Free Web NovelPavela stood before the main gate of the Schwartz Family residence, looking at the lineup before her and feeling that today she was truly doomed.
Irene stood at the very front, looking eager to start.
Victoria stood beside her, and the two were already enthusiastically discussing the itinerary for the day.
Cecilia stood slightly behind them, holding a Victorian street map and silently planning their route.
As for Pavela—
Pavela only wanted to go back to bed.
"Alright!" Irene clapped her hands, "Let's go—"
"Wait."
A voice came from behind her. freёwebnovel.com
Pavela turned her head and saw Eleanor stepping down from the carriage.
She was wearing a set of dark blue casual clothes, much more relaxed than a military uniform, but still possessing that upright demeanor.
She was also carrying a paper bag that seemed to contain something.
"Sister!" Irene exclaimed happily, "You're back!"
"Just finished an errand," Eleanor walked over, her gaze sweeping across the group. "Where are you all off to?"
"Taking Pavela shopping!" Victoria quickly replied, "She's been hiding at home for a week; we need to drag her out to see some sunshine!"
Eleanor looked at Pavela.
Pavela sent her a silent plea for help.
Eleanor smiled slightly.
"Sounds good," she said. "I'll join you."
Pavela's plea for help vanished without a trace.
"Wonderful!" Irene cheered. "Sister is coming too! It'll be even more lively!"
Pavela sighed quietly.
I knew I couldn't count on her.
"Oh, right," Cecilia suddenly spoke up, "Charlotte said she can't make it today."
"Ah, right."
Victoria's expression became a little complicated. "Something happened at her family's place recently..."
"What happened?" Irene asked curiously.
Victoria hesitated for a moment and lowered her voice: "The Rosenthal Family's border trade routes have been attacked repeatedly lately, resulting in huge losses. Charlotte's father is overwhelmed and has restricted Charlotte from going out."
"Attacks?" Eleanor frowned. "Who did it?"
"We don't know." Victoria shook her head. "I heard even the Imperial military is investigating. And..."
Her voice dropped even lower. freēwebnovel.com
"It's rumored they lost a batch of special samples meant for the Royal Research Institute."
Special samples?
Pavela's ears perked up.
Royal Research Institute.
Special samples.
Border trade routes.
These phrases combined brought back some unpleasant memories for her.
Like the crest of the "Royal Research Institute" engraved on that sword.
Like that dark red gem that nearly caused her mental breakdown.
...The commercial street of Victorian was even more bustling than Pavela had imagined.
Various shops lined both sides of the wide stone road, standing shoulder to shoulder.
There were clothing stores—display windows showcased exquisite gowns and hats, silk and lace shimmering with a soft luster under the lights.
There were jewelry stores—glass counters were filled with various gems and precious metal works, refracting a dazzling array of colors in the sunlight.
There were candy stores—a sickly sweet aroma drifted from the entrance, making people unable to resist stepping inside to take a look.
There were also places selling books, flowers, and all sorts of strange little trinkets...
The streets were crowded with people coming and going.
Beautifully dressed noble ladies strolled leisurely, arm-in-arm with gentlemen.
Servants in neat uniforms followed behind their masters, holding shopping bags of various sizes.
Steam buses drove by slowly, the chimneys on their roofs puffing out white vapor.
The gas street lamps by the roadside were lit even during the day, their cast-iron supports carved with intricate rose patterns.
This was Victorian.
The City of Steel and Roses.
"Pavela! Come look at this!"
Victoria's voice came from up ahead.
Pavela looked up and found that the three girls had already walked quite a distance.
Victoria was standing at the entrance of a candy store, beckoning to her excitedly.
Irene stood beside her, her face also filled with anticipation.
Cecilia stood a little further back, her gaze fixed on the window of a bookstore next door.
Pavela quickened her pace to catch up.
Eleanor walked beside her, maintaining an unhurried pace.
For the next two hours, Pavela experienced what it meant for a noble miss to go shopping.
It was an activity that—
Extremely drained one's stamina.
First, the candy store.
Victoria spent a full half hour inside, tasting almost every type of candy before buying a large bag.
Irene also bought quite a bit and stuffed several pieces into Pavela's mouth, giving her no chance to refuse.
Pavela had to admit, those candies were indeed delicious.
Sweet but not cloying, melting instantly in the mouth, with all sorts of strange flavors—like rose, mint, and even one rumored to be "steam engine oil flavor."
Then, the clothing store.
Victoria and Irene darted among the various gowns and accessories as if they had discovered a new continent.
They even forcibly pushed Pavela into the fitting room and made her try on several dresses.
"This one won't do; the color is too dark."
"This one won't do either; the style is too old-fashioned."
"This one... hmm, this one is nice! Pavela, turn around so I can see!"
Pavela stiffly turned around once.
She felt like a doll being dressed up.
Cecilia stood nearby, a faint, sympathetic smile on her face.
"You'll get used to it," she whispered. "The first time Victoria dragged me shopping, I tried on seventeen outfits."
Pavela decided she must find an opportunity to escape today.
Eleanor, meanwhile, stood by the shop entrance the entire time, leisurely sipping coffee she had bought from next door, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Aren't you going to come in and help?" Pavela sent her a look of accusation while changing clothes.
"Help with what?" Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "I think they're choosing quite well."
Pavela mentally cursed Eleanor with some very dirty words.
Finally, Victoria bought three dresses for Pavela.
Pavela tried to refuse, but Victoria looked at her with an expression that implied, "How could you refuse a friend's kindness?", leaving her speechless.
Cecilia gifted her a book—"The Victorian City Guide."
"This is more practical," Cecilia said. "It has maps of all the districts in Victorian, along with introductions to various shops."
Pavela thanked her sincerely.
At least this gift would be useful to her.
Irene's gift was a hair ribbon—deep red silk embroidered with tiny roses.
"Red suits you very well," Irene said with a smile. "And it's the color of the Schwartz Family."
Pavela put the ribbon away, feeling an indescribable sensation.
Was this... the feeling of having friends?
Being surrounded by a group of people while shopping, being stuffed with various gifts, being forced to try on all sorts of strange clothes...
It was exhausting.
But—
She didn't hate it.
...The sun began to set, and the flow of people on the street gradually thinned out.
The five of them walked out of a coffee shop, having rested inside for a while.
Victoria was still chattering on about something, Irene chiming in beside her, and Cecilia occasionally interjecting a sentence or two.
Pavela and Eleanor walked behind, maintaining a comfortable distance.
"How is it?" Eleanor asked. "Are you adapting?"
Pavela glanced at her.
"Are you talking about being dragged shopping by three chatterboxes?"
"I mean," Eleanor's lips curved upward slightly, "the peaceful life."
Pavela thought for a moment.
"It's too noisy," she said. ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) "Too bright. Too many people. There are hiding spots everywhere, but nobody cares."
She paused.
"But it's not bad either."
"Oh?"
"At least the candy is delicious."
Eleanor let out a soft laugh.
Pavela looked at the backs of the three girls ahead.
Victoria was gesturing animatedly while describing something, her exaggerated movements drawing glances from passersby.
Irene was laughing so hard she was bent over.
Even Cecilia had a slight smile on her face.
Sunlight spilled over them, casting a golden halo around their figures.
Pavela suddenly felt—
This kind of life might not be so bad after all.
No smoke of war.
No bloodshed.
Only candy, dresses, laughter, and sunshine.
Perhaps, she really could—
"BOOM—!!!"
A deafening explosion erupted behind them.
