MWC Chapter 46

46. The Most Important Standard

 

The tailor, noticing how intently Rakalt was staring at Adelen, cautiously asked,
“What do you think? This is the first one.”

Rakalt blinked again.

It was as if his vision had clicked like a camera shutter, and the dazzling world of light had returned to normal.

For a moment, he had even forgotten that the tailor and assistants were there.

“…I see.”

It wasn’t an evaluation, but a vague response.

However, the tailor and assistants, who had worked in this field for years, immediately recognized the subtle change in his gaze.

There were always customers like this—people who, on the inside, were panicking but refused to show a single sign of it.
People who acted as if the world would crumble if their emotions showed.

“I see. Then let’s move on to the second one.”

After thoroughly observing his reaction to the first dress, the tailor led Adelen back into the dressing room.

“Um, could it be that the three dresses are making the master feel pressured? What if he’s actually upset that we went ahead and made them without being asked…?”

Adelen was the only one worrying.

The tailor, on the other hand, chuckled confidently and shook his head.

“What are you saying? Even if we made ten dresses instead of three, he wouldn’t be upset. If anything, he’d be angry that there weren’t more.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Adelen was bewildered by the tailor’s inexplicable confidence.

But she didn’t get an answer.

Instead, the tailor simply hummed cheerfully, as if this was something only Adelen should remain oblivious to for her own enjoyment.

Her hands moved even more enthusiastically.

“Here is the second dress. This one emphasizes the shoulder line more and features luxurious fabric that flows naturally.”

“Hmm.”

His response was just as flat as before.

But once again, the tailor wasn’t fazed.

Because even if Rakalt’s words were neutral, his reactions weren’t.

The time it took him to respond, the direction of his gaze, the unconscious tapping of his fingers against his knee, these subtle movements spoke volumes.

That was more than enough.

And when the third dress was presented…

“Hmm. I see.”

That was all he said.

What did ‘I see’ even mean in his language?

Adelen was starting to feel outright scared of her master’s reactions.

If he didn’t like them, she would rather he just said, ‘No, this doesn’t suit you. Take it off immediately.’

At least that would be easier to deal with.

“Now, which of the three will you choose?”

Rakalt stared at Adelen.

And he kept staring.

For a long time, he said nothing.

Exposed under his gaze, Adelen felt her breath getting shallower.

His eyes wrapped around her like a rope, binding her tightly.

He was just looking at her to pick a dress, but it felt like she was standing on trial.

“…Hmm.”

After watching her for what felt like an eternity, Rakalt let out a strained sound.

The tailor smiled knowingly.

This wasn’t their first time doing business.

They had expected this reaction—because choosing was difficult.

After all, they all looked stunning.

If even the tailors thought the dresses were this beautiful, how much harder must it be for him?

This was fine.

They could wait as long as necessary.

Because watching him struggle, trying so hard to keep his reaction hidden but failing anyway, was just too entertaining.

“If it’s difficult to decide, would you like to see them on again?”

“…Would that be alright?”

“Of course! We can do it ten, even twenty more times if needed. As long as the lady has the stamina for it.”

The mention of ten or twenty more times made Adelen turn pale.

So there were more exhausting things in the world than chasing after a baby.

Changing dresses over and over again was an unexpectedly grueling labor.

At least there was one relief—

The baby was utterly mesmerized by Adelen in her dress, too distracted to demand any other kind of play.

“Adué! Pretty, pretty…!”

At that moment, the baby toddled over to Adelen, grabbing at the hem of her dress.

Tiny fingers fiddled with the jewels embedded in the fabric.

“Do you like the jewels, little one?”

“This… Adué! Pretty…!”

“Oh, do you think the jewels are pretty?”

“Adué is pretty!”

The baby expressed his thoughts perfectly.

“Oh my.”

The tailor covered her mouth and chuckled, while Adelen’s face flushed red.

The person who was actually supposed to give feedback, her master, remained silent.

“It seems the baby likes this dress the most.”
The tailor said, just as the baby buried itself into the hem of Adelen’s dress.

Even in her embarrassment, Adelen found the sight adorable and couldn’t help but smile.

Then, she made a resolute decision.

“Master, can we go with this one?”

“…Why.”

Truthfully, Rakalt also thought the last dress was the most beautiful.

But the words ‘pretty’ just wouldn’t make it past his throat.

And now, the little baby had beaten him to it.

The frustration of losing to the baby made him consider picking something else out of sheer spite.

“If I wear this dress, won’t the baby behave a little better at the party? He seems quite interested in it…”

Keeping the baby in check at the party was just as important as making sure Adelen was properly dressed to maintain Sigelion’s and the baby’s dignity.

The baby crying for a ball at a party.
The baby treating the party like a military training ground.
The baby transforming into a pterosaur at the party.
The baby clinging to the chandelier.

There were far too many possible disasters.

“Fine. We’ll go with that one.”

Rakalt had no choice but to compromise.

After all, it was the one he had planned to pick anyway.

It definitely wasn’t because of the baby—he told himself this repeatedly.

“Uh, um… Wait, but still…”

The tailor, who had been enjoying the situation brought about by her creations, was suddenly flustered.

Was this for real? Was the baby’s choice truly the final decision?

The baby was now fully engrossed in the dress, clinging to it.

While he had stared in awe at the first two dresses, this was the only one he had actively reached out to touch.

“This one. It has to be this one.”

“That one. No doubt about it.”

Both Adelen and Rakalt made their decision with unwavering certainty.

“Ah… Understood.”

Now, the tailor began packing up the other two dresses, carefully watching for the baby’s reaction.

“Then we’ll make a few small adjustments to the third dress to ensure a perfect fit and assist with dressing you on the day of the event. We’ll take care of the other two—”

“No. Keep them.”

For the first time, Rakalt spoke up with an opinion of his own.

It wasn’t the ‘they’re pretty’ the tailor had hoped for, but hearing that he wanted to keep all three dresses was even better.

“There will be more occasions to wear dresses in the future, so we might as well keep them.”

“Ah…! I see. In that case, since they feel somewhat similar as they are, how about we make slight alterations to give each a unique final touch?”

“Do it.”

“Understood! Thank you!”

“Is that all for the dresses?”

“Yes, the dresses are done. Only the baby’s and the Count’s formal wear remain.”

The tailor stomped her foot in disappointment.

****. She should’ve let her artistic passion burn through at least five dresses.

No—ten would’ve been fine.

“Bring them.”

Unlike Adelen, who got three dresses, both Rakalt and the baby only had one formal outfit each.

The tailor had briefly considered getting creative with Rakalt’s outfit as well, but there simply wasn’t as much room for artistic expression in men’s formalwear.

Dressing the baby was Adelen’s responsibility.

Meanwhile, Rakalt headed to the dressing room, where he was assisted into his formal attire.

Unlike when he had watched Adelen in her dresses, this time he barely even glanced at the mirror.

A single uninterested glance.

“It fits well.”

“Thank you. Is there anything uncomfortable or anything you don’t like?”

“No. I’ll wear it as is.”

“Understood.”

As a stark contrast to the detailed deliberation over Adelen’s dress, their conversation was dry and brief.

Rakalt changed back into his usual clothes and returned to the living room.

“Oh my! Our little lord looks like a true prince! So beautiful! No—so handsome!”

Adelen was fussing over the baby, who was now dressed in his formal attire, as she admired his reflection in the mirror.

The baby, delighted by Adelen’s excitement, let out a happy giggle and clung to her.

“He’s really adorable. How can he be this cute?”

“I’ve never seen such an adorable baby in my life. Seriously, he’s just too cute… I feel like making clothes is worth it just for him. I want to sew a hundred outfits for him.”

Even the assistant who had stayed behind to dress the baby was utterly smitten, joining in on the fussing.

Even to Rakalt, the baby in formalwear was undeniably cute.

So cute that, honestly, even if he were the crown prince of an enemy nation, his cuteness alone might be enough to spare him from harm.

But then, something else caught Rakalt’s eye.