The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

Chapter 118

Right, it’s true that I rarely wore dresses.

Noting Alice’s expression, I thought to myself.

“Does it... not suit me?”

I asked straightforwardly.

I don’t trust my own sense of fashion. I didn’t consider myself someone who dressed particularly well in my past life, either. Back then, I would usually just buy whatever was on display in the store, set up on the mannequins. Whether it looked good on me was a different story.

Still... don’t they say the finishing touch to fashion is one’s face? And it’s not just the face but the body as well.

With the appearance of "Sylvia Pangriffon," I was sure I wouldn’t look out of place by anyone’s standards. In fact, beautiful might be the more accurate word.

So unless it was an absurdly mismatched outfit, I thought it would suit me just fine.

The dress I had on was a light blue one.@@@@

It wasn’t overly ornate, and it didn’t reveal much skin.

I thought it had a suitably refined design... though, I couldn’t be sure how it appeared to someone like Alice, who’d grown up in the royal palace.

“Uh, no, it suits you well. Really.”

Whether Alice genuinely thought it looked good or was just being polite because she couldn’t bring herself to say otherwise, I couldn’t tell.

Alice could read my expressions with ease, while I struggled to read hers. How unfair.

Not that I was planning to get upset with her; I simply asked again calmly.

“Do you think it would be inappropriate to meet the Grace family in this dress?”

I didn’t think so. Wearing a dress was common for nobles, and this dress hadn’t been cheap. It was something I’d prepared for the academy and hadn’t worn before, but considering the cost, it certainly wouldn’t be "inappropriate."

“Oh, well—”

Alice seemed like she was about to say something but closed her mouth.

For a moment, her expression stiffened. I resisted the urge to tilt my head in confusion.

If she thought the dress was so atrocious that it was outright disrespectful...

I supposed that could be the case.

It’s like going to a fashion show and being noticeably poorly dressed on purpose—while not an official rule, it would certainly be seen as bad etiquette.

Or wearing something overly bright to a funeral, or trying to outshine the bride at a wedding. Nobles might have their own similar rules. Perhaps it was considered bad form for a guest to dress more extravagantly than the host.

“—No.”

But Alice’s rigid expression soon softened.

Then, with surprising haste, she replied.

“Really?” I asked again, noting her suspiciously flustered look. Alice nodded fervently.

But, something felt off.

Her shoulders were too tense, standing too rigidly. In hindsight, her shoulders were always like that when she wore her uniform.

It wasn’t the uniform; it was Sylvia’s natural posture.

Too accustomed to behaving like a soldier, she’d developed the habit.

Realizing this, Alice relaxed, her shoulders dropping. She was almost lucky not to burst out laughing.

Sylvia was still Sylvia.

If she appeared different, it was only because Alice herself was seeing her differently.

“I think it would be best to get ready now.”

“Before that, Sylvia,” Alice said, getting up and walking over to Sylvia with graceful poise, like a princess.

Still in her pajamas, it might have looked odd to others, but it was only the two of them here.

Just like in the old days.

“You’re holding too much tension in your shoulders.”

“...”

Sylvia didn’t reply, but her eyes were on Alice. Seeing a faint trace of curiosity in Sylvia’s deep black eyes, Alice felt strangely reassured.

“It’s fine when you’re in uniform or dress uniform,” Alice said, lifting her hands to lightly pat Sylvia’s shoulders, just as her etiquette tutor had done for her as a child.

“But if you walk around that stiffly in a dress, it’ll look far too rigid.”

“Is that so?”

The response was pure curiosity.

“You really don’t know, do you?”

Alice sighed without realizing it. Her earlier worries and doubts seemed to melt away with the sigh, leaving her feeling lighter.

“All right, then. Just wait until I’ve finished my shower. I’ll teach you some quick tips for moving around in a dress.”

“There’s a specific way to move in a dress?”

Sylvia’s fleeting thought of changing back was practically visible, and Alice barely held back a laugh.

They’d likely learned from the same etiquette tutor, so why did their lessons feel so different?

“Understood? Stay right here. We’re here representing the royal family, so we don’t want to be an embarrassment.”

With that, Alice turned to head to the shower, only to realize in her excitement that she hadn’t brought any undergarments or a change of clothes.

Looking a little embarrassed, she returned to her bed, retrieved her clothes from the trunk, and then headed back to the shower.

...She was genuinely grateful to be sharing the room with Sylvia alone.