Episode 41
Thanks to Dylan’s help, Erina finished tidying up much faster than expected. She expressed her gratitude.
“Thanks to you, everything’s sorted out without much effort. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Dylan responded with a smile so deep it hid his sky-blue eyes entirely.
Erina, who had been staring blankly at his dazzling beauty, suddenly realized her rudeness and quickly turned her head away.
She knew it was impolite to stare so intently at someone’s face, but Dylan was simply too handsome to resist.
Adding to the effect was the contrast with Mitzu’ sharp personality, which made Dylan’s kindness seem even more radiant.
“Um, I’d like to buy the dress I’m wearing to the banquet myself this time. Would that be okay?”
“What? Absolutely not. It’s my responsibility to cover it.”
“Well, the dress I’m wearing now was also provided by you. I feel like I’ve been taking too much. And considering the cost of a banquet dress, it might be too extravagant.”
Erina gestured to her current dress as she spoke.
Just as she said, Dylan had provided everything she needed. Thanks to him, she hadn’t spent her wages on anything except books.
“When I brought you here, I promised to take care of everything, and I’m simply keeping that promise. Please don’t feel burdened.”
“You’ve done far more than what you promised…”
“And isn’t this banquet an event I invited you to? Giving you an appropriate dress is only my duty.”
Is that how it works…?
Erina pondered his words but felt even more confused.
Was it more polite to decline or to accept it without further thought? She couldn’t decide.
Seeing her hesitation, Dylan smiled reassuringly, his lips curling up gently.
“Thanks to you, my niblings have grown so much more mature. That alone makes you my benefactor. If it were up to me, I’d love to gift you other things far grander every day. But I hold back because I know it might overwhelm you. So really, it’s me who feels regretful.”
His words flowed so smoothly they might have been rehearsed.
Erina, caught up in the momentum, eventually relented with a hesitant “Ah, alright.”
It seemed the children’s stubbornness was definitely inherited from their uncle.
Pleased that Erina had accepted his gesture, Dylan personally escorted her to the study.
Even though it was no more than twenty adult-sized steps away, he accompanied her, creating a pleasant breeze along the way.
“Well then, I’ll leave today’s lessons with the children in your capable hands.”
“Yes, yes! You take care with your work too!”
Erina raised both hands, clenching her fists firmly.
Are those fists… meant to be an encouragement gesture?
Dylan tilted his head slightly, then quickly smiled as if understanding.
Judging by Erina’s matching grin as she waved her fists energetically, Dylan’s assumption was correct.
“Heh.”
A short laugh escaped Dylan’s lips.
Truly, the more he got to know her, the more amusing Erina turned out to be.
***
As Dylan mentioned, it wasn’t long before tailors arrived at the Harrison estate to prepare outfits for the children and Erina.
Erina, who was enjoying tea time in the garden with the children, quickly made her way to the dress room upon hearing the news.
Once she arrived, she was startled to see over ten people gathered there.
Surely not all these people are here just to make the outfits…?
Swallowing nervously, Erina scanned the group’s serious demeanor.
“Good day. I am Lynn Haldeman, head of Lynn’s Atelier. Thank you for entrusting us with these designs. First, we’ll need to take measurements for tailoring.”
A graceful middle-aged woman at the center of the group gave a polite bow.
Following her lead, the others behind her also bowed their heads.
Erina returned the greeting and introduced the children.
“This is Resen Harrison, Lia Harrison, and Poi Harrison. Please take care of them. Kids, see the person holding the long tape over there? Go and stand nicely in front of them. They’ll explain what to do.”
“Yes!”
The children dashed off energetically in the direction Erina pointed.
“I heard rumors that the young masters of the Harrison family had returned safely, but seeing it with my own eyes is truly moving. I’m so glad.”
“Yes, the children are all healthy and doing well.”
Lynn’s moist gaze toward the triplets’ backs seemed to affirm her words.
Erina quietly stood beside her, watching the children.
“Oh dear, it’s such a good thing, so why do I feel like crying? I must be getting sentimental with age.”
Lynn laughed awkwardly and turned her sharp gaze to Erina.
Her warm and maternal demeanor shifted so abruptly that Erina’s shoulders tensed.
“By any chance… are you Miss Erina?”
“What? Oh, yes! I’m Erina.”
“I see. A message was sent requesting special outfits matching the children’s, and your name was included.”
It seemed Dylan had been serious about his promise during the last snack time.
Learning that someone like her, so ordinary, had been specially mentioned made Erina’s face flush with embarrassment.
“I look after the children. This will be my first time attending a banquet, and the kids said they’d like to wear matching outfits with me… I think they’re really looking forward to it.”
“Oh, I see! The young masters must be very fond of you. Come here. I’ll take your measurements myself, Miss Erina.”
“Yes, yes! Thank you very much.”
Erina moved awkwardly, following Lynn’s instructions.
It was her first time wearing custom-made clothes, and while she kept her composure in front of Dylan and the children, she couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement, wondering what beautiful outfit she might end up with.
The measuring and design process went smoothly, but everything came to a standstill when it came to choosing colors and fabrics.
The triplets had completely different opinions.
Resen insisted that the color matching Erina best was his hair color—blue. As evidence, he pulled out the sky-blue ribbon Erina had given him as a gift.
Lia argued that velvet was the only suitable fabric for Erina’s outfit, as her hair sparkled and the fabric needed to match.
She then darted around, searching for velvet samples.
Poi, on the other hand, demanded that he wears the exact same dress as Erina. As he had declared during snack time, Poi didn’t want to wear anything unless it was identical to Erina’s.
Tears streamed down his face as he clung to her demand.
Once the triplets began throwing tantrums, rolling around, shouting, and crying, the staff of the atelier were utterly flustered.
But this was far from Erina’s first experience with such chaos. She sighed softly and prepared to calm the children.
Erina approached Resen first, who was furiously waving the sky-blue ribbon.
“Resen, look at this. Isn’t this color even prettier?”
“No! Erina has to match with me!”
She held out a white fabric embroidered with gold thread, but Resen turned his head away.
Erina glanced at the people pacing nervously behind her and leaned in to whisper in Resen’s ear.
“Look at this, Resen. This gold is a color only you and I know about. No one else knows that my natural hair color is gold. If we wear this, it’ll be our little secret. Isn’t that more special than something everyone can see?”
“Our little secret?”
“Yes!”
“O-okay! I like secrets with Erina!”
Resen put the sky-blue ribbon back into his pocket and clutched the fabric Erina had brought.
Upon closer inspection, the golden embroidery did look quite beautiful—just like Erina’s original hair color.
“Thank you, Resen!”
“Ahem! It’s nothing. This is pretty, I guess.”
Resen stroked the golden embroidery, keeping quiet about why it was pretty to protect their secret.
Erina gently ruffled his blue hair as a gesture of gratitude and then turned toward Lia.
