Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 23
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 23
Lion turned his head this way and that. Every garment displayed on the old mannequins was at least 2-star quality.
“…Yes. This is my reality.”
Andrie said it self-deprecatingly, but it didn’t faze Lion at all.
Rather, a fire was kindling in Lion’s heart.
‘If he managed 2-star quality with this kind of fabric, it means everything else was perfect.’
For instance, the design and pattern, of course, but also the artisan’s secret techniques for reinforcing durability.
And besides…
“And the designs are all yours?”
“Yes. Even for ready-made clothes, from a commoner’s standpoint, a single outfit is something you buy only with great resolve. So I poured my best into making them neat.”
Gulp.
Lion swallowed dryly.
‘If I were to supply high-end fabric to someone like him…?’
Whoosh!
Andrie was startled when the young master whipped his head around.
Unlike before, his eyes were blazing, almost churning like lava.
“Andrie! I want to wear clothes made under your name to my coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Excuse me? No, but, young master.”
Didn’t you hear what I said?
You’ll be humiliated!
‘And didn’t he just say coming-of-age ceremony?’
Come to think of it, they said the young master Lion’s coming-of-age ceremony was being held again.
A thought he hadn’t been conscious of suddenly surged up and made his head spin.
At a grand party like that, my clothes?
‘I know it’s a truly great opportunity, but I shouldn’t do it.’
It was a once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremony.
He didn’t want the young master to be disgraced just because of his good intentions.
Not because he was the young master of House Asteri, but out of worry for the kind young man who had done his best at the orphanage.
Seeing that look in Andrie’s eyes, Lion shook his head firmly.
“No. I can make sure no one says a word. All you have to do is tell me.”
“But—”
Lion cut him off and held up three fingers.
“Three outfits by the coming-of-age ceremony. Is it possible?”
Unlike before, his air was sharp and fierce, like the lord he had once glimpsed from afar.
“Three full outfits, you mean?”
“Yes. Don’t think about anything else—just tell me whether it’s possible or not.”
“…”
“I’ll take full responsibility. I’ll supply all the fabric as well. So just tell me whether you can be ambitious, or not.”
Ambition.
Andrie’s fist clenched on its own.
To make beautiful clothes with fine fabric.
Not having to worry about anything else.
Just create.
…What tailor in the world would refuse an offer like that?
Especially a tailor who was just about to close up shop—how could he possibly push aside such a tempting proposal?
‘This isn’t the time for that!’
Andrie hurriedly grabbed a notebook and pencil and began sketching on the spot.
“What kind of clothes do you want? What elements would you like? The World Tree emblem that symbolizes the family must be included, of course…”
“I’d like it clean but with a touch of elegance. And since the whole family is going to wear them together, it would be nice if they were similar but each with a different feel.”
“Mm, mm!”
Lion’s request was like that of a client who knew not a shred about design.
It had to be clean yet ornate, and since the family would wear them, it mustn’t be too trendy.
Naturally, Lion had to shine at the coming-of-age ceremony, so it couldn’t be too old-fashioned either.
But—
“A perfect design comes to mind.”
Andrie did not find the request difficult. Instead, he picked up the sketches scattered across the floor and began rapidly drafting a design… until—
he dropped his pencil.
Wait, family?
“By family, do you mean… including the lord?”
“Of course.”
“Gasp! You’d really entrust it to me? As you know, I’m a designer the nobles rather dislike!”
“What do they have to do with our house?”
“They don’t, indeed. Who would dare say anything?”
A prestigious mage family that rivaled the Imperial Court. Who would disparage clothes entrusted by the entire family, not just Lion?
Andrie took a deep breath and shouted,
“I will give you my best—no, the very best!”
He’d taken the bait.
Grin. The corners of Lion’s mouth lifted.
“Well then, it’s a promise?”
“…Yes!”
Unaware of Lion’s ulterior motives, Andrie answered stoutly.
“Then shall we decide on the fabric first?”
“Excuse me? But you have a fabric in mind…”
“Ah, I don’t know anything about fabrics yet, you see.”
Lion returned to his seat and took out a thick catalog from his bag.
“So I brought the catalog of the fabrics currently in stock at the family estate.”
The Asteri family fabric catalog!
Among tailors, it was treated almost like a legendary treasure.
They said it contained fabrics even better than those in the imperial vaults…!
Gulp.
His mouth watered reflexively.
“M-may I open it?”
“Of course.”
Andrie opened the book with trembling hands.
“Silk made from the northern winter moth cocoons…?!”
And then his mind exploded.
Andrie’s mind. With dopamine.
Boom!
Flowers fluttered, birds chirped. A baby angel blew a trumpet, and magical fireworks burst!
With every page he turned, a new thrill raced through him.
High-grade fabric from beyond the continent, the famous ‘Elven Tresses’ made only by a tiny number of elves, even ‘Fairy’s Breath’ crafted with painstaking care by mages!
“So, any materials that catch your eye?”
“The problem is there isn’t a single fabric I don’t like, young master!”
When an intense dopamine surge hits, your head goes blank.
Then you become aware only of what you’re focused on.
Andrie could no longer stop.
“That’s a relief.”
Lion meant it.
‘It has to be Andrie.’
Now that he thought about it, if he’d gone to another tailor, they would have reflected Rickshel’s or Grandfather’s tastes.
Many tailors would consider it more important to impress Grandfather or Rickshel than to make Lion stand out at his own coming-of-age ceremony.
Then Lion would have to face his coming-of-age in some ridiculous outfit.
So his only choice was to win over Andrie and push ahead.
And if things went well,
‘I might even get a chance to learn tailoring from Andrie.’
Fortunately, Andrie seemed more than satisfied.
So it was a win-win, wasn’t it?
Just then, Andrie tilted his head with a serious expression.
“Hm? This is…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Back when I was flourishing, a certain young lady used to favor this fabric. But that fabric never circulated on the market—and yet it’s in this catalog. How curious.”
Andrie had once said he had the ability to never forget a fabric he’d touched.
“But it doesn’t say what kind of fabric it is here, either.”
“Really? Let me see…”
Lion, suddenly curious, examined the fabric.
[Archmage’s Parental Devotion (★★★)]
-A specially crafted yarn made by an archmage for his own daughter.
-Every fiber has been magically treated. Guarantees outstanding anti-stain, anti-flame, anti-dust, waterproof, and moisture-permeable properties.
-Protective magic against physical and magical shock is embedded.
[Usage - Tailoring]
[☞Tailoring talent not unlocked; recipe cannot be viewed.]
Huh?
Could this be… something Grandfather made himself?
Lion stared at Andrie.
He had clearly said a ‘certain young lady’ had used this fabric to make her clothes.
And the description used the word ‘Archmage.’
So it was certain.
This was the fabric his mother, Petrick’s daughter, had favored.
‘Then naturally, I should use this fabric.’
Among Lion’s goals was escaping from ridiculous clothes, but also having the whole family wear similar outfits.
Like a family set of T-shirts.
It was just clothes,
but going through an experience like that together usually tightened family bonds.
‘I’ve always been bothered that Rickshel calls Grandfather “Lord” all the time.’
Blood is thicker than water, so if we’re doing this, wouldn’t it be nice to get a lot closer through something like this?
And… he was curious.
If they made it with a fabric of that grade, what star rating would the clothes be?
Would they turn out not to be ceremonial robes but high-end, cutting-edge combat gear?
And if Lion contributed even a little to making those clothes?
Not only would he gain the sewing talent—Expert’s Eye itself might even level up.
He couldn’t even count how many birds he was killing with that one stone.
“Andrie, would you be able to make it with this fabric?”
“It’s possible.”
Andrie was brimming with confidence.
Naturally, a fabric he’d handled once was easier to work with than one he’d never touched before.
“Then… shall we go take your measurements first?”
“Shall we?”
The moment he said that—
Knock knock!
A neat knock sounded, and a boy who resembled Lion entered.
It was his younger brother, Rickshel.
“Brother. I’m late.”
“Oh.”
Andrie let out a low breath.
“You are a bit late.”
“Yes. I heard the story in advance, so I brought some supplies.”
“…Supplies?”
This was news to Lion as well.
“First, please go get measured. I’ll wait here.”
“Ah, right. There are cookies left, so help yourself.”
What on earth had Rickshel prepared?
Come to think of it, it had been a little noisy outside.
‘Well, it can’t be anything weird.’
So Lion went into another room and had his measurements taken.
Andrie’s measuring was flawless.
Once he measured a spot, that was it. Without glancing back, he measured arms, legs, shoulders, waist, and everything else, and even jotted it all down in his notebook at once.
‘Impressive.’
He was plainly tense, yet composed.
He must have been tempered by vast experience.
‘I really must learn from him.’
First, he’d check what supplies Rickshel had brought.
“There, all done— Gasp!”
While Lion was putting on his outer garment, a breathless sound came from Andrie, who had gone out first.
“Huh? What’s going— Oh.”
Lion, following behind, was also impressed.
New mannequins, a gleaming sewing machine that was obviously high-end, chalk that wouldn’t shed a single speck, and piles of high-grade fabrics from the Asteri catalog stacked like a wholesale market.
On top of that, workers had been called and were even fixing the creaky door.
The sign had likely already been replaced with a new one.
“This much is only natural for someone who pleases my brother’s eye,”
Rickshel answered calmly, sipping his cold tea and eating a cookie.
Lion glanced sideways at Andrie beside him.
As expected, Andrie was on the verge of fainting from excessive happiness.
A bombshell reversal in a life devoid of any stimulation seemed a bit too much.