The final dress that she gave me was a red one. It's a long red dress that reaches down to my feet, and it has long black and red sleeves on my arms. It's also complete with a pair of black gloves and shoes, and an extra black tiara to be put at the top of my head.
Seeing this dress, I was immediately hit with a train of imagination.
In a separate, alternate world, this is definitely the kind of dress that I'd wear as the princess of an empire. Certainly, this one is designed specifically to suit me.
"This one is inspired by the late Empress of Veldonia. Her red hair and her red dress that she always wore during her prime days… Oh, I've really missed her." The fashion designer explained, and I can only turn really happy that this dress I'm wearing was actually inspired by Mom.
"This one is indeed the best. We'll take it." Dad said almost instantly, and the fashion designer turned happy hearing that. Roy, on the other hand, only looked very shocked.
"W-Wait… I thought this wasn't for sale?" Roy asked the fashion designer, but the lady only turned her big smile to Roy.
"Sorry, Roy… but seeing how much this beautiful young lady fits the dress, you just really want to see her keep wearing it. You know?" The fashion designer tried escaping Roy's question, and Roy had no choice but to accept the reasoning.
"I-Is that so…?" Roy awkwardly replied while shrugging the back of his head, and I only turned my confused stare to Dad.
Can we even afford this…?
"Now! Should we dress up the father as well?" The fashion designer asked Dad, and he only let out a sigh.
"All right, all right. I'll dress up." Dad gave up and allowed the fashion designer, and I became very happy.
"Oh, you don't have to change, darling. I'm sure your mother would love to see you wear that dress!" The fashion designer said so happily to me, and I only turned confused.
"You can keep wearing it, Milly. Let's flex it to your mom!" Dad said excitedly to me, and I only accepted it.
After that, we moved to the second floor, where the clothes for men are located. It's quite hard to walk using these high heels, and Dad had to carefully hold my hand as I went up the stairs.
"Can I just not use the heels…?" I asked out of genuine annoyance, and Dad only laughed hearing it.
"You're really just like your mom! She hated heels, too!"
"Well, yeah?? It's hard to walk on. So, can I take it off?"
"No, you can't. We have to show your mom, you know? You need to at least practice wearing it." Dad argued with me as we climbed the stairs very slowly, and everyone else only awkwardly smiled as they watched us go up carefully.
Arriving at the second floor, the fashion designer handed Dad an entire set of clothes for men, but I completely wasn't expecting it to be like this. After getting changed for a bit at the changing room, Dad came out of the changing room, and his looks shocked everyone present.
"Look at you. Looking like a true emperor now, huh?" The fashion designer said with such excitement, but I was far too shocked to be saying a word.
Dad is currently wearing a black attire for a ruler. It has a white fur around his neck, and the soft black suit on his body looks so fitting to his white hair. A long white cape is reaching the ground behind him, which makes him look so perfectly suited with the emperor's robe.
"I-I never knew there was something like this, Feign…" Roy asked the fashion designer, and she just chuckled lightly.
"Because there never was a design like this. At least, not after I joined your father's company."
"So, this was from before you came to Cytus? When you were at Veldonia?" Roy asked again, and the fashion designer nodded silently. Her eyes are studying the clothes worn by Dad, who is currently staring at the emperor's robe himself.
"It's quite… stiff." Dad commented after studying the robe, and it seems like he noticed what is flawed about the robe right away.
"Ah. Roy, do you mind grabbing the smoothing spray at my office? Grab at least five bottles." The fashion designer said to Roy, and the boy had no choice but to listen.
Roy then proceeded to head downstairs to grab exactly what the fashion designer asks, and we're finally all alone on the second floor.
BRUKK!!!
Without any warning, the fashion designer fell straight to her knees. Her head was kept down, and I realized she was kneeling on purpose.
"This humble servant… greets and welcomes the emperor back." She uttered with her head facing down the floor, and Dad only chuckled seeing how she acts.
"It sure has been a while, Feign. How's your teacher?" Dad asked the fashion designer, and she began to slowly stand back up.
"Teacher has been a little sick lately. He is just resting at the factory, most of the time. Don't worry, he can still yell at me every time I designed something incorrectly."
"That's amazing to hear. I should visit him when I have the chance." Dad smiled much more genuinely now, and the fashion designer turned glad hearing that.
She then noticed me watching the two speak quite awkwardly, and she then turned her bow to me.
"I-It's fine! Please lift your head."
"It is a must do gesture between a humble servant such as me to a princess such as yourself. Apologies if it's uncomfortable, your highness."
"R-Right…" I awkwardly replied, not knowing how I should reply. From the changing room, Dad walked closer to me and patted me in the shoulder.
"The two of us are currently disguised as commoners. I'm sure you don't mind us barging your store, right?" Dad said to Miss Feign, the fashion designer, and she only laughs hearing it.
"Ah! So, I was right. I was slightly concerned when I saw my emperor wearing casual clothes for commoners, but I guess that seemed to be the case. Of course, I wouldn't mind. But, I'd like to ask your majesty an obvious question that every Veldonian citizen will be asking.
Is Veldonia… coming back, your majesty?" Feign asked quite bravely, and I'm surprised she's so bold to ask such a question.
"No promises, but we're working on it. Just know that you and your teacher will be one of the first to be invited back." Dad said with a wide grin, and the fashion designer turned very happy.
"Thank you so much! Then, allow me to present those two clothes you're both wearing to be a thankful gift. Feel free to keep them." The designer said with such a carefree attitude, and I was very surprised.
"Wha--"
"We'll gladly accept it. Thank you for your… Oh. Here comes the kid. Play casual." Dad suddenly said, and I realized why he said it.
From the staircase, Roy is arriving back with four bottles in his hands. He seemed to be quite tired, and seeing there's only four bottles, he must've been so tired after trying to find the fifth one.
"I'm sorry, Feign… I can only find four bottles." Roy apologized while handing the fashion designer the four bottles of smoothing spray, and she only laughed.
"Ah, I forgot the other one was used up, already. I'm sorry for making you look, Roy."
"O-Oh. Thank goodness, I thought my eyes were bad." Roy said with such relief, and the fashion designer turned her grin to me and Dad.
I see… she purposely told him to look for five instead of four, because then Roy will stay away from us while looking for the fifth bottle.
"In that case, may I ask you to take those off, sir? I'll smoothen them before handing it back to you." The fashion designer said to Dad, and he carefully took the robe off without bending any of the parts.
While Miss Feign is working on the suit, Dad and I took a closer look at some of the clothes that the shop has on the second floor. Roy suggested some that might fit Dad, and he ended up trying them out as we waited for Miss Feign.
About fifteen minutes later, Miss Feign returned with a box. She handed the box to Dad, and he just held it in his hands without putting it inside his storage ring.
Roy did not know Dad was getting the robe, so he asked Feign about it. But Feign only told him that Dad and I decided to buy it, and it seems like Roy does not need to know that it is a gift. After all, why would a famous fashion designer like Feign ever give a random commoner like Dad a fancy clothing for nobles?
The four of us decided that it's about time Dad and I head home. We all went outside back to the carriage, and it looks like Roy will be staying here at the store alongside Feign.
"The driver can take you two home. You just need to tell him your address." Roy said to me and Dad, and Dad lowered his head slightly to pay respects.
"Thank you for your hospitality. We'll return whenever a need comes." Dad said rather politely, which surprised me that he still talks so politely even after knowing Roy.
"I-It's completely fine, sir. It's nice meeting you." Roy, too, seemed to realize that this is the right way to converse with others. He then turned to me with the same smile, and I bowed slightly at him.
"See you tomorrow at school."
"Sure thing, Milly. See you tomorrow."
Dad and I then began climbing the carriage, with me going in first. It was quite hard since I was still using the heels that were part of the dress, but Dad helped me by holding my hand. Once I was inside, Dad headed inside following behind me.
"Where to, sir?" The driver asked from the front seat, and Dad told him the exact street name.
I turned to Roy and Feign, who were waving their hands at me. I just waved back at them as the carriage started moving again.
"That was… quite the store." Dad commented right after we departed, and I only laughed hearing his comment.
"It was definitely one of the stores of all time! Dad, I didn't know you recognized the designer."
"I didn't expect it, either. But, since the downfall of the empire, all of the Veldonian citizens split up to different directions and take on different lives. I just happen to recognize the student of the person who once designed your mom's wedding dress." Dad explained to me about how it was all possible, but I was surprised at that last part.
"T-The student of the one who designed Mom's wedding dress?"
Dad nodded to me with such a soft smile, and I realized his gaze was studying my dress.
"Your mom is about to be so shocked seeing that dress." He commented, and I only laughed while imagining it.
Arriving at the diner, I carefully stepped out of the carriage still with the heels on. Dad made sure I was safe as I stepped out because he exited first, and he turned his gaze to Mom who was approaching us.
"Nice dress, Milly. Where did you get it?" Mom asked after seeing how I looked, and I just grinned at her.
"From a friend's store. What do you think?" I said while spinning around to show her how I looked, and Mom lifted her hand to her chin.
"I think the waist part could be smaller. I wonder why there's no corset on it. Your chest part can definitely use some packing to make your bust slightly larger. The shoulder area is definitely--"
"Ekhem." Right next to me, Dad cleared his throat, and Mom realized that he was chatting too much.
Is this just how she is? Such a critical person?
"What I'm saying is… you look beautiful, Milly." Mom quickly fixed her words, and I laughed hearing her finally compliment me.
"Thanks! I can't wait to see you wear a dress like this as well!" I said to Mom while giving her a hug, and she turned her questioning gaze to Dad.
"What's that box?"
"Oh. We met Phillip's student, and she gave me a robe as well."
"No way! D-Did she not give anything to me?"
"You didn't come to the store, so obviously not!"
"That's so unfair! Milly, tell me where the store is." Mom then turned to me with a really serious face, but all that is written on her eyes is nothing but greed.
Aha… I should've expected at least this much from her.