8. Omen (8)
8. Omen (8)
Even though Dorothy had a completely uncomprehending expression, my gaze went to the tailor first.
"Let's start with the combat uniform first."
"Huh? But the order is supposed to be the formal dress first..."
"I don't really attend parties or tea parties anyway, so it's not that important."
At those words, Dorothy was surprised once more.
"...Why, Your Highness, do you not attend tea parties often?"
It seemed that in Dorothy's eyes, I appeared to be an ordinary princess.
Of course, anyone would think that.
I had no intention of blaming Dorothy.
Whether in the past or present, the role of a princess was just that.
To be well-groomed, well-educated, and to make the Empire stronger and more solid—that was my role.
So perhaps the princess Dorothy imagined and I are a little different.
No, judging by her reaction, we definitely are different.
"Dorothy."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
In such situations, there are largely two methods one can use.
The first was to persuade her why I must wield a sword.
But unfortunately, that wasn't my nature.
I had a stronger will to not deceive the other person rather than tell a well-intentioned lie.
So I didn't filter my words when speaking to Dorothy.
"Why do you think I was brought here?"
"...Huh?"
Well, since we won't be seeing each other for long, it should be fine to speak a bit harshly.
When the time comes, I'll return to being the 2nd Prince again.
"If they were going to raise me in hiding from the start, they should have kept me hidden. The reason they deliberately revealed my existence to the world."
Dorothy probably never thought about this.
"I was summoned here to hold back the Demon King's army."
Of course, I didn't tell Dorothy a lie.
"Before I arrived, the 2nd Prince—no, my older brother was also sent on an emergency mission, wasn't he? And then I was summoned."
It wasn't a lie, but if I were to share a bit of the plan His Imperial Father likely conceived...
"If my brother and I succeed in holding back the Demon King's army until the Hero appears, then my role will be over, won't it?"
"...Th-that kind of..."
That was the truth.
If I find the elixir to become a man again, then the princess named Jaina will disappear from the world.
"Dorothy, let me be clear. I have no intention of getting engaged, nor any desire to chatter with young ladies at tea parties or the like."
"............"
Here, I borrowed a bit of His Imperial Father's lines.
"It is the Imperial Family who protects the Empire. Strictly speaking, the Imperial Family merely borrows the people to protect the Empire. So shouldn't a member of the Imperial Family lead by example at the forefront?"
After those words, Dorothy didn't say anything until the tailoring consultation was over.
####
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's really begin now."
"Not at all, Your Highness."
As if responding to my wish, the tailor first brought out the wax cloth.
Then, holding the cloth, she moved it around, placing it here and there against me.
Making clothes was usually so tedious and boring, but for some reason, right now it was incredibly enjoyable.
"How is it? Do you think it'll work?"
"Umm, Your Highness... May I speak frankly?"
"Oh, good. I won't punish you, so speak everything honestly."
The tailor hesitated for a moment as if pondering, then looked at me with a courageous gaze.
I was confident I wouldn't get angry no matter what she said.
I wondered what she wanted to say that required getting permission first.
"There are two problematic issues."
"Yes, what are the problems?"
The tailor's gaze subtly drifted downward.
Finally, where that gaze landed was precisely...
"...First, Your Highness's breasts are too large."
"What."
Was this something she could say because she was also a woman?
Or was it something she said risking her life as a tailor?
One thing was certain: if this tailor had been a man, Dorothy would have killed him.
"And the second is... your hips are also too large...."
"........."
That was a bit shocking.
I wasn't exactly angry.
Rather, I felt more astonished.
Certainly, when making armor or uniforms for men, there weren't particularly big problems.
You just took measurements, selected suitable fabric, and then tailored it.
I never thought my figure would become an obstacle.
How should I put it...
It felt like I'd learned the unspoken hardships of female knights, understood their inner thoughts.
But the tailor was a professional.
She began to unfold her explanation, gradually shifting focus from comments about my body to the clothes and tailoring itself.
"First, a breastplate is not permissible for Your Highness's body."
"That can't be."
Breastplate.
Namely, the armor that protects the chest.
Not being able to wear it...
Then wouldn't the armor cease to be armor?
I had imagined myself clad head-to-toe in steel plates, riding a horse and charging across battlefields.
But before I could realize that dream, I was blocked by the wall of reality right from the start.
"Th-then does that mean I cannot wear armor...?"
My voice trembled.
Of course, such worry was probably unnecessary, but I felt anxious nonetheless.
"That's why I dare say definitively that..."
The tailor moved the fabric she was holding this way and that, then wrapped it around from the solar plexus to the lower abdomen once or twice, leaving the upper part alone.
It felt a bit restrictive to move in, but it still took on a decent shape.
"If we do it like this... we can somewhat substitute for armor... but in return, you will have to change your swordsmanship style."
"Ooh..."
With just a few movements of her hands, a plausible form took shape.
Even if she couldn't make full-body armor due to my large breasts, this much was sufficient for me.
"However, Your Highness, your... hips are also of such a pronounced childbearing type compared to regular soldiers, so I believe we'll likely have to make it in a one-piece design rather than a two-piece outfit. Would that be acceptable?"
"Of course, it's acceptable. Naturally, I should follow the advice of an expert who knows more than I do."
But I was curious.
Even without knowledge, one can still ask questions, right?
"But what's the difference between having large hips and the one-piece design?"
"...Hmm."
That was pure curiosity.
But the tailor seemed to ponder whether she should say this or not.
Perhaps because I continued to look at her with harmless eyes, she slowly began to speak.
"Well, if someone like Your Highness were to wear a separate skirt mail, then every time you move, the inside of the skirt would be completely exposed..."
"Ah."
I understood.
I understood perfectly.
If it were a regular skirt it might be different, but with a skirt made of plate or chainmail, my wide hips would undoubtedly cause it to flip open here and there with every step.
Moreover, for female knights who move vigorously and roughly, their underwear would be completely visible every time they crossed swords with an opponent.
Even though I was formerly a man, now that I possess a female body, it doesn't mean I've lost my sense of shame.
Naturally, whether man or woman, regardless of gender, no one likes having their underwear exposed.
'...Or not? Do such people exist?'
I respect their preferences, but it has nothing to do with me.
Well, anyway.
"Then if it's tailored as a one-piece, it w-won't flip open?"
"Yes, yes, probably after tailoring... it won't be the kind of one-piece Your Highness is imagining."
As the tailor manipulated the fabric this way and that once more, it really began to look like clothing.
Though it was a somewhat unfamiliar style I'd never seen before.
It didn't seem like a dress or one-piece that young ladies would wear.
But since it was made from a single piece from chest to thighs, it was ambiguous to say it wasn't a one-piece.
Somehow... it was a garment that clung strangely to the entire body, revealing one's figure.
But still, I was grateful that I could at least wear armor despite my figure.
"Good, then I'll be looking forward to it."
"I'll try to live up to your expectations."
Of course, the enjoyment lasted only until then.
"The next items are the party formal dress and the uniform."
"Ugh."
For some reason, when the tailor said we had to look at other clothes, Dorothy's expression seemed to change.
Well, it must have been my imagination.
####
"Huff, huff! Ugh."
After all the schedules were finished.
Having escaped from the utterly tedious fabric inspection, I immediately went to the training grounds and swung my sword.
Only after half the day had passed did I finally get to swing the Divine Sword.
And upon swinging the Divine Sword, I felt two things acutely.
First, the Divine Sword isn't called divine for nothing.
"If I make even a mistake, it might slip from my hand."
It was too light, yet too heavy.
Normally, such contradictory meanings cannot coexist.
But the Divine Sword made it possible.
The moment I drew the sword from its scabbard and held it in my hand, it felt as light as holding a piece of paper—too light.
Of course, if a sword is too light, it tends to break easily or have weak cutting power.
However, the moment I swung it, I felt it.
The moment the sword clashed with something while being swung, its weight felt as heavy as facing a greatsword as tall as a person.
It seemed I would need to put in considerable effort over a long time to wield this sword freely.
And the second thing I felt was that, just as the tailor said, my breasts and hips were too large.
To what extent? When swinging the sword, my breasts got in the way of my arm.
When stepping forward and swinging the sword, my wide-spread hips were noticeably obstructive.
"...Sigh."
While feeling this discomfort, a group of people approached this area.