Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: An Imperial Commission
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“The knights seem to need some time to collect their thoughts, so I'd like to hear your opinion in more detail first. Why do you think that uniform looks strange?”
“It'd be faster to just show you.”
In response to His Highness's question, I nodded and turned to the knights.
“Could one of you gentlemen perhaps help me out?”
The knights exchanged glances, reading each other’s expressions. Then a brown-haired knight with a youthful face—around my age—awkwardly raised a hand and stepped forward.
“...I'll do it.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed lightly to the knight, then stood beside her and began explaining while tracing the outline of my own upper body with my hands.
“When exaggerating male and female body shapes, men are trapezoids, women are hexagons—men's widest part is the shoulders, women's is the hips.”
I pointed to the shoulders of the knight beside me.
Then, I drew a line in the air with my finger, connecting the shoulders and hips.
“This knight has trained her body extensively, so her shoulders are more developed than an average woman’s. Even so, her hip width and shoulder width remain similar. If a man trained to this extent, his body would form an inverted triangle.”
I moved behind the knight and stood front-to-back with her.
“This difference becomes awkward when wearing clothing of the opposite gender, and it's especially pronounced in knights with such extreme builds.”
I paused for a beat and pointed to the knight's shoulders as I continued.
“First, the shoulders. Women have a larger chest circumference relative to their torso width. Fitting clothes to the shoulders makes the chest tight, and fitting to the chest makes the shoulders loose. Judging by the lack of wrinkles, this uniform seems fitted to the chest, which leaves excess space around the shoulders like this.”
When I pressed the end of the shoulder with my finger, it sank in about a knuckle's depth.
“Another issue with chest-fitting is excess space at the waist. The clothes puff out, making one look like a log.”
This time, I grabbed the fabric at the waist and pulled it slightly.
The opposite side dipped inward, starkly revealing the hidden space in the garment.
Then, pointing to the hips and waistline, I noted the jacket's length.
“Also, women's clothing has a shorter upper body because their hips sit higher, raising the waistline. Without adjusting for that, the clothes feel oversized. This uniform has been shortened, so the length isn't off, but...”
I trailed off and pointed to the buttons and collar.
“The problem is, shortening the length and reducing the girth shifts or enlarges the decorations from their intended positions. The collar feels too large, or the buttons sit too low, for example.”
That covered the standout issues with the top.
I squatted down and traced the line from hips to ankles.
“Next, the hips. They're the thickest part of a woman's body—sometimes thicker than a man's. But their legs are much slimmer than men's, so the pant legs need overall adjustment.”
I stood back up.
“Even just pointing out the obvious issues, that's why I think the uniform is off.”
“A total mess, indeed.”
Hir Highness, who had been listening quietly, nodded lightly with a brief assessment.
But moments later, he narrowed his eyes and pointed at the knight's uniform, raising a counterpoint.
“I understand the issues. However, the knight order already allows alterations to the uniforms and covers the costs. Isn't that enough?”
I smiled and nodded.
“Your Highness, think about it. Is it efficient or smart to pay money to fix shoulders, waist, sleeve length, upper body length, lower body length, pant girth one by one? What a waste! Why do the work twice when you could do it right the first time?”
“...You're right.”
If you're wasting money and time on alterations anyway, just make it properly from the start.
“One more thing: female knights are far fewer in number than males. Does it make sense to stock uniforms tailored for them?”
“How many women are in the knight order currently?”
“Seventy-three.”
“Not just seventy-three—it's a full seventy-three. Isn't the Imperial Knight Order the kingdom's most elite? These are the finest knights guarding His Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Grand Princess. Shouldn't they get the best treatment? It's laughable that they're stuck wearing ill-fitting clothes and getting them altered.”
“Hmm...”
His Highness let out a hazy hum and looked between me and the knight.
Then he stepped forward and addressed the knights standing in the training yard.
“Do you knights agree with the young lord's opinion?”
“......”
At His Highness's question, the knights froze like statues.
They glanced at each other, delaying their answers, until the most senior-looking one swallowed hard and spoke with a resolute expression.
“...We have thought it inefficient as well.”
“I see.”
It wasn't just that knight's view—the others nodded lightly in agreement.
“Truth be told, the palace was already aware of this issue.”
“Then why leave it unaddressed until now?”
“No designer stepped up to take it on. There was more resistance to women wearing pants than expected.”
“Ah...”
I'd anticipated resistance, but not that even palace commissions would be shunned.
“Young Lord William, why don't you take this on?”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Is that alright? Objectively, I have no proven track record.”
“True.”
“......?”
His Highness nodded and affirmed it so readily that I stared at him in blank confusion for a moment.
Seeing me like that, he chuckled softly and added,
“But even the unproven can offer opinions worth hearing. I'll give you two weeks. In that time, come up with plans for how to redesign these knights' uniforms.”
“Just the designs?”
“Yes. Can you do it?”
An unexpected golden opportunity dropped from the sky.
Success meant catching the palace's eye and making a name for myself.
I swallowed once and bowed my head, seizing the chance His Highness had granted.
“If Your Highness commands it, I'll do everything in my power.”
“Your confidence suits you—you take after your father. Young lord, do you need anything for this?”
“May I compile a list and send it by letter later?”
“Of course. Then you'll need a messenger. Knight Rachel?”
“Yes! Your Highness, what are your orders!”
When His Highness called one knight's name, the young knight who had helped with my demonstration responded in a booming voice, dropping to one knee and bowing her head.
“For the next two weeks, all communication between Young Lord William and myself will go through you. Understood?”
“Yes! I shall obey!”
“Good.”
His Highness gave a small nod at Knight Rachel's reply, gestured for Knight Rachel to rise, and glanced at me.
“I'll inform the knight order as well, so don't hesitate to request what you need.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“I look forward to it. I hope you bring good results.”
His Highness's final words brought a wave of pressure.
“Haha... I'll do my best.”
I gave an awkward smile and a slight bow.
_
Having received His Highness's orders, I headed straight back to the townhouse.
Along with Knight Rachel, who had received the same command.
With a new guest, I figured I should inform my brother, so I made my way to his study as soon as we arrived.
“Brother, I'm back.”
“William... welcome... ”
My brother, who had greeted my return with a smiling face, spotted Knight Rachel following behind and pointed at her in bewilderment.
“Who might this knight be?”
“Greetings, heir to the Hume Count family. I'm Rachel Scott, a low-rank knight of the Imperial Knight Order. As a commoner, I have no notable house to boast of.”
“Pleased to meet you, Knight Rachel. But what brings you all the way here? Has my brother done something foolish?”
“By His Highness's command, I'll be serving as the liaison between Young Lord William and His Highness for two weeks.”
“His Highness...?”
At the mention of His Highness, my brother's eyes shook violently.
His eyes darted around, his hands trembling faintly, until he fixed me with a fierce glare, demanding an explanation.
“I met His Highness at the knight barracks because of Father?”
“Go on.”
“Things happened, and I ended up accepting a mission from His Highness. I have to fulfill her command within two weeks.”
“Heh...”
Letting out a deflated sigh, my brother rubbed his face with his hand, propped his head on his left hand, and spoke in a weary voice.
“What command did His Highness give you...?”
“She told me to design uniforms for the Imperial Knight Order.”
“I see...”
My brother closed his eyes.
A moment later, he opened them with a gentle smile and spoke calmly.
“William, have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“Let's have a meal, then.”
My brother's demeanor, suggesting dinner as if nothing had happened, felt strangely hollow for some reason.