Chapter 23

Chapter 23
Chapter 23: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Lion tilted his head from side to side. Every single garment draped over the antique mannequins rated at least two stars.

“……Yes. This is my actual situation.”

Andrie spoke with self-deprecation, but Lion remained completely unswayed.

Instead, a spark ignited deep within Lion’s chest.

‘If this quality of material produced two-star gear, the surrounding conditions must have been absolute perfection.’

Take, for instance, not only the cutting and pattern work, but also the artisan’s distinct vision to maximize durability.

Besides…….

“Are the patterns finished as well?”

“Yes. Regardless of whether they are ready-to-wear, a single set of clothes represents a major expenditure for commoners. I designed them to be as clean and precise as possible.”

Gulp.

Lion swallowed hard.

‘If I were to back a talent like this with top-tier textiles…?’

Swish!

Andrie flinched as the young master abruptly turned toward him.

Unlike moments ago, the boy’s eyes were no longer merely determined; they blazed like molten lava.

“Andrie! I want to wear garments crafted under your name for the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Pardon? No, wait a minute, Young Master.”

Did you not hear a word I just said?

You are going to humiliate yourself!

‘And did he seriously just bring up the coming-of-age ceremony?’

With that reminder, Young Master Lion’s impending coming-of-age ritual loomed back into focus.

As thoughts I had purposely shoved away rushed to the surface, my head began to spin.

My work, displayed at an event of that magnitude?

‘I recognize that this is an incredible break, but I cannot do it.’

A coming-of-age ceremony happens only once in a lifetime.

I refuse to bring shame upon him simply to indulge his impulsive goodwill.

My hesitation stemmed not merely from the fact that he was the scion of the Asteri household, but from genuine care for this decent young man who consistently gave his all at the orphanage.

Meeting Andrie’s anxious gaze, Lion shook his head with unwavering resolve.

“No. You have the ability to make something beyond reproach. All you need to do is tell me yes.”

“Even so—”

Lion cut him off, holding up three fingers.

“Three complete outfits by the ceremony. Is that achievable?”

For a second, his sharp, formidable aura mirrored the Lord whom I had once glimpsed from afar.

“Three outfits, you say?”

“Correct. Don’t waste energy worrying about anything else; just answer whether it can be done or not.”

“……”

“I will assume total liability. I will also supply every yard of fabric. So, simply tell me if you dare to aim this high.”

Ambition.

Andrie’s hands curled into tight fists.

To tailor magnificent garments from superior materials.

Without having to stress over resource acquisition.

Just focus on the craft.

……What tailor on earth would turn down such a proposition?

More importantly, how could a craftsperson on the brink of shuttering their shop reject an offer so mesmerizing?

‘This is not the time to hesitate!’

Andrie hurriedly whipped out a notebook and pencil, immediately commencing rough sketches right where he stood.

“What aesthetic are you aiming for? Are there specific motifs required? The World Tree emblem representing the lineage must certainly be incorporated…”

“I prefer clean lines combined with a restrained touch of grandeur. And since our entire household intends to wear them, I want the pieces to share a cohesive theme while expressing distinct personalities.”

“Mm, mm!”

Lion’s demands sounded precisely like those of a patron entirely unversed in design theory.

It needed to be understated yet majestic, and since family members would don them, they should avoid chasing fleeting trends.

Naturally, Lion had to be the centerpiece of his own coming-of-age ceremony, meaning the style could not look dated either.

Even so.

“I already have a flawless design taking shape.”

Andrie did not cower before the challenge. Instead, he scooped up the scattered sketches from the floor and rapidly formulated new concepts… yet.

His pencil slipped from his fingers, hitting the floor with a sharp *tuk*.

Wait, the family?

“By family, does that encompass the Lord himself…?”

“Naturally.”

“Hah! Am I truly qualified to handle this? As you well know, I am a designer disdained by the nobility!”

“What bearing do they have on our household?”

“Well… none, I suppose. Who would dare voice a complaint?”

A magical lineage rivaling the imperial throne itself. Who would dare disparage attire explicitly commissioned and endorsed by the entire household, let alone Lion?

Andrie drew in a ragged breath and raised his voice.

“I will craft the finest—no, the absolute pinnacle of tailoring!”

He had taken the bait.

A subtle smirk touched the corners of Lion’s lips.

“So, do we have an accord?”

“……Yes!”

Andrie answered with bright enthusiasm, entirely oblivious to Lion’s underlying agenda.

“Then, shall we select our materials first?”

“Pardon? Is there a particular fabric you have in mind…?”

“Ah, I am still entirely ignorant when it comes to textiles.”

Lion retreated to his seat and pulled a thick catalog from his pack.

“So I brought an inventory of the fabrics currently kept in the family vaults.”

The Asteri Family’s private textile catalog!

Among tailors, this legendary tome was whispered about in hushed tones.

Rumor held that it contained treasures surpassing even the fabrics listed in imperial archives…!

Gulp.

Saliva pooled instinctively in his mouth.

“Am I… am I permitted to open it?”

“Be my guest.”

Andrie lifted the cover with trembling hands.

“Silk spun from the silkworms of the Northern Winter Moth…?! *gasp*”

And then his mind detonated.

Andrie’s consciousness flooded with dopamine.

Boom!

Illusory flowers bloomed while birds sang overhead. Cherubs blew trumpets as magical fireworks burst in the air!

Every single page turned delivered a fresh wave of sensory overload.

Exotic textiles from beyond the continent, ‘Elf’s Hair’ renowned for being spun by only a handful of forest dwellers, and ‘Fairy’s Breath’ painstakingly woven by master mages!

“How is it? Did any particular materials catch your eye?”

“The real issue, Young Master, is that there isn’t a single material here that I *don’t* want!”

When dopamine surges to such extremes, rational thought grows hazy.

And in that state, a creator’s focus narrows down entirely to the work before them.

Andrie could no longer turn back.

“That works out well.”

Lion meant it from the bottom of his heart.

‘It had to be Andrie.’

Looking back, had he approached any other tailor, they would likely have catered exclusively to Rikschel’s or his grandfather’s rigid preferences.

Countless artisans would have prioritized flattering his grandfather or Rikschel far above Lion’s personal coming-of-age ceremony.

In that scenario, Lion would have been forced to stumble through his coming-of-age wearing utterly ridiculous garments.

Therefore, he had to secure Andrie’s full dedication to make this venture succeed.

Besides, if things progressed smoothly.

‘I might even get the chance to learn tailoring directly from Andrie.’

Fortunately, Andrie appeared thoroughly enthralled.

In that case, this was a mutually beneficial arrangement, wasn’t it?

Right then, Andrie tilted his head, adopting a pensive expression.

“Hmm? This entry is…”

“Is something wrong?”

“Back during my peak years, a certain noble lady favored this exact textile. Finding a weave that never circulated on the open market listed right here strikes me as rather peculiar.”

Word had it that Andrie possessed the uncanny gift of never forgetting a fabric once his fingers brushed its surface.

“Yet this catalog offers no explanation of what kind of material it actually is.”

“Really? Let me check…”

Driven by curiosity, Lion leaned in to inspect the entry.

『Archmage’s Benevolent Love (★★★)』

-A refined silk custom-woven by an Archmage for his daughter.

-Every single fiber has been enchanted. It provides exceptional resistance against stains, flames, dust, moisture, and ensures optimal breathability.

-Contains embedded defensive wards against physical and magical assaults.

『Usage- Tailoring』

『☞Tailoring talent remains unlocked; the recipe cannot be viewed.』

Huh?

Did my grandfather craft this himself?

Lion stared intently at Andrie.

The tailor had explicitly mentioned that ‘a certain lady’ used this specific textile for her attire.

And the description explicitly referenced an Archmage.

If so, the conclusion was inescapable.

This fabric was none other than the material frequently utilized by Petrick’s daughter—Lion’s late mother.

‘Then using this material is beyond question.’

Lion’s initial objective had simply been escaping a wardrobe disaster.

Yet he also wanted the entire family to wear matching silhouettes.

Much like family coordinates.

Even if it was just clothing, sharing an experience like this would surely tighten their familial bonds.

‘It still bothers me that Rikschel persistently addresses grandfather as “Family Head”.’

They say blood runs thicker than water, so perhaps an event like this could help bridge the distance between them?

And… truth be told, I was curious.

What star-rated masterpiece would emerge if one tailored garments from a material of that caliber?

Would it end up looking less like formal ceremonial wear and more like cutting-edge, high-end combat gear?

And what if Lion managed to contribute even a fraction to the creation process?

Not only would he unlock tailoring talent, but his discerning eye as an appraiser might elevate to that very tier.

There was no telling how many birds he was managing to fell with a single stone.

“Andrie, can you work with this specific fabric?”

“It is entirely possible.”

Andrie radiated supreme confidence.

Naturally so; handling a material he had touched in the past proved far simpler than wrestling with an entirely unfamiliar weave.

“Then… shall we proceed with my measurements first?”

“Shall we?”

……The exact instant those words left his mouth.

Knock, knock!

A polite rap sounded at the threshold, and a young man resembling Lion stepped into the room.

It was his younger brother, Rikschel.

“Hyungnim. My apologies for being late.”

“Hah.”

Andrie exhaled a soft breath.

“You’re somewhat tardy, aren’t you?”

“Indeed. I was briefed on the situation beforehand, so I brought along the necessary supplies.”

“……Supplies?”

This marked the absolute first time Lion had heard mention of this.

“First, let us record your measurements. I will wait right here.”

“Ah, yes. There are still biscuits left on the tray, please help yourself.”

Just what on earth had Rikschel prepared?

Now that I thought about it, a faint commotion echoed from outside.

‘Well, it’s likely nothing out of the ordinary.’

With that, Lion stepped into an adjoining chamber to have his measurements taken.

Andrie’s measuring technique was textbook precision.

Once the process commenced, there was no hesitation. Without pausing for breath, he measured arms, legs, shoulders, torso, and every dimension in between, logging them swiftly into his ledger.

‘Astonishing.’

Despite his obvious inner tension, his movements remained steady.

That could only come from a foundation of vast, hard-earned experience.

‘I truly have much to learn from him.’

First, however, I needed to inspect the supplies Rikschel had delivered.

“Very well, that concludes the measurements… Ah!”

As Lion pulled his outer tunic back on, Andrie—who had stepped out into the main workshop first—let out a breathless gasp.

“Hm? What is it… Oh.”

Following him out, Lion stared in sheer wonder.

Brand-new mannequins, a gleaming sewing machine that screamed high-end craftsmanship, tailor’s chalk that left zero dust residue, and piles of premium textiles straight from the Asteri Family catalog were stacked high like stalls at a bustling market.

Furthermore, laborers appeared to have been hired on the spot, as the stubborn creak of the front door was already being fixed.

The weathered signboard had undoubtedly been swapped out for a fresh one as well.

“For someone who meets your standards, this much is only fitting.”

Rikschel replied with absolute composure, calmly nibbling a biscuit while sipping cold tea.

Lion cast a sidelong glance toward Andrie.

As anticipated, the tailor looked on the verge of fainting from sheer, unadulterated joy.

Wasn’t such an abrupt reversal from a life devoid of stimulation perhaps a little too overwhelming?