Chapter 59: Phyllis, Let Me Help You Change Clothes!

“That’s true.”

Mia nodded and continued focusing on the fish dish.

After lunch, sunlight cast dappled patterns on the table.

Phyllis took small sips of post-meal honey tea, occasionally glancing at the Mirror Magic Tool resting on her lap—the bat decoration that Carola had transformed into lay quietly there, its ruby eyes glinting now and then in the light.

Fortunately, Carola seemed to trust Mia completely.

To an orange cat, Phyllis probably wasn’t as appealing as the food on the plate.

“Speaking of which, for this afternoon’s meditation class, should we wear the formal robe or the training uniform?”

Mia’s voice pulled Phyllis back to reality.

The orange cat had already finished everything on her plate and was now licking the corners of her mouth with satisfaction.

“It should be the formal robe, meow…”

Phyllis thought for a moment.

“After all, it’s our first time performing ceremonial meditation in front of the Cat God statue. I remember when High Priestess Iona first took me, I had to wear that white robe with gold trim.”

“Ah! That tight-waisted robe? No way~”

Mia let out a wail and collapsed completely into her chair.

Phyllis couldn’t help but laugh.

“Haha, whose fault is it that you ate so much at lunch, meow?”

“You ate plenty too, Phyllis!”

“Not as much as you, meow!”

“…”

They chatted a little longer, then both got up and returned to their small rooms to change.

Phyllis went up the stairs to the second floor.

As she passed Iona’s room, she peeked inside.

Iona wasn’t there.

Relieved, Phyllis walked back to her own room.

Closing the door, she gently placed the Mirror Magic Tool on the vanity.

“Carola, I’m going to change clothes now, meow~”

She whispered to the bat decoration.

The bat decoration didn’t react, just like an ordinary accessory.

Phyllis pursed her lips and began unbuttoning her clothes.

Her black jacket slid off, revealing the white shirt underneath.

She turned her back to the mirror, about to take off the shirt—

Click.

A very soft sound.

Phyllis whirled around and saw Carola, back in her original form.

Carola was clearly just waking up; her red eyes were unusually hazy.

“Good afternoon~”

Carola greeted Phyllis.

“Good afternoon, meow~”

Suddenly remembering something, Phyllis—despite wearing only her underwear—rushed to the window and closed it.

Even though the silver patterns protected Carola from sun damage, Phyllis knew Carola didn’t exactly like sunlight.

Plus, closing the window made it easier to…

“Why did you suddenly wake up, meow?”

Phyllis turned back to ask.

After all, as a member of the Blood Tribe, Carola usually woke up at night and slept during the day. She rarely woke up at noon.

“I heard you say you were going to change clothes, and it woke me up,” Carola blinked her red eyes and looked at Phyllis.

“Hmm, nice taste in clothes today~”

With the curtains drawn, the room’s light softened.

Only then did Phyllis realize she was standing in front of Carola in nothing but thin underwear, and her cheeks grew warm.

But soon she puffed out her chest and let Carola admire her openly.

After all, there was nothing wrong with acting this way in front of someone she liked.

“You look cute when you’re shy.”

Carola reached out and pinched Phyllis’s slightly heated cat ears.

“Who’s shy, meow!”

Phyllis slapped Carola’s hand away.

“Yes, yes, yes~”

Carola stepped back two paces and sat gracefully on the edge of the bed, propping her chin on one hand.

“But do you actually know how to put on the formal robe? Last time, that cat person named Iona helped you. She’s not here this time, you know~”

From the time they had spent together in the castle, Carola naturally knew that Phyllis was, if not completely clueless about how to wear formal robes, then pretty close.

“Uh…”

Phyllis froze.

She had wanted to refute Carola’s words.

But… she probably, maybe, sort of… really wasn’t good at wearing these complicated outfits.

After all, in her previous life, she’d struggled just to learn how to tie a tie, let alone this ritual robe with its layers of crisscrossing laces and intricate fastenings.

For her, it was hell mode.

Seeing Phyllis’s embarrassment, Carola chuckled.

“Need help?”

“…I’ll trouble you, meow.”

Phyllis whispered, her cat ears drooping.

Carola got up, walked to the wardrobe, and took out the white robe with gold trim.

The robe was made of fine fabric, with delicate stripes embroidered at the collar and cuffs, and a gold sash at the waist.

After just a glance, Carola knew how to put it on.

“Turn around.”

Carola commanded.

“Okay~”

Phyllis obeyed.

She could feel Carola’s fingers touch her back, deftly unfasten her underwear hook, and then slip the robe’s inner lining over her.

The movements were gentle and practiced, never hurting her.

“Do all Blood Tribe members dress this well, meow? I remember you had a lot of formal wear in the castle back then.”

Phyllis tried to ease her nervousness with conversation.

“I’ve just lived long enough to pick up a little of everything.”

Carola’s voice was very close, her breath brushing the back of Phyllis’s neck, making her body tremble involuntarily.

‘A little of everything…’

On that point, Phyllis fully agreed.

During her time with Carola, she had felt like Carola seemed to know a little about everything—making magic tools, maintaining dolls, even fixing doors…

A long life had turned Carola into a master of many things.

“Hiss!”

When the sash wrapped around her waist, Phyllis couldn’t help but inhale.

“It’s too tight, meow!”

“Ceremonial robes are all like this,” Carola loosened the sash a little with her hands.

“But… you probably just ate too much at lunch.”

“None of your business!”

Phyllis puffed out her cheeks.

Carola said nothing, but silently tightened the sash a bit more.

“Ow, ow, ow! I was wrong, meow!”

Phyllis quickly begged for mercy.

After tying the last knot, Carola moved in front of Phyllis and carefully adjusted her collar and cuffs.

They were very close.

Phyllis could clearly see Carola’s long, thick eyelashes and her own reflection in those red eyes.

Even though this scene had played out many times before, Phyllis still sometimes felt shy.

Or rather, she couldn’t control the ripples of fantasy that stirred within her heart.

“All done!” Carola stepped back to admire her work.

“Not as good as the ones I prepared for you before, but it’s still decent.”

Phyllis opened the Mirror Magic Tool.

In the mirror, the cat girl in her white robe had bright blue cat eyes that shone especially clear in the dim light.

The cinched waist emphasized Phyllis’s slender figure, and the hem fell to her ankles, covering her thick cat pads.

It was definitely much better than what she could have done herself.

“Thank you…”

Phyllis whispered.

“As repayment, let me…”

Carola approached and gently hugged Phyllis from behind, resting her chin on the top of Phyllis’s head.

“Again?!”

Phyllis tried to break free, but Carola only held her tighter.

Eventually, Phyllis gave in and leaned back into Carola’s embrace.

“You’re so cute!”

Carola sighed, then lowered her head and kissed her.