After informing the maids, Sophia arranged a guest house for Julia to rest. She then went to speak with Ethan in private.
"Ethan, about the challenge… are you really sure?" Sophia asked softly. Her tone carried both worry and hesitation.
"If they keep pressuring us too much, we can just concede. We could lower the prices or find another way," she continued, holding on to Ethan's arm with a weary grip.
Ethan looked down at her, gently patting her head. "Don't worry. I have thought this through," he said in a calm voice.
His eyes were firm, carrying a quiet confidence. "I can already break through to the Late Intermediate Knight stage. That will make me the strongest in the arena."
Sophia blinked at him, still unsure.
"And besides," Ethan added with a small smile, "I was waiting for this chance."
Sophia stared at his expression for a moment, then slowly released a deep breath. The warmth in his voice made her heart ease.
Finally, she calmed down and nodded.
The next morning, Ethan woke early. While walking in the training ground, he caught sight of Julia. She was practicing her sword with focused determination.
Her movements were sharp and fast, each strike flowing into the next like water. The precision of her swings and the rhythm in her footwork stood out clearly.
Randall, who was watching from the side, murmured, "Her swordsmanship must already be close to B-rank. Her intent and talent do not fall short of that."
Ethan narrowed his eyes, watching carefully. There was something steady in her movements, like she had trained countless hours without pause.
Julia stopped her practice when she noticed him standing there. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and gave him a polite nod.
"Good morning," Ethan greeted with a smile.
Julia looked a little surprised, but returned the greeting.
Ethan studied her attire, the knight uniform fitting her frame naturally, unlike the dresses she had worn before.
"You seem more comfortable in knight's attire than in dresses," Ethan commented.
Julia blinked in surprise.
For a moment she was caught off guard. But then she remembered,Ethan was a designer by nature. Of course, he could notice such things.
"You are right," she admitted after a pause. "I am not used to the manners of women."
"I can see that," Ethan replied, nodding slightly. "Most gowns drag along the ground, which hinders movement. From your style, you seem to want swiftness and precision above everything else."
Julia's eyes widened slightly. "You are spot on," she said in surprise.
Her voice lowered as she added, "I also have a personal dislike for such sophisticated designs. At home, I usually wear simple shirts instead. However…" She trailed off, stopping halfway.
Ethan followed her gaze. The light shirt fabric clung close, making the dark corset underneath visible.
"You don't like wearing a corset, right?" Ethan asked directly.
Julia's face stiffened. She opened her mouth, then shut it again, before finally giving a small nod.
Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. "It is uncomfortable. But without it, I cannot manage…"
Ethan understood at once. Her chest was full and heavy, which made it hard to move freely without support. Yet the hard corset only added more pain.
It was the same for every woman of medieval times.For everyone,it was more of a curse.
She bit her lip, her eyes flickering with frustration. "Sometimes, I envy women with smaller figures. For them, it is easier. For me, it is only an extra burden."
As she spoke, a spark of thought lit up in Ethan's mind. His eyes brightened slightly. This was something he had been waiting to hear.
He smiled faintly and stepped closer. "Then, Lady Julia," he said with quiet certainty, "I might have something that could be useful to you."
Julia's head lifted in surprise. "What?" she asked, her eyes wide.
The shock on her face showed how unexpected his words were.
Ethan did not answer right away. His calm expression only deepened Julia's curiosity, making her wonder what he truly meant.
.....
Moments later, Julia found herself in a room with Sophia by her side.
"My Lady, it is not appropriate for Ethan to accompany you, so I will help instead," Sophia said as she led her inside.
Julia's eyes widened slightly. The room was filled with different garments hanging neatly, pieces she had never seen before. Strips of slim fabric were arranged along the wall, their shapes unfamiliar to her.
Her gaze stopped on one particular strip with two rounded circles stitched at the front. She tilted her head, confused at what it was supposed to be.
Sophia walked over and picked one up with a smile. "My Lady, Ethan calls this a bra. Unlike corsets, which use wood and metal bones to hold a rigid shape, this is made with soft animal skin and fabric. You should try it."
Julia reached out and took the garment carefully. The material felt soft in her hands, light compared to the stiff corsets she had always worn. The texture was simple and breathable, not digging into her skin the way heavy boning always did.
"Ethan also made another type of corset," Sophia explained, lifting another garment made of fabric and lace. "It is softer and more transparent than the usual ones."
Julia nodded slightly. She decided to give it a try.
Sophia helped unfasten her corset. The moment it loosened, Sophia's eyes widened so much she almost cried out.
Her thoughts raced as she screamed inwardly,'Holy shit… I thought she was modest, but this is a complete package.How can one hide such a thing instead of displaying it in full glory.'
She glanced at the heavy, rigid corset that had been straining to hold Julia's chest down and finally understood.
Julia slipped the bra on, adjusting it around her body. Most of them were a little small for her size. The cups pressed firmly, not fully covering, yet still holding her shape in place.
"It is better," Julia admitted after a moment. "But the material is coarse. It scratches a little."
"Yes, I feel the same," Sophia replied quickly. "We are waiting for a mix of linen and soft leather. Ethan planned to use it to improve the design, but he has been busy. If you could help, we could make it sooner."
Julia touched the bra again, feeling how it supported her. She moved her shoulders, stretched her arms, and shifted around.
"It is far more comfortable than the corset," she said truthfully. "The only problem is that it does not press me down flat."
Sophia shook her head firmly. "My Lady, I don't think pressing down so much is good. This much support is enough. And with this, you can easily wear a shirt over it. Here, try this one. Ethan made it especially for women."
Julia hesitated but then agreed. She slipped on the shirt and a pair of fitted pants Sophia handed her.
When she turned toward the mirror, her breath caught.
The reflection staring back at her was tall and strong, yet graceful. The shirt shaped her frame without making her look stiff, and the pants allowed her to move freely. She looked both feminine and boyish at the same time. For the first time in her life, her appearance felt right,and quite pleasing.
Sophia clapped her hands, her voice rising in excitement. "Oh my god… You look amazing! Men might go crazy seeing you like this!"
Julia's cheeks warmed slightly at her words. For a moment, she wondered if Ethan would see her the same way. Her heart fluttered at the thought, but she quickly shook her head.
'Even if I like him, there is still such a gap between us…'
'Also why did I have such a weird thought.'