* * *

“It’s only been a day since you became my teacher, and you’ve already become a bodyguard. That was quick.”

Henry had approached his father before going out and asked for Sir Teher to be made his bodyguard, and he received permission immediately.

He had expected a complicated process, but Duke Timothy, instead of making it difficult, even brought along the list of knights as if to say, “Take anyone you want.”

Thanks to this, within less than two hours, the two of them were meeting again, exchanging incredulous looks.

“The captain said that starting today, I should be your bodyguard.”

“I didn’t expect my father to handle it so quickly. By the way…”

Henry glanced back at Sir Teher.

They needed to get into the carriage now, and he wondered if Sir Teher would be following along.

“Is it really necessary to begin the bodyguard duty on such a simple outing?”

“As soon as the order was given, it became my duty.”

Henry nodded, feeling a bit unsure about being so put to use.

“First, let’s head to the largest tailor in the area.”

Following Henry’s instructions, Sir Teher mounted the coachman’s seat and gave directions.

The coachman, without delay, drove the carriage.

When Sir Teher mentioned the largest tailor, Henry quickly realized where they were going. Seeing the building, Henry understood why Sir Teher hadn’t hesitated.

“What kind of tailor shop is set up in such a grand mansion?”

Before becoming who he was now, Henry had dealt with many novels set in fantasy or medieval settings.

This background had helped him adjust to this world, but seeing this made him realize he was still trapped in old notions. Nobles could indeed convert a grand mansion into a tailor shop.

“Welcome.”

Even though they hadn’t contacted them in advance, a staff member approached as if they were expecting them.

The staff member, seemingly aware of Henry’s identity, led them to the reception room without further questions. It was convenient not having to explain.

As they followed the staff and Henry looked around the tailor shop, he was impressed. The shop was indeed large, and many nobles were coming and going.

Whenever he felt someone’s gaze on him, Henry responded with a slight nod.

Being a high-ranking noble had its comforts, but it also seemed to involve a lot of attention. Just being here drew the eyes of others.

“That’s the same for Edwin, too.”

Henry followed the crowd’s gaze and soon spotted Edwin. It wasn’t surprising; he had already overheard Edwin’s name in the murmur of the passing crowd.

Edwin, also being guided by a staff member, glanced over and made eye contact with Henry.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise at seeing Henry but quickly returned to an indifferent expression as he turned away.

Henry, opting not to acknowledge Edwin, felt more comfortable ignoring him.

“I’d rather not greet you either.”

It was recent when they had last met at the palace, and Henry didn’t want Edwin to think he was following him.

As Henry turned with the staff, the two of them soon parted ways.

The staff member, having guided them to a magnificent and open reception room with one wall completely removed, left them with tea and mentioned that a designer would be arriving shortly.

Sir Teher stood two paces away from where Henry was seated, standing with his hands clasped behind his back.

Henry sipped his tea, counting how long it had been since he came to this world.

It all started with Edwin’s birthday party.

The next day, he was to meet Crown Prince William, returned, rested for a few days, and then met Sir Teher.

Although he had been tense every day, trying to adapt to the new world, it felt like a long time had passed.

During that period, he sorted out his original personality, the challenges ahead, and thoughts about the future, and he continued to ponder how to live his life from there.

He hadn’t changed his original personality since it was helpful for living, but there were several strands of fate that needed adjusting.

Even changing those would make life easier, though it wouldn’t be simple.

He hadn’t yet thought about returning to his original body.

He was preoccupied with adapting to this world, and it seemed endless.

“Hello.”

At the moment Henry was deep in thought, a designer with a prominent mustache who had swept back all his hair entered the room.

He introduced himself after handing over a booklet he had tucked under his arm and then took a seat across from Henry.

“Do you have any specific design in mind?”

The designer immediately got to the point, avoiding any unnecessary small talk. Henry put down his cup and replied,

“Black…”

As he spoke, he recalled Edwin, whom he had seen earlier.

Despite having jet-black hair, Edwin had also wrapped himself in dull, black clothing.

“…excluding black, I want dark colors only. No decorations at all, especially no lace. I need 30 pieces of practical and sturdy clothing.”

Henry quickly added,

“Oh, and the most important thing is that it should look good no matter how it’s worn.”

So he wouldn’t have to worry about choosing.

“Are there any other conditions you’d like to specify?”

The designer was about to finalize the discussion, but Henry tilted his head in thought.

“Originally, there weren’t any more, but since you asked, something did come to mind.”

Henry wasn’t planning to leave alone but began considering the possibility.

If he were to change alone, the basic requirement was that any clothing he picked up should look good. Suddenly, his social status came to mind.

“After all, as the heir to the duke’s family, it would be a problem if it looked too shabby.”

Even though Edwin seemed to only wear black, his clothing subtly supported a refined beauty.

Henry, lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed, tapped his cheek thoughtfully, trying to organize his scattered thoughts.

“Even if it’s practical, it can’t look shabby. I won’t be asking for any embroidery due to the tight schedule, but it should still have some elegance. Comfortable movement is important, but thin fabric is a no-go. Functionality is key. I chose dark colors because they’re the most versatile, but I’d like it to not be drab. Also, even if there are no decorations, it shouldn’t look like something a commoner would wear. Is this enough?”

Henry looked at the designer, indicating he was open to more suggestions if necessary. The designer, with a commercial smile, closed his notebook and packed up his booklet.

“That’s sufficient.”

“Is that so? Well, you’re the expert, so I trust you’ll handle it well. The deadline is five days.”

The designer’s hand trembled slightly at the specified deadline, but he quickly masked his surprise and busied himself with his things.

“Can it be done within that time frame?”

This was the reason he had chosen a large tailoring shop. With more workers, he could get the desired result in less time.

The designer pondered for a moment and then filled out the order form.

“Our workshop has a lot of high-quality fabrics. If detailed decorations were required, it would take longer, but practical clothing doesn’t take much time. It’s certainly doable.”

Of course, some tasks must be completed regardless of the circumstances, and this was precisely what the designer was tasked with.

Thus, he only offered pleasing responses to Henry’s questions.

“I’m relieved to hear that.”

“Yes, then I’ll get started on the clothes right away.”

“Go ahead. I’ll finish my tea and get up later, so don’t worry about it.”

Normally, a designer would stay and try to build rapport with the noble, but this time, that wasn’t possible.

He had five days, with six outfits to make each day. Since it wasn’t just simple clothing, every minute counted. With a brief farewell, the designer left to begin his work.

Henry looked contentedly at his tea, which had floating petals. He had always been a coffee drinker, but since coming to this world, he mostly drank tea and found it satisfying.

There were many types of tea, each with different aromas and flavors, and he was gradually developing a preference for it.

Just as Henry was about to suggest having tea with Sir Teher,

“Long time no see.”

A man, completely covered in a hooded cloak, approached Henry with a smile.

The reception room had an open wall, so anyone could see Henry, but no one had come close until now.

This man casually crossed the invisible line and came right up to him. Henry looked up from his tea, and since he was seated, he could see the man’s lips hidden beneath the hood.

“Who are you?”

When Henry asked for a face reveal, the man removed his hat.

* * *