chapter 8: My first clothing store
405 Words
After breakfast at the bakery,
Elfriede suddenly looked down at herself.
Pale grey-blue dress.
The cuffs are frayed and the color is slightly faded.
Among the people passing through the city,
After all, only one person was out of place.
――Walking like this is eye-catching.
There was a small clothing store on the corner of the street.
The wooden sign reads in simple letters 〈tailored and for sale〉.
I opened the door so that I could be drawn.
The store was filled with the smell of cloth.
A calming scent mixed with dyes and freshly washed fabrics.
"Welcome"
An older woman looks up.
There was no valiant gaze, just a look at the customer.
Every outfit on display is practical.
Muted colors of hemp and cotton.
They're not flashy, but they're durable and likely to last a long time.
Elfriede hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"...Which clothes are suitable for travel."
There was a brief pause after I put it into words.
The shopkeeper looked at her for a moment,
Then nod quietly.
"When traveling, it's best to be mobile and easy to wash."
Take out a tunic from the shelf.
"The length is short and it's easy to layer.
The fabric is also durable, so it's easy to handle a little roughly."
She went on to show a skirt of muted colors.
"There's plenty of room around your waist, so you won't get tired even if you walk for a long time."
Elfriede pinches the cloth between her fingers.
It was softer than I expected.
"...Please do this."
Pay the price,
Rent a simple changing space in the back.
Take off your dress and fold it carefully.
I put my sleeves through it many times,
It's the clothes I've worked on so many times.
My hand stopped for a moment,
Then I put the sleeves through my new clothes.
Light.
I don't feel any tightness in my body.
What you see in the mirror is
She was not the third princess.
He looked a little tired,
Just one woman, not special.
"..."
I don't say it out loud.
When I left the store,
The air in the street felt slightly closer.
No one looks back.
No one cares.
The dress is folded small,
Put it at the bottom of the wineskin.
――This will last for a while.
Elfriede is
I took a step to make sure.
- Writer
