BKSL CH 07

Chapter 7 – Could These Be… the Knights’ Clothes!?

After finishing the breakfast cleanup, our next task was laundry.

The senior dorm mothers who weren’t assigned to the kitchen today had already washed the clothes, so my job was to help Elga-san hang them out to dry.

Naturally, there was an enormous amount of laundry!
I’d have to give it my all—otherwise, I’d never keep up.

Alright, let’s do this!!

“…You’re quite skilled at this too,” Elga-san said.

“Yes! Though I’ve never done this much at once, so it might take me a while,” I replied, still moving my hands quickly.

I kept hanging one item after another, trying to stay efficient.

Just like with the meals, it must’ve been a huge job for only a few dorm mothers to handle all this work every day.

My seniors are amazing.

I have to work hard too—so I can become a full-fledged dorm mother who’s actually helpful to everyone!

“You’re already working quickly enough, though.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Would you like to take this on as one of your regular duties?”

“Yes! Of course!”

Elga-san really is such a kind senior.
She must be the type who encourages newcomers with praise.

Hehe, thank you! I’ll live up to your expectations, just you watch!

But when I tried to hang a towel on one of the higher laundry poles, I had to stand on tiptoe and swing my arm up with all my might.

Elga-san was taller than me, so it didn’t seem to bother her much—but for someone small like me, it was quite the challenge.

I wish I’d grown just a little taller…
Would it be too late now?

While thinking about such things, I stretched as far as I could, determined not to be a burden, and hung each item neatly.

I pulled a piece of cloth from the basket—snap!—spread it out and hung it in one smooth motion.

I always tried to work quickly; that habit came from my princess training, when I hardly had any time for myself.

After returning home each day, I had to prepare my own meals, do my own laundry, and regularly clean my tiny room.

Even then, I still wanted time to read romance novels about cool knights—or sneak peeks at the real knights’ training sessions at the palace whenever I could.

Maybe that’s why Elga-san said I was fast?

While thinking about that, I kept hanging the laundry—until I suddenly noticed what I was holding.

Wait a moment… these white shirts I’ve been hanging all this time—
Aren’t they the same kind the knights wear…!?

Ah—

“Eh? Sibel? What’s wrong? Are you alright?”

“I—I’m sorry, I just got a little dizzy,” I said.

My face felt hot, and I swayed a little before Elga-san quickly reached out to steady me.

I didn’t actually fall, but still—how embarrassing!

“You must be tired. That’s enough for today. Go rest in your room.”

“No, that’s not it!”

“Hm?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Of course, these weren’t women’s clothes. After all, this was the knights’ dormitory.

And knights’ clothes… were huge!

I’d known they were big men, but seeing their shirts up close made it so real.

The broad shoulders, the long sleeves, the wide chests—everything about these shirts made their strength obvious.

“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard,” Elga-san said. “Just having you here already helps us a lot, so don’t rush.”

“Thank you very much. But I’m really fine. Sorry for worrying you…”

“?”

Of course, I couldn’t possibly say, ‘I just got a little too excited from touching the shirts the knights actually wear against their skin.’

She’d think I was some kind of weirdo—and I’d probably get kicked out of this place!

And that would be awful.

This dormitory… this paradise I finally found…!

I shook my head hard to clear it.

No, Sibel! This is work, not a reward. Be professional!

I repeated that to myself and started moving my hands again.

It’s fine. After all, I’m a former prince’s fiancée, a woman once trained as a saint.

I will not be defeated by such… temptations!