I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World - Chapter 27

Most of the conversation I had with my brother was about family.

How are Mom and Dad doing? How is Hayes? What is my sister-in-law doing these days? Things like that.

And it's questionable whether it can even be called a conversation, as I was mostly talking by myself.

All my brother did was nod and make sounds of agreement, but well... my brother seemed happy, so whatever.

Anyway, after spending a day talking with my brother, I was in a carriage early the next morning, heading somewhere.

Turns out, the day my father mentioned to his acquaintance was today, and even in the morning, so I hurriedly finished preparing and got on the carriage to head to the Imperial Knights' barracks.

"Hmph..."

"Young master has arrived..."

"Thanks, Charles!"

Having arrived in front of the Imperial Knights' barracks,

I said goodbye to the coachman and jumped out of the carriage, taking out my watch to check the time.

Just barely 10 minutes before the appointment time. Arriving a little early for an appointment is polite, so it was practically like arriving right on time.

"Hoo..."

I let out a sigh of relief and gently stroked my solar plexus.

"Young master, your clothes are disheveled."

"Ah, thanks..."

As I cursed my father for not telling me in advance and caught my breath, Emilie, who had gotten out of the carriage after me, grabbed my sleeve.

"Are you the person Count Hume sent?"

As I was fixing my clothes with Emilie's help, a familiar baritone voice spoke from beside me.

Judging by the mention of my father, it seemed to be my father's acquaintance, so I smiled and turned my head.

"Yes, I am...?"

What came into view was a middle-aged man with white hair and a displeased expression.

If I'm not mistaken, the person in front of me is His Majesty the Emperor's father-in-law...

Why is His Excellency the Royal Consort here?

"Hah..."

Along with His Excellency's sigh, a cold gaze was directed at me and Emilie.

"I came out because I was told there was something important, but in reality, it was to babysit... That damn son of his."

"Hic..."

Emilie, caught up in His Excellency's irritation for the unfair reason of being with me, trembled and gasped.

"Y-Your Excellency, the beautiful moon of the Empire, it is an honor to meet you!"

I wasn't in a much better state, so I hurriedly bowed and greeted His Excellency in a trembling voice.

"Hmm..."

"......"

Following His Excellency's short groan, a heavy silence settled around us.

I felt like I was suffocating and might faint at any moment.

"From now on, leave out the 'beautiful moon' part, it feels strange every time I hear it because I'm a man."

"I'm sorry... I'll keep that in mind."

"There's no need to apologize, it's rather I who am being stubborn, so don't mind it and raise your head."

"Thank you for your generous consideration."

With His Excellency's permission, I immediately straightened my back.

"You look a lot like the Countess, unlike your elder brother, that's a relief."

"Pardon?"

Would something be wrong if I resembled my father?

As I wore a bewildered expression, His Excellency chuckled and patted my shoulder.

"It's nothing you need to worry about, so ignore it."

"Yes..."

I wasn't sure if ignoring my father's gossip was the right thing to do, but I didn't have the courage to protest to His Excellency, so I awkwardly nodded.

"Um... This is an impertinent question, but may I ask why His Excellency the Royal Consort is here?"

"What? Didn't that damn Count tell you?"

"He only said something along the lines of, 'I've spoken to a magician I know in the Knights.'"

"A magician I know?"

"Yes..."

"......"

His Excellency seemed displeased, grinding his teeth and glancing north.

That's the direction of my father's territory...

"To dare refer to the Empress's husband as a magician he knows, that disrespectful bastard..."

The atmosphere became heavy again.

I don't know what my father did to His Excellency, but I resented him so much.

If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have come to the Knights.

No... If I hadn't come, would I have been beheaded for insulting the Royal Consort?

Both scenarios felt awful.

"Since your father didn't tell you, I'll tell you instead."

"Yes..."

"I am the magician your father 'knows well.'"

"I apologize on his behalf..."

"I will speak with the Count separately later, so you don't need to worry about it."

"I understand..."

It seems like my father provoked His Excellency the Royal Consort, but shouldn't I be worried about this?

My head was starting to hurt, so I stopped thinking.

My father will take care of it somehow...

"So, what about the Imperial Majesty's great Knights are you curious about that you came all the way here?"

"I was curious about the training of the female knights, so I made the journey here."

"Haha! Female knights! Being only in the Imperial Palace must have been unavoidable for him, your father must be devastated."

His Excellency chuckled in a good mood and tapped my back.

"Since that unlucky Count's second son is so interested in the Imperial Majesty's Knights, I should put in some effort too. You wanted to see the training of the female knights, did you?"

"Yes."

"Then I should show you everything I can."

"Pardon?"

Everything?

I didn't want to see it that seriously...

"Hurry and follow me."

"Yes..."

As I stood there trembling, His Excellency wore a triumphant smile and started walking towards the Knights' barracks.

Feeling uneasy, I followed behind His Excellency with Emilie.

_

His Excellency's words about showing me everything were not empty, as I really got to see everything I could think of.

To the extent that I got to see most of the martial arts and techniques a knight could show, from swordsmanship to equestrian archery, dressage, and mounted shooting, and I barely managed to stop His Excellency from showing me a mounted lance competition at the very end.

"Are you sure you don't want to see the mounted lance competition?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I would be satisfied with just having time to talk to the knights."

"That's the most interesting thing though..."

"Haha..."

His Excellency seemed to keep asking if I was okay throughout the whole time since he wasn't able to show me the mounted lance competition, and I just kept smiling awkwardly and repeating that I was fine.

While receiving His Excellency's grumbling with a smiling face, we came down to the training grounds, and I noticed the knights standing in a row with tense expressions.

Well-postured, sharp gazes, and the Knights' unique heavy yet refined atmosphere.

Each and every one of them was cool and overflowing with dignity, but there was just one thing.

Their clothes were bothering me.

It's not that the size of the clothes didn't fit.

The length and circumference were all properly adjusted, but the line from the shoulders down was somehow strange.

It's not so strange that it stands out, but it's noticeable enough to be distracting if you focus on it.

It's like a woman disguising herself as a man.

The unique coolness of a uniform only comes to life when it fits a person's body perfectly, but this felt too much like it was forced to fit.

"Everyone, attention! Salute His Excellency the Royal Consort!"

"Loyalty!"

As I slowly examined the strangeness emanating from the uniforms, I approached the knights with His Excellency, and the knights' hands went up to their heads in unison, and a thunderous salute echoed across the training grounds.

"......"

There were only twenty of them, but the tremendous salute that made my body tremble made me cower without realizing it.

"Hmm, you've worked hard."

"At ease!"

Following that, His Excellency nodded with a nonchalant expression, accepting the salute, and the knights' hands came down and stuck to their thighs as if they were one body.

As I watched the incredibly precise and nearly perfect drill, the uniforms that didn't quite fit the knights kept catching my eye.

"First of all, I would like to express my encouragement and praise for your efforts, as you have always admirably demonstrated your strength and valor even in this suddenly arranged training.

Originally, I should send you back to your barracks as soon as the training is over, but as Duke William, who watched your training, said that he had a few questions he wanted to ask you, I have arranged this time, so I hope you will answer with sincerity, even if it is somewhat troublesome."

"Yes! Understood!"

After His Excellency's light encouragement to the knights who had finished their training, His Excellency gestured to me and took a step back as if telling me to come forward.

I bowed slightly to His Excellency in gratitude, took a step forward, and looked at the knights.

"First of all, I would like to say in advance that I was amazed throughout the entire time I watched your training. Even to me, who doesn't know much about martial arts, it was clear that your level was incredible."

After offering a light compliment to the knights first, I paused for a moment, then slowly looked around at the knights and immediately brought up the question I wanted to ask the most.

"By the way, are you satisfied with your current uniforms?"

"Pardon...?"

The faces of the knights, who had been consistently expressionless until now, slowly began to show bewilderment.

Did I ask the question too difficultly?

It doesn't seem like a particularly difficult question...

"The uniforms you are currently wearing, to me, look like you are forcing yourselves to wear men's clothes, and they don't feel very cool. How do you feel about them?"

"What... do you mean..."

The knights' eyes trembled.

Judging by the way they were looking back and forth between me and His Excellency, it seemed like they were trying to read His Excellency's mood.

I glanced at His Excellency and asked him a question.

"Your Excellency, is it a crime to criticize the uniforms?"

"There isn't really such a law, but my mood might worsen depending on the answer."

"Were you perhaps upset?"

"No, not really. Rather, I'm curious as to why you thought so, and I'm also curious if the knights agree with your opinion."

His Excellency the Royal Consort also said that he was curious.

I smiled brightly and looked at the knights.

"That's what he says. What do you think?"

"......"

A situation from which there is no escape.

The knights began to look at me with tearful faces, as if resenting me.