The Day of the Pajama Party
***
Leo managed to persuade Kai, who was hesitant about letting the master stay overnight in someone else’s bedroom. With a basket packed with a change of clothes and a pillow, he headed towards Bianca’s room.
(In his mind, he was humming a cheerful tune.)
So, when Bianca proposed a pajama party to Leo, it wasn’t the thought of seeing her in her underwear that swayed him, but the prospect of receiving underwear worth two silver coins. Like any young man his age, Leo had his desires, though they were directed not towards the female body but towards gleaming currency.
(Bianca is such a generous lady. Offering me underwear worth two Nedrashelm silver coins for free!)
What kind of underwear would be worth two silver coins? Since most underwear is made of fabric and thread, it must be something that uses these materials lavishly.
Maybe it’s embroidered with gold thread, or even adorned with jewels, or perhaps entirely covered in gold leaf?
With a gleeful skip, Leo reached Bianca’s door, his mind filled with such fantasies.
“Leonora, I’m so glad you came!”
At the knock, Bianca herself opened the door, not a maid. Seeing her, Leo couldn’t help but let out a small gasp.
“Wow!”
It wasn’t because Bianca had removed her makeup—her features were striking enough that a bit less makeup didn’t diminish her beauty—but because her attire was far bolder than Leo had anticipated.
She was in a chemise. But unlike the long-sleeved, long-length linen one Leo wore as pajamas, hers was clearly made of silk, frilly, and barely reached her thighs. She also seemed to be wearing shorts underneath, but they were incredibly short.
The chemise’s neckline was wide, revealing soft curves, and with each movement, the hem fluttered, revealing glimpses of her white thighs, making Leo blush despite himself.
“Miss Bianca, that outfit is…!”
It was akin to catching his older sister walking around in just a shirt after a bath.
Despite having read erotic novels, Leo was still quite naïve about these matters. At the orphanage, he often found himself scolding his brazen and bold older sisters, “Have some shame!”
However, since they had graduated, such instances had become rare.
Bianca, on the other hand, seemed delighted by Leo’s reaction, and she pulled him into the room, handing him a glass of hot wine prepared by her maid.
“Oh, Leonora. Don’t just stand there, come sit on the bed with me.”
“But, Miss Bianca, please give me something to wear first…!”
Leo looked distressed. He felt uncomfortable sitting next to Bianca in her revealing outfit.
If it were anyone else, any ordinary man from the lower town, they might have immediately propositioned or even attacked her. Bianca’s lack of awareness was perhaps due to her sheltered upbringing.
(I need to be careful to make sure nothing bad happens. She’s so sheltered, like the younger sisters from the orphanage. She needs looking after.)
Leo was sincerely thinking, unaware that an observer might find his concern ironic.
But Bianca, facing Leo’s evident confusion, laughed mischievously, took his wine glass, and pulled him onto the bed.
“Oh!”
“As I thought! You’re wearing such an old-fashioned, functional chemise, like something a grandmother would wear. What is this, a tunic? Kai should be ashamed for making you wear something so unrefined. No wonder you lack self-awareness as a woman.”
It was thick and warm but had a rough texture, falling straight from the shoulders to the ankles without any fit. Worn and faded, it looked like it had absorbed mud. Bianca critiqued it with her slender fingers, making Leo pout.
“Please don’t say that. This was a gift. It’s warm and comfortable. I like it very much.”
Actually, it was an old dress Adela had sent. Kai had tried to throw it away in disgust, but Leo had begged to keep it. Warm and free of unnecessary decorations, it was perfect for working or picking up lost items.
Bianca, however, looked at it with an expression of disdain.
“That’s why you haven’t developed any self-awareness as a woman.”
“But…”
“No buts. Listen, Leonora. Look closely. This is the kind of modern, stylish underwear a lady should wear.”
“The latest fashionable underwear?”
Leo was taken aback. So this boldly minimal fabric was the high-end underwear worth two silver coins?
(Could it be…? I thought it would be something with lots of fabric, like an actual dress…!)
Leo, who kept tabs on all high-end items, was shocked to learn that the price of women’s underwear was inversely proportional to the amount of fabric used.
(Where is the value in this expensive underwear…?)
Casting aside any remaining shyness, Leo closely examined Bianca’s luxurious underwear. His intense gaze resembled that of a sharp marketer or an employee more interested in the product than excited by it.
(How cute, pretending not to be interested but still staring so intently…)
Bianca, pleased with Leo’s curiosity, decided to give a detailed explanation while kneeling on the bed to show her underwear better.
“Look closely. Polde’s products are known for their delicate colors, lace decorations, and fabric layering. But do you even know the names of different types of underwear?”
“No, not really…”
In the lower town, most women didn’t wear undergarments. The “chemise” Leo wore was something Kai put on him before bed, called so because that’s what Kai called it.
(You never know what knowledge might become useful in business. If a lingerie boom hits the lower town, knowing about this could be very advantageous. Lingerie is a high-end product with great profit potential.)
Determined, Leo decided to ask Bianca for a thorough lesson.
“I want to learn. Please teach me, Miss Bianca. The names, trends, prices, and features of different lingerie.”
It might not be necessary, but just in case.
Hearing Leo’s earnest request, Bianca was delighted.
A girl was awakening to an interest in feminine attire, dreaming of the day she would wear it for her future lover, who Bianca believed would be her brother, Albert.
“No doubt! The future you envision will come true within five years. I guarantee it!”
“Really…?”
“Absolutely!”
The lingerie boom was apparently imminent. Leo was grateful for the timely fashion education.
“If you say so, Miss Bianca, I believe you. I must listen even more seriously.”
“Oh, Leonora.”
Touched by Leo’s dedication, Bianca felt more sisterly than ever and began her lecture.
“Alright. What we wear when sleeping or under our dresses is called a chemise. It’s the most common piece of women’s underwear. Well… the one you’re wearing is quite old-fashioned, but it’s a long dress-like garment that covers the ankles.”
“Got it.”
Leo nodded appreciatively at Bianca’s detailed explanation.
“In the past, chemises were the only type of underwear, but with more women riding horses and wearing shorter skirts, simply wearing a chemise felt inadequate. About ten years ago, women began wearing short pants underneath. These are called drawers. You’re wearing them too, right?”
“Yes. Also, when wearing a dress, there’s another frilly skirt-like thing.”
“That’s a petticoat. It’s to make the dress’s hem look fuller, so it’s a bit different from underwear. Basically, a chemise and drawers. Got it?”
Leo nodded, memorizing the terms.
Bianca smiled and lifted the hem of her own chemise, revealing the intricate design.
“Now, onto the main topic. Polde’s products revolutionize traditional chemise and drawers.”
“Revolutionary?”
Innovative products that avoided price competition were always profitable. Leo eagerly awaited the explanation.
“For example, this chemise’s length.”
Bianca spread the hem of her chemise. The fabric, so thin it seemed almost woven from dreams, had slits starting above the navel, revealing her white stomach, and ended at her thighs, much shorter than the usual ankle-length chemise.
“Traditional chemises just covered the entire body. But Polde’s are different. They cover important parts of the upper body while the lower part is made lighter. The designer says it symbolizes breaking the chains binding women’s legs. It’s definitely easier to walk in.”
“But… isn’t it cold?”
Winters in Weitz were harsh. Even if noble ladies wore long dresses, such a short undergarment seemed inadequate.
Having been taught by Headmistress Hanna that women mustn’t chill from the waist down, Leo couldn’t help but worry.
But Bianca smiled as if anticipating this question.
“That’s why we have these drawers.”
She pointed to her thigh-covering drawers, lifting her leg slightly.
“Traditional drawers were just an addition to the chemise. But Polde proposes ‘show drawers,’ designed as pants substitutes.”
“I see…”
Leo nodded seriously. The sturdy, pumpkin-like fabric with lace and frills made sense as a visible part of the outfit, not just underwear.
(But wouldn’t actual pants be more practical for ease of movement?)
Leo found it hard to understand why noble ladies didn’t just wear pants under their dresses. Yet, this difference in perspective likely defined the varied consumer behaviors between men and women.
(I have a lot to learn.)
Facing the provocative and charming underwear, Leo pondered the depths of consumer psychology.
Seeing Leo’s intense gaze, Bianca laughed lightly.
“You’re looking very seriously, Leonora. Do you like this underwear?”
“Yes. It’s very educational.”
Leo thought Polde’s success came not only from quality but also from strong policy and revolutionary concepts. As he pondered this, a shadow fell across his vision.
Bianca’s face was suddenly very close.
“Shall I give it to you?”
“Huh?”
After a moment of surprise, Leo’s heart pounded with excitement—not because of the close proximity of
a beautiful woman, but because Bianca’s attire was worth two silver coins.
“You’re going to give it to me?”
“Yes, of course. You wanted it, didn’t you?”
Blushing, Bianca tried to hand over her garments.
Even Leo, who lacked some social awareness, understood her implication.
However, Leo didn’t take the hint, focusing solely on the value of the gift.
“That’s great! Thanks, Miss Bianca! This will be a valuable asset. I’ll treasure it.”
Smiling brightly, Leo accepted the lingerie, not realizing the depth of Bianca’s feelings.
Bianca, feeling a mix of confusion and joy, laughed softly.
“Oh, Leonora. You’re so unique. But that makes you charming.”
As they continued their conversation, both remained unaware of the full implications of the evening, wrapped in the innocence and excitement of a simple pajama party.
***
And thus, Leo received a high-end lingerie set from Bianca, marking an unusual but memorable pajama party.