After that, the owner of Est Atelier and Kishiar started their design consultation over again from the very beginning. Yet Yuder didn’t find watching them boring in the least.
Now, the owner was far more proactive and assertive than Kishiar himself. A torrent of [N O V E L I G H T] technical terms that were difficult even to follow spilled out, and bundles of reference sketches kept appearing from somewhere one after another.
“If Your Grace feels that making all seven sets entirely in the Imperial style might be too plain, how about incorporating the traditional Nellarun ceremonial attire style into one of them? Of course, it couldn’t be worn for the most formal occasion, but in the early founding years the two nations’ formal styles were nearly identical, so—”
“Bold. I like it. In those days, every country wore nearly the same sort of ceremonial robes. If you’re confident you can turn it into a reminder of our long history and friendship, it’s worth attempting.”
“The current standard for envoy formalwear assumes the waist must be wrapped in at least five overlapping jeweled sashes, but I would recommend leaving out the jewels and instead distinguishing the colors with dyed cloth bands in the Bemasa style.”
“I think I’ve seen a record that they were made that way until five hundred years ago. It’s also a design borrowed from the palace attendants’ belt knots, which gives it meaning.”
“Ah, that part I didn’t know. In that case, perhaps we could make use of that knot in earnest and, hmm... hang the center part doubled over like this—it wouldn’t look bad at all.”
Kishiar smiled with satisfaction as he looked over the dozens of sample sketches the owner drew quickly and deftly on the spot, but that didn’t mean he accepted them all. He asked for another stick of charcoal and personally corrected parts of the sketches, adding his own opinions.
“Could you take another look at this part? The sleeve circumference of the outer garment is so wide and long it ruins the overall proportions—you’d hardly be able to move your arm once. While we’re at it, maybe consider shortening the sleeves by about... half.”
“If we apply the shape you want, would these proportions work?”
“No. A bit smaller. Hm. The idea of tapering toward the wrist isn’t bad either. It would suit Yuder better that way.”
Watching him sketch freely with a piece of charcoal instead of holding a quill or a sword felt strangely new. The charcoal was soft and left plenty of soot on his fingers, but Kishiar didn’t mind at all. Seeing that, the owner looked as if she finally truly understood what sort of person he was.
By the time that consultation—which could practically be called a fierce duel in conversation—ended, the owner seemed to think of Kishiar not as a member of the imperial family but as a colleague in the trade.
“Haa... ha... Is this now... the final decision?”
A red circle was drawn on the sketches of the fourteen finalized designs. Kishiar nodded briskly, looking refreshingly pleased at the half-collapsed owner dripping with sweat in her chair.
“Yes. That’s about all we can settle in our heads. The rest, we’ll have to see with our eyes once they’re made.”
“Your Highness even knows the difference between sketches and finished garments... I shouldn’t be surprised anymore.”
“Haha. Praise me all you want, but I’ve nothing more to give.”
“I’m serious. If I hadn’t seen you face to face, I would’ve thought I was talking to a master tailor who’s spent decades making formalwear. I’ve never met anyone who knows even the dyeing variations by fabric type.”
“I’ve always had quite an interest in adornment. And since this time it’s an important matter where we can’t afford to be nitpicked, I studied up a little beforehand. That’s all.”
“That isn’t knowledge one can acquire in a day or two of ‘studying up’... truly remarkable....”
Though she clicked her tongue, the owner’s face showed cool exhilaration and pleasure. Kishiar, smiling at that expression, spoke quietly.
“As I said earlier, this is only the beginning. I don’t plan to have any of the formalwear I’ll wear this year made by the traditional ateliers. So the next one might go to someone other than you—do you know what that means?”
“You intend to deliberately use different ateliers each time to prevent monopolization. I understand. Having had this chance to glimpse Your Grace’s great vision is more than enough for me, so please don’t worry that I might harbor foolish thoughts.”
Instead of answering, Kishiar’s eyes curved in amusement.
“The Great Mage Est was the one who, after Luma, restructured the disorganized Court Mage Office into the form it has today. His principle was that there must be mages who use their power not for personal desire but for the good of the entire nation. You too have used your skill not for greed but for what you believe is right—anyone who knows that could never deny that you are a worthy member of House Est.”
The owner’s eyes widened, then trembled with emotion.
“...I should be the one helping, but it feels as if I’ve learned a great deal instead. Thank you.”
“I’m the one who’s already looking forward to what you’ll make.”
“Formalwear for an envoy must carry within it the nation’s tradition, present, and future all in a single garment; that’s how important it is. I’ll pour my all into creating it.”
“Good. I’ll await your report.”
Kishiar laughed quietly and rose from his seat. Yuder followed him up silently.
When they opened the door and stepped outside, the sun was already sinking. He could truly feel how long they had spent inside the atelier.
A breeze brushed his cheek; it felt cool enough that he briefly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, Kishiar was smiling apologetically beside him.
“You must’ve been quite bored watching all that. The conversation ran longer than I expected once I got into it.”
“No. I found it interesting.”
“Really?”
“I even thought perhaps I should take some interest in clothes from now on.”
Kishiar chuckled low, recognizing half of that as a joke.
“This is just a small curiosity, but did you already know the owner was a descendant of the Great Mage Est before coming here?”
“With the shop named ‘Est Atelier,’ it would’ve been harder not to know.”
Kishiar nodded in acknowledgment.
“I didn’t care whether she was from House Est or not—I chose her after seeing her skill. But to those obsessed with lineage and pedigree, it won’t look that way.”
“You even accounted for that.”
To those who clung to tradition, seeing him wear clothing made by a descendant of the old Great Mage would certainly carry meaning. Of course, only for those who cared about such things.
“In truth, though the owner doesn’t seem to know it, she’s probably not a blood descendant of the Great Mage Est at all. As far as I know, mages of that era almost never had children—they usually adopted successors instead.”
If that was the case, then it was natural she had no magical talent. Yet even knowing that, Kishiar had told her she was worthy of the Est name.
Whether blood-related or not, she was still a descendant who had carried on the name and spirit.
“......”
Once again, thoughts of Helrem and the House Caspir flickered briefly through Yuder’s mind before fading away.
“Yuder.”
“Yes?”
Kishiar called his name playfully. When Yuder turned, standing there was a man with soft brown hair—at some point Kishiar had adjusted his disguise artifact again.
“Last time, unfortunately, we never made it to the café. How about we finally grab a drink today?”
Last time, when they had followed Fay and his friends, their plan to visit the café with Kishiar wearing the Imperial Guard uniform had been canceled when Fay took that sudden rash action.
But now there was no problem.
'It’s on the way back to the Cavalry headquarters anyway...'
“Sounds good.”
He nodded. Kishiar smiled brightly and held out his hand. They hailed a carriage and headed toward the 7th Wall.
The café was still open. It was said to be a place the Imperial Guards frequented, and indeed, the moment they entered, blue uniforms stood out everywhere.
Yuder couldn’t help feeling slightly irritated, but he restrained himself, recalling the Imperial Guard uniform Kishiar was currently wearing.
And then—
“Yuder Aile?”
When he lifted his head, there stood Theorado van Ta-in, the Captain of the Imperial Guard.