28 - Fake Married Couple Operation!

After work, Bernard went to the optician the clerk said before.
Rainbow Hall.
In the corner of the shopping district downtown, there was a shop that handled expensive glasses.
The building appearance was no different from other shops downtown. It didn’t give off the luxury vibe.
The signboard was still showing that they were open. When he peeked inside, there were a lot of glasses arranged there.
For the time being, he decided to enter and talked to them.



A good looking shopkeeper greeted him and asked what kind of product he was looking for.

“It’s for shortsightedness, but I’m not the one who will use it.”
“I understood.”

Various glasses were lined up in the shelves and glass cases in the store. The shopkeeper boasted that they were the same as the best ones you could find in the royal capital.

“Is the one who will be using it male, or female?”
“A woman.”
“Is it for your wife?”
“Ha!?”
“Please wait for a moment.”
“Wha, wai…..”

Without giving him time to deny, the shopkeeper said, “If it’s for a woman,”, and went to the back of the shop to look for some products. It seemed that the glasses stocks were not only what was displayed here.
The one that the shopkeeper brought back was a pair of glasses with a handle called a lorgnette.
The edges and handle were silver engraved with fine patterns such as flowers and vines. It was a gorgeous pair of glasses.

“This was made especially for watching the theater. It’s secretly popular within the noble ladies.”
“There is such a thing?”
“Yes.”

He held it up as the shopkeeper advised him and felt that it was quite heavy, it must be hard for women to hold it for a long time.
In the first place, glasses with handle like this was not something you used while working.
Bernard asked him to show different types.

“The ones relatively cheap are these pince-nez glasses.”

Eyeglasses that were worn on top of the nose could be used normally if the user was sitting still, but if they moved around, it could fall, he explained.
The one lately purchased was the glasses with stems that could be hung on the ears, it was stable and rarely slipped.

“The glasses with stems are somewhat expensive, but it has a great reputation around the customers.”
“Is that so.”

He asked to show him one of those glasses.
It was lighter than the lorgnette before, but it was still heavy with the thick lenses and metal borders and arms.

“You might feel uncomfortable at first, but will get used to it soon.”
“I see.”

All the items on display were good. They didn’t look cheap.

He asked if they did door-to-door sales, but the shopkeeper shook his head.
There were so many variations and the customers’ had different eyes’ measurements. The best way to find suitable glasses was for the customers to come to the shop.

“.....Alright. I will come back later.”
“Yes. We look forward to your next visit.”

He left the store and sighed. He noticed the white breath forming out and fastened his cloak’s button.
The time for the carriage was short, so he walked quickly towards the stop.

***

After returning home, Bernard consulted Gigille. How to take Agnes to the city.

“It can only be by disguising her, right.”
“Disguise…..”
“For example, Master dressed as a woman, and Agnes-san dressed as your maid.”
“Why!”
“Isn’t it rare for a man to bring a female servant? That will make you stand out in the city.”
“You’re right.”

That’s why, Agnes’s figure couldn’t be disguised as a man.

“Master.”
“What?”
“There is a way for a man and woman to walk together very naturally.”
“Stop beating around the bush, just say it quickly.”
“As a couple.”

He thought he misheard it, so he asked her once again, but Gigille only replied, “Just pretend to be a married couple, and go to the store.”

“Agnes-san won’t stand out if she wore a wide-brimmed hat and tied her hair nicely. Her figure also looks different from how she appeared in social gatherings before.”

Seeing a wrinkle formed on Bernard’s forehead, Gigille asked him a question.

“Are you dissatisfied with something?”
“No, it’s not like I’m dissatisfied, but is it really necessary to go that far?”
“It is.”

Supposed the people looking for Agnes were present in Rainbow Hall.

“They might ask something like, ‘Did you see a slim young lady with pretty golden hair and blue eyes?’.”

There were many women in the royal capital with gold hair. Most of them dyed their hair. Blonde hair was one of the characteristics of a beautiful woman in society.

“But when they see blue eyes, won’t it leave some impressions?”
“Nobody will stare at a woman’s face right. That’s rude.”
“Even for an optician?”
“I think so. When the shopkeeper wants to check the glasses have been put on, just close your eyes.”

If they took care of that, Agnes would look just like any other noble lady who went to buy glasses. There wouldn’t be any special feature remaining, Gigille said.

“Master too, let’s arrange your hair and put the best clothes on you.”
“Why do I even need to…..”
“Master too needs to look like a different person. It will be troublesome if you meet an acquaintance, right?”
“Ah, right.”

Since he had no other idea, he decided to go with Gigille’s plan.

“--But, before that, there is something that you need to put on.”

When he asked about it, the reply was not something he expected.

“It is the natural atmosphere of a married couple.”
“Is that really needed?”
“It’s absolutely necessary.”

If they looked awkward, they would look suspicious.
But he pointed out that it was normal for a newlywed couple to be awkward. However Gigille said that’s not true.

“Even for a newlywed, after they spent the night together, they can break the awkwardness.”
“I don’t understand that logic.”
“You will when you get married.”
“Is that so.”

Bernard didn’t look convinced. Gigille once again pleaded.

“It’s not like I told you to spend night together, but please--”
“I know. I know it already, so don’t say anymore than that.”

She told him to not be lovey dovey, but at least they wouldn’t look uncomfortable when standing side by side.

“Won’t it be difficult to act like that.”
“Yes, but it’s for Agnes-san’s sake. Think of it as thanking her for nursing you back then, please put some effort on it.”
“. . . . .”

Bernard agreed albeit reluctantly.

“Then, what should I do?”
“Let’s try to make Agnes-san play the role of your wife for one week.”
“That’s why I said, there’s no need--”
“There is. Besides, if she can’t see well, she can’t do her job as a servant properly.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Yes. Let’s continue to take care of Miel.”

In the first place, she was only told to take care of the kitten when she was brought here.
He initially thought that she didn’t need to do anything else because she couldn’t do it anyway, but unexpectedly Agnes was a hard worker.

To put it in words, Agnes had been refraining herself to be a burden. However, Gigille persuaded him forcefully and somehow managed to go with her plan.

***

In the morning, after Bernard dressed himself up, he went to the dining room.
It was raining outside. If he didn’t leave early today, the carriage would be crowded, he thought as he walked through the corridor.

As he entered the dining room, his eyes met with Agnes’s, who was already sitting there.
She got up in a hurry and greeted him.

“.....You’re early.”
“Yes. Good morning, Master.”

Gigille watched the situation. The two of them stood blankly.

“Master. ‘You’re early’ is not a proper greeting.”
“.....Whatever is fine, right.”
“It is not!”

Agnes was flustered, she thought it was her fault he got blamed.
The attention turned to her because of that.

“Agnes-san too.”
“Ye, yes.”
“You don’t need to raise from your seat when you meet your husband. And then, you must not call him Master, please call him by his name.”
“I understand.”

When he thought she was done with her review, Gigille suggested that they did it once more.

“Well, no, we can do this properly from tomorrow--”
“That’s not good!”
“Ok, ok, I get it. --Morning.”

He asked if that’s alright with his eyes towards Gigille.

“Well, that’s fine. Now it’s Agnes-san’ turn.”
“Yes. Good morning….. Be, Bernard-sama.”

Her cheeks blushed just by calling his name. This was no good, Gigille thought.

“You need to practice calling his name.”
“.....Yes.”
“Master too, please accompany her.”
“If I have the time.”

The atmosphere during breakfast was perfect. But, there were a lot of problems.
Gigille alone was determined on how to make a married couple atmosphere between them.

==========================

Gigille is so cool like always, but I bet it won’t be easy to make Bernard and Agnes together. Agnes calling Bernard his name was just too cute (〃▽〃)

Also, you can now support me on ko-fi!

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