The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies - Chapter 139



138 – Le Calin (05)

139.

The empire’s clothing stores are divided into two categories.

Choose what you want from the displayed clothes.

Or request a custom-made piece.

Nobles care more about the appearance of their clothes than you might think.

This is because it directly reflects their dignity, making it harder not to care.

Thus, the longer a tailor’s career, the more famous they become.

Nobles seek out such tailors.

They choose their masterpieces to elevate their own dignity.

However, with the discovery of magic, custom-made clothing has been threatened.

Although not as good as what tailors make, mass-produced clothes that are not far behind in quality began to be made.

Custom-made means the tailor makes it personally.

So, the quality is naturally high.

From the choice of fabric to the stitching and finishing, satisfaction was high.

But the fatal drawback is, of course, that it takes a long time to make.

It takes a long time to make even one piece, so if you wanted to order a custom-made piece, you had to wait at least a few months.

Even if a skilled tailor makes the clothes, they cannot ignore other people’s reservations.

Unless you are a member of the royal family, you had to wait several months for one piece of clothing.

So the nobles.

Especially the young ladies, began to head to places where they could pick out clothes and wear them immediately.

Although they couldn’t compare to what the tailors made.

They weren’t far behind either.

Such clothes became the mainstream in social circles, and the basic standard, so fewer people hesitated.

Being able to compare various options was also a big advantage.

Custom-made clothes are expensive and take a long time, and often, when you finally receive them, they are different from what you imagined.

Relatively cheap clothes that you can compare and try on, and wear immediately after buying.

Such clothing stores increased in number.

They grew to decorate the main streets of the capital.

Among them, the most popular place.

A boy and a girl entered a clothing store that offered clothes almost indistinguishable from custom-made ones.

“So many clothes.”

“That’s what this place is like.”

Typically, clothing stores on the main street don’t just display clothes.

Ladies also value elegance.

They don’t just come in and compare the displayed clothes or try them on.

Appointments are scheduled by time, and those who have made reservations rent the store during that period.

This is another difference from custom-made shops.

Kallen quietly looked around the store.

Vibrant colors.

Various forms of clothing.

Seeing them neatly arranged and floating in the air, it seemed they were using magical tools.

As they were looking around with Daphnis, the owner of the store approached.

“Welcome.”

“Hello.”

“Feel free to look around. Please call me if you need anything.”

“Understood.”

Store owners generally follow this approach.

They offer help if needed but don’t force themselves on customers.

A neatly withdrawn guide.

Daphnis, as if familiar with this, quickly lost interest and gently pulled Kallen’s hand.

“Let’s look around quickly…”

“Sure.”

Daphnis’s eyes, already looking at the clothes, seemed genuinely happy.

*

“How about this?”

“It looks good.”

“And this one?”

“It seems to suit you well.”

“…Then how about this one?”

“That too…”

Plop.

As I let go of the clothes in my hand, they floated gently in the air.

Seeing them neatly unfold in that state, I could indeed understand the greatness of the magical tool.

But Kallen couldn’t admire it.

Because Daphnis was pouting, biting her lips.

“…Why are you…”

“This is good, that is good.”

When Kallen cautiously asked, Daphnis turned her head sharply and glared at Kallen as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Does it really suit me?”

“Of course…”

“…Then why… this time…”

But.

“This time…”

Why won’t she say those words?

Today, too, I spent four hours just dressing up.

Daphnis lowered her head and mumbled, her cheeks puffed up, unable to say it out loud.

“…Young Master.”

“Yes…”

“Then let’s do the choosing game.”

“…Choosing game?”

“Yes. The choosing game.”

Kallen tilted her head as she watched Daphnis’s cheeks puff up even more.

“We choose clothes that we think will suit each other.”

“Oh.”

“But, we have to choose where we can’t see each other.”

Daphnis thought it was a pretty good idea.

Just choosing clothes for each other already has significant meaning.

If we choose clothes without seeing each other, we have to constantly think about whether the clothes will suit the other person.

In that way, Kallen will naturally keep thinking about Daphnis, and if the clothes suit as expected, he will say those words.

“So…”

Daphnis looked down at Kalen’s hand warmly wrapped around his own.

Then, with a truly regretful voice, he slowly withdrew his hand from Kalen’s.

“So, you have to choose well.”

“Understood.”

“…I’ll do my best too.”

It felt empty.

Even if he tried to hide it, the warmth that filled his chest disappeared in an instant.

Daphnis tried to knead his own hand, but he couldn’t fill the emptiness.

So, he informed Kalen and was about to leave immediately.

But.

“Then, shall we make a bet?”

“…A bet?”

“Whoever chooses better for that person.”

“…”

Kalen called out to Daphnis.

At the suggestion of making a bet on choosing clothes, Daphnis hesitated for a moment.

“…What does the winner get?”

“Hmm…”

The thrill of winning the bet.

Kalen thought of it and nodded.

“How about the loser grants the winner’s wish?”

“A wish…!”

A wish bet.

At the reward Kalen proposed, Daphnis responded with a bright smile.

Then, oh, he quickly hid his expression and nodded slightly.

“O-okay… The loser grants the winner’s wish.”

“Understood.”

“No take-backs…!”

With those words, Daphnis hurriedly left the place.

The speed clearly showed the determination to win the bet.

Kallen, left behind, slowly turned to the side.

“These clothes suit you well.”

Even though he hadn’t chosen the clothes he was wearing now, could he choose well?

Worry came first, but somehow it felt like it would be fun.

One cannot lose a bet.

Kallen began to carefully examine the clothes, focusing on Daphnis.

*

“Have you chosen everything?”

“Yes. Have you chosen, Daphnis?”

“Hehe… Unfortunately, the wish is mine, sir.”

How much time had passed?

Finally, Kallen and Daphnis had chosen all their clothes.

Hiding what they had chosen behind their backs, they exchanged simple conversations.

“Then, shall we check right away?”

“Sure. I’ll show you first.”

Daphnis confidently smiled and revealed the clothes hidden behind his back.

It was a uniform.

However, unlike what Kallen was wearing now, the colors were brighter.

It was an impressive outfit with clean lines and a neat vest.

Daphnis had also thought a lot.

No matter how much he thought about it, there was nothing that suited Kallen better than a uniform.

In other words, it meant that he was interested in clothes enough to find and wear what suited him well.

Was that why he suggested this bet?

Still, it was just fun, so Daphnis simply chose the uniform.

It suited him best, so there was no reason not to choose it.

However, he regretted the dark colors, so he chose something overall clean and neat.

Kallen’s skin was clean and bright, so he thought it would suit him better than what he was wearing now.

Seeing it like that, Kallen looked down at what he was wearing.

“It’s the same uniform.”

“Ugh… Wh-what can I do if it suits you the best…”

“I’m not saying it’s wrong. Just… it seems like I’ve won the bet.”

“…Then show me what you chose, my lord!”

Hehe.

Seeing Daphnis puffing up his cheeks in frustration, Kallen unconsciously laughed.

This was a bet.

The feeling of victory was already certain, making him feel good without even realizing it.

Kallen unhesitatingly revealed the clothes he had hidden behind his back.

“I chose these clothes while thinking of you, Daphnis.”

“…W-what?”

The unexpected words left Daphnis flustered.

He bit his tongue and looked at the clothes Kallen showed him.

Clothes in a color similar to his own eyes.

A very light shade between red and pink.

It softly adorned the pure white basic surcoat.

It was almost surprising that such clothes existed here.

Daphnis couldn’t take his eyes off the clothes Kallen had chosen.

Could he have chosen such beautiful clothes for him?

Daphnis felt a strange sense of inadequacy in his own sincerity and slowly lowered his hand.

No, he tried to lower it.

“Then. Shall we try it on?”

“…”

Was it intentional?

Kallen approached and supported the hand that was gradually lowering.

He accepted the clothes Daphnis had chosen as if he liked them.

When he looked down, he found that he was already holding the clothes Kallen had chosen for him.

“Let’s ask the shop owner for an evaluation.”

“…Alright…”

Kallen took the clothes and headed to the secluded space where he could change.

Daphnis quietly watched the boy’s back and then followed him.

I should have changed my clothes like that…

“Go, Master…”

“…”

A very small problem arose.

While Daphnis was getting dressed, the part that fastens at the back got tangled.

No matter how much she struggled and reached behind her, she couldn’t reach it, so Kalen had to help.

The problem was, to untangle and tie it again, Kalen had to see Daphnis’s body.

The boy and girl, in their prime, stood frozen in that awkward situation.

Unfortunately, the shopkeeper seemed to have stepped out for a moment.

In the end, Kalen had no choice but to help.

“…Daphnis.”

“Master…”

“…We can’t stay like this, so I’ll help you.”

“But, but…”

“I’ll close my eyes, so please guide me.”

“Hik…!?”

Kalen closed his eyes as he finished speaking.

And what happened next was something Daphnis found hard to handle.

Thump, thump, thump.

Not her own, but Kalen’s.

The boy’s heartbeat was so close that she could hear it clearly.

Kalen, who had come that close, reached his arm around Daphnis’s back.

The two were almost embracing.

Daphnis felt something surge up inside her and didn’t know what to do with her arms between her and Kalen’s bodies.

“Haa… Haa…”

They were so close that there was nowhere to look.

Kalen’s face, with his eyes closed, was right next to hers.

What she saw over Kalen’s shoulder was the mirror reflecting her back.

At that moment, Daphnis understood Kalen’s words.

It was just her back, but for a maiden to show her bare skin was an immense shame as a woman.

Kalen understood that feeling and closed his eyes.

But he couldn’t leave it like this, he’d help.

Kalen would be the hands.

Daphnis, the eyes.

“hhh… ! Hh… hhh…”

Lightly, lightly.

Kalen’s rough hand touched soft, bare skin.

That sensation, almost chilling, made Daphnis’ ears burn crimson as he stared at the mirror, eyes trembling.

The first time he’d known Kalen’s scent.

In that embrace, a scent that threatened to be addictive, Daphnis whispered, his voice pitifully trembling.

“O-oh, right… *smack*… hhh, no… left… hhh…”

He wanted to close his own eyes, but couldn’t.

He had to guide Kalen’s hand the right way.

Almost crying.

He guided Kalen’s hand with a voice trembling pitifully.

How long had it been?

Daphnis, having breathed in Kalen’s scent countless times, finally closed his eyes.

“There… it’s there…”

*Slick, slick.*

Hearing Daphnis’s words, Kalen tied the knot.

Kalen fastened it tightly so it wouldn’t come undone, and then opened his eyes.

It was the moment he confirmed it was securely tied.

“Is there a problem?”

“Hh…?! “

The shop owner, who had briefly left, could be heard approaching from afar.

Kalen, calming Daphnis who was startled and trembling in his arms, slowly stepped back.

When the shop owner approached,

“It’s nothing.”

“Haa… haah… ahh…”

Daphnis, face and ears flushed crimson, was gasping for breath.

Kallen, who had fallen calmly, spoke as if nothing had happened.

“Ah. By any chance, which of us two suits better?”

“Huh…? Uh… well…”

The shopkeeper, suddenly asked for an evaluation, answered awkwardly.

Naturally.

The bet was won by Daphnis.