The day after that absurd incident.
The fact that Viscount Weatherwoods' identity was actually "a relic of Dian Cecht" also put me in a fairly agonizing position. "It would have been better if it were a real egg."
Viscount Weatherwoods, whom the maid had been raising... no, the egg—I didn't expect it to be a relic. If that's the case, won't it be difficult to steal it or borrow it in secret? According to Rue's magic interpretation, "The Eyes of Dian Cecht"—one of his five relics—had a clear sense of purpose. That was the patronage of the Weatherwoods.
To be honest, I didn't know exactly what kind of guardian this meant. What were you protecting if you allowed assassins to enter so obediently? But one benefit was evident. The relics exist. It's a great harvest for me just knowing that. Mmh. Wouldn't collecting five of those things give me hope of healing my broken soul?
But isn't it too... difficult? Didn't Rue mention that the "Eyes" of Dian Cecht had several broad-range attack magics planted in its core? How could you heal a dying person with such an object? It didn't mean you were going to kill them and then make them be reborn, right?
I heard that genius magicians are generally crazy. Dian Cecht was a demigod, so he must have his own deep meaning. At least two artifacts had to be collected. Only then did it seem possible to guess how Dian Cecht's relics would work and be used.
"Ah..." I stretched my knees and moved side to side. When you sprayed water on the heads of the flower beds, peace enveloped your body and mind. When I saw a small leaf moistened with water drops, all the mortal desires of the world vanished from my mind and everything seemed to become light. "Yes, it's possible that in the end you won't be able to collect all of Dian Cecht's relics."
We'll die if we can't collect them in the end. What could I achieve anyway by living a long time? But when I die, the pot and the flower bed... "Are you going to drown the plant in water?"
A long shadow covered me and the leaves. I looked up feeling the touch on the top of my head and, for some reason, saw Rue, without his usual apron, pressing down the brown felt hat he was wearing. From the way he wore a dark jacket over the vest, he seemed to be going out.
"Too much moisture makes the leaves rot. If you understand, get up, change, and come out."
"Why?"
"There's a place we must pass through. I already told the head maid, so go and hurry up."
The maid allowed us to miss work and waste time? She wouldn't do that. It was obvious she was trying to force me to do more troublesome errands than usual. "Then I'll act as if I'm doing errands more often."
When I put on the precious and only piece of outerwear I had, Rue handed me a long-brimmed women's hat from his side. What was this for? Were we really not doing errands, but going out?
"Is this from the maid?"
"No. It's a woman's hat, the only one in this mansion. It belonged to the late Viscountess."
It must be a fairly old item, but maybe it had been well cared for: the ends weren't faded and it could be used in many ways. I put on the hat awkwardly. All the hats I had worn until now were military caps, uniform hats, and straw hats. Although the hole is very small, the head goes right in. Most women had small heads. It was a surprising fact I noticed a month and a half after waking up. I walked a step behind Rue.
He was heading for the square in front of the market, which was a similar main street but full of quieter and more luxurious shops. As I walked for almost ten minutes, Rue turned his head to see if I was following him well since I wasn't talking to him. It was so natural I couldn't feel any discomfort. "Do you usually walk like that?"
A habit of walking without hesitating. A leisurely pace. Although it helped to lighten the atmosphere, not opening your mouth first. You could tell a person's life by their way of walking. Rue was a person who was more used to being supported than supporting someone. One thing is for sure: he is of great prestige. Not an aristocrat... a magician powerful enough to know Dian Cecht... Who was there? The Imperial Magician? Wait, wasn't this quite plausible?
If you became an imperial magician, you were knighted, but a knight wasn't a noble. However, high-ranking imperial magicians were followed by a servant or secretary, and they were capable of growing their fortune as high as that of the aristocracy by accepting the requests that come to them from all sides. He's at least the head of the department. Considering his skills, he's most likely nothing less than a superi... Ups.
My forehead hit his back. When I looked up, Rue's tall stature blocked my view. Fortunately, thanks to him stepping aside, I could confirm my destination. This was the entrance to a shop that sold women's clothes.
"Why here?"
"We have to get you adjusted clothes. The Weatherwoods family doesn't have suitable clothes for the Viscount couple. All suitable items and jewelry were disposed of and donated to help refugees."
"Oh... for the noble council."
Finally, the head of a prestigious family and his wife couldn't go around in modest clothes. Furthermore, I heard from the head maid that this noble council association would be held with the upper class. It was said they enjoyed a luxury trip on a super-large airship full of conglomerates. It was clear that the nobles would also come dressed more splendidly than ever.
"But the Weatherwoods are poor. It's a family about to sell their mansion. Won't our salaries be reduced if we splurge on some clothes?"
Rue opened the door without a hint of concern on his face. "But I am rich. Let's go in."
As expected of Rue. He only had two good qualities: his face and his wealth. The best in the world. When we entered the store with an interior decorated with antiques, a beautifully dressed young woman greeted us. The staff's friendly smile immediately turned a bit bitter as soon as she scanned my daring outfit, and when she checked Rue's slender jawline and his fantastic bridge of the nose, she shuddered.
"Welcome, sir."
However, her behavior was none of my business, so I spoke proudly. "Order."
But what should I order? When I took a step back, Rue, who was by my side, spoke as if he had been waiting for the opportunity.
"We're going to get some clothes made to her measure. A ball gown, an evening gown, two sets of day clothes, a spring coat, two sets of hats and gloves, two sets of pajamas, four sets of socks and underwear. Ah, also clothes for the tea party."
I looked at Rue in confusion. It was only one attendance, was it okay to get so many clothes? Are these the basics for women? Or is it some kind of secret and twisted thing that gives him pleasure?
The clerk, who quickly took out her notebook and wrote down the order, smiled with a very polite expression like never before. "They are all bridal items. Are you getting married? It's the first time I've seen anyone come here with her husband in person since I started working."
They mistook Rue for my husband. Wow. It was disgusting just to imagine it. Rue said what he had to say. "Complete it within 15 days."
"What? 15 days? I'm sorry, but it's an order that can never be completed in the timeframe you indicated. You must give me at least two or three months."
"Why did you open a Western-style clothing boutique if you can't even handle this?" said Rue. He looked at the staff with an expression that showed her incompetence. The clerk, who looked at him in secret, became uneasy and reiterated.
"However, there is a store nearby run by the boss's cousin. If we split the order and do it separately, we can complete it in a month and a half..."
"I don't know if Viscountess Weatherwoods can wait that long."
Is it... okay to say that? There was a pause. "Weatherwoods... do you mean this is for the Viscountess? Of the Weatherwoods?" asked the stiff clerk with wide-open eyes.
"I don't think there's any other Weatherwoods family besides that one. Their destination is the capital city of Regel. If you can't do it, we'd better go to another shop."
"W-wait a moment, please!"
The clerk quickly turned around and disappeared inside the store. Shortly afterwards, she brought with her a middle-aged woman with a lot of makeup, who appeared to be the owner of this Western-style shop. The boss seemed to be speechless at Rue's good looks for a moment and opened her mouth belatedly. "I'll finish it in fifteen days. Leave it to me."
Rue shrugged slightly. "If it's possible, then do it."
There was evident joy and excitement on the owner's face. Viscount Weatherwoods was a long-kept mystery. It is said that the existence of his wife is also unclear, and if it's discovered that his wife's outer clothes for the capital are her work, this could be a new turning point for the owner's business.
"Then I'll register the measurements immediately. The Viscountess..."
"The wife is busy. However, her measurements are the same from head to toe as my companion's, and the skin color is also similar, so she left a message asking me to do it with my companion's help."
Who said what? "I see. Come this way, Miss."
But this veto did not exist for poor female servants. If Rue did the work with money, then I should at least do the same with my body. I silently followed the owner.