IDDYD 03

Chapter 03

“But does calling the atelier have something to do with covering your identity?”

“Of course.”

In response to Aiden’s question, Alice pointed to the uniform he was wearing.

“You’re emanating demonic energy from your clothes.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s very faint, but our family isn’t an ordinary mage family. My father would easily notice this level of demonic energy.”

“Hmm…”

“Of course, he wouldn’t think you’re a demon just because of energy from your clothes, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

As she said this, Alice fiddled with his uniform. A faint demonic energy seeped from the soft fabric.

“……Still, I suppose I should be grateful the energy is only coming from the clothes and not you. We’ll have to dispose of these clothes later.”

Alice shook her hand a few times to brush off the demonic energy. Fortunately, as it wasn’t very strong, it easily dissipated after a few gestures.

“My Lady, Madame Christine has arrived.”

Just in time, Max announced the Madame’s arrival.

“She came faster than I thought. Shall we head over then?”

Alice led Aiden to the drawing room adjacent to her laboratory.

* * *

The *Bijou Atelier*, run by Madame Christine, was the most popular atelier in the Empire. To get an appointment, one had to wait at least several months.

Christine never changed the order of appointments for any client, no matter how high their rank.

It was her personal vow and point of pride that she would not be swayed by a client’s status when creating garments.

However, even she had to make an exception for the Erdine Ducal Family.

“Twelve million gold. I’ll come immediately upon the Duke’s summons.”

The fee offered by the Erdine Family was simply too large to refuse.

Christine was not swayed by status, but she *could* kneel before capital.

“But what could it be? For the Young Lady to suddenly change the schedule like this…”

Christine’s assistant asked cautiously. Christine, who had been looking around the drawing room, turned her gaze to her assistant.

Alice was a person of power, but she was among those who were very considerate of the atelier’s convenience. Such a sudden schedule change was the first since Christine began making clothes for the Erdine Ducal Family.

Of course, it was also the first time Alice had ordered only men’s clothing, not women’s, and had them guided to a drawing room attached to a laboratory, not the main mansion.

“Indeed. I heard this drawing room was only used to invite mages close to the Young Lady. Who would have thought we’d be here…”

As Christine was responding to her assistant, she heard the door open and turned her head.

Alice was approaching them with a man.

‘Is that gentleman the one who will wear the clothes we make?’

Christine, who had looked at him without much thought, soon doubted her own eyes.

The first things she saw were skin like white jade and hair even whiter than that.

Between the strands of hair fluttering just above his eyes, deep, blue irises shone, drawing her in.

“A goddess reborn…?”

She heard her assistant mumbling in her ear.

The goddess Ferdia’s hair was a light sky blue, not white, but Christine somewhat agreed with her assistant’s sentiment.

He was like a pristine white canvas. A blank white paper just waiting for color.

*I wish I could be the one to color him.* Christine felt a creative passion ignite within her for the first time in a long while.

Seeing the sparks in her eyes, Alice spoke.

“It’s been a while, Madame. Sorry for changing the appointment so suddenly.”

“Not at all. For the Young Lady’s request, of course I’d come. But this gentleman is…”

Christine couldn’t take her eyes off Aiden even as she spoke to Alice. It was a rude attitude toward the ducal Young Lady, but Alice simply smiled, watching her.

‘It seems she’s taken a liking to him, as I expected.’

Christine loved people who seemed like pure, untouched embodiments of innocence.

While Aiden was a demon with a pitch-black interior, his outward appearance was pristine and clear, perfectly matching Christine’s taste.

Alice gave Aiden a slight push on the back as she introduced him to Christine.

“My bodyguard.”

“Bodyguard?”

At her words, Christine was surprised, the assistant was surprised, and Aiden himself was surprised.

Aiden turned his head to meet Alice’s gaze. His eyes seemed to ask, *What on earth are you talking about?*

Ignoring his look, Alice continued.

“To be precise, I’m going to introduce you to my father. As my bodyguard. So… you know what you need to do, right?”

“…We’ll need an outfit tailored to the Duke’s tastes. If this gentleman is to win the Duke’s favor.”

Christine’s long-dormant passion was now fully aflame.

“So, may I ask the name of the gentleman beside you?”

“…Aiden.”

“Yes, Sir Aiden. I will definitely make you the most handsome man in the world.”

“No, there’s no need to go that far… Wait, where are you taking me now?”

“Just to try on a few clothes. Please come this way.”

“I’m looking forward to it, Madame.”

Alice laughed as she watched Christine excitedly recommend various outfits to Aiden.

Whatever the case, it seemed the best results would come from this.

* * *

“My Lady, you must have waited a long time. My apologies. It took a while to find the very best outfit.”

“It’s fine. I trust your skills, Madame. Where’s Aiden?”

Christine silently stepped aside. Aiden slowly walked out from behind her.

“Oh…”

Alice, who had been sitting in a chair, got up with an admiring sigh.

He wore a white silk shirt topped with a plain beige cravat. A well-fitted waistcoat and jacket in the same color as the cravat, and sharp trousers that hugged his long legs completed the look. The overall neat attire made his beautiful features stand out even more, with less ostentation than his original uniform.

Christine explained her design choices to Alice one by one.

“First, I focused on choosing something as clean as possible to match the Duke’s taste. I thought Sir Aiden’s greatest asset is this appearance that seems to purify everything around him, so I chose lighter-colored garments. How is it?”

“Perfect. As expected of you, Madame.”

“Thank you. But I must say it’s a bit of a shame. Actually, Sir Aiden would suit darker colors very well too.”

Christine said, holding a navy blue jacket up to Aiden.

The dark garment contrasted with his pale skin, making it shine even more. It suited him perfectly.

“That’s nice! Try that on too.”

“Again?”

“‘Again’? This is only the second outfit.”

“Then, Sir Aiden, this way please.”

After that, the dress-up game with Aiden as the doll, orchestrated by Alice and Christine, showed no signs of ending.

“Such a flamboyant design is hard to pull off, but Sir Aiden…”

“It would suit him well. Go try it on.”

“Sir Aiden would also look good in something with a point like this…”

“That’s nice. Let’s try that one on too.”

Later, Alice even picked out clothes herself.

“This one’s not bad either. Aiden, try it on.”

“…Can’t we take a break now?”

“What are you talking about? You haven’t even tried on half the clothes here yet. Huh? Madame, what’s this?”

Alice picked up a short-cut jacket and asked. Christine answered with a flustered face but a voice full of anticipation.

“How did this get here… Actually, this is a crop jacket I designed for a certain lady’s paramour. The point is to wear just the jacket without a shirt to reveal the abdominal muscles. If Sir Aiden were to try it on… Ahem, as the designer, I would be *very* pleased.”

“Oho, want to try it on?”

After hearing Christine’s explanation, Alice asked Aiden with a meaningful glance as she looked him over. Aiden crossed his arms in an X to cover himself and shouted loudly.

“N-no! I don’t want to!”

In the end, Aiden had to try on all the clothes Christine had brought, except for that one outfit.

With him slumped down exhausted behind her, Alice gave instructions to Christine.

“Madame, please tailor all the outfits he tried on today to Aiden’s measurements and send them over. I’ll handle the payment through a maid.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“And please alter the very first outfit he wore right away. I need to go see my father soon. Include a few of the casual outfits here as well.”

“Yes.”

Only after Christine’s assistant finished taking Aiden’s measurements was he finally freed from the hellish dress-up game.

Aiden, now wearing the altered first outfit, muttered with a weary expression.

“You demon…”

For a demon to call a human a demon. Alice couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter at the absurd situation.

‘Ah, I got carried away playing dress-up with a demon without realizing it. That wasn’t the plan.’

Originally, she had intended to just pick a few outfits suitable for concealing his identity, but he looked good in everything, making it impossible to choose just one.

*So this is the fun of dressing someone up?* She thought she understood why her maids enjoyed dressing her up in various outfits.

“Thank you so much for today, Young Lady. Please be sure to visit our Bijou Atelier next time you need garments for Sir Aiden.”

Before returning to the atelier, Christine repeatedly asked Alice.

Only after securing Alice’s promise did she leave the drawing room with a delighted expression.

It seemed Aiden had won her favor more than expected. An unexpected harvest.

When only Alice and Aiden remained in the drawing room, Aiden asked her.

“So, what was that about being a bodyguard earlier? Are you saying I should act as your bodyguard?”

“Yes. I’m a noblewoman; I can’t just wander around with an unrelated man who isn’t my guard.”

Moreover, having him attached to her side as a guard would make it easier to monitor him, the demon.

But Aiden still seemed not to understand her decision and asked again.

“…But I’m an outsider?”

Bodyguards were typically selected from within a family’s knightly order, as they were directly related to a noble’s safety. Not from outsiders like him.

In response to his reaction, Alice answered nonchalantly.

“That’s exactly why we need to go now.”

“Go where?”

“To get permission from my father.”

That was why she had called Christine in the first place. Looking at the perfectly groomed Aiden, Alice grinned.