I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World - Chapter 26

Deciding to travel around the empire a bit, I went straight to my father's office.

Because I would need a carriage as well as money to travel around.

"What brings you to the office?"n
My father asked indifferently, without taking his eyes off the documents on his desk.

"Father, I'd like to go on a trip, a short one of about two weeks."

"I see."

While watching my father's hands busily moving over the paper, I cut to the chase without any flowery language.

Nodding and responding casually, my father blinked three times while looking at the documents, then raised his head and stared intently at me standing before him.

After widening his eyes, narrowing them repeatedly, and rubbing them a few times, my father slapped his cheeks hard with both hands, and then looked at me with a blank expression, asking in a hesitant voice.

"... William, are you going on a trip?"

"Yes, I'm thinking of touring the Imperial Capital and the southern part of the empire a bit."

This time, I nodded, stating my destination.

Then my father fell silent again.

After sitting with his mouth open for a while, my father asked again in a hesitant voice.

"William, you're, going on, a trip...?"

"Yes."

"You're really going on a trip..."

"I am going on a trip, so please stop asking."

"Heh heh..."

Forcibly cutting off the question that seemed like it would go on forever, I nodded, and my father leaned back in his chair, a smile of half joy and half bewilderment on his face.

Is it so surprising that I'm going out?

I thought I participated in all the important family events and went out with them almost every time they went out...

It hurt my heart to be treated like a total shut-in.

"What made you suddenly decide to do this?"

"... I want to broaden my horizons, I guess. I've been cooped up in my room too much, and I don't know anything."

The corners of my father's lips rose higher and higher.

The man who usually just smirked was now beaming with a smile, and he spoke in an excited voice, a tone higher than usual.

"That's right, if you're born a man, you should see the wide world. How about going for a longer trip? The entire empire, even..."

"Two weeks is enough!"

Two weeks was already a long time for me, and I couldn't extend it any further, so I was startled and shook my head wildly.

Then my father instantly made a dejected expression and nodded limply.

"Well... the important thing is that you decided to go out, even if it's just for two weeks... So, when are you thinking of leaving?"

"I'm thinking of leaving in three or four days."

"What do you want to do in the Imperial Capital and the South? If you take out the travel time, you'll only have a week left."

"There's the Imperial Knights' open training every quarter, right? I'm going to observe the Imperial Knights' training this time, and in my spare time, I'm going to go to the South and see the ocean."

"The Imperial Knights?"

At the mention of the Imperial Knights, my father frowned, looking like he'd been scratched where it itched.

"Our family has knights too, so why do you have to go all the way to the Imperial Capital to see them? Our knights are no less than the Imperial Knights, to the point where they have the nickname 'the Emperor's Left Arm.'"

"There are hardly any female knights in Father's knights, so I was curious about the female knights' training."

"Well, if that's the case..."

No matter how hurt my father's pride was, he couldn't create something out of nothing, so he nodded, albeit with a sulky expression.

"Alright, I'll support you as much as you want, so take this opportunity to do everything you want to do."

"Thank you, Father!"

I smiled broadly and bowed.

"What do you need?"

"A carriage and some travel expenses should be enough."

"How frugal. Alright, get your travel preparations in order."

"Yes."

Seeing my father, who was subtly hinting for me to leave, turn his head back to the documents, I bowed slightly and left his office.

_

My father told me to diligently prepare for the trip, but there wasn't much I could do.

Just packing my clothes?

Having only been to Jeju Island in my past life, me getting involved here would only be a hindrance. If I clearly stated my needs, the servants would neatly prepare everything.

Moreover, the trip wasn't that long, so there wasn't much to prepare.

So, instead of interfering and being nosy, I roughly left it to the butler and waited leisurely.

And when the day of departure arrived.

"Son, how is it? Your mother and I have prepared appropriately for your first trip."

"Isn't it a little... excessive?"

"Excessive? This is actually on the smaller side."

"Heo..."

Two knights, a coachman, a maid named Ann, and Emily.

One carriage and four horses.

Two horses were hitched to the carriage, and two other horses were ridden by knights wearing leather armor.

Moreover, the carriage was a large one that could seat six or seven people, the kind my father or mother would use when traveling.

It felt too luxurious for a trip of only two weeks.

My stomach was already starting to hurt.

"Take the travel expenses too."

"Ah... thank..."

As I stood there hesitantly, rubbing my sternum, my mother approached and handed me two heavy cloth pouches.

Sensing something unusual in the weight, I opened the pouches with a hopeful heart, and dozens of gold and silver coins sparkled inside.

Roughly calculating, it easily exceeded 20 gold.

"Isn't this too much? I'll be staying with my brother in the Imperial Capital, so there will hardly be any need to spend money."

"You'll end up spending it when you're having fun, and you should also take care of the servants. How often do the maids and butlers get to go to the Imperial Capital?"

"Ah..."

I never thought there would be such deep meaning...

I was about to return one of the pouches to my mother, but I quickly retracted my hand.

And as I hurriedly fastened the pouch to my clothes, my father approached and suddenly held something out to me.

"Take this with you too."

"Ah, yes... Huh?"

A metal badge engraved with the Count's crest.

I widened my eyes and looked at my father, trembling.

"Ah, Father, this is..."

"Take it out if you're in trouble while traveling."

"Hieeeek..."

He gave me the badge of the Count's representative as if it were a free pass to an amusement park.

"And I've told a wizard I know in the Knights, so ask him about everything from A to Z. Since you're going there with questions, you have to examine every speck of dust in the Knights."

"Heueu..."

Now my stomach is churning.

I was just going to look at people's clothes while traveling around the Imperial Capital and the South with a light heart, but suddenly it turned into an Imperial Knights training program.

It feels like I'll have to submit a report when I return from the trip.

I put the metal badge into my chest pocket with trembling hands.

"Be sure to give my regards to Edward and tell him about Wilhelmina."

"Yes..."

"You don't have to meet the deadline I mentioned, so if there's anything else you want to see, feel free to travel around more. I've told the servants and knights that you might be traveling for a month or two."

"Yes..."

"Come back safe."

"Yes..."

I couldn't quite grasp what my mother and father were saying.

I nodded vaguely, as if understanding what they were saying, and they patted me on the back and gently pushed me towards the carriage. I nodded, waved my hand lightly, and got into the carriage, leaving my mother and father behind.

"Heo..."

Hugging the heavy burden to my chest, I sighed deeply and leaned back in the chair.

For a light trip of only two weeks, I received so much support.

I felt like I would die of a twisted stomach if I didn't make the most of this trip.

_

"Young Master, please wake up."

After the carriage departed, and I was dozing off from the slight motion sickness, Emily called me in a gentle voice, shaking my shoulder slightly.

"Yawn~"

My hazy mind slowly cleared, and a big yawn escaped as my closed eyelids naturally opened.

Rubbing my eyes with my left hand, I looked out the small window in the carriage door and saw a crowded street.

"What... are we already here?"

"Yes, we'll be arriving at the townhouse soon."

"That was fast..."

I clearly left after eating lunch, but it was still bright outside.

"Ugh!"

Stretching my arms upwards, I slightly loosened my stiff back.

The carriage jerked and stopped.

Soon, the coachman opened the carriage door and gestured for me to get out, saying.

"Young Master, we've arrived."

"Okay, good work, Charles."

I got out of the carriage, lightly encouraged the coachman Charles, and shielded my eyes from the sunlight as I looked ahead.

These days, my brother is staying there because he's doing various things in the Imperial Capital, but originally, it was a four-story townhouse that was only used when there was business in the Imperial Capital.

It's insignificantly small compared to the mansion in the territory, but considering the brutal land prices in the Imperial Capital, the price itself is comparable to the mansion.

"Young Master."

"Okay, let's go in."

Emily, who had taken out the luggage tied to the roof of the carriage, came up behind me.

I nodded lightly and moved towards the townhouse.

As I slowly moved my steps, Ann quickly approached the door with mincing steps and opened it for me.

Smiling at Ann, I expressed my gratitude lightly, and looked beyond the door, where my brother Edward was waiting for me with the servants.

"William! It's been a while, welcome."

"Brother, it's been a while, have you been well?"

"Yes, have you been well? How is Wilhelmina these days?"

"Everyone is doing well, and my sister-in-law is doing well these days too. She eats well and is healthy enough to take walks diligently."

"Really?"

Hearing that my sister-in-law was healthy and doing well, my brother's mood improved even more, and he smiled happily, his lips almost reaching his ears.

"Isn't it dinner time yet?"

"No, I came straight here without stopping anywhere else."

"Good, good. We can talk slowly while we eat, so let's go to the dining room quickly. Anna? Please prepare dinner right away."

"Yes, I understand."

The blonde maid standing next to my brother bowed slightly and moved towards the dining room with mincing steps.

We slowly followed the maid and moved towards the dining room.