* * *
I glared at both of Howard’s thumbs, which were still resting on Locke’s waist, and whispered to him.
“Howard.”
He leaned down and brought his ear close to me.
“Yes, Young Master. Please, speak.”
“When I was getting my clothes made, did they measure my waist too?”
“You cannot make pants without measuring the waist, Young Master.”
“Ah, right.”
For a moment, I thought I was upset because they hadn’t measured my waist when making my clothes.
If it wasn’t that, then I wondered exactly what about this boutique owner was getting on my nerves so much.
The owner, having noted the waist measurement in his notebook, looked back and forth between Locke and me with a genial expression.
“I’ve been in this business for over 20 years, but I’ve never seen someone as perfect in every aspect as this gentleman. His muscle mass, proportions, and physical balance are like a statue carved by a master over a lifetime. It’s beyond beautiful—it overflows with dignity. I’d believe it if someone told me he was a sturdy heavenly horse pulling the chariot of the gods!”
The owner claimed he had a professional quirk: whenever he met a customer with a body that wore clothes well, his competitive spirit flared up.
He said Locke would become a legendary physical specimen for the boutique and that the most perfect outfit in the world would surely result from this.
Hearing that made me feel proud, as if I had raised Locke myself, but at the same time, sharp thorns kept pricking at my chest.
What on earth was this stinging sensation?
“Next, I’ll measure the circumference of the buttocks. If you’re uncomfortable or wish to stop at any point, please let me know immediately.”
With a flick, the owner unfurled the measuring tape and crouched down.
The position of his face was strangely bothersome.
I gnawed on my lower lip before asking Howard again.
“Do they usually measure the hips when making pants?”
“……Yes. Furthermore, Locke’s lower body is exceptionally robust, so there are likely more factors to consider than for others.”
He didn’t say it directly, but since I have eyes too, I didn’t ask further.
Perhaps the owner was struggling to keep his balance, but he kept wobbling back and forth while measuring.
Eventually, he tumbled forward and grabbed Locke’s thigh.
He quickly backed away with an apology, but I gripped the armrest of the sofa tightly.
……Dammit.
It felt like coarse salt was scratching its way down my throat, so I asked Howard to prepare some black tea.
By the time the hourglass had turned twice since the owner arrived at the mansion, I finally spoke up, unable to endure the boredom and discomfort any longer.
“This is taking longer than I thought. When exactly will it be over?”
“It’s almost done. We’re in the final stages.”
I was about to pull out the pouch of gold coins I had tucked away to pay for the clothes when there was a ‘knock, knock’ at the drawing room door.
After Howard exchanged a few words with a servant who opened the door, he returned to my side.
“Lady Laila has arrived.”
Startled, I calculated the date in my head and tilted my head in confusion. Isn’t this a bit early?
“It’s not time for her visit yet, is it?”
Laila White.
She was an 8th-circle mage belonging to the Imperial Palace and a close friend of my mother.
As a healing mage, she visited the mansion once a month to check the family’s health and prepare medicine according to my condition.
Her visiting dates were usually fixed because her time away from the palace was strictly regulated.
So why was she here now?
She only played the role of managing my medicine in the novel; unless I was dying or in critical condition, there shouldn’t have been a reason for her behavior to change.
“It seems her schedule changed, so she visited early.”
‘Novel settings don’t change for such simple reasons,’ I thought.
Had I touched something related to an episode involving Laila?
While I was searching my memories, Howard told me we had to move immediately.
I had no choice but to lift myself off the sofa.
Yet, my gaze kept drifting back to the handsome boutique owner.
I fiddled with the money pouch in my vest, waiting for him to say he was almost finished and that I should settle the payment before leaving.
However, the owner seemed to misread my look and started talking nonsense.
“If you are busy, you may head out first. It’s quite alright.”
“Wait, the payment should be made once the work is done……”
“Oh, it’s not like I’ve been doing business with the Hestian family for just a day or two. I’m sure you’ll compensate me well. Please don’t worry about the clothing and go attend to your business, Young Master.”
“Still.”
As I continued to linger, Howard, unable to wait any longer, gave a low cough to hurry me along.
“Lady Laila has a set time by which she must return to the Imperial Palace. It is impolite to keep her waiting any longer, Young Master.”
“I know.”
With a deep sigh, I took a few steps toward the drawing room door.
But even then, I turned back to the two of them, unable to let it go.
“The measurements are all done, right?”
“Pardon?”
“So all that’s left is for you to leave, right?”
“That is correct, but is there a problem?”
“No, nothing. Just leave as quickly as possible.”
I left instructions to handle the finishing touches well, pulled out the money pouch I had been clutching, and set it down on the cabinet by the door.
Then, under Howard’s intense glare, I trudged toward the room where Laila was waiting.
‘If he’s been working for 20 years, he must be at least in his 30s or 40s. Damn this novel. They made an extra way too young and handsome!’
Tch.
Even as I climbed the stairs, my head was filled only with thoughts of the two left behind in the drawing room.
According to the setting, the illness Cedric suffered from was one where mana accumulated within the body.
This illness wouldn’t matter to someone who could wield magic, but for an ordinary person, it was practically a death sentence.
Mana that couldn’t be discharged would cling to organs or clog blood vessels; once it hardened, it strained the body and shaved away one’s life force.
Of course, Cedric’s illness was just a setting, so it couldn’t directly threaten my life.
My death was predetermined to be either through Locke’s rage or a penalty for failing a mission.
Just in case, I hadn’t taken the medicine while Cassian was at the mansion, and aside from some minor fatigue, I was perfectly fine.
Lately, my relationship with Locke had improved, too.
Since the system window was quiet, it just looked like the illness wasn’t getting worse; it had nothing to do with Laila’s medicine.
“The accumulated mana hasn’t increased. Cecil will be pleased. I’ll prepare the medicine the same as before, so make sure to take it twice a day without fail.”
For the first time since entering the novel, I heard her say my condition wasn’t bad.
From Laila’s perspective, not knowing my secret, she naturally assumed the medicine was working well.
“Thank you as always, Lady Laila.”
As I watched Laila pack her bag, I suddenly thought of Eclat.
In the past, she had manifested at a ball.
I heard she suffered quite a bit because she hadn’t been prepared; wouldn’t it be less difficult if she had suppressants?
I stole a glance at Laila.
Medicine made by an Imperial Healer was exclusively for the Imperial Family, and providing it to others or selling it on the market was strictly forbidden.
The fact that she could look after the Hestian family and prepare medicine wasn’t just because she was my mother’s friend, but because the Emperor had granted permission.
Without that permission, manufacturing the medicine—let alone visiting once a month for a check-up—would have been impossible.
The reason the Imperial Family was so favorable toward the Hestian family was due to the contributions made by the first head of the Hestian house during the founding of the country.
I suspected it had something to do with the territory of Allure, but since I wasn’t the head of the house, I couldn’t dig deep and didn’t know the details.
‘Come to think of it, how is Locke handling his rut? He’s a dominant, so it should be impossible with just suppressant herbs.’
Suppressant pills made by mid-level mages were sold on the market, but the price was more expensive than the salary of a typical noble family’s servant.
Therefore, most people used suppressant herbs or had a partner.
With the salary Locke received, he wouldn’t be able to buy proper suppressant pills, and mid-level medicine wouldn’t fully suppress a dominant’s rut anyway.
There was no way the much weaker herbs would work.
……Wait, does he have a partner?
‘No wonder that guy was so natural about kissing! It was my first kiss!’
I touched my lips with a slightly grumpy face.
Of course, I didn’t clearly remember how we kissed.
“I should be going now.”
I answered subconsciously while picturing that lewd guy’s face in my head and nodded.
Then, suddenly snapping to my senses, I caught her.
“Wait a moment, Lady Laila!”
“Oh, you startled me. That’s the first time I’ve heard you raise your voice like that. What is it? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Laila approached me again.
“No. My body is fine. It’s just, I was wondering if it might be possible to obtain the suppressant pills you make, Lady Laila.”
“Why? Have you shown signs of manifesting?”
Laila asked with a somewhat surprised expression.
I didn’t want to reveal the fact that I had manifested just yet.
I would have to go through several more bouts of manifestation pain to fully manifest as an Omega, and if Cassian found out in the meantime, I felt like he would try to get rid of me by any means before I fully manifested.
You have to reveal your hand only when it’s certain.
I slowly shook my head.
“No. To be honest, there is someone I care about, and I was hoping they would suffer a little less. Since you are the most outstanding healer in the Empire, Lady Laila, I thought it would be an invaluable and precious gift……”
“I’m touched you say that. However, the medicine I manufacture can only be used by the people of the Hestian family. It is the Emperor’s command. Hmm……. Ah, right. How about something from my disciple? They haven’t officially joined the Imperial Palace yet, but they are a very skilled healer, so their suppressants should be much more effective than the ones sold on the market.”
At Laila’s words that she could call her disciple to talk if I wanted, I smiled brightly and nodded.
“Thank you, Lady Laila!”
* * *
