Chapter 76

076.

“Hmm… How about this one… I like it. How about this one then? This one’s good too. Could this one possibly… Oh, my.”

The clothes changed by the second.

Kalen felt as if he had been turned into a mannequin in the corner of the store, simply standing there while outfits were switched on him repeatedly.

He had never imagined there could be such a wide array of clothing types in the world.

Blamia and Sinat weren’t particularly sensitive to such things, and even when observing Eliana and Serasie, Kalen hadn’t paid enough attention to their various outfits.

Even when he’d seen the young ladies of Eclecia Salon before, there wasn’t much he could discern.

That itself was limited to realizing how opulent and grand their attire could be.

And he thought this was mainly because women’s clothing varieties far exceeded those available for men.

However, Kalen’s thoughts were about to be proven incorrect.

Gilrun kept fetching clothes from somewhere, holding them up to Kalen and comparing them.

At the same time, endless compliments streamed from his mouth, making it impossible for Kalen to avoid turning red.

Clothing strongly influences one’s first impression.

Even if not flamboyant, neat attire can greatly contribute to creating a good impression.

Gilrun was very much aware of this fact.

Which outfit would be most charming?

Which ensemble would maximize this person’s allure?

Because he always pondered such questions, he could instinctively feel what would suit someone by simply observing their bearing.

Yet,

Gilrun, the master who oversaw the majority of the Dranunus Family’s clothing, was now facing someone whose proportions he couldn’t gauge by sight alone for the very first time.

“Truly exhilarating! If it’s not too much trouble, may I compare a few more outfits, my lord?”

“Yes, sure.”

“Thank you.”

The boy’s name was Kalen.

He truly possessed an almost otherworldly, beautiful physique.

It may sound absurd, but could a body shaped and refined through thousands or even tens of thousands of trials result in such an artistic masterpiece?

Perhaps.

This matter remained unclear, but one thing was certain: this boy Kalen was born to wear beautiful clothes.

A body includes one’s facial features too.

Whether one wore glasses or not, distinct charm shone through.

Especially in formal or ceremonial attire,

the figure was so breathtaking, words failed to describe its magnificence.

In truth, Kalen’s body had been honed in the battlefield where life and death hung in the balance.

His body was pushed to its limits repeatedly, always exposed to precarious situations where one misstep could mean instant death.

If he hadn’t adapted, he would have perished long ago.

Enduring countless life-or-death situations, his body not only learned to extract every ounce of strength but also became flexible yet robust, ensuring each movement was natural.

It was only natural that Gilrun, unaware of this fact, felt ecstatic at the thought of draping his masterpieces on such a magnificent body.

“…Which one do you fancy, young master?”

After fiddling with outfits for quite a while, Gilrun clutched his thumping heart and asked.

Thinking Kalen was asking him to choose an outfit for the banquet, Kalen deliberated. Gilrun shook his head.

“No, my lord. I shall prepare a special set of clothing for the banquet personally. I will postpone all other commitments to ensure it is ready in time. Please trust in the decades of skill I have developed.”

“But is that alright?”

“Of course it is. No one in this street would dare complain about a request from the Dranunus family. Besides, my current engagements are quite flexible anyway.”

“…Yes. Thank you. But what kind of clothing should I choose then?”

Gilrun had said he would specially craft the outfit for the banquet.

Even though Kalen wasn’t well-versed in fashion or tailoring, he understood the immense prestige attached to a craftsman the Dranunus family trusted.

Gilrun was willing to endure losses in order to customize an outfit specifically for him. He was even willing to delay his other engagements.

This was indeed a cause for gratitude.

Still, that was that.

If it wasn’t the banquet outfit, then what kind of clothing was he supposed to choose?

When Kalen tilted his head in puzzlement,

Gilrun responded excitedly.

“Casual wear. Please allow me to assist you in selecting outfits for everyday wear. It was Seline’s request, but presenting you with only one set would feel like a disservice. You may choose as many outfits as you wish, and I’ll charge only for one set. Please feel at ease.”

This was shocking.

As previously mentioned, the value of a craftsman like Gilrun was incalculable. Sometimes they are even paid more for the name than for the actual piece.

To choose several outfits,

This made Kalen quite apologetic, but Gilrun wouldn’t accept any refusal.

“Please… Wear my creations, young master… I’ve seen countless beautiful ladies in my time, but never have I encountered a man with such perfection…”

Gilrun’s plea was so earnestKal.

en couldn’t resist any longer, especially after hearing stories about some of the corpulent noble patriarchs Gilrun had serviced.

“Then… I will not decline.”

To keep persistently refusing such earnest requests would be impolite.

Besides, his current casual wear consisted of only two very plain outfits, so it made sense to expand his wardrobe.

Kalen began to carefully choose.

Soon, two outfits were in each of his hands.

Unpretentious yet sophisticated.

The kind of clothes that suited Kalen’s appearance and demeanor perfectly.

Gilrun almost bowed in reverence to Kalen’s impeccable taste.

“…Young master, please wear one of these now.”

“Is that alright?”

“I would be honored if you did. Also, it would be good to show Seline.”

“Understood.”

Even though the outfit Seline had chosen for his arrival suited him well,

Given her request for casual wear, this was a fitting way to show her his appreciation.

Kalen stared at the four outfits he had chosen for a moment,

Then picked one and changed into it.

*

Creak –

A while had passed since Kalen had followed Gilrun inside.

Seline, who had been waiting patiently, straightened her posture upon hearing a sound from within.

As a faithful maid, presenting the best possible appearance to the master was a basic requirement, both in terms of demeanor and outward appearance.

“All done…”

“I’m sorry, there was more to do than I expected.”

Seline, who had intended to greet Kalen with her usual modest attitude,

Had to muster all her strength to maintain her composure and not waver.

The sight threatening her maid professionalism was none other than her very own young master.

The young lord, now dressed in something that suited him exquisitely, was an unexpected yet delightful shock.

“Master… Is that outfit…”

“Yes. It’s thanks to you, Seline. Do you like it?”

“Like it?”

Seline almost reflexively questioned him.

Why was he asking such an obvious question?

It wasn’t a matter of whether it suited him or not.

At this point, imagining the master in any other form was almost impossible.

Even though she thought her chosen outfit fit him well,

Compared to the masterpiece crafted stitch by stitch by Master Gilrun, it was nothing.

“Yes, yes… It looks wonderful…”

The outfit concealed his scars,

Thus accentuating his handsome and refined physique magnificently.

It was almost surreal how someone so young, seemingly oblivious to his own good looks, could ask so earnestly if the outfit suited him.

Though plain to some,

On her master, the outfit appeared dignified and sophisticated.

The glasses on his left eye and its strap complemented his attire perfectly,

Making him appear much older than his years.

The current trend in men’s clothing was complexity.

Though not as intricate as women’s fashion, men’s outfits now incorporated layers far more than before.

And Gilrun, one of the trendsetters in such fashion,

Had his masterpiece intersect with Kalen on the cusp of his prime,

“Master…”

“Seline?”

“Could you please… take it off?”

“…Huh? Does it not suit me?”

Seline shook her head.

No.

If this outfit was seen in society,

The repercussions would be beyond what they could handle.

And if the casual wear looked this good,

What would Kalen look like in gala wear?

As she pondered this,

Seline confidently and politely requested Kalen,

“The outfit needs a single wash before wearing, Master.”

“Ah.”

“It’s not that it doesn’t suit you, please don’t misunderstand.”

“Alright.”

It wasn’t a lie.

Truthfulness was also a basic tenet of being a devoted maid.

Washing a newly bought outfit was fundamental.

Understanding this, Kalen changed back into the outfit Seline had chosen for him earlier.

For the first time,

Seline regretted her choice.