Chapter 12
Lana Collett, the young head of a merchant company, had been troubled lately.
Her company primarily handled materials for magical tools, but lately it had also begun working on designs for magical tools, mage robes, and the like.
Of those, robe and cloak design was the field Lana devoted the most effort to, since she was especially particular about clothing.
After all, most mage robes currently in circulation had old-fashioned designs, falling into one of two extremes: terribly drab, or absurdly flashy to display authority. Mages, Monica included, seemed prone to lurching from one extreme to the other.
She wanted to bring robes that were easy to move in, comfortable, and stylish to the existing robe industry!
…That was the thought behind the various designs she had proposed, the prototypes she had made, and the sales pitches she had begun—but the response had been less than encouraging.
Young mages responded relatively well, but influential older mages were less receptive.
Even when she presented the robes' functionality and relatively affordable prices, they took comfort in old things and clung to them.
In other words, they found trying new things a chore. Lana considered this laziness, but she also understood that not everyone in the world thought the same way she did.
An event to unveil her new robes was scheduled for the beginning of the new year. With Minerva's faculty and renowned mages invited, it was a rare promotional opportunity.
But Lana still hadn't decided which robe would be the event's centerpiece.
(This time's centerpiece will be a men's robe… The fabric and silhouette are mostly decided, but something's still missing if I'm going to win over the hearts of those stubborn old men.)
She tried furiously sketching various designs on the paper in front of her, but nothing seemed quite right.
Lana tossed aside her quill, wrapped the stole draped over the back of her chair around her shoulders, and stood up.
At times like this, taking a walk was best. If she strolled through the market and looked at all sorts of goods, perhaps a new idea would come to her.
(Perhaps I should stop by Monica's while I'm out. I believe that person has been away these past few days.)
Lana had mixed feelings about that person—or rather, Monica's self-appointed disciple—but she greatly appreciated how dramatically the disciple had improved Monica's diet.
Whenever that disciple was away, Monica's eating habits immediately became haphazard. She must be absorbed in her research again today, having forgotten to eat.
She'd buy something from a market stall, then have lunch with Monica at her house. That sounded perfect.
"Cliff, I'm going out for a bit. Take care of the shop."
Lana called out to her secretary, then dashed out of the merchant company without waiting for a reply.
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After buying bread, apples, and fried fish dumplings at the market, Lana headed toward Monica's house while observing the clothes of the people passing by.
Southdoll, being a bustling port town with thriving trade, saw all sorts of people come and go. Some even wore clothes unlike anything seen in this country, making them endlessly interesting to watch.
(But none of them fit the design for the new robe… Oh, right. I also need to find someone to model it on the day of the event…)
The ideal model for the men's robe—the event's centerpiece—was a man with a dignified presence and mysterious air.
Her merchant company's connections had produced several candidates, but she couldn't find anyone who fit the image perfectly.
(Glen is tall and would look good onstage, but he doesn't fit the image of this robe… Someone imposing and tall, in his mid-twenties or so, preferably with black hair…)
While she was thinking about that, Lana arrived at Monica's house.
Lana refocused and rapped on the door knocker. There was no answer…but with Monica, no answer sometimes meant she had collapsed on the floor after running out of energy from hunger.
As Lana debated whether to open the door herself, it opened.
But Monica was not the one who opened it. Nor, for that matter, was her disciple.
It was an unfamiliar black-haired man. He looked to be in his mid-twenties. He was tall, with sharp eyes. Since he wore an old-fashioned robe unlike anything seen around here, he was probably one of Monica's mage acquaintances.
When Lana tried to greet him, the man bent down and peered intently into her face.
As Lana felt affronted by his impolite behavior, the man smiled smugly.
"I remember your name, y'know. You're Lana, right? Monica was always talking about you when we were at the academy, so I remembered it."
Lana was surprised that he had guessed her name so abruptly, but if the shy Monica had told this man about her, he must surely be someone close to Monica.
"Is Monica in?"
"Monica's out. She's gone to that Chilly Bro's place for some joint research thing."
The "Chilly Bro" was probably Cyril Ashley.
Lana had heard several times that Monica was conducting joint research with the 〈Thorn Witch〉 under the patronage of the Marquis of Hiohne. But she had never expected Monica to be away at precisely this time.
(…I was so looking forward to having lunch together.)
As Lana stood there dejectedly, the black-haired man stared intently at the basket in her hand. His golden eyes glittered like those of a cat eyeing a fish.
Lana quietly held the basket out in front of her.
"…I was planning to eat this with Monica, but would you like some, if you don't mind?"
"You mean it!? I'll gladly take it."
The man took the basket readily, then gave a pleased, catlike chuckle and licked his lips.
His behavior was a little disappointing, but he was quite striking when he kept quiet. He was well-built, with long limbs, and his mysterious golden eyes had a power that captivated anyone who saw them.
(…But why is he wearing such an old-fashioned robe?)
The robe he wore was so old-fashioned it could have passed for a theatrical costume.
It resembled the costume used at the Serendia Academy school festival.
"Why are you wearing such an old-fashioned robe?"
Unable to overcome her curiosity, Lana asked despite knowing it was rude. The man did not seem offended; he answered while biting into a piece of bread from the basket.
"Ngh, a long, long time ago, a human I met was wearing clothes like this. So I copied them."
"…?"
His phrasing was peculiar and difficult to understand, but apparently the clothes had been worn by someone important in his life. That person must have been an actor in a classical play.
Looking closely, Lana saw that the vines embroidered along the robe's edges were extraordinarily intricate.
(…Come to think of it, mages do find meaning in tiny patterns like these.)
Suddenly, a new robe design came to Lana's mind.
Could she adapt the pattern used on this man's robe—a pattern with a classical significance—for her new robe?
(A fusion of modern and classical…! I can't believe I completely forgot what I learned at the Serendia Academy school festival!)
Lana tended to chase fashionable patterns and colors, but there was an enormous amount to learn from the past.
More importantly, designs that honored the old ways would be easier for older people to accept.
(Rather than using the pattern as it is, if I made it a little smaller and used it along the edge… Yes, that would make a good accent. And if I used gold thread in a slightly muted shade instead of something glittery, it would blend in better…)
The design for the new robe grew increasingly concrete in her mind.
(Above all, this man is a perfect fit for the image of the new robe!)
A new design and a model to match it. Her worries were resolved all at once, and Lana's heart leaped.
Ideally, she'd negotiate with this man about modeling right away, but they had only just met. If he was Monica's acquaintance, the proper thing was to have Monica introduce them.
Lana clenched her fist, leaned forward slightly, and looked up at the man.
"Mister, may I ask your name?"
"Oh, Bartholomew Alexander."
It was a grandiose name. More specifically, it was the name of a protagonist from an adventure novel.
(I see. He must be an actor.)
That explained the old-fashioned costume, too.
Satisfied, Lana put on her most polished smile.
"Alexander-san, would you care to join Monica and me for a meal sometime?"
"Do you have meat? Chicken would be good."
"Yes, I'll prepare some for you… Well then, please forgive my sudden visit. Good day."
Lana gave a lady's curtsy, then turned on her heel and hurried back toward the merchant company.
She wanted to get back as quickly as possible and sketch out her ideas for the robe.
(…Come to think of it, what exactly is Alexander-san's relationship with Monica? He spoke as though he'd known her since their days at the Serendia Academy.)
She would ask Monica the next time they met.
With that thought in mind, Lana let her imagination dwell on the design for the new robe.