Viola and Primula dragged Rest along for a shopping trip in town.
They were in Rosemaryburg, the territorial capital of the Marquis Rosemary domain. It was the town at the heart of their territory.
While it was a major hub for the northern part of the kingdom, it was far smaller in scale than the Royal Capital. In exchange, the streets possessed a calm atmosphere removed from the usual urban bustle, and Rest found it much more pleasant than the restless capital.
"Rest, Primula! Over here!"
"Wait, Sister!"
Viola pulled Primula by the hand and headed toward a shop. Rest followed a few paces behind the sisters.
"This is the place. I found some cute clothes here before, so let's take a look!"
Following Viola's lead, they arrived at a clothing store. It wasn't a particularly large establishment, but the storefront was tasteful and exuded a chic atmosphere.
"Welcome," a female clerk in her late thirties greeted them as they stepped inside.
"Hello. May we see some clothes today?"
"Oh, Lady Viola. Welcome back. Please, make yourselves at home."
The shopkeeper smiled warmly. Given the way she addressed her with a formal title, she clearly knew Viola was the Marquis's daughter.
"And you’ve brought Lady Primula today as well. And this gentleman is...?"
"He is the fiancé to both me and my sister."
"My, oh my! Is that so!"
The shopkeeper gasped, pressing both hands to her mouth in surprise.
"I had heard rumors that the two of you were engaged, but... so this gentleman is the fiancé. He looks like such a kind young man."
"He is. Handsome, don't you think?"
"Yes, Lord Rest is very gentle."
"H-hello," Rest greeted her, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the attention.
"Oh, please, there's no need to be so formal with me. You’re going to be our lord one day, aren't you?"
"Yes... probably..."
"Then you should carry yourself with more dignity."
Just as the clerk pointed out, Rest’s attitude was far too humble for a future lord. If a noble acted too timidly, they risked being underestimated by those around them. He knew he would eventually have to adopt a demeanor befitting the ruling class.
A ruler should be feared rather than loved... Was that Machiavelli?
Rest recalled the knowledge from a book he had read in his previous life. While being loved wasn't inherently bad, the philosophy argued that if one had to choose, it was better to be feared than to be held in contempt.
I took that elective at the Academy, too. I need to reform more than just my administrative skills; I have to change my mindset as a ruler.
"You're right. No—you're quite right. I shall keep that in mind."
Rest cleared his throat and consciously adjusted his tone to be more authoritative.
"Well then, I’d like him to try some things on," Viola said. "I found a few pieces yesterday that I thought would look good on Rest."
"Yes, of course. Please, help yourselves."
Rest ended up cycling through several outfits Viola had selected. While the material was less expensive than the formal wear typically worn by high nobility, the clothes were comfortable and well-designed. They weren't meant for social balls, but they were more than adequate for daily use.
"Yes, that looks great."
"It really suits you, Lord Rest."
"Thank you. I like it too."
"How is the fit?" the clerk asked. "I can adjust the hem if it's too long."
"No, it's perfect. This is fine as it is."
Responding to the clerk, Rest lightly moved his arms to check the range of motion. The ease of movement was excellent. He decided to keep the new clothes on and wear them home.
"Now it’s our turn to try some on."
"Lord Rest, please wait a moment."
Viola and Primula gathered an armful of dresses and disappeared into the fitting rooms.
When the two emerged a while later, they were wearing one-piece dresses. They featured matching designs, though Viola’s was orange and Primula’s was light blue. After spending a year with them, Rest had come to realize that Viola preferred warm colors while Primula favored cool tones.
"They look good on you."
"Thank you! I think I'll try this one next."
"May I try this one as well?"
"Yes, of course."
The two girls picked up different outfits and vanished back into the fitting rooms.
They really do love clothes. I suppose that's girls for you, Rest thought with a fond, indulgent smile.
However, he did not yet realize that this selection process would continue for another two hours. He was about to learn, quite painfully, that a woman's shopping trip lasts far longer than any man could possibly imagine.