Be Careful With Your Promises

　The owner of the clothing store was staggered and looked quite troubled.

　I’m sorry, I’ve caused you so much trouble!

    If someone wearing a dress of the highest quality came to his store, it would definitely make him nervous.

　His store isn’t a place for aristocrats.

　Meanwhile, Michel and Lil are discussing this and that.

　I should be part of their discussion, but I don’t really know what kind of thing is needed, so I just shut up and listened to them.

　Honestly, why is a man like Michel so detailed?

   Even Lil thinks that I’m completely out of my depth when I chose Michel as my advisor.

  They asked me what color I wanted, but I was too picky and ended up deciding between      Michel’s and Lil’s preferences.

　I went into the fitting room with Lil and changed.

　Of course, I can put on the simple dress by myself, but I can’t take off the dress I’m wearing by myself.

　After letting her take off the dress, I dressed myself.

　Ah, snug!

　It’s not constricting and easy to move in!

　The skirt below my knees danced softly, making my legs feel cool.

　Knee-length skirts are the latest fad, but for me it’s a huge hurdle, so I go with below-the-knee skirts.

　If you just look at my outfit, I look a bit like a wealthy young lady.

“Wow, it looks good on you, but…”

　Michel’s is now in a commoner man’s garb.

　The shopkeeper looked at Michel in confusion, but he didn’t care.

“I guess Risha-sama’s beauty can’t be hidden for a bit. I think you’ll need this.”

　He handed me a wide-brimmed hat.

　Once I put it on deeply, it blocked my eyes.

　I don’t want to sound overly self-conscious, but I know that my skin is glowing thanks to my maids.

　There are no ordinary commoners like me.

“If we’re too eye-catching, it’ll be too dangerous, so keep the guards at a distance. Risha-sama, don’t separate from me. If you’ll excuse me, I have to hold your hand.” 

“All right.”

　Getting lost in a crowded place like that would be a big deal.

　It is not only me, but also the people who are following me will be punished, so I didn’t resist and took the hand that he offered to me.

　Then Michel withdrew his hand.

“No, geez, geez! What do you think will Claude-sama say after I tell him this?”

　…Why can’t you stop stirring things up?

　All the same, I hesitated whether to stop him, but I ended up not saying anything.

　It’s useless for me to speak.

“Let’s go then, My Lady! There’s a food stall I recommend, let’s go there!”

　He pulled me languidly into the marketplace.

　The entrance to the market was already crowded like a festival, which naturally lifted my spirits.

“Risha-sama, it’s not safe to stand still.”

　I almost stopped to take a good look around, but the flow of people was so fast that if I stopped, I would be blocking traffic.

　I looked around and asked Michel every time I saw something unusual.

　Michel seemed to be accustomed to the place, and he moved easily and knowledgeably, answering our questions in detail.

　He’s a wonderful guide.

“Come here.”

　Suddenly, Michel pulled me by the hand and I moved towards him.

　Then a hunchbacked man walked past me speedily.

　I thought I made eye contact with him for a moment, but he’s gotta be a rude man because he clicked his tongue at me and walked away.

　I was about to turn around to see what the hell was going on, but Michel took my hand and started walking away, so I turned around too.

“Risha-sama, you’re quite an easy target. I can’t count how many people have been eyeing you since  a while ago. Could it be because you exude the air of a pampered young lady?”

“What?”

“There are pickpockets. Didn’t you notice?”

　Huh?

　I didn’t notice them at all…

　I’ve heard that pickpockets in these places are so skilled that even the city guards can’t capture them easily…

“You okay?”

　Forget it.

　I certainly don’t owe it to Michel to catch them.

“That was an attempt, and we’ll have to catch one red handed to see if he’s really a pickpocket. So when I said ‘pickpockets’ earlier, I meant he’s most likely one.”

　There’s a lot of these incidents, huh?

　But, it’s true that if nothing happens, someone can get away with it unless we have conclusive evidence, as is the case with any crime.

“Now, I’m glad I didn’t give you the wallet, but would you like to buy something? It will all go down as an expense, so please don’t hesitate to tell me anything.”

　As a duchess, I’ve been allotted an allowance…Well, if Michel says so.

　I’ll buy something so that I don’t embarrass Ragnard.

　As this thought popped in my head, I heard a rushing cheer coming from the front.

“What is that?”

“It’s the central square. Maybe they’re putting on some kind of a show. Shall we go there?”

　Sure.

　I nodded, and Michel led the way there.

　The cheers are getting louder and louder, but they’re more like high-pitched cheers of children. Others were women’s voices.

　The crowd is quite large, but Michel is able to squeeze through the gaps and make it to the front.

　And then――…

“Whoa!”

“No way! What is this?!”

　We both looked at each other and our mouths dropped as the scene unfolded in front of us.

“I know! This is the kind of thing women and children like.”

　Even though Michel seemed to be calmly analyzing the situation, his eyes are shining.

　I knew it then. Michel likes this sort of thing.

　Well, this kind of thing is irregardless of gender.

“Risha-sama, let’s buy this! Let’s buy one of them! I’ll definitely persuade Claude-sama on your behalf! I’ll take the initiative and take care of him!”

　Michel’s cheeks flushed as he appealed to me.

　They’re little furballs.

　They were fuzzy, fluffy, cute baby animals.