Ch. 1: Expectation
Land of Stars, Scor, Month of Mist…-
I had arrived in Scor at the invitation of Prince Antares.
Antares: “Welcome.”
OO: “Wow…”
With an elegant smile, he handed me a beautiful bouquet of roses.
OO: “Thank you so much. They’re very lovely…”
Antares: “…”
As I held the bouquet in my hands, Antares looked at me curiously.
OO: “Um, is something wrong?”
Antares: “You…”
Suddenly, Antares’ handsome face drew close to me.
OO: “!?”
His long, glossy red hair was swayed slightly.
(H-his face is too close!)
Antares: “With a little polish, you could shine much brighter.”
OO: “Eh?”
Antares squinted at me, as if he was planning something, and I could do nothing other than stand there blinking.
Ch. 2: Project
The next day…-
Antares had called for me to come to his room.
Antares: “I’m glad you’re here.”
Looking around, I saw many beautiful dresses and accessories lined up.
In addition to the beautiful clothes, a few lovely ladies stood at the ready beside Antares.
OO: “Um, what’s all this?”
Antares: “All of these dresses are in your size. And these girls are my attendants.”
OO: “Attendants?”
Antares: “Yes, for coordination and make-up.”
OO: “Y-you have attendants for that?”
Antares: “I like beautiful things. And I want to make you more beautiful.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Antares: “Beauty is a virtue.”
The girls all nodded in agreement.
Antares: “People are attracted to beautiful things. And beauty is born from meetings and relationships.”
(What can I say to that?)
OO: “I-I don’t think that’s quite right.”
Antares: “You don’t think so? I’m not wrong.”
(I guess there are people who feel just as he says.)
OO: “I suppose so…”
Antares: “Now you understand.”
Antares’ eyes sparkled…-
Antares: “Now, let us begin.”
His smile was more elegant than anything I had ever seen, and so I simply entrusted myself to him and his attendants.
Ch. 3: Magic
Antares: “Now, let us begin at once.”
Antares threw an elegant smile at me.
OO: “When you say begin…”
Antares: “As I said, I’m going to try my hand at making you more beautiful.”
OO: “I-I’m fine like this.”
Antares: “You were born as a lady, even more so, you were born as a princess. If I fail to make you beautiful, may I be struck down.”
OO: “Then…please do.”
Antares: “Right, leave it to me.”
Antares smiled in elation.
Antares: “Now then…first, let’s hear what your aspirations are. Where would you like to start?”
OO: “Well…I’ll start with the dresses.”
Antares: “…”
Antares surveyed the dresses that were lined up.
Antares: “For the dress, let’s go with this light blue one.”
OO: “In that case…I’d like to start with the cosmetics first.”
Antares: “Alright.”
Antares stepped towards me in excitement.
Then he suddenly put his hand behind my neck and gently ran it through my hair.
OO: “!”
Antares: “We’ll put your hair up, with a pearl comb. And then…”
At Antares’ direction, the girls burst into action.
OO: “U-um…”
Then I could only feel a sudden soft, tickling sensation against my cheek.
OO: “…!”
Antares: “Don’t have your head. Just stay perfectly still.”
Antares lightly patted my cheeks with a make-up brush.
Under his practiced hands, I was applied with bit after bit of cosmetics…-
…
……
Antares: “There, what do you think?”
OO: “…”
From Antares’ magic, the person I saw reflected in the mirror was someone I didn’t recognize.