It’s Perfect

Anelace was alone in the store, but as soon as we left some tough looking guy started walking behind her. He wasn’t super muscular or anything like that. He was just, you know, strong. Nine out of eight people who had been in a fight before would tell you that this guy wasn’t someone you should mess with. If the two of us went at it I doubt I’d ever land a solid hit. Although my ability to fend off a colossal spider was definitely higher than his though!

Actually, maybe not. I didn’t know the first thing about most things, but he looked like the kind of guy that would bisect a colossal spider with a single swing. Honestly, I’d put him on the same level as the soul reaver or Rakki. I couldn’t say if he was as strong as either of them, but at that point, did it really matter?

The fact that Anelace was walking around with a strong bodyguard like that made her seem even more impressive.

Maybe I should consider forcing the bird to materialize and follow me around like that?

‘That’s not going to happen. You know I don’t like talking to other people.’

‘Well, it’s not like you’d have to talk or anything. Just look intimidating.’

‘No, even that is too much. I don’t want people to pay attention to me.’

I decided to put a pin in that idea and come back to it later. If I could do something about his shyness, the bird could actually become a rather useful ghost. Since the human form he took wasn’t real, didn't that mean I could have him look like some super tough big shot? That would be a useful stopgap until I figured out how to collect all the mice.

“Um excuse me.” The bodyguard slowed down to match my pace and started talking in a voice that Anelace couldn’t hear. “I’m not sure what she said to you, but don’t worry. Even if it gets scary, trust me, you’ll be fine. She won’t actually do anything.”

“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”

I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, so I decided to give him a confident response. As long as you sound sure of yourself people will assume you understand what’s going on.

No one said much of anything else on the way to Anelace’s house. And once we got there, someone may have made an embarrassing sound when they saw how big it was, but I’ll never reveal any further information on that topic.

But, I mean, it was a massive house. It was even bigger than the Lord of Ah’Ruh’s mansion. Anelace must have had the biggest house in the entire world. I didn’t even want to think about how much she had to pay in rent every month.

Rows of butlers and maids greeted us as we entered. Anelace sent them back to work and started dragging me through the house before I could fully appreciate what it felt like to be royalty.

By the way, I still hadn’t asked, but I was fully on board with my initial assumption. This Anelace had to be some kind of princess, right?

Rather than stop off in any of the cool looking rooms we passed by, Anelace took me straight to her private bedroom. She picked up the rug and tossed it to the side of the room before taking a large portrait off the wall. She then twisted the hook the portrait had been hanging on and a hole opened up in the floor, revealing a staircase that led under her room.

“Come one, this way. We’re almost there.”

Anelace seemed excited, so I didn’t want to ruin her mood by asking too many questions about the layout of her room. Were complex mechanisms like that common in rich peoples’ houses? Honestly, going through that much trouble just to get to the basement seemed like a hassle. I’d have just left the rug in the corner of the room and left the portrait on the floor.

Either way, I followed her into the basement. Anelace quickly went around and started lighting candles and lamps, but I could see perfectly fine in the dark.

There it was. The dress was being displayed on a mannequin in the center of the room. A low cut décolletage left the shoulders and upper chest exposed, while the sleeves were attached by a thin strip of fabric that would run under the arm. The skirt extended into a bouffant style, stopping just around the ankles. An amateur might call it ruffled, but it was more flounced. Having been designed to suit someone with my body type, the chest itself was adorned with various bows and frills. There were also two long ribbons that started around where you would expect front pockets to be on a pair of pants that flowed toward the ground. They were embroidered with a design that I saw displayed on the walls of Anelace’s house: a lily positioned in front of a kite shield. Anelace had the same design tattooed on her hand, so she must have really liked it.

All in all, it used up a lot of fabric. Some people would look better in a simpler design, but I believe the idea is that for people who lack natural curves using flounce and frills to obscure the body lines is ideal. The seamstress who made this really knew her stuff. In the face of that absolute masterpiece I couldn’t even be upset with the fact that I’d accidentally classified myself as a woman with no curves to show off. Well played. Bravo. It’s fine. In the face of perfection, I’ll admit it. My three sizes are all pretty much the same number.

As for the color, it was a pale purple that slowly lightened as it got closer to the ground. At least, that’s what I initially thought. The more I looked at it the less certain I was.

“The fabric has been dyed in magic essence. The color will shift to best suit the person wearing it.” Having noticed my confusion, Anelace gave an explanation.

“It’s perfect.”

I offered my honest appraisal.

“Yes, you are, but. . .” Anelace extended her arm toward the dress, but quickly pulled it back. “No, I can’t do it. This isn’t right. I’m so sorry. What’s wrong with me? Again. I almost. . . Oh gods! Please, forgive me. I don’t know what keeps coming over me. This time I’ve gone too far. I’ve never brought one down here before. She’s just too perfect.”

Anelace rushed away from me, practically slamming herself into the far wall.

“Um, What?” I mean, the dress was certainly amazing, but even I could tell that reaction was a little much. This princess needed to get it together.

“I’m so sorry. I almost did something terrible. I almost let my demons overtake me. I’m a fraud, a fake saint. Nothing but a monster. Please, you have to leave. Leave me, and never appear before me again. I’m afraid of what I’ll do if I see you again. I’ll give you money. Enough money to start a new life somewhere else.”

“No.”

“What? No, I can’t control my impulses, these wicked desires. Please, you don’t understand.”

“You’re right about that, but if you think I’m leaving here without wearing that dress then you’re sorely mistaken. We’ve made it this far, I’m not leaving now.”

Did she think she could trick me? After all this I wouldn’t let her scam me now. I wouldn’t be fooled that easily.

“But you can’t. I’ve never actually had any of them wear it. If I had you wear the dress, I, I don’t know if I could control myself.”

“Naturally. Anyone who could control themself after seeing a true beauty like me in such a stunning dress would be less than human. Losing yourself in a rush of ecstasy is to be expected.”

“It’s natural?”

“Of course. I’m not sure what kind of upbringing you’ve had, but I’m sure what you’re thinking is totally normal.”

‘Hey, ah, Miss, I was going to keep quiet, but I feel like this has gone on long enough. I know the dress got your attention, but why don’t you look at the rest of this dungeon.’

The bird decided to annoy me at a pivotal moment. I knew what he was getting at, so I didn’t need to bother listening to him. I may not have brought it up, but it’s not like my eyes didn’t work. The rest of the room was full of various pieces of torture equipment. I didn’t see the point in mentioning something like that. We all had our hobbies.

“So, that means, you’re going to wear it?”

“I already told you. There’s no chance I’m leaving this room without it.”

Anelace’s emotional state once again completely shifted as she rushed back toward me.

“Wonderful! Let’s get you changed!”

She had a fun look in her eyes. I was glad to finally spend some time with someone that I could understand.

‘No, I don’t think you understand her at all.’

On the topic of things I didn’t understand, I graciously accepted Anelace’s rather forceful offer to help me get into the dress. Ball gowns like that could be rather complicated, and it came with an assortment of various undergarments. I was slightly annoyed that it didn’t include a corset, but Anelace proudly assured me that I didn’t require a corset like most women did. Her assurance didn’t make me feel any happier about it.

Anyway, the point was, I actually needed Anelace to help me get dressed. Although even if I didn’t need her help, I probably would have let her do it anyway. I’d never experienced it before, but having someone else put your clothes on was rather amusing. I’d recommend that you give it a try sometime.