I had no dealings with the nobles. There was no need to, as I was extremely busy with court work and business. To be honest, I thought it was a waste of time. Why do nobles throw parties and socialize?


    ''It must be to show off wealth and further consolidate power.''


    There may also have been an intention to find a good marriage partner, as marriage is a very basic form of alliance. But in my case, I didn''t need any of those things.


    The power of the Supreme Court is one of the top five in the empire. Moreover, their social status was almost beyond their reach. Aren''t I''m the Emperor''s cousin and a person with the title of Duke?


    ''If I try to go any higher from here, my balls will fly off.''


    It would have been a better choice not to even try to gather power. I shook my head slowly and said, "I didn''t know the world''s opinion was like that."


    "Why don''t you n a party while you''re at it…?" Cordell McNeil suggested.


    "Okay."


    "Aren''t you going to get married? If you are His Highness the Duke, you can dream of true love."


    Of course. There isn''t a single person who opposes my love life or marriage. But I didn''t want to do that yet.


    "I have no intention of getting married."


    "You are a hot-blooded young man, don''t you think so?"


    "Isn''t sir McNeill boilingtely?"


    "Ahem! How could that be?"


    I thought it was a bit strange that he was subtly suggesting that I throw a party. He was doing this to find ady to serve.


    As I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, Cordell McNeil hurriedly averted his gaze.


    ''I guess it''s a bit painful.''


    Anyway, let''s wrap things up here. Now it''s time to start seeing the results. I waited pleasantly, tapping the desk lightly. Then, soon, a cautious sound was heard.


    "Your Highness, this is Martin."


    "Oh,e in."


    Martin appeared with a trembling voice. He came in with a set of clothes.


    The slim-style suit silhouette caught my eye. Say goodbye to the imperial style that is just shy and unnecessary. I wear neat and stylish clothes and go out...


    Chomp!


    "Uh?"


    I took off the cloth with great anticipation, and what I saw was truly astonishing.


    First of all, the form was eptable. I measured the dimensions exactly and even told him how to make it.


    Martin is a very handy worker, so he could have made it in no time. The problem was this fucking imperial aesthetic. I was so dumbfounded that I ended up shouting without thinking.


    "Take off the sparkle!"


    ***


    As you might expect, Abel Carriers is an Imperial.


    But I was someone who lived in apletely different social world in the modern era. I just couldn''t get used to all those fancy cubic designs, gold leaf, and ornate floral patterns.


    If I look closely, i might feel dizzy.


    ''How on earth did Abel wear something like this?''


    If I think about it, it was much morefortable when I lived in Deliat. i only wear white, baggy clothes because it is such a hot country.


    "This won''t work. I''ll have to modify the heads of those imperial bastards."


    "Huh?"


    Cordell McNeill made a dumbfounded sound, as if he had heard my monologue. I didn''t really mean to do anything to anyone''s head.


    "I''m going to change your perception."


    "Aha! That''s what you meant."


    "It seems like you''re teasing me on purpose."


    "No one would ever think that the merciful and just Supreme Judge of the Empire would do such a thing…"


    "I think Sir McNeil would do it."


    "Hey, no way."


    "There is even a proverb that says a fool can control a person."


    "Haha!"


    Cordell McNeil smiled awkwardly and slyly distanced himself, as if I were going to hit him in the head with a gavel.


    "Oh, no?"


    "How could that be? Come over here and check the clothes."


    "It''s okay. I''m just wearing armor anyway."


    "I guess you like parties? You could wear it asionally."


    "Because of the mission, I''ll take my leave then."


    Sweep!


    Cordell disappeared in an instant. I don''t know what trick he used, but even when I activated the beast''s heart, I couldn''t find any trace of him. It seemed like he was really hiding.


    "What a pity. That idiot needs to be remodeled first."


    I looked back, my mouth watering.


    Then Martin''s face, pale as snow, came into view. He seemed quite surprised that I was being so unpleasant. Well, in the empire, everyone prefers a shy style.


    "From now on, please remove all these decorations. Go for a style that is as simple as possible, but with just a few ents. In that sense, this tie is really well made."


    "..."


    There was a part of me that wondered if this should be called apliment. The tie''s shape was so simple.


    Since they probably didn''t know what it was used for, they probably just made it ording to the blueprint.


    After I gave my feedback, I tried to send Martin away, telling him to hurry up and make a proper finished product. But he didn''t raise his hand right away.


    "Can I tell you one thing?"


    "Yes, go ahead."


    "Your Highness''s opinion... I don''t think it will work."


    "Yes?"


    "It''s not the design the people of the Empire want, and it feels too nd. It''s not enough to be popr."


    "Haha!"


    I let out a smallugh.


    It wasn''t because Martin was being presumptuous. I wee feedback. I had no intention of blocking such legitimate criticism altogether because only the loyal speak bitter words.


    But I was determined not to ept Martin''s opinion. The result was obvious.


    "Would you like to make a bet with me?"


    "How dare I be so rude…"


    "Don''t think too hard about it. What if this style bes popr?"


    "Then I will truly devote my whole heart and soul to making your clothes."


    "Have you been doing it roughly up until now?"


    "Oh, no. How could that be?"


    "Haha! I know. I know. If I lose, I''ll promote you to a full-time tailor. No matter what style you bring, I''ll wear it withoutint."


    Perhaps then Martin''s reputation would also be enhanced, because I would be the one in charge of the Duke of Carrier''s clothing exclusively. If he''s lucky, he might even get a title. Martin''s eyes widened in surprise and joy.


    ''But will it work out the way you want?''


    There is truth, regardless of East or West, past or present: they say the face is thepletion of fashion.


    * * *


    As soon as I reached Perias, I called my coachman.


    "Uncle Brandon, please let me off here."


    "Huh?"


    Aren''t I''m the one who rides a carriage to the courthouse every day?


    When I suddenly asked to get off, he seemed quite flustered.


    "Oh, did I do something wrong...?"


    "No, no. Not at all. I just feel like walking today."


    "Then what should I do?"


    "You don''t need to drive the carriage during the day. Let''s meet here again in the evening."


    "Yes, I understand."


    When I answered with a calm expression, Mr. Brandon seemed to feel relieved.


    Of course, judging by his face, it looked like he still had a few questions. But I didn''t bother exining further and just stepped off onto the side of the road.


    ''Ah, this feels refreshing.''


    My slightly loose-fitting suit pants were much morefortable than the tight leggings I usually wore. It was a proper outfit,plete with a belt and zipper.


    The top consisted of a crisp white shirt, a tie, and a jacket that was slightly tapered at the waist. It was distinct from the doubletsmonly worn by noble men.


    Even though I had only walked about 20 meters, I could feel people''s eyes on me. My clothes were unfamiliar to them.


    "Wait a minute, is that person by any chance...?"


    "Isn''t that His Highness, the Duke of Carriers?"


    "That''s right!"


    "How can you be so sure when you haven''t even met him in person?"


    "Where can you find someone that handsome?"


    "Well, even if he''s not the Duke, he have such a dazzling appearance... but aren''t he''s clothes a little too in?"


    "Yeah. There''s not much decoration on them."


    The aesthetic sensibility of the bankrupt empire had trickled down to themon people as well. Since they were used to seeing extravagant clothing every day, they believed that only shy outfits were good.


    "But because he''s so cool, he look good in anything."


    "He''s just a face to adorn. There''s no need to add anything extra."


    "Yes! Exactly."


    "He''s really tall. Come to think of it, those shoes look really cool too."


    "They lookfortable. Maybe I should try getting a pair like that."


    Celebrity fashion is something people tend to imitate. It''s like products endorsed by famous figures sell quickly. In this world, those in power yed that role.


    That''s why I was born with the best conditions: status, position, reputation, and appearance. There was nothing I needed to feel ashamed of.


    I gave a brief greeting to the citizens I passed.


    Of course, I couldn''t greet everyone individually—there were just too many people. Even a simple wave of acknowledgment drew surprised faces.


    "Oh, His Highness, the Duke of Carriers smiled at me."


    "Oh my! Do you think he fell in love with me at first sight?"


    "Snap out of it. What are the chances someone like us could end up with him?"


    "When I get married, I want to dress my husband like that."


    "You still haven''te to your senses."


    A spring breeze blew through, sending the girls'' hearts aflutter.