Chapter 64 — Dressing Like a Man
Chapter 64 — Dressing Like a Man
Translation: Godtl
She really didn't know anything about men's clothes.
If she went to a men's clothing store alone, her identity might be exposed. And calling a designer to her quarters was also problematic.
Lelia wanted to stay as inconspicuous as possible in the Imperial City and then leave.
"You always dress so magnificently, Romeo. All your clothes are flashy and catch the eye."
"Well, I suppose that's true... for me."
"I only brought two sets of men's clothing. I'll probably need to stay longer in the Imperial City, so I need to buy more. If you help me, Romeo, I don't think anyone would suspect me...?"
"...Why?"
Is this still not enough?
Lelia continued speaking while hiding her clenched fists behind her back.
"...Because if I wear clothes you picked out, I'd naturally look like a splendid gentleman like you, wouldn't I? Of course, not quite as splendid as you."
"...."
Soon he raised the corner of his mouth as if satisfied.
"Fine. Well, Kalix is... not really that way. He's more comfortable walking around naked. Like a beast."
With those final words, Romeo closed the book he was reading and stood up abruptly.
He seemed to be in a good mood from Lelia's flattery.
That's when it happened.
Ding!
Along with a cheerful sound, a quest window appeared.
[Special Affinity Target is said to have very severe mood swings. (ꐦ°꒫°)!!! How about giving him the best pleasant day?! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧]
※ Quest Story Progress: 0%
Below that, a list of rewards was also written.
∙ Affinity Check Ticket x1
∙ Special Recipe Puzzle Piece x1
∙ Lv. 1 Random Gift Box[?] x1
∙ Alchemy Lottery Ticket x1
The reward list was exactly the same as Kalix's first quest.
However....
'What kind of quest is this?'
Give that sensitive Romeo a pleasant day... She was already tired just thinking about it.
But more than that, the fact that this quest appeared at this very moment was even more ridiculous.
'Are you saying the affinity that was around -80 converted to positive just because I complimented him?'
It was true.
Lelia was so dumbfounded she touched the side of her head.
Meanwhile, Romeo headed to the inner room humming a tune to change his clothes.
Lelia found Romeo, who hadn't changed much from childhood, both likable and... somewhat frustrating.
Romeo appeared wearing elegant clothes adorned with gorgeous embroidery.
Perhaps thanks to his fine physique, he cut a striking figure.
Compared to him, the clothes Lelia wore were far plainer, so standing together, she felt like she had become Romeo's servant.
Romeo didn't mind and led Lelia to Kalix's quarters.
It was right across from them.
Romeo threw the door open and entered without even knocking. Lelia was greatly surprised but soon followed him in, hesitantly.
However, when she unthinkingly followed Romeo past the reception room and into the inner bedroom, she stopped.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
Exactly three seconds later, Lelia belatedly came to her senses and whipped around.
On the bed lay Kalix, sleeping face down with his upper body completely bare.
"......"
Lelia hurriedly walked to the reception room. She felt dazed.
It was her first time actually seeing a grown man's bare back. She had seen things like statues in temples back in her territory, but....
In any case, Kalix's back was covered with many scars that looked old.
'It must be from his hardships on the battlefield.'
Lelia bit her lip tightly in pity.
But truth be told, the rippling muscles of his back had been more eye-catching than the scars.
That was understandable. When Kalix was dressed, he didn't look particularly thick-bodied, but seeing him lying face down with his clothes off, she realized just how solidly built he actually was.
She was staring blankly out the window, trying to think of other things, when a small commotion came from inside.
"I won't go, I said I won't go!"
Kalix's whining voice and Romeo's snickering voice were heard in succession.
Soon, Romeo emerged from the bedroom with a bright expression.
He somehow looked refreshed.
'Is tormenting Kalix first thing in the morning how he starts his daily routine?'
Thinking this, Lelia left the imperial palace together with Romeo.
The carriage arrived at the bustling district of the Imperial Capital, a street particularly favored by nobles.
This place felt like a street nobles frequented, evident from the bricks paving the road to the buildings themselves.
Lelia stood quietly, gazing at the luxurious shops lined up on both sides, then at Romeo's urging to hurry, she entered the shop before her eyes.
Before entering, she caught a quick glimpse—it was a men's clothing store.
Having something to hide, an inexplicable tension washed over her.
'It should be fine since Romeo is with me.'
Fortunately, there were no customers inside the clothing store. Then again, it was still early for shopping.
However, the clerk showed a very kind smile as if the time didn't matter.
"Could you select a few outfits that would suit this gentleman?"
At Romeo's words, the clerk bowed his head and approached Lelia.
"……!"
When his eyes met Lelia's, the male clerk looked surprised and scanned her up and down.
It wasn't a look of disdain, but rather one of curiosity.
"Is something wrong?"
When Romeo, standing beside her, asked with furrowed brows, the clerk waved his hands in denial.
Then, casually bringing out several garments from inside, he displayed them on a wooden stand.
The clerk had selected a total of seven outfits.
Each one was bright and splendid in color, with beautiful embroidery as well.
Romeo examined the clothes carefully and nodded as if satisfied.
'Good thing I sucked up to Romeo.'
Lelia knew nothing about men's clothing in particular, just as with women's clothing, so Romeo's attitude was reassuring.
"I think a different cravat would go better with this one."
When Romeo said this, the clerk quickly brought over a wooden tray where cravats were displayed.
"This one and this one. Ah, and for the cuff buttons, use these."
As Romeo gave various instructions, several more people besides the attending clerk began bustling about.
"It's done."
Lelia looked over the clothes he had selected. She liked each one very much, but…
Since Romeo had added a cravat, cuff buttons, and various other items, the amount was likely to be considerable.
'How much money was left after the deductions again.'
While Lelia was pondering, Romeo took something out from his bosom and held it out to the clerk.
'Huh?'
Looking closely, it was currency issued by the Temple.
Along with the five empires on the continent, the currencies used by the surrounding minor nations were all different.
Because of this, the Temple located at the center of the five empires also served the role of creating and exchanging common currency for active trade—and that was precisely this currency.
'Is he going to buy them for me?'
Lelia asked with her eyes, but Romeo had a nonchalant expression.
It seemed he really was going to buy them for her.
'Good thing I sucked up to him.'
Lelia laughed inwardly as she thought this.
Just then, a clerk approached and hesitated.
"Um, now we need to take measurements…."
"Ah."
The clerk pointed to a spacious fitting room on one side. It meant they needed to go there to take measurements.
When Lelia hesitated, Romeo thought for a moment, then snatched the measuring tape from the clerk's hand.
"I'll take the measurements myself."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
Romeo took Lelia's arm and entered the fitting room the clerk had guided them to.
When the clerk drew the curtain, she was alone with Romeo in a space about the size of a small room.
"…Measure your chest and waist yourself."
"Ah, yes."
Lelia accepted the measuring tape Romeo held out and looked at the mirror in a daze.
The fitting room was quite spacious so staff could help customers change clothes, and three sides were all mirrors.
Romeo had turned his back and was standing facing the curtain.
If a clerk took the measurements, their hands might reach areas that could reveal Lelia was a woman.
Feeling that Romeo was being considerate of this, Lelia felt grateful inwardly.
As expected of my friend.
Lelia thought this as she measured her waist and chest. When she called Romeo, he took the measuring tape.
"I'll measure your shoulders, upper body, and legs."
Since those were parts difficult to measure alone, Lelia nodded.
Romeo picked up the measuring tape and came right up beside Lelia.
He measured from Lelia's waist to her leg length, from her shoulders to her pelvis, and her arm length.
Even though he must be doing this for the first time, the flow was natural, and he was careful not to touch her with his hands.
However, when measuring her shoulders, she felt his fingertips touch her.
After the left shoulder, when Romeo's fingertips touched her right shoulder, she suddenly felt breathless and suffocated for some unknown reason.
"……."
In that moment, Lelia's eyes met Romeo's through the mirror.
Unlike Lelia who was momentarily startled, Romeo had an impassive expression.
"Did you bring me here for this? To use me like a servant?"
"……."
Romeo grumbled but recorded the measurements on the paper beside them.
When their eyes met again through the mirror, Lelia smiled awkwardly.
"……."
Romeo froze for a moment seeing that smile, then turned his head away.
'Still, this is quite gentlemanly.'
Lelia adjusted her clothes and looked at herself in the mirror.
The most uncomfortable thing about dressing as a man was, after all… having to bind her chest.
Fortunately, among the pension lottery items, there was a 'less suffocating bandage' which she used.
That item had been designed for an elephant customer who frequently injured its nose in the game.
It was definitely less suffocating. She could understand why the elephant customer had been particularly obsessed with that item.
Just then, Romeo, who had set down his pen after writing down all the measurements, suddenly approached.
Meanwhile, outside the fitting room, the shop clerks were whispering among themselves.
"Did you see? I thought he stepped right out of Lord Donatelli's painting."
"Exactly. I've seen plenty of men trying to look like that painting, but that man is...."
The clerks exchanged murmured opinions about Lelia's appearance.
This was only natural, for the man bore a striking resemblance to the pure, handsome youth in the paintings by 'Donatelli,' an artist currently the talk of the capital.
Of course, his hair and eye colors were different, yet his peculiar delicate aura and pure innocence were remarkably similar.
Even the atmosphere between him and the man who had accompanied him was curious.
The blond man, who clearly looked like a high-ranking noble, wore clothes so luxurious they made one's jaw drop.
Despite his large frame, the clothes fit him splendidly.
That such a man would bring along someone in plain attire, an exceedingly pure-looking man, and personally pick out clothes for him?
Anyone could see what kind of relationship this was.
Seeing him even take the measurements himself for fear of the clerks touching the man said it all.
He disliked another person's hands touching his lover's body!
The clerks were in high spirits over this entertaining situation that had unfolded since morning.
It was said that there were nobles who secretly indulged in male love, but those who would openly parade their lovers around and buy them clothes like this were extremely rare.
Not that there were none at all, but such people mostly visited after sunset, during dark hours.
At the very least, they didn't come this boldly in the morning.
"Then again, looking like that, I'd probably parade him around from dawn too, just to show him off."
The clerks grew curious about the identity of this pure-looking man who had suddenly appeared in the capital.