After finishing breakfast with Arnold in the dining hall on the second morning after arriving at the Grand Shrine, Rishe saw him off to his official duties and returned to her room.
She took out a leather trunk case from under her bed, which contained many small bottles. Rishe pondered and took out three of the bottles.
The glittering bottles were decorated with floral patterns made by glass convex.
She stowed them in a small bag and left the room with them, heading for the floor where Myria’s room was located.
The Duke, Myria’s father, was standing at the door.
“Good morning, Your Excellency Jonal.”
“You’re here, Rishe-sama.”
The Duke turned to Rishe and gave her a polite bow with his hand on his chest.
“I’m sorry, my daughter is still getting ready… I’m very grateful for your assistance in preparing for the festival. You are still in the middle of your own rituals, but as her father, I can’t be of much help.”
“Please don’t worry about it. Besides, I’ve made an outlandish request.”
She meant the “request” she put forward through Arnold last night. The duke immediately thought of it and smiled, “Oh.”
“It is nothing outlandish. It would be my pleasure.”
“I’m glad you agreed. It might come as a surprise, but…”
While they were chatting, a sulky voice came from behind the door.
“What are you talking about, Papa and Rishe-sama?”
“It’s nothing. That aside, didn’t I tell you to come out, Myria? You’re keeping Rishe-sama waiting.”“…”
Myria fell silent, and the Duke sighed.
“Myria, are you listening to me? That’s why I told you to let the maids stay. It will take a long time for you to get ready by yourself.”
“I can put on my dress by myself!… I did it… properly.”
“Then quickly get out of there. It’s almost time for your rehearsal.”
“Please wait, Your Excellency. Would you mind stepping away from the door for a moment?”
Rishe took over the Duke’s place and spoke gently to Myria.
“Myria-sama… Are you perhaps not changing your dress right now, but taking care of your hair?”
“!!”
She heard a gasp. In light of her reaction, she was convinced that she guessed it right.
That’s right. ―― This is the 13th reason why Young Miss doesn’t come out of her room in the morning. ‘On humid mornings, you should know that your fluffy hair is even fluffier!’
Rishe neatly composed herself and whispered to Myria.
“If that’s the case, please let me help you get ready… Do you mind letting me into your room?”
“…”
After a moment of hesitation, the door opened a crack. The Duke saw it and called out to his daughter in a rush.
“Myria!”“Papa can’t come in here! Only Rishe-sama can enter my room!”
“My apologies, Your Excellency. Please respect the lady’s pride and wait here for a while longer.”
“W-What…”
Rishe left the Duke in a daze and entered Myria’s room.
Then, there stood Myria on the verge of tears and her pale violet hair puffed out in a fluffy mess.
“Ri-Rishe-sama…”
She must have been struggling for a long time. Her purple hair was tangled in the brush clutched in her small hands.
It must have been painful when she tried to comb by force.
“What should I do? If I don’t do something, I’ll be late for the festival rehearsal. I don’t want to show this disgusting head to my dad or the archbishop!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it right away.”
“But I’ve been up early and kept at it long ago. And yet, it’s no good at all. I’m never going to make it…!”
On the side table, there was a tray that seemed used to carry breakfast. The soup bowl was empty, but there was more than half a loaf of bread left.
Perhaps she had been struggling without eating properly.
I need to finish quickly and have her eat breakfast.
Rishe opened her bag and took out three small bottles from inside.
“Myria-sama, please open the lid of this bottle and smell the scent.”
“…Floral scent?”
“Yes. This bottle has a lily fragrance, and this blue bottle has an orchid fragrance. The clear bottle here is lilac.”
Myria sniffed the vials that Rishe showed her.