Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“Y-Yes. How about ten types including red, yellow, green, blue, white, gold, and black?”

“That’s fine.”

‘What! That is not fine!’

Clearly stunned, Selena opened her lips.

“Wait a minute. Aren’t we supposed to throw away the uneven clothes?”

“Of course. You would be disappointed if some other person wears the same design.”

‘But this means that they won’t be able to sell them again!’

It certainly would not lead to any financial problems for Kalcion. Moreover, it wasn’t like these dresses would be made by machines in factories, but by human hands.

She shook her head, her eyes on the design book.

“No, I don’t like it.”

“What—”

“I think there’s a certain color that suits that design. This design must bloom in its own way.”

The tailor’s eyes glistened as if they were saying, “You’ve appreciated my design!”

“Let’s make one of each.”

Kalcion’s eyebrows wiggled unpleasantly.

“The basic fundamentals of aristocracy includes a certain amount of luxury.”

“We can enjoy luxury in a different manner.”

The anticipated attention of Kalcion and the tailor was drawn to Selena at her words. She did not know why he was trying to rob his own pocket.

She had no big plan. Perhaps she was going to ask for jewelry or accessories, but she realized that was not what they expected.

‘In that case, I’ll have to order something bigger.’

She was motivated by his creativity.

‘A great one.’

Value usually came from scarcity.

“Make a unique fabric.”

“What fabric are you talking about?”

“Break the jewels into small pieces, put them between the threads, and use it as a fabric. The thread is to be decorated with gold and silver so that the pattern is engraved on the dress itself. No need for any embroidery…..Is that fine?”

She couldn’t even imagine what it would look like. She just knew it would look pretty expensive.

The tailor was patiently listening to Selena and kept silent for a long time….

“…..Isn’t that great?”

“Haa, as expected.….What?”

“That’s great! How did you think of this, Lady Selena? You are a genius! You must have the talent to create beauty!”

“Pardon? Excuse me?”

The tailor excitedly spoke out.

“However, we’ll have to put a lot of labor to move it forward, but the resulting labor costs……”

“Renbird will take care of the expenses for the gold and silver.”

Selena looked at Kalcion as he stepped in.

‘Will that be fine?’

“There are about 20 days left until the large banquet, including the duration of the journey. I’ll prepare a hundred.”

‘A hundred sets in 20 days?! Doesn’t this mean you’d have to go beyond working overtime?’

“That’ll be enough.”

The tailor smiled confidently. There seemed to be nothing that could be changed in Kalcion’s capital.

‘He’s crazy.’

Selena shook her head. This world had been crazy from the minute she put her feet on it.

***

“You should get prepared while your dress is being made.”

Kalcion said as soon as the tailor stepped out of the room after completing the purchased order. The servants also cleared the room and scurried out, leaving only the two of them in the room.

“Prepare for what?”

“Lady Selena.”

Kalcion shifted his eyes to her as he called her for the first time with a title.

Most of the time, it was “you”.

‘Did you hit your head somewhere? Why are you suddenly saying “lady” before mentioning my name?’

She suspiciously looked closely at his eyes, trying to find if a sort of magic was controlling him, but all that stared back at her were those cold blue eyes of his.

“You called me that, right?”

“If you want me to address you like this, you need to have that basic refinement.”

“Wasn’t I supposed to go with the character of a woman without culture?”

Clearly, that was what Kalcion agreed to go with.

“No, you can’t. At least, not uncultured enough to bring down the reputation of a Duke.”

“This is so sudden—”

“20 days. Prepare yourself with social skills, etiquettes, and basic culture as much as you can within 20 days.”

“Why did you change your policy all of a sudden? Is that the only thing capable of ruining the reputation of a Duke?”

He clicked his tongue briefly.

“Of course, Renbird’s reputation isn’t so light that it could be destroyed by you. But…”

“But?”

“It irritates my eyes.”

A simple reason. Selena chuckled at him.

“You mean it’s only because of your mood?”

“I don’t really mind when you act rudely to me. But, I don’t want to see people ignore you because of your lack of education.”

“Oh…..”

She was dazed for a moment. It might have sounded sweet….but the person who said it was not acting accordingly……

‘Is that it?’

“But wouldn’t it be more hateful if a commoner knew the topic?”

He stubbornly shook his head.

“The prince would probably prepare a few women to approach me. Would you be able to join any secret conversations properly without any preparations?”

“Mm-hm…..”

That did make sense. It was necessary if they had to create a disturbance. If they had to hide from their enemies and catch them off guard.

“Did the Duke learn to have a secret social conversation before?”

“Why would I?”

He didn’t have to learn until now. It was not necessary for a person who had little to care about the small rules in a society as he could rub the law roughly.

However, she was disappointed. She felt as if she is wronged to study it alone.

“What if you don’t understand me if I send a signal in the banquet hall?”

“Well, then—”

“Let’s learn it together.”

She grinned.

Perhaps, Kalcion was starting to fall for her charms as a faint smile made its way on his face.

“There’s nothing I can’t do. I face no difficulty in anything.”

“Hmm, but overconfidence often leads to the destruction of a person, doesn’t it, Duke?”

Kalcion just chuckled at her without saying anything.

“Come to think of it, the ‘Duke’.”

“Yes, what?”

“That’s a very strange title. It needs to be corrected.”

‘But don’t a lot of people call you that?’

“What is so strange in calling you ‘Duke’ ?”

“It’s just a reference to a title, similar to when you address a king.”

“……Ah, I see.”

Selena nodded upon learning a new fact. She couldn’t just go around calling him like that if she were to become a stately person.

“If that’s the case, it would only be right to change it…… Then, what should I call you?”

“You decide…..”

He said casually.

Selena and Kalcion were not related to each other, nor was she a subordinate of him.

‘This is just a contractual relationship, isn’t it?’

“Not ‘Your Excellency’. Almost everyone calls you that.”

“That’s right.”

Kalcion had made her agree on acting her part as his lover. Even if he hadn’t announced it, she had to show off with her special presence in the cold Duke’s heart.

“How about using nicknames?”

“Like?”

“Hmm…….Such as my family symbol. A black leopard. Since my family crest is a black leopard, you can call me that.”

Kalcion pointed to one side of the wall.

“…..”

Selena’s eyes followed the direction of his finger to find the head of the beast hung on the icy north wall. A sword was inserted in its head.

“…..Let’s not.”

The name was so close to his personality.

“Is there anything else? How about honey? Or sugar? Sunshine?”

However, those names did not suit Kalcion at all. Just imagining it made her feel as though she was committing a sin against the whole world.

It was evident that he felt the same as his expression was grimly distorted when Selena spoke those words.

“Well, anything else?”

“Would you dare to make a nickname for the Duke of Renbird?”

“……Yes, I would. And thank you very much for your advice that isn’t really helpful.”

“You’re joking.”

“If I were to play around, I would do that a hundred times.”

She rolled her head on the sofa’s headrest.

“Who was the most affectionate and intimate person in your life?”

She finally decided to dissect him. She would get something if she interviewed him.

“Affectionate? Well…”

However, Kalcion was still Kalcion. She sighed before clarifying it.

“Who was the closest person to you, if not attached?”

“Hmm…..”

Only then did he start to think carefully.

“Hmm……”

“……..”

“Mmm…..”

“……..”

‘Why are taking so long? Aren’t they usually your mom, dad, or grandma?’

“It reminds me of a servant who stood up for me until I was ten.”

Indeed, he was an extraordinary person.

“What did they call you?”

“Your Highness.”

“…..Ah, yes. Is he the knight with gray hair?”

“Dion? No. It was when the servant was 11 and was eaten while going on a hunt for the first time.”

“…….”

‘At least pretend to be sad. This is where you should cry, stupid.’

“Well, what did your parents call you?”

“Kalcion.”

“That’s it?”

“What else, then?”

“Well, there’s ‘my baby’, ‘my adorable son’, and a lot others.”

“……”

She said, ignoring the badly distorted face of Kalcion.