…I have chosen.”
And after looking around the store for longer than before, Vanessa presented a few candidates.
Naturally, the designs were all different, but they all had one thing in common: they were long skirts that came down to her ankles.
Of course, I’m not going to complain about the skirt length, but this feels a little disappointing.
Since she’s always in her butler uniform, I really want to see her bare legs.
Isn’t there some way I can get her to wear a shorter skirt?
First, I should buy some time to think.
“Hmm… How about you try them on first? I think I need to see you wearing them to choose properly.”
“…Understood.”
I decided to stall for time, and Vanessa nodded at my suggestion without any suspicion.
And so, with Vanessa casting off her butler uniform, her fashion show began.