Chapter 64: A Short Date
Since childhood, most nobles have been raised by nannies, except in very special cases.
While they might be nobles, it was rare to find parents who consistently displayed an indifferent attitude towards their children since they were engrossed in their work, as portrayed in dramas or novels.
A noble family’s father, as an officer, administrator, or politician of the empire, and the mother, managing the territories owned by her husband or attending social gatherings for women, didn’t always have time to care for their children.
Thus, whether a boy or a girl, they were often raised by nannies from a young age.
In noble households, the nanny occupied a position akin to that of the closest family member.
The same was true for the House of Count Benner.
“Fauna, do I really have to dress like this? I’m not going to a ball. I just want to wear something more comfortable.”
Upon hearing this, Laura’s nanny, Fauna, shook her head and responded,
“It’s not suitable. If you are meeting friends from the capital, maybe, but today you’re going out with Lieutenant Colonel Yaeger to pick clothes. Usually, you see him in uniform, but in casual wear, you should emphasize your feminine charm with cute and elegant clothing.”
It might have seemed impudent to talk to the sole daughter of a Count’s house in such a manner, but neither Laura nor any maid around found it offensive.
Because Fauna, as a nanny, had cared for Laura since she was crawling. She naturally earned the right to scold her when necessary.
“Count Benner instructed that you dress beautifully when going out with the Lieutenant Colonel. If you step out well-dressed, he’ll surely take a second look and perhaps even compliment how well you two match.”
Upon hearing this, Laura looked again at the delicate dress she rarely wore.
Unlike her comfortable uniforms, this dress would restrict her movements, which she didn’t like. However, the thought of receiving a compliment from the Lieutenant Colonel made her reconsider.
“Ah, is that so?”
“Objectively speaking, you are incredibly beautiful. When you were in the academy, you often came to me during breaks and complained, ‘The boys are so clingy. It’s annoying, Fauna.’ That is all because you are so pretty. When he sees that you’re not in a stiff uniform but in a beautiful dress, Lieutenant Colonel Yaeger will surely see you not as his subordinate but as a woman. He will be quite pleased, won’t he?”
Anticipating a future where the respected Lieutenant Colonel would compliment her, Laura von Benner, despite some discomfort, decided to wear the dress.
“Take a look in the mirror. You look truly beautiful.”
In her life, apart from attending balls, Laura seldom wore dresses. But with the thought of receiving a compliment from the Lieutenant Colonel, her mood gradually improved.
After all, wasn’t it delightful to be praised by the opposite sex, especially by someone she had affectionate intentions with?
Additionally, seeing her reflection in the mirror, even Laura had to admit she looked rather stunning.
Fauna gently patted Laura’s shoulder and whispered,
“You have been concealed in your military uniform all this time, but when you reveal your beauty like this… Since he is a man after all, at the ball, he won’t be able to take his eyes off you. Seeing you grow into such beauty brings great satisfaction to me. I already told the owner of the ‘Tailors’, our family’s regular suit shop, to prepare samples of suits that might suit the Lieutenant Colonel. From them, you can choose whatever you think suits him best. And afterwards, if he suggests going for coffee…”
Truth be told, men tended to instinctively glance at other women, even if they had a gorgeous girlfriend beside them.
But revealing this harsh reality to Laura would overturn her entire worldview, so Fauna decided to sprinkle in a little white lie.
“F-Fauna… the Lieutenant Colonel and I, we are still… subordinate and commander…”
“I understand. Anyway, have a good time.”
With that, Laura completed her preparations to meet Lieutenant Colonel Yaeger and headed to the entrance of her mansion. Fauna then sought out the house steward of Count Benner and said,
“The young lady had always been engrossed in military studies, never experiencing even a common first love like others in the academy. I’m certain she took a liking to Lieutenant Colonel Yaeger. She readily donned a dress she would usually reserve for balls, believing he would appreciate it.”
“Is that so? But will it truly work out?”
Fauna confidently smiled, “It certainly will.”
She refrained from adding, ‘The young lady already knows how to capture a man’s heart. If she acts na?vely, even the most stoic man will fall for her.’
In Korea, he had always been engrossed in studies without having the leisure to date. Apart from his major, he also studied military knowledge and general knowledge so much that he barely had any friends.
Therefore, he never even dreamed of dating or courting someone.
Upon entering the academy, since anything less than a perfect score in tactics, strategy, and military science meant instant failure, he had no time, nor did any women want to date a commoner like him.
At 21 years of age, or almost 30 including his years in Korea, he barely had any significant conversations with women.
To be precise, he only had Laura as his subordinate in the academy.
But that professional relationship didn’t count.
“Lieutenant, are you feeling unwell?”
He wasn’t sick, but seeing Laura, who usually wore a military uniform, now in a dress, stunned him.
He knew she was beautiful and had a stunning figure, but seeing Laura in a new light, as a charming and beautiful woman, was different.
She was so captivating that he found himself lost in her beauty. His heart raced.
“No, it’s just that you look so different and beautiful in that dress. You always looked good in a uniform, but this outfit really suits you.”
“Really? I wasn’t sure if this dress would suit me until I put it on.”
The silver dress with a hint of blue that she wore, combined with her red eyes and long hair, gave off the aura of a fairy tale princess.
Laura, her face slightly flushed from the compliment, pointed to the carriage parked in front of the mansion.
Although it wasn’t adorned with gold like in fairy tales, the entirely black-painted carriage bearing the Benner family emblem in gold was magnificent.
He wondered if he would someday have his own carriage like this.
“We frequent a favored tailor shop called ‘Tailors’. Let’s go there and get you fitted.”
Inside the tailor shop, he found himself surrounded by white walls and wooden tables laden with fabric samples and mannequins dressed in various suits.
Even the suit that looked the cheapest seemed to be made of silk, which was a bit intimidating at first glance.
“Lieutenant Colonel, the tailor is waiting.”
Laura confidently led him inside, thanks to her experience as the daughter of a Count.
After taking his measurements with practiced hands, the tailor led both of them into an inner room where an elderly gentleman, impeccably dressed in a suit, greeted them.
“Welcome to Tailors. I am Ray Jent, the owner of this establishment. It’s an honor to be fitting the first suit for Yeager, a young war hero, who is widely celebrated. Please choose a suit to your liking.”
Upon saying so, the staff brought in at least ten suit samples.
“This gray suit seems a bit too old fashioned for the Lieutenant Colonel, and the red is too flashy. I believe this navy one would suit him best.”
The owner nodded in agreement,
“Ah, as expected of Lady Laura, your taste is impeccable. Indeed, for someone as young as the Count but with such gravitas, the navy suits best. A few adornments would enhance it further…”
“Perhaps an accessory like a pocket watch…”
“A wise choice. The cost will be 5 gold coins, but Count Benner has already taken care of the payment.”
The conversation swiftly concluded, and Laura quickly finalized all the procedures, from suit selection to delivery arrangements.
Normally, one might have been taken aback or even slightly offended if someone else made a purchase on their behalf without their input, but…
I was completely unfamiliar with the suits worn by nobility, and I was grateful she spared me the embarrassment of making a poor choice in front of the owner.
Additionally, Count Benner had not only introduced the tailor shop but also covered the expense.
Five gold coins might not have been a significant amount to him, but for a commoner, it was what five people would earn in a year. I felt indebted.
“Lieutenant Laura, we still have plenty of daylight left. How about grabbing a cup of coffee nearby? You’ve gone to great lengths for me, so let me treat you.”
At that, Laura, with an enthusiasm that suggested she’d be delighted even with coffee made from roasted dandelions or chicory, nodded and replied,
“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.”
That afternoon, we went to a café and chatted not about strategies or tactics but about our daily lives.
Laura eagerly listened, her eyes sparkling, even when I occasionally touched upon topics she might have found uninteresting.
And while sharing a cream dessert, a bit of cream smeared my face…
She instinctively took out her handkerchief and wiped it off. Our eyes met, and her face flushed crimson.
“Uhm… Lieutenant, you have some cream on your face.”
Seeing her reaction, even someone as oblivious as me… could piece together the entire situation.
Despite Count Benner’s protective nature towards his only daughter, Laura, and the possibility of pairing her with a suitable nobleman during social gatherings or clarifying any potential misunderstandings…
The fact that he chose her as my partner at the ball, which felt like a massive matchmaking event, and allowed her to pick my suit…
Alongside her blatant reactions while having coffee…
Thus, instead of asking her outright, I subtly moved my hand closer to her left hand.
She exhibited a startled expression and slightly flinched, but she didn’t pull away, which reaffirmed my suspicions.
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