I celebrated my seventh birthday.
My whole family gathered to celebrate with me. This year, I whipped egg whites into a fluffy sponge and patiently whipped fresh cream by hand to recreate the classic birthday shortcake from that person’s memories. As a birthday privilege, I was allowed to use expensive sugar luxuriously. Physical Enhancement proved invaluable during the process of whipping the cream. I couldn't find any strawberries, so I decorated the cake with raspberries instead.
"Elder Brother Rein's cake is delicious!" the twins cheered, eating so much they couldn't finish their dinner. Mother Sophie watched them with a troubled expression.
A short while after that, Katia came to visit again.
She first visited about six months ago, and she’s come by several times since then. Lately, her visits have settled into a monthly routine. According to Father, Lord Georg was quite reluctant at first. He argued that it was unwise to send his daughter to another territory with the situation at the border so unstable. However, Katia apparently pushed through by stubbornly insisting she would "just increase the guards." In fact, the House Laufen guards accompanying her have increased with every visit, to the point where our stables have recently become quite cramped. Katia grumbled that it was "an exaggeration," though.
Every time, she arrives in a carriage bearing the House Laufen crest and stays for a few days before heading home. She always wears her Crest Identification pendant around her neck. I make sure to prepare freshly made sweets for every visit; apparently, that's one of her primary motivations. "Rein's sweets are special. You definitely can't find them anywhere else," she says.
I could see Katia and Mira getting closer with every visit. Part of it was likely because they were close in age, but the real problem was that they both bonded over their shared hobby of "playing with me."
"I think this one would be better today."
With her eyes sparkling, Katia spread out a pale light blue dress for me to see. Mira held a yellow ribbon in her hand and added cheerfully, "Let's pair this with it as well."
"...Not again."
"What do you mean 'not again'? Rein is cute, so it can't be helped!"
"Lord Rein, it really does suit you. Please, stay still."
Mira approached with a smile that brooked no argument. Katia was already pulling my arm to get me ready for the change of clothes.
Honestly, I’ve grown used to it. The first time they did this was about six months ago. It started when Mother and my sisters got swept up in the idea that I would "definitely look good in this," cornering me and forcing me into girls' clothes.
Father couldn't bear to watch and tried to admonish them, saying, "A son of a Count dressing as a girl—it's not good for our public image." But Mother simply replied with a cool face, "Oh, it's fine as long as he's inside the house, isn't it?" Father couldn't say a word after that.
Since then, rather than stopping, the antics of Mother and my sisters have only escalated. When Katia came to visit, she happened to see me while I was being dressed up; it was the worst when she joined in with sparkling eyes, saying, "What's that? It looks like fun!" In that person's memories, a man being put in women's clothes should be a considerable humiliation, but I no longer have the energy to resist.
While they styled my hair, I spoke up.
"By the way, I'd like to cut my hair short soon."
My bangs have grown long enough to cover my eyes, and they’re a nuisance when I run.
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
They answered instantly, their voices perfectly in sync.
"This length is cute! I won't forgive you if you cut it!"
"Lord Rein, please leave it like this just a little longer. I beg of you."
Mira made a prayer-like gesture. Katia went as far as holding my hair with both hands as if to protect it....Fine, do whatever you want.
"Then at least do something about the bangs. They're in the way."
"In that case, use this."
As if she had been waiting for this very moment, Mira pulled out a barrette and pinned my bangs back. She was entirely too well-prepared. Once the dressing was finished, Katia stood beside me and pulled me in front of the mirror.
"Cute! I knew girls' clothes would suit Rein!"
Katia frolicked while looking at me in the mirror. Mira nodded with satisfaction.
"Hey, let's go to the city like this!"
"Absolutely not."
I couldn't yield on that point. I've given up on being dressed up inside the house, but walking outside in this outfit was a different matter entirely. Father had also mentioned the issue of our "public image." If it became known that the son of a Count was walking around the city in girls' clothes, it would affect Father's reputation.
"Ehh, what a waste..."
Katia puffed out her cheeks. Mira prepared my normal clothes without a word; she, at least, understood. After I finished changing, we headed out.
We went to the Territorial Capital in our carriage. Sometimes I go alone to buy ingredients for sweets, but I usually walk there with Mira and a knight as a guard. It’s not worth the effort of a carriage, and I don't like being ostentatious. But when Katia is here, we can't avoid it. Our escort knights followed the carriage on horseback.
Once we passed through the gates, a cobblestone main street stretched before us. Even though it was a weekday, the market was reasonably lively. Merchants shouted their wares, carts moved back and forth, and groups who looked like adventurers walked by with weapons on their backs.
"Ah, look at that!"
Katia stopped in front of a cloth shop where brightly colored fabrics were on display. The cloth in this world is woven from silk spat out by small monsters called silk-insects. Since the color of the thread changes depending on the Attribute of the magic stone they are fed, cloth made using magic stones with specific Attributes produces vivid reds, blues, and greens. They are expensive, naturally, but such vivid colors are a mark of nobility.
"This ribbon is cute! Hey Rein, which one do you think suits me better?"
Katia alternately held a red ribbon and a blue ribbon against her hair.
"The red one suits you better, I think."
"I thought so too!"
"Lady Katia, this embroidered ribbon over here is also lovely!" Mira pointed to the neighboring shop. The two of them began to get excited together.
I stood a little distance away, watching the market. I could see the city gates of the Territorial Capital at the end of the road. From here, they were quite close. It was the same when I came before, but the market spreads out just inside the city gates, likely because it’s convenient for trade.
I stopped at a stall handling leather goods. The materials were unique; they looked thin yet sturdy. Monster leather has various characteristics depending on the type, so it was fascinating to look at.
"Rein! What are you looking at?"
Katia ran over, a red ribbon now pinned in her hair. It seemed she had settled on that one.
"Leather goods. This leather is quite hard despite being thin."
"Hmm? I don't understand that kind of thing at all."
Katia tilted her head and immediately took my hand.
"There look to be rare things over there too, so let's go to that shop next!"
She pulled me along, leading me deeper into the street. Mira followed at a light jog, clutching their packages.
◇◇◇
I sat by the tavern window, sipping a watery beer.
This was my third time visiting this city. I would stay for about a week, leave, and then re-enter through a different gate. I registered with the Adventurer's Guild, completed small requests, and stayed at random inns. I never stayed at the same inn twice.
I cast my eyes out the window, and the city walls entered my view.
They were the walls of the Count's territory. It was a decent construction, fitting for a peaceful inland domain. I wouldn't say they could be taken easily, but they weren't even worth comparing to that Margrave's fortress. That place would be difficult to handle even with a division-scale force if attacked from the front, but this place was nothing like that.
Of course, I didn't come here to attack the walls.
"—Leader."
The voice came from behind, low and quiet. I didn't look back.
It was a voice just loud enough to blend into the tavern's hustle and bustle. The man sitting at the adjacent table wasn't looking at me. Pretending to study the request forms posted on the wall, he moved his mouth slightly.
"The west side is all set."
"Good work."
That was all. The man ordered a glass of beer, finished it, and left. To any observer, it would have looked like two unfamiliar adventurers had simply happened to be sitting next to each other.
My comrades are gathering little by little. Entering at different times through different gates, they are scattered among various inns. We do not make contact in the city. If necessary, we just exchange a word or two while blended into a crowd at a tavern, like just now. All of them maintain the guise of "working adventurers" while fulfilling guild requests.
The security in this city is lax.
The innkeeper is friendly but shows no sign of reporting to anyone. The guild receptionists only glance at your face during a request and have no idea where you go afterward. The gatekeepers check the cargo, but they let people through easily even on their first visit. It would be unthinkable in a border town. Over there, if an unfamiliar face stayed for three days, someone would hear about it immediately.
However, there has been a slight change in the atmosphere lately. I feel like the number of gatekeepers has increased slightly, and I sometimes see men in the city who are watching people strangely. Perhaps something happened.
But at this level, there is no problem. If we moved flamboyantly, we would be caught immediately, but we only need to act once.
We've already accounted for the target's guards. Their numbers are nothing special. We can easily push through with our numbers.
Preparations are nearing completion. All that remains is to wait for the next outing.
Outside the window, shoppers returning from the market were walking toward the gate.
I finished my beer and quietly stood up from my seat.