This story is told from Elnet’s perspective. We flash back slightly to the last day of December.
“Haa, it’s only been two days. I know I haven’t attended the year-end parties in a while, but I’m already tired,” Elnet said with an exhausted expression. For those in the aristocracy, the two days of the year-end and three days of the New Year are trying times. They must attend parties from morning till night, five days in a row, switching members or venues. For the past two days, they’ve been traveling to the parties of Marquises and Baronesses in distant regions, moving from one to another in a seemingly endless schedule. They are currently in a carriage heading towards the castle.
“Older Sister. I understand how you feel, but it’s a natural obligation for us, having been born into the aristocracy,” Josette said with a look of exasperation from her seat opposite Elnet in the same carriage. This time, Elnet and Josette were paired up to represent the Duke and attend parties of upper aristocrats in the provinces. After this, a New Year’s celebration event will be held at the castle. This event is quite demanding, starting on New Year’s Eve and continuing until the evening of the following day. While it’s possible to take short naps during the event, one must remain at the venue as much as possible to avoid missing opportunities for conversation, especially at year-end and New Year’s parties held at the castle, which are attended by many upper aristocrats and those in key government positions. Whether one attends or not affects their closeness with each family or individual.
“I understand that intellectually, but when I live a life removed from aristocratic society, I tend to develop a rejection.”
“Actually, I feel the same way. Things that I took for granted until last year, I now see from a different perspective.” Josette, though not as much as Elnet, echoed her sentiments with a weary expression.
“Josette, you’ve truly changed from your rigid self. Is it because Kent has influenced you?”
“I haven’t really thought about it, but thanks to Kent and everyone else, I’ve come to know a world I never knew before, and I’ve started wanting to do things I wouldn’t have done previously.”
“Is that eating out? You’ve gained a little weight on your stomach from eating too much, haven’t you? Poke, poke.” Josette’s recent hobby was to go out alone without guards, visit various restaurants, and eat her way through town. Knowing this, Elnet teasingly pinched the flesh on Josette’s stomach.
“Th-that’s not true! I’m being careful about how much I eat. I couldn’t show a chubby stomach like that to Kent.” Josette retorted back to Elnet, her face flushed.
“When do you show your stomach to Kent? Come on, tell your older sister.”
“O-Older Sister, I could never say something so embarrassing!” Elnet tried to pry, but Josette hid her abdomen and replied. This is how they playfully bantered as the carriage headed for the castle.
“Well then, let’s change into our party costumes.” Upon entering the castle, Elnet moved to the waiting room assigned to her. In the adjacent room, Josette was presumably changing into her party dress. Elnet begrudgingly reached for her own costume and began to change.
“Oh, Young Lady, that’s our job…”
“I feel bad taking your job, but I don’t need any help to put on this dress. There we go. Done. Now, I’ll leave the makeup and hair-setting to you.”
“Y-Yes. Leave it to me.” Despite the fact that party dresses usually require the assistance of several servants, Elnet signaled to the servants who tried to help and changed by herself with ease.
“Rachel’s new dress is amazing. I’m surprised she makes this as a hobby.” While sitting on a chair and having her hair set by a servant, Elnet muttered. The design was novel and unlike anything seen before, yet it sparkled brilliantly at party venues, attracting the attention of attendees. Previously, when persistently asked where she acquired it, Josette desperately blurted out the name “Akane Workshop,” and that name has now become established as the name of the workshop producing the party dresses Josette and Elnet wear. Incidentally, the name Akane originated from Kent’s past habit of calling Rachel by that name. What’s remarkable about these costumes is that when Elnet conveyed her complaints or suggestions for improvement to Rachel, they were incorporated, and the dresses evolved to be more user-friendly. Now, by employing fasteners called point, surface, and line zippers, removal and reattachment have been made easy. Previously, due to the difficulty in removing the dress, one had to go “flower picking” at the outdoor flower beds when nature called, but this new type of dress, with its ease of removal, liberates the wearer from such shameful situations and allows them to use the restroom. This can be declared a revolutionary invention.
“It’s so thin, yet so warm.” Elnet couldn’t understand the mechanism, but this dress used moisture-releasing and heat-generating materials. Although the fabric looked thin, it felt warm when worn, and it was designed to be comfortable even in the cold castle hall by allowing disposable heat packs to be attached inside.
“And this is the most amazing part.” Elnet cupped her ample chest. The chest area, meticulously recreated to achieve ultimate softness using artificial materials, was as magnificent as to be mistaken for the real thing. Although her own chest was usually difficult to even touch, this artificial material, while not transmitting any sensation from the chest itself, provided a soft touch to her hands, and she wore a satisfied expression.
“Elnet, Young Lady. We are finished.”
“Yes, thank you.” With her hair styled and makeup applied, Elnet had transformed into an unparalleled beauty whose appearance everyone envied.
“Well then, let’s go.” Elnet, having finished her preparations, headed for the party venue.
“Older Sister. As expected. You look so beautiful.”
“Josette, you look beautiful too.”
“I always pay attention to that aspect of myself. Since you’re usually so rough, you look especially striking in contrast.”
“Well, I can’t deny that, but there’s a better way to say things.” Elnet was called beautiful by those around her when she was a young lady, but nowadays, such words are only heard at venues like this party. On the other hand, Josette, who consistently takes care of her appearance, wore an expression that suggested it was only natural.
“Grr, it’s all this fault!”
“Oh, Older Sister. My chest has nothing to do with it. Nn, aah, don’t squeeze so hard! The dress will slip!” Elnet vented her frustrating feelings by squeezing Josette’s chest.
“I was so engrossed in squeezing Josette’s chest that we’ve arrived in front of the party venue without even realizing it. Grr, I guess I can’t compete with the real thing after all.”
“Older Sister. Fortunately, no one saw us on the way, which is good, but if someone had seen us like this, your reputation would plummet. Please restrain yourself inside the venue.”
“I know that without you telling me. But if that’s how you put it, then it’s fine outside the venue, right?”
“…” Josette blushed and lowered her head shyly at Elnet’s jokingly phrased words.
“Well then, let’s go in.”
“Yes, Older Sister.” As Elnet and Josette reached the entrance of the venue, the men in black on either side opened the heavy, double doors.
