The next morning, I threw open the doors to Violet's closet. It was a painful sight.

Everywhere I looked, there were absurdly large dresses in all kinds of bright colors. There was a mound of stilettos with impossibly high heels. There was even a table covered in gaudy accessories.

This woman had no sense of fashion! She probably just dressed this way to attract the attention of Prince Elias. But in the game, Elias insulted her sense of style, and compared her to Adelaide.

Prince Elias: "You reek of impurity. Your clothes are like that of a harlot."

Prince Elias: "You could never be as beautiful as Adelaide."

That guy was a total jerk! I honestly couldn't understand what Violet saw in him. He had no idea what pains she went through to dress up for him each day, just so he would notice her. Instead of appreciating that, he publicly berated her in front of the entire academy.

Violet might be weird, but she didn't deserve that!

I shook my head as I browsed through the closet, searching for anything that I could comfortably wear. It took some time, but I eventually found a gown that could pass for normal. It was a baby blue dress with white lace embellishments. It had a snug waistline, but the skirt was loose and flowy. The only non-heeled shoes I could find were a pair of satin slippers.

Shortly after I finished dressing, the maid knocked on the door.

"You may enter," I called.

She came into the room, pushing a rolling cart topped with covered trays.

Her eyes roamed over my figure, "What are you wearing?"

I flipped my hair over my shoulder, "From henceforth, I want to wear more fashionable clothes. Ones that I can easily maneuver in. I plan to spend more time outside my room, so those stuffy dresses no longer suit me."

I should have been careful making so many large changes in Violet's personality at one time, but there was no way I could continue to wear the things in that closet.

"I regret to inform you, my lady, that you have no such clothing," she answered, as she positioned the cart in front of the chaise. She uncovered the dishes, revealing a mouth-watering array of foods, from fresh fruit to pastries to tender meats. As someone who had once subsisted only on instant noodles and energy drinks, this was a dream come true.

I resisted the urge to shovel food in my mouth, and sliced open a pastry. Its crust was light and flaky, and it was filled with a light cream. I took a dainty bite, doing my best to behave as a noble lady.

I crossed my legs and tapped my fork against my lower lip as I chewed. I was now the daughter of a duke. I could simply go out and buy new clothes. But what would happen to the garments currently in the closet? It would be wasteful to discard them, and considering how they looked, I doubted that I could even give them away.

Though I had been thrust into the upper class after I transmigrated, I was still a poor college student at heart.

"In that case, call a seamstress. I want to alter the dresses. After that, I want to go into town and purchase some new shoes."

The dresses could be fixed, but the same could not be done for the shoes. I had no choice but to buy an entirely new set.

Moreover, I was anxious to go outside. I had spent the last day cooped up in my room, and I was starting to get restless.

"...as you wish, my lady."

§

By the time I finished breakfast, the seamstress had already arrived. She was a middle-aged lady with a kind disposition. She listened to my request, and even put forth a few suggestions of her own. After taking my measurements and assuring me that she would be able to realize my vision, she began to work.

The maid arranged for a carriage to take us into the city. As the coachman helped me up the stairs, I found that someone was already inside.

Kalyx was sitting with his arms crossed. He flashed a bright smile as I entered.

"I heard you wanted to go to town, and I thought I would accompany you."

"Oh, I see. Thank you, Kalyx."

He waved his hand, "I know you are trying to be more mature, but there's no need to be formal. Just call me 'Kal,' like you always do."

"In that case, thank you, Kal."

Kal gave a chuckle, "When you were a baby, you used to call me 'Kawyx.' You would follow me around, clinging to my leg. You were so cute. One time, you..."

I stared out of the window, watching the passing scenery as Kalyx regaled me with tales of Violet's childhood. He droned on and on, to the point that I wanted to cry. It was as though he had committed each moment of Violet's life to memory, even the most mundane details.

Thankfully, we soon reached our destination. I all but leapt from the carriage, desperate to escape Kal's rambling.

As we entered the shoe shop, one of the clerks greeted us and inquired about the nature of our visit. I explained that I was in search of simple shoes. He led me to a fitting room with velvet stools and rows upon rows of shelves stacked with all sorts of shoes. The clerk collected a few pairs that he thought would suit my taste, and presented them to me. As he was explaining the designs of each, Kal suddenly interrupted.

"Why not buy this?" he said, holding up a pair of glittering heels covered in gemstones and ribbons. To be blunt, they were ugly. Probably the most hideous shoes I had ever laid eyes upon. I struggled to think of some way to politely reject him.

"I'm not really interested..." I began, but Kal had already handed it to the clerk for purchase.

This happened several more times, and each pair that Kal brought seemed to be uglier than the last.

I was beginning to get frustrated. It seemed that I would not be able to get anything done as long as he was around. 

I cleared my throat, "Kal, could you please go find me a pair of shoes made of...solid gold? I've heard that they are better for...arch support. And, um, they must be cushioned with velvet, for comfort. Oh, and they must have diamond-encrusted soles"

I half-expected him to refuse on the grounds that it sounded so absurd. But it seemed that he could not deny his sister's demands, no matter how ridiculous they were.

"Of course, Vi. Anything for you."

Kal set off to locate something that fit my specifications. In his absence, I informed the clerk that I would be purchasing all of the shoes he had recommended, then told him that I would be leaving to get a breath of air.

Once outside, I went to sit on the edge of a nearby fountain in the middle of a plaza. I stretched, pleased to have escaped Kal. He was a great guy, but he was too overbearing!

I observed my surroundings. The town was fairly crowded at this time. Noble women passed with their entourages, gossiping behind their folding fans. Families with young children walked along the promenade, window shopping. Servants scuttled back and forth, carrying out the orders of their employers.

All in all, this world did not seem too bad. Of course, I would have preferred to live in an era where we had such conveniences as Wi-Fi or microwave ovens, but this was not a bad place to transmigrate to.

Suddenly, my thoughts were scattered by a shout, "Someone, please help me!"

I leapt up and scanned the crowd for the source. There, at the mouth of an alley, was a young woman surrounded by a band of ruffians. One of them had latched onto her arm, and was attempting to drag her somewhere.

There were throngs of people throughout the plaza, but none of them seemed keen to help her. Some watched, while others continued about their business. It seemed that no one would come to her aid.

My body was already in motion. I dashed in their direction. The men had their backs to me, so they did not see my approach. I raised my leg and planted a kick on the backside of the man that had grabbed hold of her.

He gave a shout of pain as he was flung forward. His comrades gaped at me in shock. I took advantage of their surprise to grab the girl's hand.

"Come on!"

The two of us took off, with the group of men shouting behind us. I lead her through the streets, desperate to put as much distance between us and her harassers as much as possible. When I felt that we had gotten far enough away, we paused to collect our breath.

I turned to the woman, "Are you ok—hyaah?!"

I hadn't gotten a good glimpse at the woman earlier. But now, I was met with a pair of familiar honey-gold eyes.

"Thank you for saving me," she said, giving a low curtsy. "My name is Adelaide Leclair, and I am in your debt."