Luca knew that his senior sister Lucia had a sharp sense of perception, so he quickly changed the topic. “Teacher, I’m not familiar with which stores in Dawn City sell good clothes. I was thinking of buying a few things to send to the teachers in Riverfall City and Southwind City.”
Lucia immediately became interested, puffed out her chest, and said proudly, “Well, you’ve asked the right person! I’ve been in Dawn City for so many years, and I know practically all the famous tailors here. Let me tell you—”
Her voice grew fainter as she walked away.
Back in the bedroom, Sophia, who had been holding her mouth shut, let out a relieved sigh and slumped onto the bed. Not only had Luca been startled earlier, but she had almost cried out herself.
Just as she was about to put on her clothes and leave this troublesome place, she felt her legs weaken, and a faint, sharp pain radiated through her.
“Bad thing…” Fratis muttered quietly to herself, her face turning as red as if water could drip from it.
Once she finished dressing, her eyes fell on the red stain left on the sheets.
Fratis bit her lip, then waved her hand, storing the stain away into her storage ring. She decided to keep it as a memento…
…
Due to time constraints, Luca, Lucia, and the others didn’t waste any time. They took a carriage and headed straight to a renowned tailor shop that was nearby, called “Mikkey Tailor Shop.”
According to Lucia, the owner of this shop was a high-ranking tailor who specialized in custom-made clothes for the wealthy and powerful.
Naturally, the prices were steep. A single custom-made outfit could cost more than a high-level piece of equipment.
Luca wasn’t surprised. This was to be expected. Clothes didn’t count as equipment in this world, but high-end garments often came with various attributes or even skills, making them highly sought after by NPCs and female players. Even in later generations, their prices were exorbitant.
When they arrived at the tailor shop, the door was already open.
Upon entering, the first thing they saw were rows of garments, each one with a unique style and design.
The only common trait was the impeccable craftsmanship—clearly, the shop’s owner was an expert in their trade.
Next, the trio looked toward the counter.
Behind it sat a large woman, at least three to four hundred pounds, wearing a form-fitting skirt and with curly hair.
She was sitting comfortably in a large chair, counting gold coins.
Upon hearing the sound of them entering, she didn’t even look up, simply saying, “Mid-tier, 10,000 gold; High-tier, 100,000 gold; Custom-made, 200,000 gold. No bargaining.”
Luca stared at her thick fingers, wondering if this woman was really a tailor.
Lucia, however, seemed completely used to this, and called out warmly, “Aunt Mikkey, do you have any ready-made clothes?”
Hearing her voice, the woman raised her head. When she saw it was Lucia, her face immediately brightened with a joyful smile, and she greeted them enthusiastically, “Oh, I thought it was someone else! It’s Miss Lucia, what a pleasant surprise!”
“We have everything in our shop. Even if we don’t have what you’re looking for, I can make it for you right here on the spot. Is this for someone in particular?”
Her warm and welcoming attitude was a complete turnaround from her earlier demeanor.
Luca was beginning to believe what Lucia had said earlier. If they weren’t big clients, there was no way her attitude would have changed so drastically.
“Here, these are my two students. Have one outfit made for each of them. Money’s no object, but they must look good!” Lucia said, gesturing to Luca and Sophia, speaking with her usual generosity.
“Good, good! As expected of Miss Lucia’s students—both of you have such an extraordinary air about you!” The shop owner, Mikkey, grinned even more broadly when she heard this, her chubby cheeks almost merging into one another from the smile.
“I already have clothes, I don’t need any,” Sophia said calmly.
Lucia placed her hands on her hips, clearly dissatisfied. “We’re already here, of course, you should buy something! And the clothes you brought from Riverfall City are so few, either those are the clothes from Starfall Academy, or they’re just plain boring. I’ve gotten sick of seeing them… Well, they just don’t do your beauty justice.”
So, basically, you’re buying us clothes to wear for your enjoyment…
Luca couldn’t help but feel a bit exasperated internally.
Sophia hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t refuse.
With the pressure of money on her side, Mikkey’s efficiency was truly impressive.
In less than an hour, both outfits were ready.
Luca’s was an English-style suit with a white base and black stripes, complete with a floral lapel pin and a gentleman’s hat. His youthful appearance was almost entirely gone, replaced by a more mature and composed look.
But the part that Luca liked the most was that the outfit boosted his Spirit stat by 100 points, made him immune to damage from any skill below high-tier, and came with a passive “Dust Resistance” effect…
Sophia’s was a blue, waist-cinching noblewoman’s gown. When she put it on, her cold, aloof aura softened somewhat, replaced by a graceful, aristocratic elegance. The addition of some emerald accents made the gown even more exquisite, leaving anyone who saw her with a lasting impression.
Looking at the transformed duo, Lucia’s eyes instantly lit up. She exclaimed, “It’s like they’re different people! Mikkey’s craftsmanship is still amazing!”
Mikkey, the shop owner, chuckled and shook her head. “It’s mainly because these two little ones are so handsome. For most people, even if you change their clothes, the difference wouldn’t be so striking.”
“Indeed, Senior Sister looks good in anything,” Luca said with a grin.
Hearing this, Sophia’s expression became a bit uncomfortable. She turned her head and gave him a side glare.
After purchasing the clothes, Lucia generously paid the 200,000 gold coins.
Luca’s eyebrows twitched as he watched.
Luca couldn’t help but think that his teacher was really quite reckless with her spending…
Soon after, the three of them left the tailor shop with the shopkeeper Mikkey’s cheerful farewell: “Hope to see you again next time!”
Looking up at the sky, Luca guessed that it was almost time.
The group got into the carriage, preparing to head back to the princess’s palace.
But just as they were about to set off, a pale blue kestrel suddenly landed on the carriage window.
Luca furrowed his brows. “I need to use the restroom. You two head back first.”
Lucia and Sophia glanced at the kestrel and, knowing that Luca probably had something important to do, didn’t ask any more questions.
“Don’t take too long,” Lucia said, handing Luca a temporary token.
Luca nodded and stepped out of the carriage.
He then followed the kestrel as it led him down a few streets.
Eventually, they arrived at a quiet tavern.
The tavern had an old-fashioned charm to it, clean and neat, but there were very few patrons inside. The only ones present were a blind bartender, a woman wearing snake-shaped earrings, and a beautiful young girl. The two of them were sitting at the bar, sipping fruit juice.
As soon as Tia and Mira noticed Luca’s arrival, they quickly greeted him, “Master.”
Luca waved them off, signaling for them to sit down, then turned to the bartender and said, “A mug of ale.”
“You two… What are you doing here?” He sat down in a booth, frowning as he asked. Dawn City was the territory of the Church of Dawn, and The Nightmare Cult’s people showing up here was practically the same as asking for trouble.
Before coming to Dawn City, he had specifically sought out Tia and used Dreamweaver to extend Mira’s life for a few months, intending for them to stay quietly in Southwind City. He certainly hadn’t expected them to sneak over here on their own.
“We… we were worried you might be in danger,” Tia said, her voice a bit anxious. “If you think we’re a bother, we can leave.”
Mira quickly nodded in agreement. “We can go back.”
Luca couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “Forget it. Just make sure the others stay hidden and don’t reveal themselves. You never know, they might be useful later.”
Tia immediately relaxed with a sigh of relief.
“By the way, I actually have something I want to ask you. What’s going on with Dawn City? Why is it so chaotic?” Luca asked, taking the mug of ale the bartender handed him, his curiosity piqued.
Given Tia’s abilities and her connections with The Nightmare Cult, she should know quite a lot about what’s happening.
As expected, Tia immediately replied, “Dawn City wasn’t always like this. The chaos started recently because King Alfred’s old illness has flared up again, and his time is running out. As a result, the princes have been fighting both openly and secretly for the position of heir.”
“On top of that, there have been monster uprisings, the nobles are forming factions, and with internal and external troubles in the royal family, it’s no wonder things are in such disarray,” she continued.
“The king’s old illness? Tell me more about it,” Luca asked, intrigued. He hadn’t expected the king to be suffering from a lingering ailment.
Tia nodded and explained, “Ten years ago, King Alfred was seriously injured in an assassination attempt. Although he miraculously survived, his health has been deteriorating ever since. His ability to govern the Clinton Empire has become more and more limited.”
“As a result, the noble factions have gained more and more power over the years, to the point where they’re now posing a serious threat to the royal family’s position.”
“That’s why the king has been trying to secure alliances through marriage, to strengthen the royal power of the Clinton family. The Phillips family, where Finn is from, is one of these families.”
Luca was taken aback. He hadn’t expected such a hidden backstory behind all of this.
Tia continued, “Normally, the royal family wouldn’t have fallen to this point. The Crown Prince, Leonie, is the formal heir and has Queen Matilda backing him, so he should have a legitimate claim to the throne. But the king doesn’t seem to favor his eldest son, and he never officially named an heir, which gave the other princes and the noble factions an opportunity.”
“The other princes aren’t much of a threat, but the second prince, Runne, is the main competitor. His mother is the younger sister of Duke Mond Stein, and her influence is equal to that of Duke Lyon. With the support of countless nobles behind him, Rune is the most likely candidate for the throne.”
“But ultimately, it depends on the king’s attitude. The king arranged the marriage between the Sixth Princess and the Phillips family to increase the royal family’s influence. If it succeeds, then the Phillips family can simply align with whichever prince the king decides to support as heir.”
Luca listened quietly, now having a general understanding of the situation in Dawn City. A headache was starting to form.
He hadn’t realized he had stepped into such a complex mess.
Dawn City was clearly at a critical juncture, with major factions fighting for dominance. It was a political maelstrom. The marriage between Fratis and Ian wasn’t just about them—it was directly tied to the succession of the throne. It was incredibly important.
And to think, he had slept with her last night…