[19.1] A Birthday Dress

I stared at the rows of dresses before me with a blank expression.

The Headmaster pointed to one, "How is this one?"

I shrugged, "Okay, I guess."

"Hmm… Just okay?"

Asking me to pick a dress is like asking me to dress up a doll.

I have no interest in little kids' clothes.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, "Can we just pick something out already? It doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to work."

The Headmaster shook his head, "It has to be perfect. It's not every day you get invited to a Royal's birthday party."

"Okay. Fine. I get that, but why did you bring her along?"

I motioned to Hazel who was looking through the dresses with a look of awe.

The Headmaster raised an eyebrow, "Because you two are friends."

My face twitched, "...We most certainly are not."

The Headmaster spoke as if he didn't hear me, "The book said to encourage healthy friendships."

Why does he keep mentioning that d*mn book?

I should have destroyed it.

Hazel pointed to a dress filled with jewels, "I think you would be great in this one! Wait! No! This one!!!"

The Headmaster tilted his head, "We could just buy all of them."

I nearly fell over, "Just how much money do you have!?!"

He chuckled with a dark expression, "Much more than Gonza."

...He's really holding a grudge against Chief Gonza isn't he…

I pointed at a plain blue dress, "Just buy me that one."

He shook his head, "Not extravagant enough."

I wanted to claw out my eyes, "Why did you ask for my opinion if you won't listen to it!?"

He glanced at the clerk, "We will take everything."

I panicked and shouted, "No we won't!!!"

She hesitated between us with a forced smile.

He spoke firmly, "We will take them all since we can't decide."

My eyes lit up when I thought of a different plan. I spoke quickly, "That doesn't solve the problem. We will still need to pick out a dress for the birthday party. Too many options would just make it harder for us to decide."

He nodded after thinking about it, "That makes sense."

I nodded in relief, "That's right."

His eyes grew more determined, "Then we must make sure we pick the best one now… This may take a while."

"..."

A voice spoke behind me, "Reika. I think you'd look best in this one."

Scared out of my wits, I screamed and threw a punch towards the person who snuck up on me.

...Unfortunately for that person, he was far taller than me so my fist landed in a sensitive spot.

Caldwell fell to the ground crying in pain as he held his lower region.

I tilted my head, "Caldwell? What are you doing here?"

The clerk panicked, "Master designer!!!'

I tilted my head, "Huh? Who is the Master designer?"

The clerk rushed to Caldwell's side, "He is!!! He designs these dresses!"

I stared at Caldwell in disbelief, "You design dresses?"

He nodded with a pained look, "I do! I'm actually quite popular too!"

I tilted my head, "Why would you become a designer?"

He explained, "It all started when I first met the Young Master… I thought he would look so cute in dresses, but no dress was good enough for him. So I learned how to sew to make something suitable for him."

I nodded slowly, "Wow… You are kind of weird, aren't you?"

He whimpered as he lay on the ground in pain.

I looked around, "Actually, where is Goldilocks? Aren't you always attached to him?"

He picked his head up with a mischievous grin, "He's in the back room over there. You should go see him. I promise you won't be disappointed."

I shrugged and went to the room he pointed at. As I opened the door, I froze.

Cyrus stood in front of a mirror in a long and flowing dress. The dress in itself was quite dazzling while maintaining a modest look at the same time. His luxurious blonde hair hung down to his shoulders, shimmering in the light. I was shocked to not only see him in a dress, but also to see him look so great in one as well.

He looks like an angel.

Although he looked irritated being in a dress, even he couldn't pull his eyes away from his reflection.

He spoke as he checked himself out in the mirror, "Caldwell. I think you should change this seam here. It pinches a bit… And don't you think it's a bit too short in the front compared to the back?"

I covered my mouth trying to refrain from squealing.

Why does he look so cute!?! Oh my Gods!!! Why can't I have a camera!?!

"...Hmm? Caldwell?" Cyrus finally looked over in my direction then froze, "I-I-I-I- AHHHH!"

He turned to run, but I didn't give him the chance. I sprinted after him, "WAIT!"

Before he could get away, I pounced on him and embraced him so he couldn't squirm out.

He cried as he tried to wriggle out of my grip, "AHHH! LET ME GOOO!"

I held him tighter, "No way!!! You're too cute! I just want to lock you up and squeeze those chubby little cheeks!"

He cried out in embarrassment, "My cheeks aren't chubby!!"

Caldwell limped into the room, "I agree, Reika! I just want to tie him to me so he can't escape!"

The Headmaster followed behind him, "That's illegal."

Hazel poked her head inside, "Wow! I really like that dress!"

Zephyr appeared with a bag full of snacks and stuffed them into his mouth as he watched in interest, "Heh."

Cyrus whimpered, "Caldwell!! You said no one would see!!"

Caldwell shrugged as if he didn't care, "It was coincidental that Reika was here searching for a dress. How was I supposed to know?"

Cyrus cried and tried to hide his shameful look, but I wouldn't let him. I grinned, "I've decided. I want this dress."

Cyrus froze with a pale expression.

Caldwell chuckled, "This is just a prototype. I have better ones I could show you."

I shook my head firmly, "Nope. I want this one. This. Exact. One."

The Headmaster shrugged, "I have a lot of money. We will buy this one for whatever the cost."

Caldwell's eyes flashed at the thought of money, "SOLD!"

Cyrus squealed, "Wait wait wait! You can't possibly mean this exact one!!! That means you'll wear it after me!!"

I snickered, "That's why I want it. I prefer not to waste fabric… Plus, it looks so good on you. After I wear it, we can put it on you again."

Caldwell threw up his hands, "DOUBLE SOLD!"

Cyrus screamed out in embarrassment, "WHY WOULD I WANT TO WEAR IT AFTER YOU!?"

Caldwell smirked, "Eh? Young Master… I think you are focusing on the wrong thing."

I chuckled, "Maybe he just wants to wear it after me and is embarrassed~"

Cyrus squealed, "I DON'T!"

I felt my heart get struck by an arrow, "So cuuuute!"

I hugged him tighter and rubbed my cheek against his. He tried to push me away, "WHO IS CUTE!? I'M NOT CUTE! AHHH! LET ME GO!!!"

Awww~

Look how red he is!

Hazel glanced up at the Headmaster, "Is this normal?"

His expression darkened as he thought, "Only for them… I think."

I giggled as I squeezed Cyrus's cheeks, "So cute! You are like a little teddy bear! I just want to hug you all night!!"

Suddenly, I was hoisted up into the air by my collar. I looked behind to see the Headmaster with a very scary expression.

I knew something was wrong and froze in fright, "Ack. You mad?"

He stared at me, "Hugging all night is for adults only."

"...?"

"!?!"

My expression changed as soon as I realized what he meant. I screamed, "PERVERT!!"

I didn't mean THAT!

DISGUSTING DISGUSTING DISGUSTING!

Cyrus took the opportunity to run into the changing room, where he most likely was crying from embarrassment.