Please Observe the Dress Code

"Master, are you really sure about this?"

"Yeah. Don't hold back, pick whichever one you like."

"Understood! Orleans-chan, let's pick together."

"I'm fine with my usual clothes… I couldn't possibly have you spend your money on me, sir."

"At times like this, it's better not to hold back. Let's have you try some on."

Azu took Orleans to look at the sample dresses.

Neatly arranged accessories and colorful dresses filled the display.

It was truly a place meant to adorn women.

Elza and Alexia seemed a bit giddy, and even Finn appeared to be enjoying herself surprisingly.

The numbers on the price tags were quite impressive in proportion to the quality, but I turned a blind eye to that.

This was also meant to reward them for their usual hard work.

Being stingy here would be unbecoming of a man.

Since we had some free time, I thought it was a good opportunity to visit the Empire's finest tailor to get new dresses made for the coronation.

After all, it's a major ceremony. And since we're being treated as people of merit with good seats prepared for us, showing up in shabby adventurer clothes would make us stand out in a bad way.

Besides, dressing up the women I'm with beautifully is a pleasant feeling.

"Master, please come here."

Elza beckoned from inside a fitting room, so I approached.

"Wait, Elza…!"

Alexia seemed to be inside the fitting room too.

I could hear her flustered voice.

"Since you've already changed, let's have him see it, Alexia-chan. You were pretty into it, weren't you?"

"That's, um. Ah, don't…"

When Elza opened the fitting room curtain, the two of them were there in their dresses.

However, the dresses they were wearing had quite revealing necklines and backs, which might be a bit improper to show in public.

No, to be precise, I didn't want other men to see them.

"What do you think? Does it suit me?"

Elza turned to face me and asked with a smile.

I could immediately tell that smile concealed a mischievous intent.

She was probably teasing Alexia and me for fun.

"I even matched my underwear to the dress, see."

Elza lifted her own hem and Alexia's, exposing their undergarments.

They were wearing garter belts too, looking quite provocative.

Alexia frantically tried to hold down her skirt, but she was losing the strength battle against Elza.

I'd seen them naked before, but showing off like this in a place like this must be embarrassing.

"You both look great. Absolutely beautiful. But I don't want other men seeing your skin, so that's a no. Men with ulterior motives will flock to you, so pick something with a more modest design."

"My, did you hear that, Alexia-chan?"

"Elza, honestly. Look, your face is turning red too. Come on, we're getting changed, so close the curtain. And… thanks for the compliment."

"A-ahaha. Being complimented so honestly is embarrassing."

Alexia, her face reddened, shooed me away.

I got to see something nice.

"Wipe that grin off your face and stop looking so lovesick."

A jab to my stomach with an elbow.

Finn had appeared beside me at some point.

She'd apparently seen all that.

"… I've never worn clothes like this. Never had the need."

Finn had been drilled in assassination techniques by her foster parent since she could remember.

It wasn't hard to imagine her days had been far removed from fashion.

I'd given her accessories as gifts a few times, and since she wore them, I figured she didn't dislike them.

"For reference, just for reference. What kind would you think looks good on me? Pick something."

"All right. Let's see… for you, it would definitely be…"

Finn has the rare combination of black hair and black eyes.

Her figure is sleek like a cat's, but she's surprisingly curvy where it counts.

A staff member was standing by nearby, so I told them what I was looking for and had them bring it.

"How about this? I think it would really suit you."

"Hmm… So this is what you like?"

What they brought was a jet-black dress that seemed to drink in the light.

The arm covers and knee-high socks were matched in black as well.

I chose a golden hair ornament to stand out against the black.

This would surely make Finn's white skin stand out even more.

"Just a moment."

Taking the dress, Finn entered the fitting room.

When I heard the rustle of fabric, I became conscious of the fact that she was undressing right there.

"Huh, this is… ugh, come on."

The fitting room curtain suddenly opened. Finn had her back turned to me.

She still seemed to be in the middle of changing.

Her back was completely exposed.

Despite all the dangerous work she'd done, her skin was white as porcelain without a single scar.

As expected, I suppose.

"Turns out it's a dress I can't put on by myself. Reluctantly, you're the only one around right now, so help me."

"I just need to pull this, right?"

There was a zipper on the back.

It looked like I needed to pull it up.

I reached out with my right hand, and my fingers touched Finn's back.

It was smooth and silky.

"Nn, that tickles."

"Bear with it."

"I know. Just hurry up. And don't catch my hair."

I grasped the zipper pull and slowly drew it upward.

Finn's skin was enveloped by the dress.

She was holding up her hair with both hands, revealing her nape.

I could hear her breath, which made me needlessly aware of her.

"There, how's that?"

"Thanks. So, what do you think?"

Finn turned to face me, then executed a graceful spin, making her skirt flutter.

Her thighs and black knee-highs were visible.

The contrast of white and black was almost dazzling.

A golden hairpin adorned her hair as an accent.

"I think it's great. Very cute."

"Really? Well, being complimented by you doesn't make me happy or anything, but if you insist, maybe I'll go with this one."

And so Finn's dress was decided.

I wondered how Azu and Orleans were doing and went to check on them.