Unnamed Memory - Volume 1 - Chapter SS

Extra

Colorful clothing hung throughout the little tent. Amid the exotically scented interior, Oscar selected a pure-white dress and tossed it to the witch at his side.

“Try this one on next. It’ll look good on you,” he said.

“What? Ugh, what do you think you’re doing…?” Tinasha answered, pulling a face as she took the dress into the back of the tent to change.

While normally these two would have been shut up in the castle study at this time of day, today they were perusing a street merchant’s tent that had been set up in the castle city plaza. This had been their compromise.

Oscar had insisted, “My senses are so dulled, I have to get outside.”

While Tinasha had shot back with, “I won’t let you go. Think of your position.”

In the end, they’d donned disguises and ventured into the city together. Oscar seemed to be having a great time dressing Tinasha up.

The witch emerged from the back, tugging on the hem of the dress with an exasperated look. She glared up at her companion. “Here, I’m all changed. Are you satisfied?”

The high collar framing her tiny face looked like flower petals, and the billowy skirt accentuated her slender body and flared out like a blooming bud. She looked mystical, and Oscar broke into a grin. “It looks good on you. I’m gonna buy this one, too; then we can head back.”

“This is so hard to move in; when am I going to wear it? Why have you been buying me clothes anyway?” Tinasha asked.

“I think it’s nice to change things up once in a while,” Oscar replied.

The crown prince’s daily routine was packed with all sorts of responsibilities to attend to, and he never got a chance to take a break. He was aware that such things were his duty but still sometimes felt strangely low-spirited and in need of diversion.

When such moods took him, he usually felt better after spending some time with his protector. Perhaps the reason was that, while Tinasha respected Oscar as her contractee, she didn’t care very much at all about the status and responsibilities that came with his royal position.

Catching a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror, Tinasha tied up her long hair to match the dress. “If you’re quite done, let’s go back. Lazar is probably in tears by now.”

“I really wanted to take my time picking out clothes for you, though… Next, I planned to select accessories,” Oscar said.

“We’re leaving! I’ve had enough, and I’m tired!” Tinasha cried, signifying that she was almost at her limit.

Oscar placed a hand on top of the petite witch’s head. “All right. Honestly, it was a surprise you put up with it for this long. I thought for sure you’d have made your escape by now.”

While Tinasha had worn a scowl the entire time, she’d still accompanied Oscar on his diversion. He wondered what whim had possessed her to suffer through it, but she turned her face aside. In a clear voice, she answered, “I know very well how hard you work each day.”

Oscar’s eyes widened a little.

Without a doubt, Tinasha was the one person who, more than anyone else, saw Oscar as just a man. Even when the world revered him as royalty.

That was why he loved being with her and why he wanted her to think of him as he did her.

“I see… In that case, wanna get married? I’d love to dress you up like a bride.”

“I do not! All right, it’s time to go home! Right away! No detours!” Tinasha declared, holding out a hand to Oscar. He accepted it with a grin. Even the return trip to the castle didn’t bore him.