It Seems That the Slave Girl Is Actually a Count's Daughter. - Episode 5: Regret Comes Too Late

Episode 5: Regret Comes Too Late 

I draped a cloak over Pamela, hiding her soft, beautiful hair under the hood. And we headed toward the shopping district in the upscale residential area. The prices here were high, but the quality matched. If we bought clothes here, there would be no problem with a count’s daughter wearing them. 

First, I had to buy Pamela some clothes. Naturally, I didn’t have any women’s clothing at home. And I couldn’t keep her wrapped up in that stifling, plain hooded cloak forever. 

Of course, I had never bought women’s clothes before. So I had to rely on Pamela for that. 

“Pamela, you need some clothes. Pick whatever you like.” 

“Is that really alright?” 

“Of course. Don’t worry about the cost.” 

Platinum-ranked adventurers received hefty rewards for their quests. If the quest involved subjugating monsters, I could sell the materials for even more profit. 

I had spent ten platinum coins to buy Pamela. But I still had over a thousand left. There was no way I could ever use it all. Unless you were a high-ranking noble, no one carried this much money. 

I led Pamela into a boutique specializing in women’s clothing. When she removed her cloak, the female store clerks gasped. Their eyes widened as they inhaled sharply. 

Her smooth, fair skin, her flowing hair cascading down her back. A stunning figure with all the right curves in all the right places. 

Yeah, I get it. Even women would react that way. Let alone men. 

I barely restrained the corners of my mouth from twitching into a grin and forced myself to remain composed. 

“I need clothes that suit this girl. Let her choose. There’s no spending limit.” 

“Y-yes, of course!” 

The clerks’ expressions changed instantly. They sprang into action. They were bustling around to fulfill Pamela’s requests. 

Since I had nothing to do, I sank into a sofa, leaned back, and quietly waited. 

A few minutes later, I was regretting leaving the choice to Pamela. 

“Um… El-sama, how about this…?” 

Pamela stood before me, fidgeting. Her cheeks were already flushed a rosy hue. And her ears were quickly following suit. 

If you’re embarrassed, then why did you pick such a sheer negligee?! I can see your underwear! I don’t know where to look! 

To hide my pounding heartbeat, I rested my elbows on my thighs, clasped my hands together in front of my face, and leaned forward. There, problem solved. 

“Pamela, why did you choose that?” 

“Well, I was told that men like this kind of thing…” 

My tone must have been too low, too cold. Pamela flinched. Maybe my gaze was too sharp as well. 

But I had to ask—who told you that?! A store clerk? Or your mother-in-law?! I can’t take this. I feel like sighing my soul out. 

“I see. It suits you well. We’ll buy it. But also choose something with less exposure—something for everyday wear. I don’t know where to look. What if someone else sees you like this?” 

I shot a sharp glance at the store clerks. But instead of reacting as I expected, one of them let out a squeal. 

Wait… Did I just say something weird again? 

“I understand! I’ll also prepare outfits that are appropriate for others to see. Ufufu, after all, you’d want some things to be just between the two of you, right?” 

One of the clerks said this with a knowing smirk. 

No! That’s not what I meant! I wasn’t saying, “Anything goes when it’s just the two of us!” 

Pamela, stop blushing and looking down! And for the love of everything, do something about that see-through outfit! 

After that, the store clerks must have stepped in to help. Because Pamela finished shopping without turning it into a fashion show in front of me again. 

When they handed me a bag packed with clothes, I hesitated to check its contents. Honestly, I was scared. 

The fact that Pamela, of all people, had managed to unnerve a Platinum-ranked adventurer this much… truly terrifying. 

I casually tossed a platinum coin their way, telling them to keep the change. They were astonished. But they understood the unspoken message—part of that was hush money. 

As I glanced at them meaningfully, the clerks all nodded vigorously. As expected from a high-class boutique—well-trained. 

They gawked in amazement as I stored all the clothes into the [Abyssal Pit] without a word.

—

I had Pamela change into the clothes we had just bought. Of course, I chose a modest outfit without a plunging neckline. Now dressed in a sky-blue one-piece dress, she looked her age. It was a stark contrast to the provocative and mature outfit from earlier. 

“Pamela, it suits you well.” 

“Ah, th-thank you…” 

Her voice trailed off, and her face gradually turned red. I needed to do something about this habit of hers—her emotions showed too easily. That wouldn’t be ideal for a noblewoman. Nobles needed to master the art of maintaining an unreadable poker face. 

“Alright, let’s go restock some food. Is there anything you don’t like?” 

“No, I can eat anything… probably.” 

Hmm. I should be careful when choosing food. It’s best to avoid anything that looks unappetizing, like insects, even if it tastes good. The appearance alone might be too much. I didn’t want to give her any unnecessary trauma. 

“I see. Then let’s start with vegetables. After that, we’ll buy meat and fish. We’ll also need drinks. Can you handle alcohol?” 

“O-Of course!” 

…………..Suspicious. 

My sixth sense was screaming, “She’s lying.” She was probably either terrible at drinking or couldn’t drink at all. I’d have to keep an eye on that. 

If she turned out to be the kind who stripped when drunk, that would be a disaster. My self-control might not hold. 

We made the rounds at the vegetable shop, butcher, fishmonger, and liquor store before heading home. I had considered eating out. But since the sun was still high, I decided to save that for another time. Besides, Pamela mentioned she could cook, and I wanted to see her skills. 

D-Don’t get the wrong idea, okay? It’s not like I want to eat Pamela’s homemade food or anything! 

“We’re back. Shiro, were you a good boy?” 

“…What’s this? You’ve never said anything like that before. What’s with the change of heart?” 

Shiro looked at me with a blank stare. He really needed to learn to read the room. I was already tense about the upcoming nighttime hours. 

Shiro had it easy—just lounging around the house all day. 

“Sir Shiro, I brought you a souvenir.” 

“Yaaay! Churutoro!” 

Pamela handed Shiro a Churutoro, which he eagerly gnawed on. He really looked just like a real cat. It was hard to believe he was created through summoning magic. That just proves how talented I am. 

Pamela watched the scene, crouched down. Her eyes were sparkling like stars. 

“Oh, Pamela, you don’t have to use honorifics with me. I don’t like being called ‘sir’ by a noble lady.” 

“I’m a slave, though……… Understood. *Shiro-chan*, is that alright?” 

“Okay!” 

Ah, so she’s sticking with the whole “slave” thing. Personally, I think she could drop that already. If the noble circles found out I had a count’s daughter bound by a slave contract, things would get really troublesome. 

Anyway, not that it matters. But from Shiro’s angle, Pamela’s underwear was probably completely visible in that crouched position. Not that I noticed or anything. Shaking off my impure thoughts, I turned toward the icehouse. 

Storing vegetables and meat in the icehouse allowed for long-term preservation. It was just a simple underground room where I placed magically conjured, non-melting ice. But it was surprisingly convenient. 

As I casually pulled food out of [Abyssal Pit], Pamela walked over. 

“This is an impressive icehouse. It’s just as good as the one at my family’s estate. And this ice… could it be non-melting ice?! My family doesn’t even have that! This is amazing!” 

Pamela clapped her hands in admiration. 

Yeah, you’re not even trying to hide it anymore, are you? 

Still, pointing that out would kill the mood. I’d let it slide for now. 

Once the food was put away, the next step was preparing Pamela’s room. There was a guest room on the second floor that had never been used before. But now, it finally had a purpose. 

“Pamela, you can use this room however you like.” 

“I refuse.” 

“What?!” 

She rejected me immediately. She was staring back with unwavering determination. 

“A slave like me does not need a room. I will always serve by your side, El-sama.”

So that’s how she plays it. Words can be quite flexible, huh? What should I do? 

Well, my room is spacious enough that an extra person staying there wouldn’t be a big deal……. but is this really okay? 

Still, I decided to respect her wishes. She came here with that level of resolve, after all. 

That was just the polite excuse, though. The real reason? I was scared she might cry. And if she did, I wouldn’t have the slightest clue how to comfort her. 

In hindsight, I should have dated more ladies to prepare for situations like this. Too late now. Maybe I should ask Mother for advice… 

“Alright. Then let’s move everything you bought into my room.” 

“Yes!” 

Pamela beamed with joy. Yeah, let’s just say this was the right call. 

I brought the wardrobe from the guest room into mine and told Pamela to store her new clothes inside. 

I silently watched her. I was a little worried if she’d organize everything properly. But as I observed her putting things away… glimpses of her underwear kept catching my eye. 

Wait a second—was that even underwear? 

It barely covered anything. If she told me it was just strings, I’d believe her without question. 

Pamela must have noticed too. Her face gradually turned redder and redder as she continued. 

Sigh. 

I wanted to say it out loud— 

THEN WHY DID YOU EVEN BUY IT!?