“Welcome, honored guests from afar, to Huawo Clothing House. Are you perhaps looking to select some attire that suits you? Forgive me for being presumptuous—since it seems this is your first time visiting, please allow me to guide you.”
As the two stepped into the boutique, lavish as a villa, a young lady dressed neatly in attendant’s uniform, hair tied up, approached them with warm friendliness. Not a hint of disdain crossed her face, despite their shabby, torn clothing.
To her mind, wasn’t that exactly the reason one would come to buy clothes?
“Much appreciated, but buying clothes is secondary. Could this beautiful young lady help me pass along something instead?” Aesphyra lifted a strand of hair with elegance and smiled.
“Pass along... something?” The attendant looked puzzled—until she saw Aesphyra draw a badge from her bosom and place it into her hands.
“Deliver this badge to your store manager. He will understand.” Aesphyra’s voice was polite and gentle.
“This is...?” The attendant girl had only recently been hired and didn’t recognize it, but even without knowing, the jeweled badge inlaid with the Galathus crest made its significance plain.
“P-please wait just a moment.” A minor noble herself, the attendant had seen enough of the world to know. After arranging for other attendants to seat Vinny and Aesphyra, she hurried off to the back.
The two sat at an ornate nanmu table, receiving steaming tea in fine white porcelain cups. They couldn’t help but wonder how valuable the tea leaves must be.
Just inhaling that subtle, refined aroma made it clear this was no ordinary tea. A store of this class, catering to nobility, would never serve guests anything less than extraordinary.
Other attendants, uncertain of their true identities, simply offered tea and then lingered nearby, curious.
Before long, Vinny heard hurried footsteps from the back courtyard. A middle-aged man in polished black leather uniform strode in, face clean-shaven and impeccably kept but wearing a hurried expression. The attendant girl followed at his heels.
“My deepest apologies for failing to greet you properly upon your arrival, Young Lady! I was remiss in my duties. Please forgive my neglect!” The tall man all but bowed to the silver-haired girl, posture deferential.
The nearby attendants quickly imitated their manager, bowing in haste.
A joke, right? If their own superior treated her so reverently, how could they possibly stand there like nothing had happened?
And indeed—they had seen it. Their usually strict, harsh manager now practically groveling before this ethereal silver-haired young lady, calling her “Young Lady.”
There was only one explanation: she must be one of the true masters behind these brand houses, heiress to the Galathus family whose influence spanned nations.
Several of the attendants felt their hearts seize with fear, praying they hadn’t offended her in any way before. A person whose idle words could decide their fates was not someone they could afford to cross.
“Tsk, tsk... what a scene.” Vinny clicked his tongue inwardly, watching.
“No matter, Manager. I didn’t come here as a guest on purpose. In fact, you likely know I’ve already enrolled in Carillian Academy. The reason I’m here today is merely to fulfill a field assignment from the Academy. But, as you see, there were some unexpected ‘surprises’ during the task. My companion and I lost our luggage. Passing through here, we happened upon my family’s shop.” Aesphyra sipped her tea elegantly, legs crossed in black stockings, voice lightly teasing.
“My sudden visit hasn’t inconvenienced you, has it?”
“Never! How could it? Everything in this store belongs to you, Young Lady. I am only your loyal subordinate and servant. To meet you even once is the fortune of three lifetimes.” Cold sweat ran down the man’s back as he spoke quickly.
No doubt about it—this girl was the future head of House Galathus, his ultimate superior. Any man with sense would treat her with utmost reverence.
And he had heard rumors: a genius without peer, first in her year at Carillian Academy, a source of design inspiration behind many of the family’s celebrated fashion lines. Words like “gifted” or “prodigy” weren’t enough. She was certain to be the next family head.
“Manager, no need to be so tense. But speaking in this way does make things rather unseemly.” Aesphyra toyed idly with a strand of her hair.
“My apologies! I was careless. You there—quickly, escort the Young Lady and this honored gentleman to bathe and change clothes!” the manager barked.
The attendants, as if waking from a dream, rushed forward to serve Aesphyra and Vinny, guiding them toward the villa’s bathing chambers.
Mm. Just like that, Vinny’s status had been elevated—by Aesphyra’s side, the manager had even addressed him as “honored gentleman.”
“My apologies. I didn’t know your identities before—please forgive my discourtesy. This way, please.” The attendant girl, face full of contrition, spoke to Vinny as she led the group.
“Ah, no problem.” Vinny felt dazzled. Though he always styled himself “this young master,” this was the first time in his life he’d actually been treated like one.
He and Aesphyra were separated—left and right. Aesphyra no doubt directed to the master’s private bathing chamber.
As for Vinny, treated as Aesphyra’s friend, he too received nothing less than luxury.
A marble bathhouse with carved lion-head fountains, velvet carpets, platters of fresh fruits and sweets by the spring—top-class indulgence. For someone who had been camping under the open sky, it was paradise.
Here, fruit and desserts were precious, extravagantly expensive. Yet in the Galathus household, they were left casually for guests to snack on in the bath.
Hot spring bathing while eating watermelon and cantaloupe—what could be more blissful?
Vinny sprawled on a floating waterbed in the great pool, clutching a slice of melon, expression utterly satisfied.
Then he spotted juice waiting in the corner.
Holy crap. Being rich really did mean surprises at every turn.
Delighted, he fetched a glass.
“Such a vast bath, just for me? Too extravagant.”
But then again—it was Aesphyra’s family business. And hadn’t he risked his life saving her? A reward like this wasn’t too much.
Her things were his things, weren’t they?
Vinny puffed himself up inwardly.
By the time he finished soaking, he’d eaten nearly half the fruits. Entering on an empty stomach, he left patting his belly.
Afterward, he changed into the clothing prepared for him—a nobleman’s formalwear of quality obvious at a glance.
Though he’d worn formal clothes before, they were always the cheapest kind. This was easily the most expensive suit he’d ever put on.
Jewelry and details were intricate; for someone without experience, fastening them would be confusing. But Vinny had some familiarity.
“Damn... even casually given to guests, this quality? Too generous!”
But then—it was a clothing house, after all.
“Honored sir, you must be hungry from your journey. Please, come this way to dine.” The attendant gestured politely once Vinny was dressed.
“Oh, there’s food too?”
He’d already stuffed himself on fruit, but mention of a proper meal opened up a “second stomach.”
Led into a chandelier-lit dining hall, Vinny saw a long table with pale-gold cloth, red candles, and oil paintings adorning the walls, the atmosphere refined and noble.
Aesphyra was already seated, dining in full dress.
Though women usually took longer to bathe, Vinny had wasted so much time gorging on fruit he ended up later than her.
The moment he entered, his eyes were drawn to her.
Her black, lace-up, off-shoulder gown contrasted brilliantly with her radiant silver hair—like a moon shining in the dark night sky, the single dazzling light in endless blackness. Impossible not to look.
No surprise—she was of the Galathus family. Aesphyra had impeccable fashion sense. In fact, many popular designs among the young nobility had come from her own hand. For her not to look flawless in evening wear would have been strange.
“Vinny, still have room to eat?” she asked, elegantly cutting into steak, gaze meaningful.
“Ah? What’s that supposed to mean?” Vinny couldn’t banter as freely as usual, not here in her family’s domain with servants all around.
“You ate quite a bit of fruit in the bath, didn’t you?” she said, as if reading his mind.
“What, did you plant a Recording Stone in there? How do you know so well?” Vinny protested.
“Because Vinny is still the same—too easy to guess.” Aesphyra tilted her head, amused.
“Tch.” He curled his lip.
But fine—food was in front of him. He sat and dug into steak.
The flavor reminded him of the fine beef he’d eaten with Mirecia, but this was different—a family-owned boutique’s private chef’s craft, exquisite in its own right. Hard to say which was better.
“Clothes make the man. Vinny does look somewhat presentable now—barely passable to the eye.” Aesphyra appraised him coolly.
“What do you mean barely presentable? This young master has always been dashing! Handsome beyond compare, needing no clothes to prove it. In fact, the clothes need me to make them shine!” Vinny thumped his chest. “Aesphyra, if you paid me endorsement fees, I wouldn’t mind representing your family’s brand.”
“Well, endorsements usually cost quite a lot... but given our relationship, I’ll give you a twenty-percent discount.” He waved magnanimously.
“Endorsement? Do you think our sales are too good and want to sabotage us?” she teased.
“Tch, then what’s the point of all this? If you’ve nothing better to do, just praise me for being handsome.” Vinny scowled, chewing steak.
In contrast to Aesphyra’s refined grace, Vinny’s way of eating was wild, uninhibited—enough to make the attendant boy nearby stifle laughter.
“Vinny, that outfit—you’re wearing it because I chose it.” Aesphyra smiled. “I selected it based on your hair color, features, and usual style. But since you practically have no fashion sense, I judged for myself.”
“Tch, who says I don’t have fashion sense? If I wanted it, I could have it—just haven’t bothered yet! For me, style is nothing but a thought away. Understand?” Vinny pouted stubbornly.
“So, am I wearing this again tomorrow?” he asked mid-bite, meaning—was she lending it to him for a few days.
“Vinny, I’m sorry, maybe customs differ—but here, people aren’t allowed to walk around naked. It would seriously harm my family’s reputation.” She feigned surprise.
“Oi, oi! That’s not what I meant!”
“Then what did you mean? Your old clothes are ruined, unusable. If you don’t wear this, what else can you wear?” She rested her cheek on her palm, amused.
“But this outfit belongs to your family,” he muttered.
“Yes, but you’ve already worn it.” She arched a graceful brow. “Our shop never resells clothing once worn. How about this—you can settle the bill. Sixty-eight gold coins and three silvers... I’ll waive the silvers as a friendly discount. Thank you for your patronage~” she sang, tilting her head with a smile.
“Si—sixty-eight?!” Vinny’s eyes bulged. “Why don’t you just rob me?! How could it possibly cost that much?”
“You can’t put it that way, Vinny. Materials may not be worth so much, but design and inspiration are priceless. Don’t you agree?” She smiled brilliantly.
“That smile reeks of a swindler!” he shot back.
“So then—Vinny can’t afford it?”
“What do you think?? For you, maybe that’s less than a meal. For me, it could buy my life!” he snapped.
“Oh? Then why did you choose to put it on?” she pressed, eyebrow raised.
“How was I supposed to know? You gave it to me, so I wore it. I thought it was a loan.”
“Vinny, didn’t you see its value before wearing it? Didn’t you know large brand houses separate fitting stock from sales stock—and worn pieces are never resold?”
“I...” Her rapid-fire questions left him speechless.
“If you knew you couldn’t afford it, why not refuse from the start? Why wear it and then ask questions, as if you were buying it? What is that supposed to mean?” She tilted her head. “Pretentious.”
“Ugh!” Vinny choked on his own retort, but caught the meaning beneath her words.
Aesphyra had never intended to take the clothes back. He alone had insisted on fussing about “borrowing” it, unwilling to owe her—when to her, it was absurd.
In other words—how little must he think of her, of the Galathus family, to imagine she’d begrudge him even one set of clothes, making her debtor in return for saving her life?