The Arrow of Destiny Cuts Through the Night

#40

The room, packed with all sorts of gifts, was still bustling with servants busy organizing them. With no sign of the organizing coming to an end, Kain was about to leave his room.

That’s when it happened.

“Are you going out, sir?”

A servant stopped Kain as he was about to slip out.

“…Yes. I’m just going out for a bit.”

Though he hadn’t done anything wrong, he felt like he had. As Kain answered with a noncommittal expression, one of the maids organizing boxes suddenly stood up and rushed over.

“I’ll quickly help you prepare for going out.”

“Prepare for going out?”

Kain quickly scanned his current appearance. He was dressed comfortably in his usual simple tunic with long hair.

…Isn’t this enough preparation for going out? As Kain opened his eyes with a hint of annoyance, the maid smiled and said,

“Oh my, you should wear the clothes sent by the young master. Please wait a moment.”

“…”

The servants immediately selected clothes and accessories from the gifts they were organizing and laid them out in front of Kain. Meanwhile, several servants attended to Kain, combing his hair and spraying fragrant water.

“Lord Kain, which of these do you like?”

Perhaps because there were so many, even the selected items filled the large bed.

“…”

Hmm, Kain pondered with a serious expression, his finger on his lips.

He truly had no idea.

Kain usually just picked up whatever satisfied practicality, as long as it was comfortable to move in. He didn’t have enough interest in clothing to choose based on preference.

In fact, these new clothes weren’t much different from what Kain was currently wearing. If they were going to choose for him, it would be better if they chose everything. Kain turned his head abruptly to look at the maid standing right next to him, and she immediately beamed, draping one over her arm and handing it to Kain, saying,

“This will suit you best!”

This one? Is that so? Kain nodded with an incomprehensible expression, then took the clothes and disappeared behind the curtain.

To change, Kain quickly shed the clothes he was wearing. Then he put on the white shirt he was holding and buttoned it up. The bottoms he received were plain black pants. Both items could perfectly show off Kain’s sleek body line and neat height. Finally, he unfolded the long cloak that was laid out. The pure white fabric had elaborate gold embroidery along the edges.

“…”

Am I supposed to wear this indoors? Kain hesitated for a moment, then just draped the cloak over his arm. He didn’t want to wrap himself in cumbersome fabric when it wasn’t even cold.

Swoosh- He pulled back the curtain he had drawn to change. Then Kain’s fingers twitched as he realized too many eyes were fixed on him.

“It suits you so well. As expected, white looks best on you, Lord Kain.”

“Why are you holding the cloak? I was going to attach a brooch for you. Don’t you like it?”

“…It’s not that I don’t like it…”

“Ah, is this a bit complicated? Let me help you with that.”

Saying so, the servant took the cloak from Kain’s arms and swiftly wrapped it around him, fitting it to his body.

Clatter- Someone brought a large full-length mirror in front of Kain and said,

“Young Master Jersian has excellent taste. Take a look, Lord Kain!”

“…”

Then Kain could meet the eyes of his awkward-looking self in the mirror. He had often seen other humans in the Gerold mansion dressed in this style, but he never thought he would wear it himself.

As Kain stood frozen in front of the mirror, one servant carefully took a brooch from a jewelry box and fastened it to the center seam of the cloak. Looking down at the large sparkling emerald, Kain thought,

‘This, dragons would really like it.’

It wasn’t a particularly important observation.

With that final touch, Kain was able to leave his room. Behind him, the servants unanimously said that thanks to Young Master Jersian, they had many new clothing and accessory options, making dressing up enjoyable.

“Make sure to thank the young master later. He’ll be really pleased.”

“Certainly.”

Kain reluctantly responded to them, turning his head back slightly.

“…Alright.”

* * *

The sound of thick-soled shoes tapping on the marble floor was heard. Kain slightly frowned, trying to change his walking method to make as little noise as possible and walk lightly.

He remembered when he first entered this mansion.

“…What on earth is that hideous thing?”

That’s what Jersian had said after seeing Kain’s shoes made of tree bark.

Hideous? All the elves in Fiokhim wear this type of shoe. Even when Kain casually explained that it was a shoe made by softening and drying the bark of an old tree, and that all elves wear such shoes, Jersian’s furrowed brow wouldn’t smooth out for a long time.

“Isn’t there any… proper footwear?”

After muttering that, Jersian called a servant and had them gather all the pairs of shoes in the mansion.

“Take them off.”

Then he finally removed the shoes from Kain’s feet and made him wear leather shoes that humans wear. Despite doing as he pleased, Jersian still looked displeased until the end. He was dissatisfied that they weren’t custom-made and didn’t fit Kain’s feet perfectly. When the servant carefully picked up the bark shoes to take them to the dressing room, Jersian even said this:

“What are you doing?”

“…I was going to store them away since they’re Lord Kain’s belongings-“

“Store them? Are you crazy? Throw that trash away on your way out.”

“…”

Kain, who had watched this whole situation, was just troubled. He couldn’t understand why they were being so serious over just a pair of shoes.

Looking down at one of the dozens of pairs of shoes he had received since that day, Kain pulled his lips into a slight smile.

Still, there was something Kain gained from this. Every time he met Jersian in the mansion, it was quite cute how he subtly moved his eyes to check what shoes Kain was wearing that day. Though he probably had no idea that Kain thought of him this way.

The shoes tapping on the marble floor were still awkward, but bearable. Kain glanced at his reflection in the corridor’s glass window.

Perhaps this cumbersome attire would become familiar someday.

That’s when it happened.

“Seems like you quite like it?”

A clear voice was heard. Kain, who already knew from the presence that it was Jersian approaching, greeted him with an impassive face.

“Yes. Hello, Lord Jersian.”

Expecting him to be at least a little embarrassed, Jersian pouted, finding it uninteresting when he saw no such sign in Kain.

“I hear there’s quite a commotion among the imperial tailors. They’ve been sending letters from all over after hearing that the Gerold Marquis family is spending lavishly on clothes and accessories.”

“…I see.”

Kain replied as he swiftly turned his body. With that movement, the white cloak Kain was wearing spread elegantly like flowing water. Though it wasn’t his intention, it was enough to capture Jersian’s gaze.

“…”

Jersian, who had just come out of his office with a lot on his mind, stood still, looking up at Kain. He didn’t particularly want to look up, but he had no choice due to their height difference.

He wondered how they had chosen a cloak that matched so well with Kain’s unrealistically beautiful white hair. The cloak, intricately decorated with gold thread, created such a mystical atmosphere that it almost made him look like an angel sent from heaven with wings.

The emerald brooch sparkling below his chest was beyond words. While most of the gifts were left to the tailor, that was the only one Jersian had personally chosen. Seeing Kain wearing it naturally led to his next words.

“It… suits you well. We won’t need any other tailors.”

After unconsciously complimenting him, Jersian cleared his throat, seemingly embarrassed. Kain, looking down at Jersian, said,

“Ah, everyone asked me to convey their thanks to you, Lord Jersian.”

“Everyone?”

“The servants in my room.”

“…And you?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you think I spent 300,000 gillen on you to hear the servants’ thanks?”

What? Immediately, Kain’s previously indifferent eyes widened slightly.

“…300,000 gillen?”

Good heavens. The amount Kain had barely managed to save by diligently selling herbs after coming down to the human world to find Jersian Del Claude was a mere 8 gillen. He had immediately spent 5 gillen on a fruitless consultation fee. And now, 300,000 gillen…? Just for clothes and jewels…?

“What, you’re only surprised now?”

As Jersian lightly teased him, Kain spoke with a dizzying feeling.

“I’m grateful, but… this is more than enough. Please refrain from such extravagance in the future.”

“Who are you to decide it’s more than enough?”

Jersian replied gruffly.

“If you’re reacting like this now, what will you do later?”

“What do you mean by later?”

Kain tilted his head.

“…”

After watching this reaction for a moment with a complex expression, Jersian said, “Never mind,” and turned his head away.