Lucia was always working her hardest, raising the bar exceedingly high—so much so that the entire factory staff felt the need to stand up straight when she checked over their work.
Nonetheless, she hated when the staff pushed themselves too hard, and she cared about their health and any problems they were going through. More than anything, she never hesitated, in critical moments, to prioritize her subordinates over herself. It was a delight to work under a boss like that, but at the same time, Hestia had never had a boss who’d caused her as much worry.
Lucia’s dream was to one day own a workshop and boutique to make and sell clothes of her own design, but Hestia knew she would probably never be able to support her more easily than she could right now.
Instead of a sunflower, Lucia was more like a beautiful green tree. Someday, her branches would grow wide and tall, reaching up toward the blue sky. Hestia wondered—if she told her she wanted to stay by her side and watch that happen, would she laugh?
“I want you to remain the head manager as long as I work at the Magical Garment Factory, Lucia,” Hestia told her with a smile. The green young maiden simply responded with a sunny smile.
The Opera and Old Scars
A few days later, Lucia found herself in the master’s office of the Tailors’ Guild, standing still like a mannequin.
“Lucia, you look as radiant as a fairy. No, perhaps even more so,” Forto complimented her with a broad smile.
Lucia returned his smile and said, “Thank you. This is such a beautiful design, and it feels comfortable.”
That day, Lucia had donned one of Forto’s designs, a long, pale blue gown lavishly adorned with delicate lace in a slightly darker blue. It was an off-the-shoulders gown with ribbons along the back that held the bodice firmly in place. The hem fell just short of her toes, and the lack of a pannier under the skirt as well as the suppleness of the fabric made it easy to sit in a chair.
The dress was a rental from the Tailors’ Guild, so the size was a little big. Lucia was slender, so to make extra certain that the bodice wouldn’t slide down, it was secured to her shoulders by thin, clear straps. In order to hide those, she’d draped a white, sheer lace shawl around her shoulders. She had also drawn the ribbons on the back of the corset as tight as she could. It gave her an even nicer shape than she’d expected, but she had a feeling she would only be able to eat half as much as she usually did.
She also wore a pair of white mid-heeled shoes with sparkly, pale blue jewels dotting the insteps. This was the outfit she was going to wear to attend the opera with Forto. Hestia had told her that the dress was semiformal and would even be appropriate for a nobles’ soiree.
Lucia had never worn such an extravagant dress before, and she was ecstatic at the opportunity. The high-quality silk felt like a dream. Even when she looked in the mirror, she felt no inferiority to the dress; her face had been splendidly transformed.
Lucia liked makeup and was able to apply it with some skill, but the beauticians of the Tailors’ Guild were in a league of their own. After a deep body cleanse, they had lathered her in oil and applied three coats of foundation alone. From there, they’d applied powder, long false eyelashes, and lipstick—Lucia regretted that she hadn’t been able to take notes on everything they did.
Regardless, their efforts left her looking like an elegant, beautiful young maiden. She could see how, to the beauticians, her face was like a blank canvas that could be filled with whatever art they imagined.
When she thought about it, the Tailors’ Guild controlled the beauty of the capital. She was wearing a dress designed by Forto, the guildmaster, and her hair and makeup had been done by the guild’s beauticians—it would have been outlandish to think she wouldn’t be transformed in this way. Despite her upbringing, she could even pass as the daughter of some noble. It was no wonder that Forto had commented that he couldn’t wait to see what she wore. Becoming a model like this was a very educational experience.
Forto had also changed into his outfit for the opera. He wore a sleek, deep navy blue suit intended for evening wear. His jacket lapel and his vest were dark cobalt with matching intricately woven patterns. On top of his white silk shirt lay a long, slate blue tie, fastened with a gold pin that matched the color of his hair.
His shoes were midnight blue, so dark they could be mistaken for black unless the light hit them or one were looking very closely. They had clearly been picked with the utmost of care. Forto’s usual silver-gray suit was nice too, but Lucia found herself absolutely captivated by the splendor of this one.
“Now, for the finishing touch—here.”
Forto opened up a small, white box. Inside was a pair of pale gold earrings set with small, crystal clear aquamarine stones. They were the dangling type, so they would sway from her ears every time she moved.
“Is it really okay for me to borrow these too?”
The earrings might have been small, but those jewels held no hint of impurity. They must have been very expensive. Lucia was worried about losing them. Forto looked at her seriously and said, “Please take them, Lucia. There will be no carriage to get you today, nor flowers. This is also a way to commend you for all your efforts thus far.”
The absence of a carriage or flowers, despite them being at the Tailors’ Guild, and the fact that they were going to see a bridal dress designed by Forto meant today’s excursion to the opera was, in a certain sense, work.
However, she remembered being warned about gifts from noblemen—were earrings safe? Although, these earrings were meant as a token of appreciation for her work, and they were from Forto, so maybe they were okay.
As those thoughts raced through her head, Forto continued, “Additionally, not giving a gift to someone I am escorting would affect the good name of the Luini family.”
“Thank you, Mr. Forto. I will take good care of them. And, um, in return, I will endeavor in my work, and...”
He’s bringing his position as a viscount into this too. After thanking him, Lucia was trying her hardest to construct a sentence appropriate for a noble when there came a loud knock at the door.
A member of the guild staff nearly ran inside the guildmaster’s office and said, out of breath, “Mr. Fortunato, we’ve received an urgent message from the Couriers’ Guild! A ship carrying cargo from Išrana has gone missing!”
“Understood. I’ll head to the Couriers’ Guild at once. Hopefully other areas of the sea are safe. Once we can ascertain the situation, we’ll send a search boat—”
Forto roughly tore off his gloves in a way she’d never seen him do before, then faced her and briefly lowered his gaze.
“Lucia, you must forgive me. I will no longer be able to attend the opera with you.”
“That’s not important right now. You don’t need to worry about that!”
Lives were in danger. There would always be another opera, but there was no bringing people back from the dead.
Forto shifted his gaze to Lucia’s side. “Zilo, please escort Lucia to the opera in my place. You will be compensated for the overtime.”
Despite the last-minute request, Zilo was happy to go to the opera with her. “I couldn’t have asked for a better assignment. I have no need for overtime pay if it means being able to attend the opera with the chief—I mean, Miss Lucia.”
“Feel free to borrow whatever you would like to wear from the guild. Thank you, truly.”
“Leave everything to me. I will do my best to act as your proxy.”
Forto dashed out of the room to change clothes. As Zilo watched him leave, he said apologetically, “Chief, keeping a lady waiting goes against my nature, but do you mind waiting here for fifteen minutes?”
“We still have plenty of time before the opera starts, so take as much time as you need.”
“I know the clothing rental room like the back of my hand, so fifteen minutes is more than enough,” Zilo said with a laugh before walking briskly out of the room—and he really did return in a mere fifteen minutes. And Lucia found herself having to do a triple take.
His jacket was sleek black with navy blue stitching and silver-trimmed lapels. Underneath, his vest and slacks were a shiny gray—silver, even. His shirt was white but with a blue tinge that gave it a cool tone.
His outfit was accented by a bright blue, puffy cravat that was held in place with a round, glass pin resembling a diamond. The cuffs poking out from his sleeves were decorated with lace matching the cravat in color.
It almost looked as if there were steel plates affixed to the toes of his black lace-up shoes, but they were actually silver pieces that glinted subtly as he walked. His outfit was fashionable down to the last detail. And that didn’t apply to just his clothes. He’d combed back his hair, fixed up his beard, and put on silver, thin-framed glasses. He looked every bit the stylish gentleman.
“Is this up to your standards, chief?”
“Zilo, you look fantastic! I wish we could go to the factory right now and show everyone!”
“Aha ha, thank you.” Zilo rubbed a finger under his nose, then pulled on a pair of white gloves. “Now then—I, Zistavolo Contini, will be your escort for today. I will do everything within my power to ensure you, the enchanting Miss Lucia, enjoy a wonderful evening. Furthermore, I promise to ensure your safe return.”
“Thank you very much. One thing—what do you mean by ‘safe return’?”
“I mean that I will not behave in a way that will result in my being scolded by my wife,” Zilo said, extending his gloved hand to her. Lucia let out a chuckle as she placed her own hand in his.
Protector and Protected
“There are a lot of couples here. Oh, matching outfits! Not their entire outfits, but I do like how they coordinated her blue skirt with his blue slacks.”
“And why are we, as siblings, walking through here holding hands...?”
Lucia heard her older brother Massimo’s gloomy voice perfectly well, but she decided not to pay him any mind. If she did, she’d probably be saying the same thing.
Today was Lucia’s day off, so she and her brother were in the Southern District to pick up some essentials for the family. Massimo was here as a bag carrier.
This particular street was lined with shops selling everything from daily essentials to trendy products, and there were also many couples on dates strolling here. The sky was unfortunately overcast, but since their plan was to return home with heavy bags, this was preferable to walking under the rays of the hot sun. In a way, it was the perfect weather for shopping.
“We’ll just hold hands on this street. It’s so crowded, it’ll be a pain if we get separated. What other choice do we have?”
For as far as she could see, the street was filled with people, people, and more people. With how short Lucia was, it would be difficult for Massimo to find her again if she were to get lost in the crowd. She was even shorter than usual today—since she knew they’d have a lot to carry, she’d put on a pair of low-heeled shoes. Therefore, she had no choice but to hold hands with her brother.
Incidentally, they had gotten separated while out shopping the time before last. Massimo had loudly called out her name, which had led to people in the surrounding crowd mistakenly thinking he was looking for a lost child. Some kind passersby had even helped him look for her, which had made it difficult for Lucia to find an opening to run over and rejoin her brother. She wanted to avoid a repeat of that scenario at all costs.
“After we’re done shopping, I want to stop by a restaurant one street over. One of the stitchers told me it’s really good. How about we go there to get fried seafood dinner sets and slices of cake? We can bring dinner back for the family too.”
“All right... But it feels hollow...”
Massimo’s gaze was directed toward a shop selling affordable accessories. Happy couples were lined up waiting to get inside. The shop was selling matching leather bracelets, inscribed with the initials of one’s partner, which were currently in vogue in the capital. They weren’t the same as metal engagement bracelets, but they were popular among couples who had just started dating to express their commitment to each other.
That said, there were some stitchers in the Magical Garment Factory who wore those leather bracelets despite being single. They wore them not as fashion statements but as a way to signal to others that they weren’t currently looking for a partner. “They’re so convenient!” one had told her with a smile. I guess that’s one way to use an accessory like that.
“I know how you feel, but we’re together right now, aren’t we? If you want a girlfriend, then go out and find one. Speaking of, aren’t people coming to talk to you about arranged marriages?”
“It’s not me they’re interested in. I don’t feel right about meeting someone under those conditions...” Massimo said, his voice quiet. Lucia felt a twinge of guilt.
Most of those coming to Massimo were from merchant and clothesmaker families. Until this summer, her brother hadn’t received a single offer for a marriage interview. Lucia suspected the reason he was getting them now was because of her. What those families were seeking was a connection with Lucia Fano, as well as with the Tailors’ Guild and Magical Garment Factory—that would understandably feel hollow to him.
Lucia herself had also received some offers for marriage interviews and adoption, but she’d rejected every single one via Forto. Both brother and sister had lamented their lack of romantic encounters in the past, but something felt off about having opportunities present themselves in this way. Lucia had a feeling she would have to continue rejecting people for a while.
“We’ve been talking about having a party with all the Magical Garment Factory’s staff and friends once things calm down. Why don’t you come too?”
Even setting aside her bias as his younger sister, Massimo wasn’t bad looking, and he had a job. He was a little timid at times, but he was a kind person. Lucia honestly found it a little strange that he didn’t already have a girlfriend despite all that.
“Thanks, but I don’t think someone from the Magical Garment Factory would be the right fit...”
“Are you not interested in people who work with clothes? What’s your type? Anything in particular you’re looking for?”
“A nice, levelheaded woman. I don’t really have a preference in looks, but I’m interested in someone who’d work at our family workshop. But that expectation alone would probably put an end to any potential romance before it even started.”
“Ah, I get it. Working with your husband or wife’s family can be hard.”
Apparently, Massimo laid his expectations on the table before even dating someone. Bringing up his family’s work from the outset must’ve made it hard for things to progress. It was certainly the honest thing to do, but it was also a lot to ask. If he married, he and his wife could rent a place in the neighborhood to live by themselves, but a family-run workshop meant working with each other for long hours. Supposedly, that could give rise to all kinds of trouble—which was probably true given that families who owned workshops were said to suffer a high rate of divorce.
“What if you brought in a new employee instead and did different work from your wife?”
“I guess that would be fine, but it’s always been a dream of mine... Working with my wife, I mean.”
This was Lucia’s first time hearing her brother’s dream. She was a little surprised.
“Wait, are you one of those needy romantics who has to be with his wife from sunrise to sunrise?”
“No! Sunrise to sunrise? Come on. I just want to be like mom and dad—”
Massimo stopped talking halfway through his sentence, then awkwardly scratched his cheek with his index finger.
“Oh, so you want to be like mom and dad?”
“Real funny, right? I don’t have any big dreams like you do.”
“We all have our own dreams. There’s no point comparing them.”
Lucia’s dream was to have a workshop where she made clothes of her own design and a shop to sell them in. It was a dream she was often told was impossible for a commoner, but now that she had been made manager of the Magical Garment Factory, it seemed suddenly more attainable. Perhaps after a few years of working in her role, she’d be able to rent a location for her workshop and boutique, even if they were small. It was for that dream that Lucia worked hard every day and tried her best to save money.
“I guess so... I thought for sure you’d laugh at me.”
“Why? What’s so funny about it? It’d be wonderful to be a married couple like mom and dad, and working with your family sounds great too.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I want to be able to keep making socks and gloves at the family workshop, maybe surpassing dad and grandpa in skill someday.”
“I think that’s an amazing dream to have. Though you have a super long way to go.”
“Yeah, at this point, I doubt I’ll surpass them even by the time I’m their age...” he said, half-sighing. Lucia let out a laugh, but she understood how he felt. The two of them had grown up watching their father’s accurate sewing and their grandfather’s detailed knitting—the idea of reaching their level seemed impossible. The same went for reaching the level of their mother’s embroidery.
That wasn’t all. Lucia and her brother couldn’t even match their skill when it came to fixing frayed seams or adjusting the machines. They were basically still fledglings in comparison.
“Yeah, we have a long way to go...”
“But, Lucia—you shouldn’t hesitate to go after your dream.”
“I am going after it, right now.”
“Well, and this is just hypothetical, but if you marry or get adopted into a noble family, then you won’t have to feel inferior at the Tailors’ Guild anymore. Plus, you’ll be able to wear luxurious, pretty dresses and make them too, right? You could probably have a workshop and store built just for you.”
“Oh, please. A workshop and a store built for me by someone else could just as quickly be taken away. Also, sure, there are times when nobles are given preferential treatment over commoners at the Tailors’ Guild, but I’ve never once felt inferior there. Mr. Forto and everyone at the factory are always looking out for me.”
She had certainly experienced some unpleasant moments, and she’d even endured some malicious gossip, claiming, for example, that she was Forto’s mistress or his secret half sister. And some people still criticized her commoner status like a joke that never got tired. But there wasn’t anything Lucia could do about that. There was bound to be envy over her position as head manager.
“And if I got married or adopted, I wouldn’t be able to go out for a stroll around town with you like this, right?”
“Y-Yeah...”
It was true, so why was he getting so embarrassed about it? Now he was making her embarrassed too. Their family got along working together. That was why she felt no desire to go to another family just because it would be more advantageous for her.
“Anyway, it’s time to shop!”
Lucia dragged her brother into their first stop.
They stopped in several stores to buy everything they needed: bathroom soap, a sponge that made the soap foam up, white towels, toothbrushes for the entire family, shoe polish powder, and a paste to repair a cracked flower vase.
Lucia’s grandfather had broken his favorite razor, so they went to buy the same kind in the same shop he’d bought it from. They also bought the same type of razors for Massimo and their father with differently colored handles. With these new razors, hopefully her father would have fewer missed spots when shaving, and Massimo wouldn’t suffer as much razor burn.
Lucia was able to buy her favorite rose-scented face cream at a discount, which she carried triumphantly in the bag swaying from her shoulder. Beside her, Massimo carried a large rucksack on his back.
They moved on to another street where there were no shops and few people. She had heard that just down this street was a small diner that served boxed meal sets. The plan was to finish off their shopping trip by buying fried seafood meals for their family.
“We bought everything we needed, right?”
“Right. All that’s left is to get fried seafood for dinner.”
“You sure like your fried seafood, huh? Oh, dad also said he wanted some fried yams— Hmm? It looks like I was given an extra copper coin in change. Probably from when we bought the razors. I’ll go give it back.”
“Okay. You can leave your rucksack here. I’ll watch over it.”
Lucia watched her brother leave. Her full bag was so heavy that the strap was digging into her shoulder a bit, so she set it down, and as she did, a figure came briskly striding up to her.
“Oh, hello. Aren’t you Head Manager Fano?”
“I am. Pardon me, but who might you be?”
He had referred to her by her title, but she didn’t recognize the man in the navy blue suit. Lucia had a knack for remembering the faces of people she had worked with even if she couldn’t recall their names. Moreover, the two of them were in a street off the main road. It wasn’t the sort of place a noble or wealthy merchant would go out of their way to walk down.
She instinctively wanted to put distance between them—the same feeling she got when a customer came to her to complain or ask for a discount. It felt even more malicious than someone approaching her in anger.
“...is my name. I had a dress made by the Magical Garment Factory.”
The man had spoken his name so rapidly that she hadn’t been able to catch it.
The only person Lucia had made a dress for under the auspices of the factory was Dahlia. Every other client she’d made clothes for had been through the Tailors’ Guild. Which meant she had never met this man. Lucia took a half step back.
“Is that so? Thank you very much for choosing us for your clothing needs.”
He probably wants to pry into the Magical Garment Factory or ask to be introduced to Forto—if that was his aim, Lucia decided she would just try to get through the conversation without giving many details.
“The Magical Garment Factory must be very busy. Everyone must be working very hard.”
“We are fortunate to have staff who take joy in their work.”
“I trust Mr. Luini has been doing well?”
Even as she answered in the affirmative, something felt off. It’s like he’s buying time with innocuous small talk—suddenly, a carriage came to a stop behind the man.
“I would like to invite you to my home, Head Manager Fano. As a token of my gratitude.”
“Oh, no, I have plans today...”
Alarm bells rang in Lucia’s head. The moment she tried to walk away, the man grabbed her hand with shocking speed.
“Please, I insist.”
The man’s words were polite, but his grip on her hand was strong as he tried to pull her inside the carriage.
“Let go of me!”
Her mind was racing as she first wondered how long it would take her brother to come back, and then if it would be worse for him to get involved in this, so her scream came a little late.
Before her very eyes, the man began to cover her mouth with his hand. I’ll bite his hand as hard as I can! The moment she opened her mouth, someone behind her lifted her up.
“Pardon me. Head Manager Fano’s schedule is fully booked for today,” she heard a low, gravelly voice say by her ear. She turned her head to see it was Lotta, in everyday clothes, holding her in his arms.
The other man seemed to have fallen in front of his carriage. He was on his knees. Still holding Lucia in his arms, Lotta backed a few steps away from the carriage, but he made no move to run away.
“I merely wanted to invite her to my home. Her attendant is naturally invited as well—”
The man was smiling as he stood up, but his eyes had darkened. Two men as muscular as knights descended from the carriage and looked at Lotta as if sizing him up.
Oh no, now Lotta’s getting mixed up in this.
Should she flee on her own? Should she ask Lotta to put her down and let her run away as fast as she could? Her mind was a jumbled mess of confusion as Lotta nimbly lifted her onto his left shoulder and walked briskly over to the carriage.
“Wha?”
She hadn’t been this high up since her father had given her piggyback rides as a child. Her mind went blank. There’s no way Lotta’s planning on boarding that carriage with me in tow, right? His lack of explanation left her utterly bewildered. The other men in front of them must have been similarly bewildered. They were watching the two of them with vacant expressions.
“Thank you for the invitation. But it appears this carriage is broken down,” Lotta said, Lucia still sitting on his left shoulder. He placed his foot on the bottom of the carriage’s front wheel, grabbed the top of the wheel with his right hand, then slowly pulled up. The wheel broke apart easily.
“Hey...!”
The men stood stock-still as the carriage fell with a bang and the horses neighed loudly in alarm. After seeing the wheel torn spectacularly in two, Lucia decided she would take refuge from reality all the way up here. She felt very safe on top of Lotta’s shoulder at the moment.
“I believe a visit to your estate will be unfeasible considering the state of your carriage. Please go through Fortunato Luini, master of the Tailors’ Guild, to inquire about Head Manager Fano’s next availability.”
Along with Lotta’s quiet voice, a feeling of intense cold spread around them. The men’s faces paled and they froze in place. Lucia had experienced this sensation before, in the Order of Beast Hunters’ wing—intimidation. It was the peculiar and quite terrifying skill that sent a wave of hostility through one’s opponent. Thankfully, Lucia was fine, since the intimidation wasn’t directed toward herself.
With Lucia still on his shoulder, Lotta picked up the heavy rucksack and shoulder bag and started walking away at a quick pace. The men were too unsettled to even call out after them.
After moving to another alley, Lotta gently returned Lucia to the ground.
“I am terribly sorry. Although it was an emergency, I should not have touched you without permission—”
“It’s okay. Thank you for saving me!”
If Lotta hadn’t come to her rescue, that man would have abducted her. Who knew what would have happened to her? When she turned to look at Lotta, she was struck dumb. His black pupils were flat and long.
An Attendant’s Uniform and Mr. Sunset
“This is a uniform enchanted by the magical toolmakers of the Tailors’ Guild with durability and resistance to heat and stabbing. It has one of our guild’s five most powerful enchantments. Oh, but keep in mind this is confidential, please.”
“I will!”
Lucia nodded energetically as she listened to Forto’s explanation while Dante was standing rooted to the spot by Forto’s side. The three of them were in Forto’s office at the Tailors’ Guild. Spread flat on the low table was an exotic-looking attendant’s uniform.
Instead of the normal black suit that was common for attendants, this one had a standing collar that completely obscured the shirt worn underneath. The long jacket fell past the waist and looked quite elegant. The trousers were a bit slim-fitted and were also enchanted with powerful magic. The embroidery around the neck and the seams was matte purple but appeared lilac in certain light. Even just laid out on the table, the uniform looked like a sophisticated piece.
“The fabric is capable of stopping the point of an iron sword, so fatal wounds shouldn’t be much of a concern. The entire outfit has been enchanted without any gaps, so it will be like wearing a suit of armor.”
“That’s amazing!”
This was the level of excellence that the magical toolmakers of the Tailors’ Guild were capable of. It was a shame Dahlia couldn’t see it.
Wearing a pair of white gloves, Forto turned over the uniform to show the back. Lucia also pulled on a pair of gloves so she could hold the sleeves.
“Oh, the left and right sleeves are pretty different from each other,” she remarked.
“Yes. The client is also a bodyguard and wields a sword.”
The right sleeve was a bit roomier, suggesting that the attendant had a muscular right shoulder and arm, or that they wielded a heavy sword. Lucia didn’t know much about knights or weapons, but even she could see just how well designed this uniform was. Even though the left and right sides were sized differently, darts and hidden seams were sewn in to make them look as though they were the same size. The fine uniformed lines were superb enough to be decorative in their own right.
“This stitching is incredible...”
“That was done by Zilo’s teacher, the oldest stitcher in the Tailors’ Guild, who temporarily retired to look after a grandchild but then begged tearfully to come back.”
It was obvious that the stitcher was wonderfully talented. Lucia would love for them to teach her sometime, or even just allow her to sit next to them and watch them work.
“The last time I saw them in the hallway, they said, ‘Bring Zilo back! I’m quitting this year for sure!’ They told me to tell you, Mr. Forto,” Dante said.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Now—our very experienced stitcher has done a lot for us, so shall we present them with some winter fabric for their grandchild? Something high-quality, made with baphomet wool.”
Forto spoke of bribing them so nonchalantly, but it was understandable that he didn’t want to lose such a skilled stitcher.
“Mr. Forto, is the lining of this uniform also enchanted?”
“Yes, it is, but the reverse side contains some designations...”
“Ah, I’ll be careful not to open the front so I don’t see those. I’ve heard that magic circles and the like can’t be seen by anyone other than those involved in making them.”
Lucia had heard that magic circles specified by the various noble families were drawn on the lining of these types of uniforms by the magical toolmakers and mages of the Tailors’ Guild. Magic circles could be copied. Zilo had told Lucia that in order to prevent the circles from being disseminated to outsiders, the makers of the uniform needed to sign a confidentiality contract and were generally the only ones to see the circles.
The placement and shape of the pockets were likewise not to be disclosed. Apparently Zilo had once sewn thirty interior pockets on a uniform he’d worked on, which were to be weighed down by the lipsticks, face powders, and lotions of the attendant’s employer.
As a matter of custom, noblewomen never allowed their makeup to become untidy, but they were also obliged to maintain the illusion that they never had to reapply it. That sounded immensely difficult for both the noblewoman, who had to be immaculately beautiful at all times, and for her attendant.
“This is the original fabric used for this uniform, and I also have reference documents with more details. Would you like to read them?”
“Yes, please!”
The sample Forto placed on the table was made of high-quality monster thread that had a peculiar slippery texture. The tight weave made it seem like a difficult material to sew neatly.
Such threads were often procured from monsters like baphomets, monster silkworms, and large spiders. They were very delicate materials whose quality depended not just on the type of monster but also its habitat.
Lucia pored over the explanatory materials Forto handed her. The fabric of this winter uniform was apparently made of materials harvested from highland baphomets and monster silkworms. As she read through the description of the thread’s properties, she tried to hand Dante the pages she’d already read.
“I already know all that, boss. I’m going to go on ahead to the first floor for fabric inspection and write up the receipts for them. The guild’s busy today, so it’ll take some time.”
“Okay. Thanks, Dante,” Lucia said, deciding to take him up on his offer.
Then she looked back down at the documents. The more she read about monster materials, the more she realized how much she had yet to learn.
“Mr. Forto, I understand how the baphomets raised up north produce wool that’s resistant to cold, but why is the silk produced by monster silkworms on the seaside so strong?”
“It’s unclear, but some say it might have something to do with the climate, perhaps the sea breeze. Furthermore, the green mulberry trees that they eat are grown nearby, so that may contribute as well. They have only been bred for a few years, so we will learn more as time goes on.”
“I hope they find out soon. With better breeding grounds and food, maybe they’ll produce a warmer, stronger silk...”
“Indeed. Enchantments have their limitations, so having better materials to start with will open up more possibilities for processing them. Be they from slimes or unicorns, many types of monster materials will assume even greater importance.”
Lucia nodded in agreement. Then she realized something. She had learned a lot about monster materials from her friend Dahlia’s many passionate explanations. Monster materials were practically treasure to magical toolmakers, but Lucia was surprised at how valuable they were to herself too. Maybe someday, I’ll even come to think creepy slimes are cute. Though that was most likely very far in the future.
“Apparently in Išrana, they have looms that incorporate branches from the World Tree.”
“I’d give anything to see that! What effect do the branches have? Do they help people weave faster?”
“The weavers don’t get tired as they work, and they become so absorbed in their task that they need to be pulled away from the machines after a set amount of time.”
“Isn’t that a bad thing...?”
“But doesn’t the thought of being able to concentrate for that long make you want to try it at least once?”
“It does!”
Lucia couldn’t lie. Plus, with an effect like that, she wished those branches could be used to make knitting machines too.
“Ah, I got distracted by our conversation. Lucia, the client will be picking up the uniform soon. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to take those documents with you, so would you like to read them again after work?”
“I would appreciate that very much.”
The documents had “Confidential” stamped on them in red letters, so Lucia couldn’t take notes on them, and she could only remember so much from just reading over them quickly. If Forto was giving her the opportunity to read over them one more time, she wasn’t going to refuse.
“In that case, I will also prepare some of the new fabrics that are coming in today, and some pastries too,” Forto said with a smile.
“Thank you, Mr. Forto!” Lucia replied enthusiastically. Forto knew exactly what bait to use to motivate his employees, and Lucia took it every time. And so, looking forward to the end of the workday, she left the office in high spirits.
Outside the large window in the hallway, the sun shone radiantly in the clear blue sky. Tomorrow should be nice too, so maybe I’ll wear my new aqua blue dress, Lucia thought as she looked to the end of the hall, where she saw a man was coming up the staircase.
“Ah...”
For a moment, she couldn’t look away. He had rust-colored hair, light brown skin, and bright, almond-shaped eyes. He was slightly shorter than Forto, but his neck and shoulders were robust, giving him the impression of a knight. The man was wearing an attendant’s uniform similar to the one she had just been examining.
The man’s eyes naturally gravitated toward her. His face and his presence reminded her of someone.
Mr. Sunset—that was what Lucia had called the boy. She had a feeling he would be about this man’s age now.
But even though she had some confidence in her own memory, she had met the boy when she was a young child. Besides, Mr. Sunset’s hair and eyes had been vibrant red. Their resemblance was likely just a coincidence.
Lucia was wondering if she should say something to him, or if that would be rude, when her voice came out on its own. “Thank you for visiting the Tailors’ Guild. My name is Lucia Fano, head manager of the Magical Garment Factory.”
It was inconsiderate to introduce oneself out of the blue to a noble, but this was the Tailors’ Guild, on the floor of the guildmaster’s office, and she herself was the manager of the Magical Garment Factory. It should be completely reasonable to give a professional greeting here. Still, Lucia’s voice was shrill with nerves.
The man stopped, his rust-colored eyes narrowing slightly. Is he squinting against the bright sun?
“Thank you for the cordial greeting. I am Jonas Goodwin, an attendant of the Scalfarotto family,” he said. His face was impassive in the manner typical of attendants, but he didn’t come across as cold.
Lucia peered into his rust-colored eyes, impelled by the need for confirmation. “Pardon, but have we met somewhere before?”
Although he seemed similar, the boy from her memories had bright red hair and eyes, not rust like Jonas’s.
Jonas gave a noblelike response in a low, smooth voice. “I don’t believe I would forget meeting such a lovely woman as yourself.” Lucia found herself nearly taken in by his words, then started. Have we met somewhere before? meant I am interested in you, and according to Dante, it was a standard pickup line among nobles. Lucia might have just caused an outrageous misunderstanding.
Her head spinning in confusion, Lucia thought of another possibility.
“Um, excuse me for asking, but do you happen to have any brothers, Mr. Goodwin?”
“Yes, I have an elder brother. We have different mothers, so we do not look much alike. He has light, mouse brown hair.”
“I see...”
Mouse brown was an ash brown with golden-auburn undertones. Not red. Their resemblance really was just a coincidence.
When she took a better look at him, she could see that this man named Jonas had a sterner face than the boy she knew. Her memory dated back to before she’d even entered primary school. Of course it was unreliable.
“Do you have some business with my brother?” the man asked quietly, bringing Lucia back to the situation at hand. Whether a noble would inherit a peerage or not had a great impact on their future position and marriage, meaning asking whether Jonas had any brothers could be taken as an inappropriate question.
But neither could she very well say, “I spoke to you because I thought you might be Mr. Sunset, a boy whose name I don’t know and whom I met in a back alley when I was a child. Then I thought he might be your older or younger brother.” Not only would that be rude, it would accomplish nothing except to baffle him.
Lucia bowed her head deeply in apology. “Please forgive me! You look very similar to someone I met a long time ago to whom I am very indebted... I am very sorry for speaking so rudely.”
“I see. What an honor,” Jonas replied, a very gentlemanly response. His manners toward her were immaculate despite her two discourteous blunders. She felt immensely guilty.
She finally recovered her couturier self. She straightened her back and responded, keeping her voice steady, “Please excuse me. Guildmaster Luini is in his office. Shall I escort you there?”
“That won’t be necessary. I have an appointment with him today.”
As she had thought, that attendant’s uniform was for Jonas. Considering the uniform’s strong enchantment and the fact that it was for both an attendant and a bodyguard, Jonas’s job must be considerably difficult. As a clothier, Lucia hoped his new uniform was to his satisfaction and that it would serve to protect him.
“Very well. Then I hope you are able to find clothing that suits your needs here at the Tailors’ Guild.”
“Thank you. Goodbye, then.”
They passed by each other as they said their parting words. The moment they were right beside each other, Jonas gave her a small smile and said, “That outfit suits you very well, Ms. Fano.”
His smile and voice were strikingly similar to Mr. Sunset’s.
The distance between them lengthened before Lucia could respond. The sun streaming in through the window was so bright, it stung her eyes.
“Wait...what?”
Lucia kept walking until she reached the staircase landing, then thought back on the conversation she’d just had. Why had Jonas offered up that information about his brother’s hair color when she hadn’t even asked? Had he guessed right away that she was looking for someone? That sort of keen perception was necessary for an attendant, but still—
Question after question nagged at her mind, but she didn’t think it was a good idea to walk back down the hallway to the guildmaster’s office to talk to Jonas. Even if by some chance he was Mr. Sunset, that didn’t mean he remembered Lucia. No, even if he did remember her, the fact that he hadn’t said so meant he had chosen not to form a connection with her. She didn’t want to cause him any trouble.
No amount of thinking would yield an answer. She decided to stop worrying about it.
It was because she had met Mr. Sunset that day that she was where she was today. Never would she forget her gratitude toward him.
Even if it was just something about him, that man from earlier certainly resembled Mr. Sunset, but maybe it was just her desire to see him again that made her think so.
To this day, Lucia still didn’t know Mr. Sunset’s name. She regretted that fact deeply.
As she walked down the stairs, Lucia mumbled quietly, “Mr. Jonas Goodwin, you certainly look like Mr. Sunset...”
