Chapter 23

Obedience comes at a price.

Whether that price is joy or sorrow is usually only known when faced with it. And the price of my obedience today was the ultimate ordeal.

I had to try on and check the designs and fabrics of no less than nine sets of clothing, hats, and gloves.

"That's much better."

Moreover, the main character in this doll play was not me, but Rui!

He played with my body as he pleased.

It might sound like a lewd expression, but I swear it wasn't exaggerated.

Lying on the long sofa, Rui was meticulously and fussily instructing on the color, brightness, pattern, and combination with lace.

"This one is good too."

"Right? It's a trendy color. It suits you well because your skin is fair and translucent. For someone with striking beauty like you, I usually recommend bright, solid fabrics, but this pastel green will certainly suit you as well."

Even to my eyes, which have no connection to design or art, his aesthetic sense was clearly outstanding.

"Let's go with this fabric."

Furthermore, he ignored the fabric strongly recommended by the owner and matched only the fabrics of his taste, showing his decisiveness.

'If you're going to make it with your favorite fabric, why are you trying it on my face?'

My legs ached from standing for nearly two hours. I glared at him for tens of minutes, radiating annoyance.

"Choose the fabric you like this time, Miss Daisy."

He handed over the decision to me, as if it were a favor.

How generous, really. But what should I do? After all, these clothes aren't for me to wear.

"That one and that one."

From the various fabrics and laces scattered around, I chose the two most eye-catching ones.

The so-called zebra print fabric and the spring flower embroidery lace.

"You mean this fabric...?"

Nod.

Contrary to my expectation that he would be perplexed, the owner's eyes sparked with black flames.

"Indeed. Women are sometimes drawn to bold designs in their undergarments."

What, it was undergarment fabric?

I glared at Rui, who was smiling with a 'what a low and vulgar taste' expression.

You scoundrel.

On the other hand, the owner, who seemed to have received a strong inspiration, leaned his head for a while and whispered in my ear.

"This combination is perfect for an impressive night. Excellent taste."

At that moment, I naturally realized.

'This woman must think Rui and I are a count and countess in disguise.'

Actually, it's not surprising.

While I might be one thing, Rui's evil appearance and relaxed attitude were far from ordinary.

Moreover, to design the countess's clothes according to his taste, it would be impossible unless the couple themselves were involved.

"Everything is done with the design and fabric check."

Liberation!

I hurried into the dressing room, put on my clothes, and came out. I had never felt my old, rustic clothes so lovely.

Wearing my hat low, I fled, and Rui chuckled as he looked back at me.

"Was it that terrible?"

"Cleaning would be better."

At least I wouldn't shiver from boredom.

As Rui, who had paid, slowly approached me, the employee who had greeted us at the store entrance asked him with a tense face.

"Excuse me, sir. Are you perhaps working at the Weatherwold Manor?"

"Yes, I am."

"If it's not too much trouble... may I know your name?"

The employee's cheeks were flushed as he asked.

Rui smiled gently and answered as if it were no big deal.

"When the clothes are completed, you can contact the Weatherwold Manor."

"No, no. What I want to know is—"

"What are you standing there for, Miss Daisy? You said it was terrible, didn't you?"

"Sir!"

The employee, who had approached urgently, grabbed Rui's sleeve. But Rui naturally shook off his hand.

Unlike the owner, who suspected our true identity, the employee seemed to believe Rui's status.

Well, that's the real thing.

Rui, passing by me, pushed open the heavy door. Leaning against the open door, he gestured towards the street, and I obediently followed.

Walking casually, Rui suddenly stopped not far from the tailor's shop and flicked the sleeve of his coat.

It was the part the employee had briefly grabbed.

Was it just his neat personality, or was there something wrong with his character?

Both could apply, given that it was Rui.

"I brought you here to practice speaking, but you ended up choosing terrible undergarments that wouldn't look out of place on a zebra. Is there any satisfaction in coming out in person?"

It seems both apply.

'If you were going to make me practice speaking, you should have given me a heads-up.'

But I wasn't too worried about my limited vocabulary. I was confident I could spout a lot when in a man's body.

"Rui."

"Rui?"

"Mr. Rui. Has the plan changed? Am I going to be the countess, and you the count?"

"I am the countess."

He was so confident that I thought he must have been born a countess.

"But why take my measurements?"

"It's more efficient. And follow me this way. It's too early to return to the manor. We need shoes and men's clothing as well."

"Men's clothing to fit your height?"

"Of course."

Rui, who had lightly responded, looked at me.

Men's clothing to fit Rui. That means I have to become a tall, slim, and muscular man, at least 190cm tall.

'When my current body is already inconvenient, you want me to become a man 20cm taller?'

That's not efficient at all. If we're going to adjust, it would be more comfortable to fit my familiar body.

I vaguely recalled Andert's height and said,

"Is it possible to adjust to a different height?"

"For example?"

"180cm tall, with more developed chest, biceps, and triceps, a slightly shorter neck. The waist is a bit thinner, but the buttocks are—"

"Is that your personal preference?"

What? I shook my head in surprise.

"No? How could it be? It's completely irrelevant."

Rui tilted his head, looking at me with a suspicious gaze.

"How can you give such detailed instructions if it's not your preference? It's quite amazing."

Well, that's because it was my body...

"I just find it more comfortable to move in that body."

Thinking about it, I might have described it too precisely, making me sound like a pervert.

Fortunately, Rui didn't ask further.

Instead, he turned and entered a narrow, dark alley between townhouses. I saw a gray rat scurry away in surprise.

'Why here... Could he believe in the principle of educating perverts with a fist?'

As I hesitated to follow, Rui turned to me.

"Is this good enough?"

I felt something awkwardly change, and his field of vision, looking down at me, became much smaller.

'Did he use transformation magic without a spell?'

Wordless magic.

It's a realm that's not easily attainable.

Even compared to the Sword Master, the pinnacle of what a knight can achieve, it was just one step below.

The speculation that Rui was a royal mage gained more weight.

"...The shoulders are too broad. Make them a bit more human-like."

Crack.

With a bone-chilling sound, Rui's body changed again. His shoulder width was now a bit shorter as requested.

"The skin should be tanner. The wrists thicker. The hands should be thicker too."

Rui's skin darkened as if a shadow had fallen on it.

"Hmm. Something... the overall skeleton...?"

Tsk, Rui clicked his tongue and asked in a somewhat displeased tone.

"Who are you imagining?"

I thought for a moment.

I couldn't say my past self, so should I say my brother?

But thinking about it, adjusting to my brother's skeleton would be even stranger.

Rui urged me coldly.

"Answer. Should the buttocks be more bulky or smaller?"

"Which part are you talking about?"

Rui, who had been staring at me blankly, suddenly smiled with delight.

"Which part do you think?"

Well, which part?

Don't lower your head. Just look at Rui's face. Pretend you didn't understand.

Don't let your pride make you say, 'Of course, they should be bulkier!'

In the long silence, Rui looked disappointed.

"If you can't say, let's just go with this."

"...Yeah. This is enough."

"It should be enough, of course. Even now, it feels like I'm walking with my feet on the ground."

At 180cm, I would feel like I'm walking with my feet stuck to the ground.