落とし穴外伝：女性だからといって服が得意なわけではない (Part1)
Pitfall Side Story: Being a Woman Doesn't Mean You're Good at Fashion
Side: Jessica
The moment I stepped into the shop, I was besieged by an army of garments—clothes, clothes, and more clothes—in such a dizzying array of designs that I found myself paralyzed, unable to take a single step forward.
"..."
In a situation like this, what exactly is one supposed to do? I hadn't the faintest idea how I should proceed.
"Oh? What’s wrong, Jessica?"
As I stood there, frozen and unable to find a tactical solution, Ria offered a gentle voice to break the deadlock.
"Ah, no. It’s just... I’ve never really had an interest in dressing up. Or rather, I haven't the slightest clue how to choose anything..."
It’s true. I, Jessica, have lived my entire life without ever choosing clothes based on my own personal taste or preference.
Well, there was that one time Yuki told me to pick out some clothes I liked, but even then, I only selected items based on their utility—things like shirts and apparel suitable for exercise. Everything else in my wardrobe consisted primarily of spare military uniforms or standard-issue attire.
Of course, as one of Yuki’s wives, I do possess a collection of fashionable outfits that wouldn't bring him shame, but in truth, those were all selected for me by Ria and the others.
"Ah, that’s right. Ria, would you mind offering me some advice on clothing?"
"Advice? I think you should just pick out whatever you like, Jessica. Look."
Ria held up a white dress, pressing it against her body to show me. It certainly suited her well. It was a lovely piece that felt very much like her, but...
"...I’m embarrassed to admit this, but until now, I’ve always had Ria or Ratz choose my clothes for me. When it comes to picking them out myself..."
I hesitantly brought over a garment that had caught my eye...
"Wait, a tracksuit? We didn't come here to buy workout gear, did we?"
"That is true, but... surely the clothes that suit me best are exercise clothes? I can't think of anything else..."
"...Hmm. Well, setting aside whether they suit you or not, why don't you try picking out something you think looks nice? Something other than workout gear."
"...Understood."
Following Ria’s advice, I returned the tracksuit to its rack and decided to take a proper look around the shop. When planning supply logistics for a march, one of the essential tasks is gathering intelligence on what can be procured and where. I figured the same logic applied to personal shopping: confirm what kind of supplies are available in the shop. After all, maintaining smooth supply lines is vital during a campaign.
Back then, Lady Marly would change our marching routes on a whim, making it incredibly difficult to keep those supplies consistent.
"When I think about that, I’m truly grateful that I no longer have to rack my brains over securing supplies, allowing me to focus entirely on diplomacy—or rather, negotiations."
I murmured this to myself as I browsed the racks. Truly, back when I served under Lady Marly, Hivia and I were constantly pushed to our limits. ...Come to think of it, Hivia should be settled in now with her duties at Weed... Perhaps I should ask a colleague for their opinion?
Deciding on this, I stopped my browsing and went to seek permission from Ratz.
"Hmm? Marly and Hivia? That’s fine. Though, I’d prefer you didn't spread the word too much before the grand opening."
"Yes, I understand."
I immediately reached out, and as luck would have it, they were nearby—in fact, they were already inside the Weemall—so they arrived in no time.
"Oh. I was wondering what you were building here, but it’s a clothing store?"
"Lady Marly. A clothing store of this scale is rare—no, it’s unprecedented."
"What are you talking about? It’s right in front of you."
"No... ah, I see."
*Haha*, Hivia has already given up on trying to make her understand. I decided to stop wasting time explaining the shop and instead consulted them on my dilemma.
"Hmm. A sense of fashion, is it?"
"I see. That’s not something we soldiers have much connection to, is it?"
"Exactly. That’s why I’m struggling. Everyone else is having such a fun time choosing their outfits, but I have no idea what to do. I wanted to ask for your reference."
Incidentally, Ria and the others had only been here a short while, yet they had already picked out several items. I felt a sense of urgency to choose something quickly, but I knew that if I proceeded without a plan, I would only fail again like before—which is why I had called these two.
Cleena and Samantha are also from the If Continent, but they are both nobles for whom dressing up is second nature, and they transitioned from students directly into being Yuki’s wives. Their situation is different from mine. As for Agil, she was over in the children’s section, so that was... well, you know.
"What, is that really something to worry about? Clothes are just things you wear based on your mood, as long as you can move properly, right?"
"Lady Marly, you really are that type of person..."
"I thought the same thing when I chose mine, but then I was met with a bitter smile."
"So, what did you choose?"
"A tracksuit."
At my answer, it would have been one thing if it were just Hivia, but even Lady Marly stared at me with wide, blank eyes.
"No, that’s strictly for exercise. Besides, that’s not something you wear to dress up."
"Exactly. How did you even arrive at that choice in the first place?"
"Well, I thought it 'suited me'..."
When I gave the same answer I had given Ria...
"I see, you’re still a workaholic. I thought you’d become more womanly after getting a husband, but you’re still hopeless in that regard..."
"I mean, you’ve even had a child, haven't you? What were you planning to do about clothes? Or rather, what about your current wardrobe?"
"Um, that’s... Ratz, Ria, and everyone else... they helped me. But I can change diapers properly, I promise!"
"“That’s a given.”"
"..."
Why must I be lectured by two people who haven't even married, let alone had children? *Oh*, but I am the one seeking guidance, so I must be patient. I must be patient.
"For now, let me be the one to teach you about fashion."
"Indeed. Yuki’s wives are all so kind that they always step in to help whenever you’re in trouble, which is likely why you’ve never had the chance to learn for yourself, Jessica."
And so, led by the two of them, I stood before the rows of clothing, ready to receive my lecture.