Otherworldly Shoppers

-----Kaede's POV

Clerk: "Good afternoon- Ah! Lady Leinhart!"

Iris: "Hehe."

After we visited Yui's place, her mom decided to join us on our way to the capital to meet up with the queen. But along the way, we enter a few clothing stores for the two people who have been walking around in nothing but bedsheets this entire time.

Clerk: "What can I do for you?"

Yui: "I was wondering if you have any clothes available for the man just outside."

The clerk takes a look behind us as he notices Melanthos standing outside the store.

Clerk: "I uhh. I don't think we have anything here that'll fit his size."

...

And yet again, another failed attempt.

Iris: "I guess we'll just have to make something for him."

Natalie: "I can help with that, my lady."

Neda: "Oh oh! Could I also get one made?"

Mai: "I still don't understand why you didn't choose any of the clothes in those stores."

Neda: "Like I said~ This bed sheet is really comfy, all those other clothes were far too tight."

However, the polar opposite was said for Neda. We entered four stores in total now and all of them had clothes that could fit her size, yet she insisted on wearing the bed sheet. When she first arrived, my first impression was nothing but positive, but I'm surprised to see how picky she is; which is nothing like Erytheia. Even though she's still wearing Faye's old clothes when she was young, we actually managed to buy a few sets of clothes for her, the person who I thought to be the most picky out of the bunch was surprisingly the most cooperative .

Kaede: "You sure have it rough."

Mai: "Hahh~"

Kaede: "I can see why you wanted to escape and get yourself trapped here."

Mai: "Hehe. That might be the case."

We spoke through our minds as to not to offend anyone around us.

Natalie: "If you're looking for a dress that's like that, then I could design a dress for you as well, Neda."

Neda: "Really?! Thank you~"

Yeah, she's definitely a spoiled sort of type. I wouldn't be surprise that she denied all those clothes because Melanthos was going to get custom made clothes.

Iris: "Well, then shall we split up? Ell- uh, Yui can take Natalie and the others to get their clothes sorted out, and the rest of us can meet with the queen?"

Lillian: "Then I think sister and I will head back to Kaede's place in the meantime."

Sicily: "Mhmm!"

Fleur/Faye: "Same here."

And so, we end up splitting into three groups. Because of my deal with Ilfa, I have to remain by Fabian's side, especially if he's going to be following Iris to the queen. I'd love to see how the clothes will be made, but there's no other way.

Kaede: "Don't have too much fun without me."

Yui: "Haha. I'll try not to."

And with a smile, we all depart, with Yui taking Mai, Neda, Melanthos, Erytheia and Natalie, while I'm with Mell, Lilith, Iris and Fabian. Fleur, Faye, Lillian and Sicily end up returning back to my place.

...

Lilith: "Hahh~"

Thankfully, since we're joined with Yui's mother, we end up riding in a carriage which has surely taken a load off of mom. Even while we were walking around the stores, I could tell that she was getting tired. Hopefully she'll be walking around fine soon, but it does make me worry about the queen overworking her like this when we do arrive.

Lilith: "Thank you."

Iris: "Hehe. You can relax now."

It honestly feels a bit weird to be with Yui's family without her. I think this is the first time this has happened, even in our past life.

Iris: "So? What was it that you wanted to talk about?"

Fabian: "Ah, well... It's about Rina."

Iris: "The dark elf?"

Fabian: "Mm. I don't know. Something still doesn't feel right."

Iris: "Well that was a show you put on that day, fufu."

Fabian: "Sorry."

Iris: "So then? What doesn't feel right exactly?"

Fabian: "Well... If I'm honest, Rina and I were seeing each other prior to Ilfa. But... I just find it weird."

Iris: "What was weird exactly?"

Fabian: "How she seemed happy. I don't know if it's because she's an elf, but something feels off about it."

Iris: "Ah~ I see. So you feel as though what you and Rina had wasn't as serious as you thought it was?"

Fabian: "..."

I didn't expect to hear all this. I did think it was odd seeing Rina concede like that, but everyone seemed to be happy with the outcome. I guess I was wrong.

Lilith: "Love is a strange thing, haha."

Iris: "Fufu. It sure is."

Fabian: "Actually, mom. Did you ever love father?"

Iris: "Oh, uhh... No, sorry. Our marriage wasn't born out of love, but that's normal for families like ours."

Fabian: "I figured..."

Iris: "Are you disappointed, Fabian?"

Fabian: "Not really. But I do wonder why you and father decided to have Ellen and I."

Iris: "Ah, yeah. We needed to leave decendants for our family, which I hope to see you continue as well."

Fabian: "...R-right."

Iris: "Oh, and also please try and get used to calling Ellen by Yui instead, okay?"

Fabian: "Her adventure name?"

Iris: "Yes. Please, Fabian."

Fabian: "I'll... I'll try."

I feel as though I shouldn't be here overhearing all of this. I wouldn't mind it if Yui was here, but now all I can do is just sit down and listen. Well, at least I have Mell and mom next to me. I think I'd die if I was all alone with Iris and Fabian.

-----Yui's POV

Natalie: "Alright~ Let's get your guys' measurements."

Once we arrived back home, we went into one of the storage rooms where Natalie and another maid brought out some measuring tapes. Since Melanthos could only enter through the main door, we ended up finding a spot that didn't need us to go though any of the doors inside, but that would leave us open to anyone passing by.

Maid: "Who shall we do first?"

Neda: "Me!"

Melanthos: "I'm the eldest, so I think I should go first. Plus you're not the one struggling to find clothes."

Neda: "Fine~"

Erytheia: "Well if you two are getting something made, then could I also get something made?"

Maid: "Sure thing!"

Seems like Erytheia also wants something tailored for her as well. I sure have my hands full now, huh.

Natalie: "Then we'll start with you, Melanthos. Could you please raise your arms like this?"

Melanthos: "Yes!

Natalie: "Uhm... Could you also bend down for us as well?"

Melanthos: "Sure."

I was wondering why we needed a second maid for this, but now it makes sense. Melanthos is so huge that it'd be difficult if not impossible to wrap the tape around even his waist with one person. So with combined effort of Natalie and the other maid, they slowly but surely managed to write down his measurements.

Maid: "Alright, I'll start getting some supplies ready."

Natalie: "Mhmm. I'll finish measuring these two."

Neda: "Me next!"

She sure does have a bright personality. I've never seen someone so excited about everything they see.

Natalie: "Okay, then we'll start with your arm span as well. Please raise your hands like this."

Neda: "Got it."

Unlike with Melanthos, Natalie could easily measure Neda's arms on her own. However, when it came to Neda's chest, things became a little difficult.

Neda: "Th-that feels funny."

Natalie: "Sorry, but please bare with it."

Neda: "Mmmm!"

Thankfully, Natalie chose to measure around the bedsheets. I guess they're thin enough for it to not matter too much, but I can only imagine how much worse it'd be measuring Neda without something covering her body if she's already moaning like this.

Erytheia: "I've never heard you make that noise before."

Neda: "C-cut it out~"

Natalie: "Almost done."

Neda: "Mm-mmm!~"

Natalie: "Keep still please."

Melanthos: "Hahah! How weak."

Natalie: "And done!"

Neda: "Hahh~"

Neda lets out a sigh of relief after having her chest now free from Natalie's clutches. I remember when the maids had to take my measurement before going to the academy, but I never reacted like Neda. Actually I don't think I reacted at all. I guess with her being newly born into this world, maybe she would be quite sensitive to a lot of new things?

Thankfully, we ran into no more hiccups with the rest of Neda's measurements as Natalie finished up with no issues.

Natalie: "Okay. So was it, Erytheia?"

Erytheia: "Yes."

Natalie: "Would you prefer having your clothes on, or off?"

Erytheia: "Which would be easier?

Natalie: "...Whatever would be most comfortable for you, hehe."

I guess Natalie is a little nervous now after dealing with Neda. But suddenly, Erytheia starts stripping her clothes off of her in front of all of us, with only Natalie and I standing in shock at the sight before us.

Erytheia: "There. The clothes are nice, but I prefer being like this."

Natalie: "F-fair enough!"

Honestly, Erytheia right now reminds me of Mell back when she didn't enter her absurd growth spurt after becoming a vampire. There's nothing that crazy with Erytheia, but I guess what makes this weird is how carefree she is, almost as if she has no idea what shame even is.

With that said, it did make the measuring take a lot less time as Natalie finished within a few minutes, allowing Erytheia to put her clothes back on with some assistance from Mai.

Natalie: "Phew. That might've been the most stressful measuring session I've done."

Yui: "Haha. At least you managed to get through them."

Natalie: "Yeah, but I swear. Those three sure are odd. I've never heard someone moan from getting measured before."

Yui: "Y-yeah..."

Despite the labor with measuring Melanthos and the carefreeness of Erytheia, Neda was clearly the worst out of the bunch. At least with the others they all remained still, but with Neda, she was squirming around nearly the whole time, making Natalie's job even worse. I just hope this was all worth it. I swear if Neda isn't satisfied after this, then I might just ask Mai to send these guys back to where they came from, or at least have them secluded in that cabin, leaving them to their bed sheets.