I Have Tamed a Spider Monster - Chapter 247, Chapter 248, Chapter 249

Journey as the Princesses' Guards
I've heard that the two princesses have already completed their preparations for departure.
It seems the only remaining step is to load a few spare clothes.
Aren’t there any attendants coming along?

"Ah, you mean the ladies-in-waiting and maids? They've already been sent along with the main caravan of carriages. For this journey, only Their Highnesses the princesses will be traveling with Lily."

"Really? Is that okay?"

"It’s ideal for diverting enemy attention. Besides, Master Plum's maids are here, so the minimum preparations are in place."

I see, that makes sense.
When I looked over at Plum, she gave me a reassuring nod, so I'm sure they’ll handle the essentials.
Though, I wonder if that’s sufficient for two princesses, even though Plum herself is technically royalty.
I can’t imagine Princess Rodenlight or Princess Annette being too demanding, but with Plum's maids around, they’ll likely refrain from making unreasonable requests.

"Well, is our discussion concluded? If everything’s clear, we should depart at once."

"Huh? Already?"

"I want to return to Vardmoi as soon as possible. Even if our movement is detected, I intend to leave them far behind while they’re scrambling."

So they're planning to take advantage of the Lumite Grand Wing’s speed.
With that reasoning, I have no reason to decline.

Quickly loading the princesses' luggage, the Lumite Grand Wing once again left the city of McFarlane.
However, we exited through the opposite gate from the one we entered.
This way, we'll gain distance until McFarlane is out of sight, and then we’ll leave the main road, traveling cross-country to Vardmoi, as suggested by Rumaja.
On the main road, we might encounter guards, but it's unlikely they would be stationed in the plains or hilly areas off the path.
After all, they can’t cover every possible route.

"Your Lumite Grand Wing is truly impressive. We’re blazing through rough terrain at high speed, yet there’s hardly any jolting. It must have been quite pricey, no?"

"I got it discounted from 2 billion Rubies down to 1.2 billion. How much does a regular Lumite Grand Wing cost?"

"Well… without any extras, it’s about 300 million Rubies, I think. Without add-ons, it’s not fuel-efficient, so to make it practically usable, it would take around 800 million Rubies."

Wow, my Lumite Grand Wing was pricey.
But with its ample storage and smooth ride, I really can’t complain.
Even Rumaja is considering proposing it to the Adventurers' Guild.

With Plum's maids taking turns driving, my Lumite Grand Wing managed to keep moving continuously for three days and nights, returning us safely to the city of Vardmoi.
We likely outran any potential attackers, since we encountered no ambushes.
Following Rumaja's orders, we headed directly to Marquis Vardmoi’s estate in the Lumite Grand Wing.
Upon arrival, we were directed to a parking area at the rear, where the entire Vardmoi family, including the Marquis himself, came out to welcome us.
Naturally, as the princesses were on board.

"Princess Rodenlight, Princess Annette. Welcome to our home."

"Thank you, Marquis Vardmoi. Has the main caravan not yet arrived?"

"If they don’t encounter any bad weather, they should be about three days away. What would you like to do?"

"We'll wait at the Marquis's residence until they arrive. Once they do, I’ll board the caravan alone."

I wonder why she’d take such a risk, but it seems that’s the duty of those in power.
They believe they must present themselves before the people, even when danger is expected.
It’s not a world I can fully grasp, but I’d like to support them however I can.
For example, with a dress from Talat’s threads!

----------

A New Dress and Rodenlight's Announcement
As soon as Princess Rodenlight arrived, I was promptly asked to begin working on her dress.
The gown was to be crafted with Frost Spider Silk for the outer layer and Ogre Spider Silk for the lining, a special design.
Since it would be worn when stepping out from the caravan, it didn’t need to be overly extravagant.
However, I was instructed to reflect her status as the Third Princess, so I planned to accent the edges of the dress with threads from the Frost Spider's web.
The color specification was "spring-like," so I thought I’d go with a cherry blossom pink.
I considered a sky-blue shade, but that felt more fitting for summer.
Isn’t this a typical Japanese sense of seasonal color?

As for the dress-making itself, I already had a sample dress and the measurements, so it was straightforward to proceed.
The dress would be an afternoon gown, and I decided to add my own touch to the design by incorporating a detachable cape, secured at the neckline with a brooch.
Once I could envision the process and final look, the dress came together quickly—it was finished in just three days.
I worried they might think I rushed, but I’m ready to deliver it to Princess Rodenlight.

"Is it ready already?"

"Yes, I had the original design and a clear image to work with."

"Isn’t this a bit too fast?"

"When a design or garment is available, it’s possible to finish it this quickly, even for custom orders. Oh, speaking of which, about the Frost Spider Silk dress you ordered—what would you like to do?"

"Ah, that. Considering the current state of the country, I wouldn’t ask you to make it now. But I won’t cancel the request either, so you can refuse unnecessary commissions more easily if needed."

Ah, so that’s why there hasn’t been a cancellation.
It seems strange that nobles would order dresses during a crisis, but Marquis Vardmoi mentioned that, in situations like this, dressing well can sometimes serve as a statement of resilience, especially for international appearances.
I can’t fully understand that world, but I appreciate the option to accept or decline commissions.
The Marquis has promised to refer essential orders to me, so I’ll focus on running my shop.

Two weeks passed since the delivery of the dress, and at last, the main caravan arrived in Vardmoi.
Although Princess Rodenlight joined them, something seemed off about the caravan's condition.
They looked fatigued, with some of their equipment visibly soiled.
In any case, Princess Rodenlight and the head of the McFarlane family were going to give a speech, so I intended to attend as an ordinary citizen... but then Rumaja caught me and led me to the Adventurers' Guild seating.

According to Rumaja, the main caravan was indeed attacked.
The identity of the mastermind remains unknown, but it seems their target was Princess Rodenlight.
Fortunately, her double was protected by the McFarlane knights and was unharmed.
It appears that the enemy failed to accomplish their goal yet managed to cover their tracks.
The nobility must bear the burden of facing such dangers head-on.

At first, the townsfolk were uneasy at the unexpected arrival of the caravan, but upon hearing that Princess Rodenlight was going to make an announcement, they gathered at the Adventurers' Guild training grounds.
As the crowd grew, Princess Rodenlight stepped onto the podium, surrounded by knights to ensure her security.
What kind of announcement could she be here to make?

"Thank you all for gathering here. I am Rodenlight, the Third Princess. Today, I have come to Vardmoi to deliver an important announcement."

The crowd murmured with anticipation at her words.
The knights quieted them, allowing Princess Rodenlight to continue.

"I recently held talks with the southern lords and reached a decision that will shape the future of this country. That decision is—"

"Die, you venomous witch who corrupts the kingdom!"

Just as Princess Rodenlight was about to speak, a shout erupted from the crowd, and a dagger-like object hurtled toward her.
Oh no, she's in danger!

----------

The Power of the Dress and the Birth of the McFarlane Duchy
The thrown knife flew straight at Princess Rodenlight’s chest.
However, instead of piercing her, it lost its momentum and clattered harmlessly to the ground.
Even the guards surrounding her paused in astonishment.
Yes, the dress did its job perfectly!

"What are you waiting for? Capture that rogue!"

"Ugh!?"

The would-be assassin attempted to blend into the crowd to escape, but was promptly subdued before they could make it far.
I wonder who sent this assassin?

"… Everyone, I apologize for the disturbance. Now, let us continue with the announcement."

Princess Rodenlight collected herself and resumed her announcement.
Although I had a vague idea of what was coming, hearing it confirmed made it feel more real.

"The Southern Noble Alliance has decided to pursue independence, centering around the Duchy of Macfarlane. We will establish McFarlane as our new capital and move forward in diplomacy with neighboring countries."

So, it’s finally independence.
It seemed inevitable, but hearing it announced formally made it sink in.
There’s so much to consider now.

Additionally, it was announced that Princess Rodenlight would be joining the McFarlane family by marrying the Duke’s heir, Lord Sharon.
However, there was no mention of Princess Annette’s future, which left me wondering.
As a former princess of a nation, Annette might potentially become a political rival to Princess Rodenlight.
What’s going to happen?

After the announcements, I followed Rumaja to Marquis Vardmoi’s residence, where the entire McFarlane family was gathered alongside Princess Rodenlight.
The atmosphere felt… tense.
Something seemed off.

"Tailor Lily, it was you who prepared the dress for this occasion, was it not?"

"Yes, Lord Sharon. Is there a problem?"

"Well, not a problem, per se. But how did the thrown knife fail to penetrate? The outer fabric was pierced, but the inner lining was entirely unharmed. Is this one of your specialty materials?"

"It's not exactly a specialty of mine, but I did use Ogre Spider Silk. It's a special fabric with elasticity and blade resistance."

"I see. So we owe you for this save, once again."

"Well, I merely prepared it as a precaution…"

"No, you saved her life. We owe you our gratitude."

Lord Sharon nodded in thanks, which felt a bit excessive.
I didn’t do that much, really.

"Changing the topic," he continued, "this Ogre Spider Silk—can it be mass-produced?"

"Yes, unlike Mana Spider Silk, it’s much less demanding to produce. But why do you ask?"

"Tailor Lily, we have an urgent request. I need you to prepare ten dresses for Princess Rodenlight, tailored for various occasions, all in soft red hues with different variations."

Whoa, a last-minute order!
But how many occasions are we talking about here?
I decided to consult Plum for clarification.

"Different dress purposes, hmm?" she mused. "There's everyday wear, attire for meeting lower-ranking individuals, attire for meeting equals or superiors, diplomatic attire, formal wear for banquets, ballroom gowns, and so on—it could go on and on."

"… Do we really need that many dresses?"

"If we’re concerned with Princess Rodenlight’s safety, then yes. However, ordering this many at once is excessive. Sharon, was it? Establish a priority list and start with five dresses per category instead. Currently, only Lily can handle Ogre Spider Silk, as regular scissors can’t even cut it. Overloading her with work is unwise."

Plum’s words held a subtle pressure that even Lord Sharon couldn’t resist, and he eventually agreed to begin with five everyday dresses as a priority.
Plum’s negotiation skills are truly reliable.
Alizée is talented, and Plum really knows how to get things done.

… Yeah, negotiation is definitely not my strong suit.

Next: https://www.patreon.com/posts/116161261