Growth and Change

“It says here we’re getting summoned to the castle to take Lady Rozemyne’s measurements and receive orders for her new clothes. That’s perfect! Now we don’t have to worry about being overstocked anymore.”

“Otto!”

Winter is coming to an end, the snow on the ground is melting, and Miss Corinna is scolding Master Otto.

The orders we had previously received from Lady Rozemyne, which were quite numerous due to her moving to another duchy, were canceled shortly after winter started. A messenger from the temple notified us that Lady Rozemyne was growing by the day, but they didn’t seem to have actually seen her, and I didn’t really understand what they meant by “Anwachs’s Blessing.”

Despite her supposed growth, no replacement orders had been placed, so this whole predicament put the Gilberta Company in a very tight spot. All the dyed fabrics and ornaments prepared for Lady Rozemyne were of the highest quality, making them completely unsellable to our regular clientele.

Personally, though, I was a lot more worried about her than I was for the store. I had to trust she was alright and wait for her as I kept crafting hairpins.

I’m so glad nothing happened to her.

◆

“Tuuli, you’re coming with us this time. Before you move to another duchy as Lady Rozemyne’s exclusive hairpin craftswoman, you need to learn to hold your own in our duchy’s castle.”

“Yes!”

I was happy enough with just the news that Myne was safe, but being allowed to come to the castle on top of that almost knocked me out.

Myne, I did it! With my own hard work, I’ve earned the right to go to the castle!

Filled with tension and excitement, we headed straight for the castle, but it turned out that it wasn’t just the Gilberta Company that was summoned. Seamstresses from various workshops had gathered there—all of them were going to be taking measurements and orders to tailor Lady Rozemyne’s outfits in time for her departure from Ehrenfest at the end of spring.

Normally, it would be the Gilberta Company’s job to handle all of Lady Rozemyne’s orders. However, due to her absurd growth, every single one of her outfits had to be remade, which was way too much for us alone.

“As Lady Rozemyne’s exclusive workshop, we can’t afford to be outdone by any of the others, can we, now?” Miss Corinna was giving me a pep talk in the carriage as we were making our way back. “We need to be at our best!” To that, I nodded my head vigorously and clenched my fist.

Lady Rozemyne chose me to follow her to another duchy as her exclusive craftswoman. I must do my best here and show everyone my skills not just as a hairpin maker, but as a seamstress too!

◆

“Tuuli, Lutz is here.” When we returned to the store, Leon came up to me. “It seems he has something important to say regarding Lady Rozemyne. I’ll report to Master Otto and Miss Corinna, so can you go and speak with him?”

Leon directed me into the reception room alone with Lutz, where we could talk face to face.

“Master Benno wanted me to find out how Lady Rozemyne is doing,” Lutz began.

“I see…”

During the winter, the Plantin Company was just as anxious due to the complete lack of communication. Benno, who had started making preparations for the move, must have felt quite uneasy. The fact that Myne was causing Benno to be concerned for her made me feel envious. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to let go of my first love.

“Was she well?”

“She seemed a bit tired, but otherwise, she looked fine.”

“Did you find out why she had contacted no one throughout the winter?”

“I’m not sure, but I did find out why all the orders were suddenly canceled. She has grown an unbelievable amount. Any clothes we’d make would just need to be remade again.”

Lutz looked at me with a blank expression. After a few seconds of silence, he forced a smile and said, ”…Who are you talking about, again?”

“I went to go take measurements for Lady Rozemyne, so who else would I be talking about?”

“I know everyone at the temple kept saying the same thing, but there’s no way Lady Rozemyne would grow! Are you sure we’re talking about the same person?”

It did seem like she would always remain in her familiar, child-like state. After all, her appearance hadn’t changed even after she was forced to spend two years in slumber. But that’s not the case anymore. Right now, she’s grown so much that I barely recognize her as the Myne in my heart.

“She has become a stunning beauty for her age.”

“Her? A stunning beauty? No, no, no… That can’t be right.”

Lutz waved his hands in denial. I knew how absurd it seemed, and I also knew how unfair it felt to have been kept in the dark about the changes.

“It’s true. If you don’t know what she’s like on the inside, you might now mistake her for a gorgeous saint or even a goddess. She looks like she could be a model for statues that are meant to depict the gods crafted in art workshops. Lutz, if you saw the new her, I’m sure you’d fall for her all over again.”

I chuckled and looked at Lutz, who tensed up ever so slightly.

“‘Fall for her’? Tuuli—”

“Well, she is beautiful beyond belief. As I’d expect from my…”

I swallowed my words before I could call her my little sister aloud. Then, in what seemed like an attempt to lighten the mood, Lutz chuckled softly and said, “You’re praising her a bit too much.” To which I replied, “No, I’m really not,” as I recalled images from earlier today when I saw Rozemyne.

Even though I was present, the entire situation felt so surreal that I couldn’t believe my eyes. Her figure, still slender, now exhibited delicate yet feminine curves. The only features allowing me to recognize her as the Myne from my memories were her fair complexion, untouched by the sun, her beautiful hair the color of the night sky, and her eyes, golden like the moon.

“She’s about the height of my eyes, and has beautiful hair that reaches down to her waist.” I began telling Lutz just how much Myne had grown. “She has the same golden eyes, but her child-like exterior is gone, and in its place is an alluring one. There was always a strange charm in her expressions and gestures, but now it feels like it’s come to the forefront. My heart even skipped a beat when she brushed back the hair that fell past her shoulder.”

Of course, I knew many more details—I did take her measurements, after all—but those would remain a secret. I also won’t mention how soft and squishy she was, which was probably due to lack of exercise, and how smooth and pleasant to the touch her skin was.

I know it can’t just be me. Lutz also wouldn’t be able to let go of his first love.

“Aren’t you curious to see what she’s like now,” I asked?

”…Well, a bit.”

“You’d probably be able to catch a glimpse of her during Kamil’s baptism. I’m going with my whole family, if you want to join us.” I sent Lutz a teasing glance, to which he just frowned and muttered, “Sure.”

”…Why are you grinning at me like that, though?” he asked.

“Usually, you’re the first one to see her, but this time, I got to see and speak with her before you. That’s a first.”

When Lady Rozemyne returned to the castle after her two-year slumber, the ones she met with first were the Plantin Company. It used to bother me that she met up with Benno and Lutz before with me. But this time around, it makes me quite happy that I got to meet with her before Lutz.

“Uh-huh. Well, anyway… Was there any sign that something dangerous might happen?”

As I heard him ask me that, I recalled Lady Rozemyne’s stoic face as she promised to protect me. But that was something she said to me as I was taking her measurements. Not even Miss Corinna or Master Otto would know about that.

”…How did you know?”

As I looked Lutz over, he crossed his arms and murmured, “It’s my reason for coming here.”

“Yesterday, Gunther and Lord Damuel came to the Merchant Guild,” he began to explain. “Apparently, they said to keep an eye out for anyone from other duchies wearing silver cloth, even commoners.”

It seems there was an official notice from the nobility that warned the merchants to be cautious, as they are the ones who deal with people from other duchies the most, and to report to the gate or the temple if they saw anyone suspicious. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, the Merchant Guild and the Plantin Company split up to notify every merchant.

“Tuuli, did Lady Rozemyne say anything to you…?”

“She said, ‘No matter what happens, I will protect you.’ She had the same expression as back when she told me not to pick her up from the temple because it was too dangerous. I’m worried…”

That expression reminded me of when everything came to an end—being attacked, trembling in fear—while waiting at the Gilberta Company. As her older sister, I had to protect her, but I couldn’t… She ended up protecting me, but I lost her as my little sister.

Is something going to happen again?

“Will I be helpless like last time…?” Lutz clenched his fist, looking frustrated. Back then, Lutz was also just a kid and not yet part of our family, so he couldn’t do anything even though he was the one who had spent the most time with Myne.

Lutz still really likes Myne, doesn’t he?

I find Lutz’s unchanging attitude reassuring, but it’s still awkward since I am his fiancée.

I can’t just idly wait to be protected, can I? I need to protect what’s important to Myne.

I gazed at Lutz, whom Myne cherished. One of my selfish reasons for getting engaged to Lutz was that I didn’t want to see him fall in love with anyone other than Myne.

I reached out and touched his cheek. He looked at me with a surprised expression. In his jade-like eyes I could see deep longing. I wish Lutz could just follow his heart.

“Don’t make that face. You’re not the type to just give up, are you? If you’re feeling regret over how things ended, then make sure it doesn’t happen again this time. You’re a merchant too, remember? Which means you can gather information, and if you need to report it to the gate or the temple, you already have connections in both of those places. I’d say you have very good chances to help.”

“Ah…”

Having been reminded of what should have been obvious, Lutz raised his eyebrows in surprise. Since Dad and Lord Damuel went to the Merchant Guild, it’s certain that the nobles and soldiers recognize the information-gathering skills that merchants have. Which meant Lutz wasn’t helpless this time. With a motivated look on his face, he nodded at my words and said, “You’re right Tuuli, I’ll do just that.”

“Great! I like it when you show such resolve for Lady Rozemyne. It gives me peace of mind.”

After that, it was time for Lutz to leave, but as he was stepping out of the door, he turned around one last time and looked at me with a solemn expression.

“You really only have eyes for Lady Rozemyne, huh? You two are so fond of each other that there’s no room for me to fit in.”

“Huh…? What’s that supposed to—” I let out, but before Lutz could hear me finish the question, he had already disappeared behind the door.

By “no room for him,” does he mean that he hasn’t given up on Myne yet? Or maybe…?

The more I thought about it, the more awkward I started to feel. As I pressed the same hand I put against his cheek onto mine, I started to shake my head muttering, “No, no… That can’t be right.” My cheeks were so hot, it was almost as if they were on fire.