NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 55
From the moment preparations began for our movement to the capital, time passed in a blur.
After some time on the carriage, we finally arrived at the kingdom’s capital.
Since even the lord had to take a carriage, there were quite a few servants and soldiers accompanying us, considering the size of the carriage.
Most of the tedious tasks were handled by them, so I didn’t have to struggle like when I traveled to and from the Feiosha Marquis Family.
So, if I were to share my feelings about arriving in the capital comfortably, it would be that the kingdom’s capital was even larger and more splendid than I had imagined.
In the forests, green-skinned monsters and beastmen roamed, and in the sea, scaly creatures lurked in a world filled with those lost to science, engrossed solely in swords and magic.
I hadn’t had high expectations, after all.
‘Impressive.’
It was a place that managed to create a truly amazing civilization, enough to cause me to unconsciously gasp in admiration.
The vast city was buzzing with people, with well-paved roads lined with endless buildings.
Moreover, since I arrived in this world, I had also begun to see beastfolk whom I hadn’t encountered previously, adding to the nostalgia.
And among all these sights, the most striking was the royal castle, firmly established in the heart of the capital.
It was a place where the king and nobles resided while governing the nation.
Seeing the luxurious buildings sprawling over an enormous area, along with the grand and beautiful royal palace, I could only be filled with awe.
Once, I had thoroughly disliked the capital and everything about it.
But now that Shione was here, she seemed to take in every detail around her, etching it into her memory.
Among all this grandeur, only the servants guiding us and Ainel remained unfazed.
“Ainel Shianella, the Count, and Princess Shione Shianella will use these rooms. And—”
The gaze of the composed male servant shifted toward me.
“The attendant will use the empty room in the opposite building.”
“…Understood.”
I had hoped to receive a room like this one as well.
Of course, it was impossible for an attendant to have a room on par with their master.
I swallowed my disappointment and nodded.
After the servant finished his explanation, Ainel expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you for the guidance.”
“It was an honor to guide the Shianella knights. I shall take my leave now.”
The servant bowed respectfully before stepping away.
Curious about her assigned room, Shione peeked at the door.
“If you’re curious, go check the room first.”
“Is that really okay?”
“I have some matters to discuss with your attendant, so feel free to explore.”
Seeing Shione glance at me, I nodded lightly, and she brightly responded.
“Then I’ll go in first!”
As Shione rushed off to her room, Ainel pulled out something from her pocket.
Jingle, jingle.
Holding a pouch that made a clinking sound as she moved, she said to me.
“You know well where this money should be used, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“After you check your room, go together with Shione. I have my own matters to attend to, so I will be leaving separately from here.”
As I bowed my head and reached for the pouch with the money, she pulled it back.
“Can I trust you?”
“Please trust me. I will carry out my duties reliably as always.”
“Very well.”
Only then did Ainel pass the money pouch to me.
I cautiously accepted it from her.
“Well then, I shall take my leave.”
“I hope whatever you are doing goes well, Head of the Family.”
Ainel nodded at me before walking away without a second glance.
After briefly informing Shione that I would check my accommodations, I selected an empty room in the opposite building.
“Not bad!”
The room was far better than I had anticipated.
With a notably comfortable bed, a sunlit window, and a wooden table and chair that seemed to be made of quite exquisite wood, it exuded an old-world charm.
It could very well be stated that this was a place fitting for a royal castle.
Everything was above average.
The other attendants and guards had all been given the chance to play around the capital for a few days, courtesy of Ainel’s generosity.
Initially, I had felt quite envious.
But being assigned a reasonably nice accommodation considerably lightened my earlier grievances.
After briefly unpacking my unnecessary luggage, I made my way back to Shione’s room.
The distance between the two buildings wasn’t far, so it didn’t take long to travel back and forth, although I did find it a bit bothersome.
I knocked on Shione’s door.
“Princess Shione, may I come in?”
“Oh, Ray. Please do.”
I entered Shione’s room.
While my own room wasn’t bad,
the design and materials of the furnishings, along with the size and overall ambiance of her room, felt undeniably luxurious—almost lavish.
Seeing such a room where noble figures resided made my own seem somewhat empty by comparison.
As if she genuinely enjoyed her luxurious room, a giggling Shione appeared with a bright smile.
“How was your room?”
“While it’s no match for this place, it was bearable enough.”
“Really? If your room is uncomfortable, then do let me know.”
“Do you mean to say, if it’s uncomfortable, we can share?”
“W-Well, even though the bed is quite large for just me… wouldn’t it be fine to share?”
“Of course—”
At my words, Shione’s eyes lit up with expectation.
If Shione were a beastman, she’d be wagging her tail in excitement.
Could it be that I had given her some incorrect cookies this morning during the carriage ride?
I couldn’t help but chuckle at my master’s rather bold desires.
“That won’t do.”
“I promise. I won’t ask for more than holding hands while we sleep.”
“…Where on earth did you hear such things?”
“I heard it from the mercenaries at the inn five days ago. They said it was common for lovers to just hold hands and sleep at night…”
If it was five days ago, then it had to be those annoying mercenaries.
Those fools making unnecessary noise and sharing their lewd tales in the inn.
Perhaps those idiots had piqued Shione’s interest.
Just thinking about how Shione might find ways to complicate things for me fills me with a sense of dread.
With a small sigh, I responded.
“Not common at all. Is there truly an adult who would lie down on the same bed and just hold hands?”
“Wh-What do you mean…?”
“It seems this conversation is better left for another time.”
I gathered up the scattered atmosphere.
“From now on, Princess Shione and I have places to go together. So, once you’re ready to head out, please let me know.”
“…Well, considering our outing, isn’t it fine to go like this? But, are we really going somewhere?”
Shione tilted her head in confusion.
I answered her curious look.
“We’ll be attending the upcoming noble banquet, a cult gathering, and your coming-of-age ceremony. But, Princess Shione, you don’t have any proper clothes fitting for the banquet.”
“Oh, so….”
“We’re going to buy a dress for you, Princess Shione.”
Shione nodded at my words.
“Since Ainel instructed me to prepare a formal outfit suitable for her status as well… I’ll also need to try on a few.”
“You? Wearing a formal outfit rather than the attendant one?”
“Yes, I was wondering if you would be displeased with my choice of outfit.”
Shione shook her head vigorously at my comment.
The way she shook her head and her hair flowed was almost mesmerizing.
“No, it’s a good choice. Let’s go right away.”
“…I’ll guide you.”
I climbed into the carriage prepared at the royal castle with Shione.
There was no need to recruit additional guards.
After all, I had just defeated Arachne.
Given that Ainel had granted me the liberty to move freely with Shione’s company, I informed the driver of the clothing store’s name that Ainel had provided.
Gradually, the carriage began to move.
‘…What’s so great about formal wear anyway?’
Shione pretended to look outside the carriage as she turned her head, occasionally sneaking glances at me.
However, she kept babbling about formal wear with a gleam of excitement as if she anticipated how she would look in one.
I found myself puzzled, wondering what was so exciting about an outfit that was virtually no different from what she was already wearing.
Trying to ignore Shione’s unnecessary musings, the carriage soon came to a halt, and the driver approached.
“This is the place, my lord.”
“Could you wait for me as I’ll just be a moment in here?”
“Very well. I’ll wait over there.”
Having exchanged a few words with the driver, I entered the clothing store with Shione.
As this was not a store for commoners, but rather exclusively for nobles, every outfit here emanated richness and elegance.
“Hmmm… Each piece is quite exquisite. I wonder if any would suit me.”
I shook my head at Shione’s words.
“Princess Shione, you could wear anything, and it would suit you.”
To my eyes, accustomed to seeing her since she was a bear, despite her undeniable charm, Shione was objectively a beautiful woman.
Honestly, any dress that fit her size would look good on her.
Thus, I merely meant to reassure her not to worry unnecessarily.
Yet, Shione seemed flustered, looking down and unable to meet my gaze.
Having grown used to Shione’s antics, I approached a store clerk behind the counter and asked.
“Could you please help our princess select a dress?”
“You mean the lady with the silver-white hair?”
“Yes, if that’s alright with you.”
“Of course! Leave it to me!”
The clerk selected several dresses and held them up against Shione for a while.
In the end, she presented Shione with a black dress.
“Would you like to try this one on?”
“Me…?”
Shione looked back and forth between the black dress in her hands and me.
“Try it on! It would suit you perfectly.”
With my encouragement, Shione finally stepped into the fitting room to change.
While she changed, I took the opportunity to browse the shop.
While lingering around the formal wear section, I noticed a handsome young nobleman with a pleasant demeanor approaching me.
His brown hair and delicately arranged features radiated a soft atmosphere.
He wore a striking white suit and was murmuring something to his guard.
‘Indeed, those good-looking fellows look great in anything.’
Even dazzling in a bright white suit.
As I felt a mix of jealousy and admiration, Shione appeared slowly from the fitting room, now dressed in the black dress.
I walked slowly towards her.
“Mmm….”
Since the dress looked rather odd on her, she scratched her cheek, carrying an elegance that was undeniably beautiful.
The stark contrast of her pale skin and moonlit hair against the dress that captured the darkness of the night brought out her features even more.
“How do I look? Does it suit me?”
I nodded at her question.
Truly, the saying “Clothes make the man” seemed to hold true.
Seeing her dressed up, someone who was usually quite ordinary in my eyes now struck me as genuinely beautiful.
As I enjoyed the view of Shione,
“Eh…? Shione…?”
The young man who had been trying on the white suit called out to my master.
Why on earth does this guy know Shione?
Drawn by his voice, Shione glanced at him, and then froze, murmuring what seemed to be his name.
“…Noah?”
Caught in the strange atmosphere between them, I could only stand dumbfounded.
…What kind of situation is this?