A Commemorative Photo

I found the two of them in the back, discussing something.

Wondering if something had happened, I approached to see what was going on.

"Azu-sama… as I thought, such a pretty dress doesn't suit someone like me! I'm just sir's attendant, so I only need to stay in the corner. There's no need for me to dress up…"

"You're calling me Azu-sama again. And it does suit you, you look cute, so it's fine. Look, Master just came over, so let's have him see."

"Euu."

Orleans quickly hid behind Azu, curling up to hide her dress from view.

It looked like they'd both finished changing.

"It seems you two found dresses you liked."

"Yes. I had help putting it on, but… how does it look?"

First, I looked at Azu in her dress.

Unlike the revealing ones Elza and Alexia were wearing, this was a dress that pursued childlike cuteness.

It was based on the same indigo blue as Azu's eyes, and the ribbon at the chest was a nice touch.

"Yeah. It suits you really well and is very cute."

"Ehehe. It makes me happy to be complimented."

When I patted her head, she looked pleased.

That's when I noticed she was wearing a familiar hair ornament.

"Is that…"

"Yes. It's the hair ornament you bought me first, Master. I've been keeping it safe, and it felt too precious to use, but since this is a special occasion, I tried wearing it."

"I'm glad you treasure it, but I'd be happier if you actually wore it."

"I know that, but I keep worrying about what if I lost it…"

"I'll just buy you another one."

After thoroughly patting Azu's head, she asked me to look and struck various poses for me to admire.

… It's hard to believe she had those dead eyes when she first came to us, slightly thin from malnutrition.

Now she overflows with vitality, and you can tell she's enjoying life.

Perhaps because she's at that boundary between girl and woman, I sometimes felt a flutter seeing beauty mixed with her cuteness.

After watching Azu for a bit, I turned to Orleans, who was embarrassedly gripping her dress with both hands.

"P-please don't look, sir. I know the dress doesn't suit me. I'll change right away."

"Azu. Hold Orleans still so she can't move."

"Yes sir, understood."

Azu followed my instructions with a smile.

"Azu-sama!?"

"Told you. It's fine."

With a smile, she went behind Orleans and pushed her toward me.

Orleans was wearing a jade-green dress, and standing next to Azu, they looked just like sisters.

Her face was bright red, but her eyes kept darting to check my reaction.

I wasn't so uncouth as to not understand what was expected of me here.

Besides, providing what others want is a merchant's job.

"Orleans."

"Y-yes?"

Her voice came out strained.

"The dress suits you and you look cute. Like a doll."

"Hwe?"

Orleans covered her face with both hands.

Since she usually doesn't show much emotion and often seems impassive, this reaction was refreshing.

She really is a girl, I thought.

"Good for you, Orleans-chan."

"Yes. I'm happy…"

"Here, show him the back too. Here we go."

Azu grabbed Orleans's shoulders with a smile and spun her around.

Orleans's hair and the hem of her dress floated slightly in the air.

The way she gently placed her hands made it all the more endearing.

When she spun back to face forward, I noticed Orleans was wearing not a hair ornament but a necklace.

It suited her perfectly, given her modest and unassuming nature.

"… Thank you, sir."

Orleans gently pinched the hem of her dress with both hands, spread it out, and curtsied.

It was a picture-perfect pose.

Worth buying a dress just for this moment.

"All right, let's gather everyone and show each other. That'll be better than just my opinion."

"Yes, let's do that."

"You want me to show everyone!?"

"… Orleans-chan, it's a dress for the ceremony, so even more people will see it, you know?"

"I'll just wear my usual clothes after all."

"Give it up."

Everyone gathered in one place.

Elza and Alexia had changed into dresses with slightly less exposure and more modest designs than before.

Even so, their good figures made them look impressive and alluring.

Finn was in her black dress, and Azu and Orleans looked the same as before.

The five of them lined up together was nothing short of stunning.

This might attract attention. Thinking that made me feel proud as a man.

The fresh departure from their usual appearances revealed new charms.

… Or so it should have been.

"Alexia doesn't look that different from usual, somehow."

"That's! Because Master makes only me wear battle dresses as a hobby! Honestly, those are pretty embarrassing, you know?"

Since I first met Alexia, I'd been having her wear battle dresses that combined dresses with equipment because they suited her defiant personality.

So I was used to seeing her dressed up, which meant there was no novelty.

But that's a trivial matter.

"Sorry, sorry. But dresses really do suit you. You're very beautiful, and I like it."

That was my honest feeling.

"Flattery won't get you out of this…"

"Fufu, good for you. You got properly complimented."

"Shut up."

In retaliation for being teased, Alexia grabbed both of Elza's cheeks and stretched them.

"What are you doing? You're the older ones here, can't you be a little more ladylike?"

"Finn-chan. Saying it like that makes me sound like an old lady, so stop that, okay?"

Elza pushed Alexia aside, grabbed Finn's shoulders, brought her face close, and spoke as if warning her.

Finding the scene amusing, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Excuse me. Would you like me to take a photo?"

"A photo, huh. Why not, let's do it."

"Certainly. Please line up."

Following the staff member's instructions, the six of us lined up side by side.

Azu and Elza quickly moved to stand next to me.

"I'll be taking the photo now. Say cheese."

With a click, the photo was saved.

It would be transferred to paper using a magic stone.

It turned out to be quite a nice shot.

Might be nice to display it at home.