Chapter 190

Lasenti Department Store (1)

It was almost five o'clock in the morning when they went downstairs, frightening Mrs. Canton. She glared at the prince like he was a thief that had come in the night.

However, the breakfast she prepared was generous. Smoked cod and shrimp, flavored with saffron and butter, topped with boiled eggs and cilantro, alongside a side dish that tasted like curry-fried rice that Kleio enjoyed. It was a menu he didn't ask for often, but today he tasted it thanks to Arthur.

As Kleio slowly finished half of his plate, Arthur had gone ahead for a second serving. It was obvious he hadn't eaten properly in a couple of days.

"The food that comes out of your house is as delicious as a high-class restaurant. Even this, wow."

"Yes, eat some more."

"The hashbrown with chopped roast beef is also really good. Crisp and fragrant!"

'But his table manners need work.'

Arthur's judgment of the food was contradictory to what Kleio was used to. In Kleio's experience, if someone was from the upper-middle-class or higher, they shouldn't be giving feedback about food at someone else's house. Arthur didn't care about such, but for Kleio, some instincts on Korean table manners from his previous life couldn't just be discarded.

Anyway, Arthur ate well and then sat at the table with a full belly and a happy expression. As the morning sun came into the drawing-room, his hair, which had just been washed and cleaned up, was brightly lit. At such times, the deep golden color fades with the shade of light, reminding him of a similar but dissimilar existence.

"Looking at that, I remember your eldest brother didn't serve a sandwich or even a plate of cookies to his visitors."

Melchior couldn't use the same methods as Arthur. Hadn't he lived too long to dwell on the prices of human suffering, bread and butter, or tea and sugar? In an instant, Arthur had emptied his second plate and smiled a little as he reached out for the basket with peaches, grapes, and summer apples.

"I'm going to clear your misunderstandings of him. You know, it's not just for you that refreshments aren't served in the crown prince's office. It's that way for everyone."

"What? Why?"

Couldn't you even give your company rice crackers and tea?

"Even when I first met my brother, I was hungry enough that my stomach rumbled, but it was difficult because he didn't care. Hilleyda had to bring me pastries."

Melchior was a human who had no taste for food, had nothing to hide, and didn't want to eat anything.

'Then, why do you need a court full of good cooks?'

"Hey, then what the hell was it about the royal chef at that New Year's Party before?"

"It's like a formal dress or a suit. It might be a bit harsh to compare a chef to a piece of clothing, but for my brother, it's annoying to get a new outfit."

"Then, I think it's something like that...."

"Originally, yes. I don't think he thought much about it."

It was a really unexpected side. It was formal so that only the parts visible to others didn't spoil the dignity.

'Are you bored with luxury after the ninth go-around as a member of the royal family? Or is it the view of one who doesn't feel the value of money in the first place?'

He had sensed it at the time he received the magical patent fee, but Melchior was surprisingly generous when it came to money. The amount of compensation for expenses after the case was also four times the amount applied for, including subsidy and treatment expenses.

Of course, it wasn't enough to completely remove Kleio's anger, but he had taken it without hesitation.

"He says he drinks too, but he doesn't like it that much, and he's never been drunk."

"No wonder. A human who understands others so poorly wouldn't find much joy in eating and drinking."

"I mean, he sent you a cart of sweets to the dorm before. It doesn't feel very human when someone acts like that."

"Yes. It makes people nervous around him."

"Hey, that's a perfect quote."

Putting down his teacup, Kleio began to chew on the grapes from the fruit basket. They were fresh and delicious, but the skin was thick, and the seeds were large. In this era, eating was often a laborious act.

'But I have to eat to live. Even if people cannot live with bread alone, they die without it.'

Even though the crown prince lost his divinity in the distant past, did he still harbor divine habits? Perhaps for someone who ate nectar and ambrosia, meat and grain had no appeal. They couldn't be in the same boat, especially since he didn't like alcohol. He had never lived in abundance in his previous life, but even amidst their struggle, his mother had made good clean food. All of the delicate tastes he had before were the products of his mother's sincerity.

As Kleio ate a few more grapes, Arthur pulled up his chair.

"Also, my brother seems to be unaware of human customs like he's above it."

They were oddly stabbing words.

"Hmm. I mean, you can't do the same as your brother. Why would a prince pay attention to the food others eat? In that respect, you pass since you eat well."

"Ah, you're praising me for eating well? Am I a three-year-old? Huh?!"

Arthur's expression crumpled as he realized that he was being teased. Kleio let go of his pretenses and pretended to be serious.

"Why? It's important to eat well."

"But why don't you eat well? Didn't you eat just half a plate?"

How can the calories needed by the general public be the same as a swordsman who jumped up on balconies and practiced with his sword all night? Kleio's expression grew colder.

"What did you say?"

"Look at these arms; they're matchsticks."

"Yes, compared to yours. Are you proud, boy?"

"Special training must be done again...."

"Okay, when you're done eating, go back to the dorm."

Arthur disregarded Kleio's words and continued to sit comfortably, emptying out the fruit basket and raving about how delicious the peaches were.

Mrs. Canton was clearly proud of her superior ingredients as she quickly brought out another basket of fruit, telling them to enjoy it. Thanks to that, Arthur was excited.

***

A few weeks later.

It had been an exceptionally hot day in Albion, where the average temperature was 16 degrees Celsius. The capital was busy, congress was in recess, and the office and shops were also on summer vacation.

Kleio and Dione had stopped at the Lasenti Department store. It was quiet, with only a few staff and decorators changing out show windows and store shelves. Kleio and Dione were on their way to check out the Grayer temporary store, which had booths open during the summer.

Dione's outfit was beautiful today as well. Her summer women's wear was simple and natural, with a slim top and a simple design. Under her narrow-brimmed hat, her hair had been neatly trimmed short. It was all topped off by several semi-precious stones cut from coral around her neck.

"Your new clothes suit you very well."

Dione smiled so beautifully that everything around her seemed to brighten. She drew attention like a famous actress.

"Young master, there has been great progress in the past two years. You learned of clothing and now know how to escort me like this."

"All thanks to Lady Dione's teachings."

"Ahaha, I'm proud!"

Now Dione's head only reached to Kleio's shoulder. The pair looked like companions rather than guardian and ward. Several of the staff decorating the store recognized Dione and Kleio and began to blush and chat amongst themselves.

"Wow, it's Lady Dione."

"Is that Yvette's custom dress for the vacation season? It looks so cool."

"But who's that thin young man next to her?"

"I heard her called him Sir Kleio."

"What? That great wizard? He feels different from what I saw in the newspaper...."

"But he looks well with Lady Dione. They're like fairies; it's like they're gliding off the ground."

"Shh, listen. Let's work."

Kleio had turned off Perception, so he didn't even notice the noise behind them. Contrary to the clerks' thoughts, Kleio's thoughts were awkward.

'It's summer, but it's still a wonder I can't hear the cicadas.'

The famous Lasenti department store in front of the Lundane East Station was indeed worthy of its reputation, if not reaching beyond it. From crystal chandeliers to ceiling fans carved of crystal, to landings with statues of the Goddess carved out of marble, everything was gorgeous. It seemed that the tiplaum mine had affected the whole of society.

Dione, who had been talking about the newest trends in fashion, exclaimed in admiration when she saw the Grayer merchant booth decorated between the landing pillars.

"Hmm! Almira did it right."

Grayer's booth production was bold. There was little decoration, but the color of the furniture stood out.

'All other stores use mahogany cabinets, but surprisingly, theirs is pale cyan and grayish pink.'

Inside the polished showcase was a special product planned by Kleio and Dione throughout the summer. It was a hairbrush and a coin purse.

"The comb removes static electricity with the copper ore, and the subspace coin pocket with a snap button on the outside had a good response. That snap button is very good."

"To think I designed it by accident."

"Oh, coincidence is always on our side, huh?"

Following the lever opener, the other item that had become under Kleio's intellectual property was that button.