Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Having made up my mind to travel around the Empire a bit, I immediately headed straight for Father's study.
To wander from place to place, I'd need a carriage, of course, but money above all.
"What brings you to my study?"
Father asked indifferently without lifting his eyes from the papers on his desk.
"Father, I'd like to go on a trip. Just a short one, about two weeks."
"I see."
I gazed at Father's hand moving busily across the paper, skipping all the fancy words and getting straight to the point in as few as possible.
Father nodded nonchalantly in response, his eyes flicking over the documents. Then he blinked three times, lifted his head, and stared right through me standing before him.
His eyes widened, then narrowed repeatedly. He rubbed them a few times, then slapped both cheeks hard with his hands. With a dazed look, he asked in a trembling voice,
"....William, you're saying you want to go on a trip?"
"Yes, I was thinking of visiting the capital and a bit of the Empire's south."
This time, I nodded as I mentioned the destinations.
Father fell silent again.
He sat there with his mouth agape for a while before asking once more in that same bewildered tone.
"William, you, want to go... on a trip?"
"Yes."
"You're really going to.... travel..."
"I'm going on the trip, so please stop asking."
"Haha..."
I cut off what felt like an endless loop of questions with a nod, and Father leaned back in his chair, a smile mixing half joy and half bewilderment spreading across his face.
Was it really that shocking just to hear I wanted to go out a little?
I'd attended all the family events and followed along on most outings...
It hurt that he was treating me like a total shut-in.
"What made you come to this sudden decision?"
"...I want to broaden my horizons a bit. I've been cooped up in my room so much that I realized I don't know anything."
The corners of Father's mouth crept higher and higher.
A man who usually just smirked was now blooming with a full smile, his voice a full tone brighter and more excited than usual.
"Good, a man should see the wide world. How about making it longer while you're at it? The whole Empire, even..."
"Two weeks is plenty!"
Two weeks was already a generous stretch for me, and I couldn't extend it further, so I shook my head vigorously in alarm.
Father's face fell instantly, and he nodded dejectedly.
"Right... the decision to go out at all is what matters, even if it's just two weeks... So, when were you thinking of departing?"
"In about three or four days."
"What do you plan to do in the capital and the south? Subtract travel time, and you'll only have a real week left."
"There's the imperial knights' public training every quarter, right? I want to observe the Imperial Knights' session this time, and spend the rest in the south seeing the sea."
"The Imperial Knights?"
At those five words, Father scowled, his pride clearly scratched.
"We have knights in our family too. Do you really need to go all the way to the capital? Our knights have the moniker 'His Majesty's left arm'—they're no slouch compared to the Imperials."
"There are hardly any female knights in our family unit, so I got curious about their training."
"Well, in that case..."
No matter how bruised his pride was, he couldn't conjure up what didn't exist, so Father nodded grudgingly despite his sullen expression.
"Fine, I'll support you as much as you need. Take this chance to do everything you want."
"Thank you, Father!"
I beamed and bowed at the waist.
"What do you need?"
"A carriage and some traveling funds should be enough."
"Modest, aren't you? Alright, prepare properly for the trip then."
"Yes."
As Father subtly dismissed me and turned back to his papers, I gave a slight bow and left the study.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Father had told me to prepare diligently for the trip, but there wasn't much I could actually do myself.
Pack a suitcase, maybe?
With my travel experience limited to a single trip to Jeju Island in my past life, meddling here would just get in the way. As long as I stated my needs clearly, the servants would handle everything neatly.
And since it wasn't a long trip, there wasn't much to prepare anyway.
So instead of fussing unnecessarily, I left it all to the head butler and waited leisurely.
And then the day of departure arrived.
"Son, what do you think? For your first trip, your mother and I put this together."
"Isn't this... a bit much?"
"Much? This is on the modest side."
"Whoa..."
Two knights and one coachman. Anne the maid and Emily.
One carriage and four horses.
Two hitched to the carriage, the other two bearing knights in leather armor.
And the carriage itself was the massive one Father or Mother used, big enough for seven or eight people.
For a mere two-week trip, it felt excessively luxurious.
My stomach was already starting to churn.
"Here's your travel money too."
"Ah... Th-thank you..."
As I stood there rubbing my solar plexus in bewilderment, Mother approached and handed me two hefty pouches.
The suspicious weight made me peek inside: dozens of gleaming gold and silver coins.
A rough count put it well over 20 gold.
"Isn't this too much? I'll be staying with Brother in the capital, so I won't need much."
"You'll find ways to spend it once you're out having fun. And don't forget to treat the servants too—how often do maids or butlers get to visit the capital?"
"Ah..."
So that was the deeper meaning...
I started to hand one pouch back, then stopped myself.
As I hurriedly tied them to my clothes, Father came close and thrust something at me.
"Take this too."
"Yes, s-sure... Huh?"
A metal badge emblazoned with the count family crest.
I stared wide-eyed, hands trembling as I looked at Father.
"F-Father, this is..."
"If you run into trouble on the trip, just flash that."
"Eek!"
He handed me the proxy badge for the count—like a free pass to an amusement park.
"I also spoke to a wizard I know in the knights' order, so ask him everything from one to ten. When you go asking questions, inspect every speck of dust in the place."
"Ugh..."
Now my stomach was roiling.
I'd just wanted a light trip to the capital and south to check out people's clothes, but it had turned into Imperial Knights boot camp.
It felt like I'd have to submit a report when I got back.
I slipped the trembling badge into my pocket with shaking hands.
"Give my regards to Edward and tell him about Wilhelmina."
"Yes..."
"No need to stick exactly to the time you mentioned. If there's more you want to see, take your time. I've told the servants and knights it could be one or two months."
"Y-Yes..."
"Come back safe."
"Y-Yes..."
Their words weren't really sinking in.
They seemed to be saying something, so I nodded vaguely. As they patted my back and I edged toward the carriage, Mother and Father waved lightly behind me.
I boarded.
"Whoa..."
Clutching the heavy burden in my chest, I let out a deep sigh and leaned against the seat.
For a trip of barely two weeks, the support was overwhelmingly generous.
I felt like if I didn't get my money's worth this time, my gut would twist itself inside out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Young Master, time to wake up."
The carriage had set off, and as motion sickness crept in, I dozed off briefly. Emily gently shook my shoulder, calling me in her soft voice.
"Yawn~"
My foggy mind cleared gradually, a big yawn escaped, and my eyelids lifted naturally.
Rubbing my eyes with my left hand, I peered through the small window in the carriage door. Bustling streets full of people came into view.
"What...? Already here?"
"Yes, we'll arrive at the townhouse any moment now."
"That was fast..."
We'd definitely left after lunch, and it was still bright outside.
"Urgh!"
I stretched my arms way up, loosening my stiff back a bit.
The carriage jolted to a stop.
The coachman opened the door and gestured for me to get out.
"Young Master, we've arrived."
"Mm, good work, Charles."
As I stepped down, I gave the coachman Charles a light word of encouragement and shaded my eyes from the sun to look ahead.
These days, Brother stayed here in the capital handling various affairs, but originally it was a four-story townhouse used only for short business trips.
Tiny compared to the estate manor, but considering the capital's savage land prices, it cost as much as the manor itself.
"Young Master."
"Yeah, let's head in."
Emily came up behind me, having fetched the luggage bag from the carriage roof.
I nodded lightly and started toward the townhouse.
As I walked slowly, Anne scurried ahead on quick steps to open the door for me.
I gave her a smiling nod of thanks. Beyond the door, Brother Edward waited with the servants.
"William! It's been a while. Come on in."
"Brother, long time no see. How have you been?"
"Good. And you? How's Wilhelmina these days?"
"Everyone's well. Sister-in-law's doing great too—eating properly and taking walks diligently, very healthy."
"Really?"
Brother's face lit up even more at the news of his wife's good health, his lips stretching ear to ear in bliss.
"Dinner's not ready yet?"
"No, we came straight here without stopping elsewhere."
"Good call. We can talk over the meal, so let's head to the dining room. Anna? Prepare dinner right away."
"Yes, sir."
The blonde maid beside Brother bowed slightly and hurried off toward the dining room.
We followed her at a leisurely pace to the dining room.