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Chapter 39

"A birthday gift should be something the person actually enjoys receiving...."
First of all, Dale is twenty-two years old.
The same age as my older brother, Samuel Lockhart.
'What did my brother enjoy....'
Still, we shared a common trait—both of us knew only swords.
My brother had been a knight of the Imperial Palace since childhood, while Dale was a formidable ‌‌‍mercenary.
"A sword, then?"
But I felt hesitant about purchasing a sword for Dale with my ‌‌‌own hands.
"A weapon ‌‌‌that ‌‌‌fits one's hand well is crucial, ‌‌‌‌after all. Oh, that's right."
It came ‌‌to me—a gift that would surely appeal to him.
I'd been thinking ‌‌about it for some ‌‌time now, but Dale showed absolutely no interest in grooming his appearance, and every time ‌‌I saw him, I found myself ‌lamenting that fact.
Here he was with such striking looks, yet he never seized the opportunity ‌‌to flaunt them.
"There's a gift that can only be purchased in the Capital."
Conveniently, the Kelofeldt Trading Company had a branch in the Commercial District.
I could finalize the contract while I was there. And collect the deposit as well....
"I should go shopping for a gift."

* * *

"Welcome, customer."
The place I found was a boutique in the Shopping District.
Since it only produced custom clothing for high-end goods, it wasn't a place most people would dare enter.
Of course, even I—three years into my runaway life—was no exception.
'But now I have plenty of money.'
The head of the Kelofeldt Trading Company ‌‌‌‌had transferred the full advance payment to me.
Since I'd agreed to split the amount fifty-fifty with The Lord, my newly acquired funds came to 12.5 million crobats. And from Homi's advance, another 1 million crobats.
I'd become a walking vault holding a total of 13.5 million crobats.
"Hehehehe...."
I couldn't help ‌‌but laugh.
'It's a shame Homi's ‌price was set low, but since I increased the per-unit profit distribution rate, it's actually better.'
It would bring in future revenue.
I walked through the boutique with light steps.
'The fashion hasn't changed that much from what I'm wearing?'
Most of my dresses had been in Dale's house. ‌The ones Dale ‌‌‌‌claimed belonged to his younger sister.
Regardless of the truth, if Dale had prepared them, his taste was quite refined.
The boutique emanated a lovely fragrance.
Warm and ornate décor adorned in peach tones, and white lighting designed to showcase the displayed clothing.
The space was so vast it rivaled a modest mansion, and my legs ached just from touring each display room.
"Customer, is there a particular design you're looking for?"
"Ah..., I'd like a men's coat."
Without realizing it, I'd been browsing only women's clothing.
I'd gotten so lost savoring the Capital's delights that ‌‌I'd lost my focus.
"Ah, I see. Are you shopping for your lover's clothes?"
"My lover...."
He wasn't my lover, but there was no need to clarify.
"That's right. His height is about this much? Around ‌‌that sculpture over there, and his ‌‌build has ‌‌broad shoulders and a wide back."
"Let me show you the designs first. For now, if you make a reservation, you can visit next time with your lover to have measurements taken."
I shook my head at the clerk's suggestion.
"No. That person won't be coming."
"Ah, in that case...."
Before ‌‌‌the clerk could show an awkward expression, I ‌‌‌‌opened my coin purse and displayed its contents.
Glimmering brightly.
Dazzling gold coins tumbled about.
I handed the clerk a tip and whispered.
"Instead, send a tailor to my house."
The clerk, understanding my meaning, grinned and pocketed the tip.
"Of course, that's possible, customer."
What made Saint Berna Boutique special was that its ‌designers and tailors were ‌separated, allowing for systematic and refined clothing production.
Typically, customers would visit a boutique to have clothes fitted, but Saint Berna operated a discreet special service.
It was the tailor house-call service.
Primarily a privilege ‌enjoyed only by the highest nobility, but Saint Berna Boutique wielded it as a strategic advantage.
Even haughty aristocrats wouldn't receive a tailor dispatch.
Saint Berna Boutique executed the tailor dispatch service exclusively for customers who spent lavishly.
In other ‌‌‌words, ‌‌‌this boutique was....
A money-obsessed establishment.
Yet precisely because of this, it delivered such exceptional satisfaction that it had established itself as the Capital's finest boutique.
And today, I was a customer about to spend considerably here.
"Show me men's clothing."
A single coat for Dale would easily consume hundreds of thousands of crowns.
The attendant guided me ‌‌‌with a smile so bright it seemed to split their face.
I selected three coats from dozens of options, along with perhaps five ‌‌complete outfits.
"And...."
One corner displayed clothes that seemed to suit Dale perfectly. I gestured with my hand.
"That."
"Yes, madam. Which of those pieces did you mean?"
"No."
I drew a large rectangle in the air with my hands.
"All of them. From here to there."
"...You mean all of them, madam?"
In that instant, ‌‌the attendants' eyes gleamed with wild fervor.
"All of them! Understood!"
The sound of fabric rustling filled ‌‌the air.
The attendants moved with perfect coordination in that moment. They seemed to be checking every design.
I sipped tea while they processed the order.
"Good day, madam."
Then ‌‌‌a woman who appeared to be a senior attendant approached and greeted me. She smiled brightly.
"Is this your first visit to our boutique?"
It ‌‌‌wasn't ‌‌‌‌‌‌my first. I'd visited occasionally during ‌my time living in the Capital.
I'd definitely seen this attendant before.
'She doesn't remember my face.'
She smiled at ‌‌me as though we were meeting ‌for the first time, then whispered.
"Madam, if you wish, we will not sell the same design to anyone else."
She smiled as though estimating how much I would spend in the future.
"So my husband would be the only person in the ‌‌‌world to own that particular outfit, wouldn't he?"
"My goodness! You're married! I naturally assumed you were here with a lover, given how youthful you appear."
Excellent salesmanship.
I nodded without hiding my approval.
"But I also want that one. They said they wouldn't sell it." ‌‌‌
"Ah, that one."
The clerk's face twisted into an awkward smile.
Ding.
A clear bell chimed as someone entered the Boutique.
The clerks checked the time and their heads snapped ‌toward the entrance in unison. Even the clerk attending to me excused herself and hurried toward the door.
"Welcome."
The greeting rang out with such commanding force, as if ‌‌‌‌the boss of the entire Boutique had just arrived.
Who was that?
Curiosity got the better of me, so I covered my nose and mouth and peeked toward the entrance. She was a slender woman with silver hair like mine ‌‌and striking blue eyes.
She tilted her chin up with practiced ease, accepting their greetings. The clerks bowed again.
"We are honored by your visit, Adeline!"
...Who?

* * *

"The Alchemist employed by the Kelofeldt Trading Company has proven to be quite formidable."
It was the morning briefing when the Aide ‍‌reported to The Emperor on the events of the past ‌‌‌‌week. His advisors spoke one by one.
They were The Emperor's hands and feet, his eyes and ears.
They were those who ‌‌‌‌knew of what ‌‌‌had transpired between The Emperor ‌and Adeline, and they were his trusted allies. Simultaneously, they were the capable workforce that allowed him to step away from his duties.
The role of standing in for The ‌‌Emperor and working twenty-four hours had been ‌‌‌‌unanimously delegated to the Chief Aide through a vote.
Regardless, they possessed a unified spirit and unshakeable bonds of loyalty.
Aide Soho reported on recent events.
"In my assessment, I believe Adeline intends to assist us. After comparing handwriting, I discovered that several letters that entered the Imperial Palace over the past years bear a striking resemblance to Adeline's script."
Aide Olaf, seated beside him, nodded in agreement.
"The Alchemist is said to be Hibrius, who disappeared after entering a Monster Lair in despair following his dismissal years ‌‌‌ago for producing only useless weapons and failing to achieve academic results."
"He was known as an eccentric. However, his skills are undeniable, so it would be beneficial to utilize him this time to reorganize the Knights Order's equipment."
"Very well."
Dale ‌‌nodded simply and accepted the Aide's suggestion. ‌‌‌
That Enya had recognized the Alchemist and brought him in was a significant gain for the Empire. As he thought of ‌‌‌‌‌Enya, an unconscious smile crossed his face.
'I'm always the one receiving help.'
From the moment we ‌‌‌first met, and ever since.

---------------
Brought to you by Valir ‌‌‌‌Scans! To support our team and enjoy ‌‌‌the latest releases, please ‌‌‌read directly on our official site: ‌valirscans.org
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