“Well, we’ve both been tied down for so long that we’re probably just scared. At this rate, even if the cage that holds us breaks, we might still keep ourselves confined inside. Do you think Grandmother intended this?”

As Jade spoke the gloomy words with a smirk, Asela stared at her blankly for a moment before carefully asking.

“Jade.”

“Yeah?”

“Is there something… you’re unable to do as well?”

“Of course. I think I have it worse than you. At least you managed to have a secret relationship, avoiding people’s eyes.”

“T-That’s not it! We just exchanged a few letters…”

Asela stammered with a face that seemed about to burn up again, but Jade just shrugged.

“But even that couldn’t have been easy. You found the courage to do it, evading those who oppress you. It’s something you should praise yourself for.”

She had realized something. It was still messy, piled up haphazardly and not sorted out yet, but it felt like a thin, thread-like something was laid out in front of her, swaying in the wind. As if telling her to grasp it, ever so lightly.

“Think about it. And if you need help, just tell me anytime. I’ll keep your secrets for sure.”

If she became the family head, she would naturally set Asela free, but even without being the head, she had enough power to help her.

This was the price for the worried look Asela had given her and for the realization.

Ah, right. I should send a small gift to Rigel as well. Blue suits him well, so a jewel would be good.

With those thoughts, Jade was the first to leave.

Left behind, Asela blinked slowly and then hung her head low.

Her fingertips, trapped in lace gloves without a shred of practicality. Today of all days, she wanted to rip them off and toss them aside.

The coming-of-age ceremony was, well, only grand in name and not really that big of a deal. It was literally just an occasion to proclaim to many people that someone had become an adult.

The El Cion Kingdom had laws, and the scholars who made those laws had defined adulthood as beginning from the age of eighteen onward, through passionate debates.

In other words, one becomes an adult even without holding a coming-of-age ceremony.

However, the Broen family had a clear rule that ‘only a successor who has undergone the coming-of-age ceremony can take the position of family head’, so Jade had to hold the ceremony even though she was well past the age of adulthood. Only then could she claim the position of family head.

“This is so embarrassing. A coming-of-age ceremony at this age?”

Jade grumbled tiredly as she spread her arms. Betty, the owner of the dressmaker’s shop who had been holding up various colored fabrics, let out a small laugh.

“But you still look like you’ve just turned eighteen.”

“I know that’s not a compliment.”

“I meant that you have such a youthful glow. I absolutely wasn’t implying that you’re short.”

“……”

Jade gave her a suspicious look, but Betty calmly held up another decoration against her.

“Hmm. Gold suits you well too, but…”

“Just do it simply.”

“No way. You’ve always used our shop here in the Broen territory instead of the most famous dressmaker in the capital, right? This is a chance to put those arrogant folks at the Siena dressmaker’s in their place. I’ll show them we’re not inferior in any way.”

Looking at the design on the paper, the embroidery that would go on the fabric seemed so elaborate that no matter how she considered it, it didn’t seem possible to complete it within two months.

“You know the deadline, right?”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

“Then how will you handle that embroidery?”

“Well, I’m past the age of growing taller.”

In other words, she meant she would reduce her sleep.

Jade clicked her tongue and carefully turned to the next page as well. The paper showed clothes in various colorful styles, and flipping a few more pages revealed completely different designs too.

“You make men’s clothing as well?”

“Yes. I recently expanded my range. A coat I made by chance last time was very popular. It was truly one of my masterpieces. That’s when the Ruchens dressmaker in the capital learned about me.”

Betty chattered non-stop about how arrogant and unpleasant the owner of Ruchens was.

Jade didn’t use the townhouse in the capital very often, so she didn’t know much about Ruchens. She just nodded appropriately as she continued to examine the various designs. It was fun to look at them.

Then she found a design she really liked.

“Have you ever made this one?”

Betty shook her head at the part Jade unfolded and showed her.

“No. It takes a lot of work, but there aren’t many people who can pull it off. Wearing something like that, most people would feel swallowed up by the clothes and end up unsatisfied.”

The angular shape of the shoulders and the not-too-long outer garment had a simple shape. But the decorations on it were not so simple.

The cravat and the jewels on it, the delicate embroidery. Just from the design, it was this elaborate, so if actually made, it would undoubtedly be stunning. Not gaudy to the point of being flashy, but an elegance-based splendor.

It would suit Axel well if he wore it. No matter how much decoration there is, his face wouldn’t be overshadowed.

I wonder if he has clothes like these? He only wore simple tunic-style tops every day in the forest. It doesn’t seem like he would have brought items from the warehouse, so wouldn’t it be nice to give this as a gift? His Majesty may have already bestowed him something, but still…

Jade hesitated for a moment before asking.

“About the men’s clothes…”

“Yes. Ah, don’t move.”

“Okay. Is it possible to make them without taking measurements? If I roughly tell you the sizes.”

As Betty pinned the fabric draped behind Jade, she said:

“What are the sizes?”

“Well… the shoulders are about this wide?”

Jade spread her hands wide. No, maybe even wider? She stared at the empty air doubtfully, and Betty tilted her head.

“And the waist?”

“…About this much?”

The width between her hands decreased a little.

“And the arm length?”

“…Nevermind. I don’t want to do it.”

Betty made an amused expression and drew lines on Jade’s clothing design with a swoosh.

“What’s this about? Why do you need men’s clothing all of a sudden? I’m really curious about who that lucky man is.”

“Hey, I don’t have a fiancé right now, but just in case… Ahem, and the coming-of-age ceremony is soon too…”

Jade mumbled uncertainly. Betty gave a sly smile.

“Oh my. You don’t have a fiancé, but you know his shoulder width and waist size? The shoulder width, I can understand, but the waist size is a bit unexpected. It’s not something you can easily know without hugging him.”

At those words, the image of herself holding Axel’s waist, chin tilted up as she focused intently on something, came to Jade’s mind and she was startled. As the man’s lowered eyes also flashed in her thoughts, her face turned red.

“Ah, no! Knights are almost all similar, aren’t they? Right? Am I wrong?”

“I don’t know about that. The knights have quite a variety of physiques.”

Betty smiled innocently and freed Jade from the fabric wrapped around her.

“White would be better. I’ll mix a very clean white like clouds on a clear day with a fresh cream color and such in various ways. Bright colors still suit you the best.”

“Alright. I trust you, so I’ll leave it entirely in your hands. And…”

Jade hesitated for a moment before pointing to the paper.

“Keep that design aside and don’t use it.”

If I happen to contact you, you’ll have to come running with that…

As Betty watched the territory’s heir gazing at the design with eyes full of lingering attachment, she finally burst into laughter.

Jade had entrusted the handling of various miscellaneous tasks to Bernard, her aide, and a few trustworthy members of the family. From now on, the most important thing for her to do as the successor was to show her face here and there, announcing her coming-of-age ceremony.

As it was literally an occasion to proclaim that she had become an adult, the more guests, the better.

She would probably spend more than half of the two-month preparation period handing out invitations to people.

First, she had to go to the king, so Jade quickly prepared to leave Broen Castle.

For the first time in a very long while, Mabel came out to see her off. No, it seemed almost like the first time ever.

“Grandmother.”

“Have a safe trip.”

The old woman’s eyes showed some degree of turbidity, but they were blue and clear like her father’s had been. Enough to understand why she had given the name Jade to her young granddaughter who resembled her mother’s violet eyes, in order to shun her.

No, I don’t understand. You gave me a name that denies my mother’s blood from the moment I was born, didn’t you?

I heard that Uncle, who was banned from gambling, has been drunk since last night. Were you lonely?

After pondering various thoughts, Jade eventually smiled.

“I’ll bring back a lot of people. Don’t worry. I’ll have to show this beautiful territory to many people. Right?”

“Yes…”

Mabel nodded slowly. Jade waved her hand in the air and stepped forward with the teleportation mage.

The timing was good. In the summer and fall, there were several parties and festivals hosted directly by the royal family, so there were many people staying at the townhouses in the capital as well.

That saves me the trouble of having to move around multiple times.

With that thought, Jade headed to the Broen family’s townhouse. As befitting a family with a long tradition and prestige, its location was not too far from the royal palace.

As soon as she entered the townhouse, the servants lined up in a row and offered polite greetings.

“Have you all been well?”

“Yes. It’s been a long time since you graced us with your presence.”

“I need a reason to come to the townhouse. Many people came in my place, didn’t they?”

As Jade quirked the corner of her mouth, the butler also smiled.

“Yes, Lord Felix has been here often. He hasn’t come in the past few weeks though.”

“How could he come after all that commotion? Anyway, thanks for constantly relaying messages to me by letter.”

“I merely did what I had to do, so there’s no need for you to say such things.”

The original purpose of townhouses was for renowned nobles with territories in the provinces to have a residence to stay in while in the capital.

Due to the distance, there were occasions when they escaped the family head’s influence, and in the case of the Broen family, it was even more so. Because there had been a long period without a family head at all.

So, from the time she formed a friendship with the king, Jade had put effort into organizing the townhouse. She proceeded slowly, taking a very long time, but thanks to that, she didn’t arouse anyone’s suspicion.

As a result, this place had become one of the truly safe spaces where Jade could do as she pleased.

“By the way, a few letters have arrived. Would you like to see them right away?”

“Yes. Put them on the bedroom table.”

Leaving behind the butler who politely bowed his head, Jade first cleaned herself up. And when she went to the room she always used, there were four envelopes placed on a silver tray.

Picking them up with a tilt of her head, Jade saw the writing on the paper and her face brightened.

“Oh my!”

「Gordon of the Murray Company」

It was a reply from the only merchant who traded with the Atanase Forest.