Red Tape

The duke seemed to not understand Erwin, who had chosen the one from the nameless viscount in the East among the many invitations, but he did not oppose his trip. He seemed to have decided that it would be good to make new connections, whoever they are.

Erwin’s five large suitcases were loaded onto the carriage drawn by four strong horses, while Liam only took one old tin trunk.

Erwin’s dream-wandering continued in a foreign land. No, it got worse.

Erwin, who had woken up, paced around the inn’s office anxiously, constantly calling out Francis’ name.

His expression was so pitiful that Liam was unable to wake Erwin and had no choice but to follow him,wrists tied with red strings.

Liam’s eyes quietly boiled as he looked at Erwin, who was looking for someone else with a dazed expression.

He felt jealous on a different level than he did for the noble lady who held his hand and danced.

He wanted to ask the owner of that name, who could be a woman or a man,someone who holds a special place in Erwin’s heart but was afraid.

Liam, who was scared, decided to postpone his curiosity based on speculation until later.

After two full days of riding, stopping at inns here and there, the Calliwell family’s carriage arrived at Roswedge.

Erwin’s face darkened little by little as they got closer to their destination. He saw the cast iron signpost with the words “Roswedge” written on it.He looked as if he was about to cry.

Erwin shook his head when the coachman asked if he wanted to go to the Viscount’s house. However, there were still two days left until the dinner, so Erwin stayed at the inn in Roswedge.

“I will unpack, Master.”

“Okay.”

Even after the long journey and arrival at the destination, Erwin’s expression remained gloomy.

Is it Francis who made the young master feel so depressed?

Liam tried to suppress his agitated mind and focused on what needed to be done.

He took Erwin’s clothes out of the luxurious leather trunk, shook them out to remove the wrinkles, brushed them well, and hung them in the closet.

Behind him, Erwin is removing the dead skin from his fingernails and finally stopped after seeing blood.

When he actually came here, he became scared. Even though no one in this small town far from the capital would know of his existence, he had a hard time breathing because he was afraid that everyone would point fingers at him.

That was the reason he didn’t go to the house.

Erwin suddenly thought of an absurd method.

“Liam.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You’ll do whatever I tell you, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

This servant in front of me most likely loves me.Or just like me.I am sure he admires and worships me, though.

If I even pull out a sharp knife and cut his throat, he’d be more than happy to let me do it.

“Let’s play.”

“Play?”

“We’ll switch places and from now on, you’ll be the Master and I’ll be the servant.”

“Huh?”

Liam’s eyes widened in surprise, making his body jump. However, no matter how long he waited, Erwin did not say a word that it was a joke or prank.

“Anyway, no one here knows me, and I don’t think anyone like that will come.”

Who would attend a shabby masquerade ball in this small town when all the nobles were busy lining up to the nobles of the capital?

I knew it from Francis in the first place. This festival and ball, held when the apple blossoms fall, is nothing more than a town event to encourage the residents who mainly grow apples.

“No, if you don’t want to… .”

“No.”

Liam looked perplexed. But he isn’t in a position to express his opinion in the first place.

“Until when?”

“Until we leave?”

“Yes?”

Liam’s voice grew louder.

“But you have to attend the ball, too.”

“It’s a masquerade ball, after all. And as far as I know, you can dance like a nobleman.”

Everything was right. Liam learned the waltz from the best teacher.

He was taught harshly at a young age, getting his shoulders, arms, and back slapped. On the other hand, I taught without even hitting him. What a teacher I was.

“A, A servant is a servant… No one will believe that.”

“Then let’s just say you are some random foreign student.”

Liam’s face was filled with worry. Erwin looked Liam up and down, tapping his chin with his index finger as if he was worried.

“The problem is the clothes… . ”

“Oh, that’s right! I do not have any clothes, and yours will not fit me!”

Liam tried to grasp one last straw.

That’s true. With his large body, he wouldn’t be able to fit even one shin into Erwin’s pants. It is even more so because tight-fitting jackets and pants are not in fashion now.

“Let’s go out first.There must be a tailor shop here too.”

Erwin, who asks the innkeeper where the tailor shop is, dragged Liam out.

It is much smaller than Bartholomew Avenue, but the people living here are all the same.

While walking along a fairly busy street, Erwin finds the tailor shop mentioned by the innkeeper and goes straight inside.

As soon as he entered, the rough smell of fabric tickled his nose.

A weaver is busy stamping his feet while sewing, and next to him is a man with a goatee holding a velvet board and selecting buttons. A person, who seemed to be the owner of this tailor shop, greeted the two people who had just opened the door and entered.

As they walk in, it is clear from their clothes that they are from a prominent family, so the man bowed deeply.

“Welcome. Is there anything particular you want to look for…?

Erwin nodded slightly and greeted him, and got straight to the point.

“Do you have any clothes that this person can wear?”

The goatee man looked at Liam bottom to top.He needs to raise his head to look upward.

“All of the clothes we have made are for men of medium height.”If you want something for this height, it should be custom-made.”

Erwin’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Making a custom suit took at least a week, and  there is not much time left over for the ball.

“If I could get it right now, I would pay far more than the original price.”

Erwin takes a few gold coins from his pocket and throws them at him with a clanging sound.

Liam’s eyes widened behind him.

It is quite difficult to see gold coins instead of copper coins.

The goatee man glanced at the gold coins and muttered in embarrassment.

“I have clothes that would fit, but… .”

“But? Why are you hesitating?”

“That’s because… someone else ordered it. He was a strong customer, just like him.”

“I’ll pay you double,no triple the price, no matter how much you made it.”

The man’s worries didn’t last long.

“Hey, Lenny! Is that lining done? Bring it over here.”

“Yes? But this is what Lord Fitzherbert ordered… ”

The craftsman who was sewing looked embarrassed at the words of the goatee man with greedy eyes.

“He is giving me three times the amount,Three times! Anyway, Lord Fitzherbert’s clothes are due next week, so there is still a deadline. I’ll give these clothes to them and make another one overnight!”

Erwin pretended not to notice the conversation between the two, but continued to throw and catch gold coins while making a jingling sound.

Liam is troubled by Erwin’s side. He can’t understand the mentality of his master, who is using gold coins to play a game of changing identities.

After finishing the conversation, the man carefully took out the clothes that had not yet been buttoned up.

“I happen to have a suit tailored to a customer of similar height to this person. Let’s try it on.”

Liam was taken by the man as if he was being dragged. His old clothes were peeled off like rags, and soft clothes that he had never worn before wrapped around  his body.

The white shirt around his neck, the silvery gray vest, and the black coat matched him so well that it looked like he was born with them wrapped around his outer skin.

“Oh my god…”

The goatee man’s gasp was not just a passing comment, but sincere. Even Erwin, who saw Liam in the mirror, let out a shallow breath.

“Ha…”

What are the odds of finding clothes that fit perfectly at a tailor shop that we suddenly came in? Isn’t it like fate?

It was as if he was wearing a tailored suit, from the sleeves to the chest, to the length of the pants, there was nothing lacking or excessive.

“I was thinking of getting it re-fitted…I don’t think that’s necessary now. Just decide on the buttons for the coat.”

The man with his tongue stuck out held out a velvet plate. There were numerous samples of buttons, from gold-worked ones to cloth-covered ones to wooden ones. Erwin, who was going through them one by one with the tip of his index finger, stopped at one place.

It was a black gemstone, the same color as Liam’s hair, as dark as the starless night.

“This one.”

“You chose obsidian. Excellent choice.”

Leaving the flattering voice behind, Erwin took off Liam’s jacket and handed it to the craftsman. While he was buttoning it, he also selected his gloves and shoes.

After Erwin made his decision, He saw Liam’s hair stretched out in random places.

“Oh, and I’d like to borrow some pomade.

“If it’s okay for me to use it, can you bring it?”

“Here”

“Thank you.”

The owner brought a glass bottle filled with golden oil.

Erwin soaked his hand in the pomade and ran his hand through Liam’s hair. When he straightened his black hair, his sharp eyes, thick eyebrows, and sharp teeth were clearly visible.

Another exclamation burst out.

The shaggy-haired servant who had been guarding me vanished, and a noble young man with shining silver eyes appeared before me.