Chapter 4 Part 1
The place I took Tia to was Madam Etrange’s shop, which rivaled Madame Antoinette’s shop for the top position in the Empire.
As soon as we entered, the dazzling array of dresses made my eyes dizzy.
I could feel Tia’s hand trembling slightly in mine, apparently from nervousness.
“Um, customer. I’m sorry, but we don’t have any dresses in stock right now…”
The employee who was looking us up and down continued rambling with an apologetic face.
What do you mean nothing’s available when dresses are everywhere?
“Please call Madame Etrange.”
I handed an appropriate amount of money to the clingy employee, who then ran off somewhere with wide eyes.
It would have been better to go to Madame Antoinette’s shop that I always use… but somehow I felt that Antoinette, that perceptive woman, would recognize me.
With Tia beside me now, I had to avoid any situation where my identity might be revealed.
“Welcome, customer. Please follow me this way.”
Madame Etrange quickly came out and naturally guided Tia and me inside.
When I gestured toward Tia, Madame Etrange tactfully took her and immediately began the dress fitting.
“El, what’s this suddenly…?”
“Tia, don’t worry and just try on what Madame gives you.”
Tia showed me each dress she tried on, and every time I nodded, Madame’s expression brightened along with mine.
“The purple dress suits you especially well.”
“Everything looks good on you because you’re so beautiful, miss.”
The sudden high-end fashion show drew everyone’s attention.
Voices of admiration for Tia’s figure burst out everywhere.
After all, could there be any dress that wouldn’t suit a beautiful woman with lake-blue eyes and dazzling blonde hair?
“El, I really don’t need…”
Regardless of Tia’s protests, I only got up after selecting all the popular dress designs in the store.
“I’ll take all the dresses she tried on. Set aside the purple dress for tomorrow, and deliver the rest to the address I provided.”
“Thank you, please come again!”
After leaving the shop with Madame’s cheerful farewell, I gave Tia my kindest smile.
Even though my face wasn’t visible, Tia would surely know I was smiling kindly.
But for some reason, Tia remained silent.
Why is she like that? Did I act too arbitrarily?
She doesn’t look well at all…
“Tia, are you alright?”
“El, I also…”
Tia, who had been mumbling with her head down, suddenly looked up at me as if she’d made a decision.
“I want to help El too! I’ll do anything!”
Fortunately or unfortunately, contrary to my worries, Tia’s aqua eyes were filled with affection and trust as they sparkled.
Looking at that, I could almost see a game status window appearing before my eyes.
Something like…
[SYSTEM: Villain Rosiel has obtained the female protagonist’s wish! Affection +100]
…like that?
“You’ll help with anything?”
“Yes, anything!”
Hmm… I guess I’ve successfully won over the female lead?
Well, let’s test this out.
“You shouldn’t say such things carelessly… who knows what I might ask for.”
I gently stroked Tia’s pale cheek with a slight smile, making her flinch and flutter her blue eyes.
“I-if it’s to help El, anything is fine! Just tell me!”
Seemingly quite determined, Tia met my gaze with unwavering eyes, as if refusing to back down.
…Those blue eyes, in my previous life, they were only filled with resentment towards me…
This sparkling gaze full of affection isn’t bad either.
“Then, could you kill someone for me?”
After asking with a subtle smile, Tia opened her lips without a moment’s hesitation.
“Is the target perhaps your fiancé?”
…Huh?
“What did you say?”
What’s with this response that seems like she’s confirming the target?
I expected her to say something like ‘What? You want me to kill someone?’ or ‘How could I, a saint candidate, kill someone!’
Instead, I was the one taken aback.
When I asked what she meant, Tia showed her determination while biting her lip.
“If it’s someone who’s tormenting El, I will… definitely…!”
W-wait a minute. Don’t make such frightening statements with such a serious expression.
You’re supposed to be the angelic female protagonist…!
“I’m joking, just joking. Why would I ask such a thing of Tia?”
Only after I firmly denied it did Tia’s intense expression soften.
“Phew, that’s a relief. I was actually a bit scared just now.”
Hmm, you didn’t seem very scared though…
Well, it’s getting late, so we should probably part ways.
“Then Tia, I look forward to seeing you looking wonderful at tomorrow’s party.”
“Um, El. Will I be able to see you tomorrow?”
Tia’s voice was small and hesitant, making her quite lovable.
But Tia and I must never meet at the party.
Neither as ‘El’ nor as ‘Rosiel’, not at all.
“Well… maybe.”
Once again, I had to turn my back while giving an ambiguous answer.
* * *
“Miss, please wake up! We need to prepare you for the party!”
Lynn’s voice thundered in my ears, waking me up, though it felt like I hadn’t even been asleep for an hour.
…Did morning really come after just one blink?
No, can this even be called morning?
Outside it is still early dawn, as dark as night!
When I barely managed to open my tired eyes, I saw maids lined up in front of my bed, holding various glittering accessories and looking down at me with fierce eyes.
My mouth gaped open involuntarily.
Wow, this is why I hate parties. What kind of business is this at the crack of dawn!?
When reading it in the novel, it was just a line or two that passed by quickly, but experiencing it firsthand is truly torturous…!
“Girls, can’t we just take it easy…”
At this moment, I felt more pressure than I’d ever experienced in my life.
I instinctively sensed it.
That I would be thoroughly tormented by the maids until the party began…
“There’s no such thing as ‘taking it easy’ for the Black Rose of society.”
