Chapter 205
Chapter 205
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: 이세계 의복 디자이너가 되었다 205화
-----------------------------------------------------------------
```html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Birthday Partner and Secret Invitation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The cape I made for the Magic Department was little more than a gentle breeze across the entire Empire, but to those who wielded magic and sorcery, it was a monumental storm of an event.
Without that, the elders selected as recipients never would have offered thanks to a mere child who wasn't even a mage.
Nor would there have been minor mishaps like the Mage Tower Lord—who received the glorious cape, embroidered with blue threads, for the first time alongside the Minister—bragging to his close friend and ending up electrocuted, carried off to the temple like a rotisserie chicken.
The incident where the Mage Tower Lord turned out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside was supposed to be hushed up, so I shouldn't have known about it. But Father, trembling as he slammed back a glass of whiskey in one go, spilled the details.
He fretted about what might happen if the other elders bragged to their friends and ended up the same way, which only made me feel guilty by association.
But what could I do? I'd only done as requested.
Father knew that too, so he didn't blame me.
He just gazed wistfully into his glass and asked me to pour him another.
In any case.
Amid these little incidents, May arrived in full swing.
More precisely, it had already settled in beside us, sprinkling the streets with the fresh scent of blooming roses as it watched over us.
The final flourish of vibrant spring and the first step toward welcoming summer.
A time when hunting and outdoor activities truly kicked into gear.
With weddings and engagements exploding since April and peaking now, ateliers churning out dresses everywhere enjoyed their busiest season right through June.
As I mentioned before, we missed out on that boom since we didn't take dress commissions, but we reaped the indirect benefits.
Not that we planned it, but earning our reputation as the lingerie specialist atelier brought in a flood of related requests.
Like corsets to conceal a pregnancy that came a bit too soon.
Or stockings to spice up a wedding night.
Or brassieres that gathered the bust to the limit, making it look a couple sizes bigger.
It was amusing how these unique requests for life's most beautiful moments suddenly poured in.
At the same time, some women burning with revenge against young lords who hadn't chosen them ordered all sorts of lingerie—but we politely declined those.
Earning a living off jealousy is a dangerous game.
Get tangled in a love triangle, and you might actually get stabbed.
The Church shows leniency for just two kinds of murder: crimes of passion and revenge against family.
That was when our days fell into a happy cycle of fleecing soon-to-be brides and grooms while keeping our necks intact.
"William."
"Yeah?"
"For my birthday, you have to stand by my side and enter together."
"...?"
Elizabeth started saying something strange.
Not royalty? Not even officially engaged 'yet,' and yet I was to enter alongside Her Highness the Imperial Princess on her birthday?
Something was definitely up.
Something led by His Majesty the Emperor himself.
"Hoo..."
I let out a deep breath, rubbed my eyes, and lightly tugged at my ears.
Then I slapped my cheeks lightly with my palms to shake off the afternoon drowsiness clouding my mind and looked at Elizabeth.
"Why?"
"......"
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed.
Her brow twitched faintly as she toyed with her sapphire necklace, then she spoke again.
"This time, you have to be my partner. Don't you want to?"
"No, that's not it at all. Absolutely not. Of course I'll be your partner."
A chilling tingle shot up the back of my neck, and I shook my head vigorously.
I desperately expressed with my whole body how badly I wanted to be her partner.
It was burdensome, sure, but if Elizabeth was declaring it this way, my opinion didn't matter much anymore. And at this point, backing out of such events would be too late—we'd come too far.
Now was the time to enjoy it if I couldn't avoid it.
"Then why ask 'why'?"
"Just curious about the reason. Of course I'll celebrate, but if you're asking me to be your partner on top of that, there must be something more you want. To live up to those expectations, I need to know why so I can prepare. You know I'm not great at reading the room."
"Hmm..."
Suspicion flickered across Elizabeth's face.
But her lips twitched upward at the corners too.
It wasn't the answer she expected, but it didn't seem bad either.
"As you probably know, it's about time to take the next step up, right?"
"Ah..."
So that's how it is.
Unlike the somewhat forced pretext last time, this one was solid.
The Magic Department matter wrapped up nicely, and even the elder mages enjoying their retirement had straightened their backs and reemerged. His Majesty wouldn't just let that slide.
"Just please don't give me a territory..."
"Of course not yet."
"'Not yet'?"
"A real noble needs at least a territory to manage."
"Oof..."
Her tone implied it was inevitable someday, sending a chill through my heart.
I'm more of a field operative than a leader—give me a territory, and I'd ruin it for sure.
In my past life, I couldn't even handle being deputy class rep properly. Lord of a domain? Disaster guaranteed.
This very atelier runs smoothly because Elizabeth handles half the management.
"Still, Mother knows your capabilities, so it'd just be nominal."
"Phew..."
Thank goodness.
No risk of being branded a pretty-faced parasite leeching off the princess despite zero talent.
If that rumor spread, it'd tarnish both our house and the Imperial Family—I'd never show my face again.
"In exchange, you'll get piled with titles that boost your prestige."
"Can't be helped."
Being dragged to events and saddled with weird titles was something I'd steeled myself for.
"But really, is that all? Nothing more?"
"No idea. The important stuff always comes as a surprise gift from him."
"There's more, huh."
Too scary.
But whenever these moments hit, I recalled the magic words that steadied me.
'What can you even do about it?'
Nothing.
So just accept it meekly.
It might be tiring, but it wouldn't harm me.
"Since I'm attending as your partner, I need to pick a gift carefully."
"Oh? You thinking of that first."
"Even I, hopeless at nuance, got the standard noble etiquette training."
I knew the basic formula: deeper relationship = bigger gift.
I just hated taking the lead and sucked at reading people.
"Anything you want?"
"Asking outright docks points."
"A few things came to mind that you'd love, but it's too soon to give them."
Elizabeth's eyes widened.
"Huh... You think you know what that is?"
"This one's obvious, even for me."
"What is it?"
I raised my left hand and wiggled my fingers.
"A ring."
Specifically, one sized perfectly for the ring finger on her left hand—a gold band with a hefty gem, the kind meant to flaunt to others that she and some guy had a steamy relationship.
The dream item for any woman hoping for that kind of bond.
"You, not bad."
Elizabeth, who'd been staring blankly with her mouth agape, nodded with a hint of frustration.
"True, most of the gifts I want are still too early."
"Yeah, that's why I asked. In case there's something you need or want right now."
"You think there's anything the Imperial Princess of the Empire couldn't have if she wanted it?"
But really, what couldn't the Empire's princess obtain?
The throne, maybe?
She probably didn't want that anyway, so no issue.
"Doesn't seem like it."
"Right."
Elizabeth nodded, lifting one corner of her mouth.
Of course, she's the trickiest type for gifts.
The kind who could be thrilled with anything you pick, yet somehow never fully satisfied—a cursed breed.
To win, you either time it perfectly when she suddenly wants something and buy it first, or she mentions it outright. Neither happens easily.
If she wants it, she's probably already bought it.
"Ugh... Tricky..."
"Nothing in particular, so just put some thought into whatever..."
As I groaned in distress, Elizabeth chuckled lightly and was about to cast the world's hardest order—"whatever"—when she suddenly frowned and gently placed her right hand on her cheek.
"No, wait..."
She murmured softly, staring straight through me.
Examining me from this angle and that, tilting her head as she scrutinized, Elizabeth glanced at the calendar in the distance.
"William, you free this weekend?"
"Nothing particular, and your birthday's still two weeks out, so..."
"Plenty of time, then? Perfect."
Elizabeth flashed a satisfied smile, sidled closer, took my hand, and said,
"William, for my gift, lend me just one day of your time."
"My time? For what?"
"Repayment for what happened on Holy Night?"
"What?"
"I'm inviting you to the palace—secretly, away from prying eyes."
"?!"
```