Chapter 23

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“Hello, Miss Irene. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Hello.”

Mrs. Seri, who came in with Rosaria, was a very glamorous person. I greeted her back and stared at her. As if she was familiar with it, she only smiled back.

“I didn’t know there would be such a cute lady in the Astrophel family.”

She said while taking a measuring tape and notebook out of her bag. There were a lot of other things in the bag, but I couldn’t see it very well.

As she approached and stopped in front of me, she stretched out a tape. It was for taking simple measurements.

“Then shall we raise our arms?”

“Yes.”

“Good job. Shall we try one more time?”

I raised my arms again. She checked the numbers several times so as not to make a mistake and recorded them in her notebook.

When I marveled at her fountain pen with colorful feathers, she said,

“It’s a peacock feather. I’m a peacock. You get one of these when you become a designer.”

“Wow. Pretty.”

“Really?”

Nod nod.

I gently touched the tip of the feather. It was surprisingly soft. A nib was attached to the tip of the multicolored feathers. I imagined a pen made of my feathers. It would look a little dull.

I wish my wings were this pretty too.

When I thought of my small and pure white wings and compared them to the colorful feathers in front of me, the wonder was doubled.

After fiddling around for a while, I handed it back to Mrs. Seri, who folded her notebook and started working in earnest.

“I think you’ll look good in any color. Bright monochrome palettes will look the best on you. Is she active?”

“She’s very lively, always running around.”

“Then I will be a little more careful with the design. What’s your favorite color, Miss Irene?”

As I listened intently to their conversation, I fell into trouble.

Favorite color? I like them all.

It was difficult to pinpoint one thing, but both were waiting for an answer, so I made the decision after much deliberation.

“I like pink.”

“I will refer to it when making clothes.”

“I will put on pretty clothes and make lots of friends!”

The madam, whose eyes widened at my ambitious aspirations, burst into laughter. After that, she confirmed several things with Rosaria. It was the same question as to whether there were any allergies or how the atmosphere of the banquet hall was conducted.

While rolling my eyes, I found a piece of cloth protruding at the end of the madam’s bag.

What’s that?

As I stared at the bag, the Madam opened it as if she had noticed my gaze.

“You must be curious about this. It contains various samples.”

“Wow!”

She took out clothes one by one. Dresses of various designs lined up one after another, and the one thing that caught my eye was…

“Faiwy!”

“Oh my, it’s a very pretty fairy outfit.”

I pointed to the yellow fairy robe. It was a cute dress with a curved end of the fabric. It had a pair of transparent yellow wings on its back, and it looked like it had a matching pair of lace socks and yellow shoes.

“I want to be a faiwy too!”

“Looks like you like this. Would you like to try it on?”

“Yes!”

Hurry, hurry!

I changed clothes with Rosaria’s help. The wings reflected in the mirror shook with each movement.

Wow, I really became a fairy!

Rosaria, who tied the string on my waist in a ribbon shape, admired me from behind.

“How can you be so cute!”

“You look good in it.”

The madam said while drinking tea.

“I’ll give it to Miss Irene as a present. It’s a commemorative gift for meeting you for the first time.”

“She’ll be really happy, right Miss Irene!”

“Yes. Thank you.”

I nodded to thank her. The madam put the clothes back into her bag.

“I’ll make you the prettiest clothes for the banquet.”

“Thank you. Mrs. Seri. The money will be sent by the family.”

“Thank you, Rosaria.”

After the business was over, Mrs. Seri stood up from her seat. Her clothes were gorgeous and beautifully designed.

It was a dress that showed her personality.

Will my clothes come out that pretty too?

As the madam prepared to go back, Rosaria followed her out. It seemed that she was going to see the guest off.

“Hold on a minute, Miss Irene. I’ll see Mrs. Seri off and come back soon.”

“Yes. Go ahead, Rodaria. Goodbye.”

“Nice to meet you, miss.”

The door closed after saying goodbye to the Madam. I looked down at the fairy dress I received as a gift again.

I really liked the fluttering socks and shoes.

“Hehe. It’s pretty.”

It was when I was watching the wings flapping from side to side while moving in front of the mirror.

Bump!

The window above the mirror opened wide. And… Arban, who opened the window, jumped inside. Arban, who came to my room for the first time, looked around and made a strange face when he saw me.

He looked me up and down, remaining silent for a few seconds.

“What are you wearing?”

“Look at this. I’m a faiwy.”

“What kind of fairy…”

Arban, who was about to say something, hastily bit his mouth.

What were you trying to say?

As I stared at him in my fairy clothes, Arban, who avoided my gaze, muttered in a small voice, not caring if I heard him or not.

“Well. You’re wearing something just like you.”

“You saw Irene, and said I’m pretty.”

“…When I said you were pretty?”

Eventually, he screamed, and I laughed out loud.

“But, why are you coming here?”

“I stopped by on the way.”

“Where are you going?”

Arban laughed.

“I’m going to the banquet hall. Well, if you want to go, I’ll take you with me.”

I opened my mouth wide.

Banquet hall!

Somehow, it seemed that the area around Arban was shining.

“I want to go too!”

“Then come.”

Arban lightly hugged and lifted me up, and in the blink of an eye, he landed gently through the window he had entered. It happened in an instant. As I was stunned and unable to say anything, Arban opened his mouth cynically.

“Isn’t this cool?”

“Arban is really cool!”

But even after Arban landed, he did not put me down. When I made a puzzled expression, Arban frowned and shouted.

“I’m not hugging you just in case your legs hurt, so don’t misunderstand. I’m just going like this because it’s comfortable.”

…It was an explanation with great enthusiasm and sincerity.

The banquet hall was located not far from the main building.  It was in the east wing of the mansion, and there were a lot of busy people moving around.

It seemed very hectic with the banquet happening in a few days time. I looked around the banquet hall curiously.

Dozens of tables were laid out, and a huge chandelier was twinkling. The place where the orchestra will play was open in the middle. It really felt like a party hall.

“Isn’t this Young Master Arban and Little Miss Irene?” (Servant)

A man who was dragging a cart with a large stack of small boxes started the conversation.

“You must be here to look around. Now, in just a few days, everything will be ready.”(Servant)

“What’s that?”

When I asked, pointing to the small boxes stacked in a high pile, the man answered.

“It’s a small gift for the invited guests.”

“Gift?”

“Yes. After the party, we’re giving it out one by one. I’ll have to put this in the warehouse, so I’ll go now.”

The man disappeared, and I stared at the cart moving away.

“I want to give a gift to my friends too. Do you know how to do it, Arban?”

I wanted to give them a gift box full of toys and snacks. When I asked, Arban clicked his tongue.

“You need money to prepare something like that. Do you have money?”

Money?

Come to think of it, I’ve never seen any money. Rosaria did everything I needed, so I didn’t even feel the need to think about it.

I got a strong shock.

……I do not have money.

Looking at my miserable face, he made an expression as if he knew it.

So what should I do? I also wanted to prepare a gift, but I don’t have the money.

“What if I don’t have money?”

“Of course you have to work to earn, you idiot.”

“Where can I work?”

I asked with anticipation. It wasn’t long before Arvan laughed.

“Who is going to hire a little girl like you?”

“Then?”

“Listen well.”

Arban seriously lowered his voice, saying that he would only tell me once.

Gulp.

I swallowed dry saliva and prepared myself to listen at once. I focused my attention as if I was hearing a great secret no one knew about.

“All the money in this house belongs to my father. He said that all the treasure troves of wealth in this house are his.”

“……Really?”

“Yes.”

All the money in this house belongs to Cade.

I jumped to my feed.

“That’s how it is, and if you need money…”

“Irene is going to go! Goodbye, Brother Arban!”

Where’s Cade?!

I moved quickly. There was no time to delay, as there was only one week left until the day of the banquet.

* * *

On the other hand, Arban, who was left alone, looked at Irene’s back, and made a dumbfounded expression.

“…I was going to explain that you only had to tell Rosaria to ask for it without having to go to father by yourself.”

Each year, the successors received a set budget for living expenses. Of course, Irene would also have money allotted to her.

Arban shrugged his shoulders.

“Whatever.”

I’m sure it’ll work out.