North x Northwest

Chapter 198

I was hurt here, too.

Ed took off his robe. Lil, however, wasnt too comfortable at the sight of a man pulling back his clothes vigorously in front of her eyes. She gathered her eyebrows even more as she noticed the robe hanging precariously on his elbow.

What are you doing?!

Here

His finger pointed to the area of his left flank where there were several scars from several cuts. Even though it made her feel a little uneasy, Lil caressed the spot. Then, Ed held out his shoulder, pretended to be pitiful and whispered.

And my shoulder, too

Lil spoke, rubbing his shoulder with an action that was more like a slap.

Oh, stop it now.

Not there. A little more towards the collarbone

Stop!

Ah, I just remember, but I injured my knee, too. Maybe I should take off my pants and show you

What are you doing?!

When Ed bowed slightly and grabbed his waistband, a head rushed forward.

Bump!

His face, which was headbutted, bounced back into the air.

Ack!

Ed clenched his forehead and crouched before completely falling down. Simultaneously, Lil pushed her shawl, which had been draped on her arm all this time, roughly forward with both hands. While Ed wiggled around and pretended to be dying, Lil successfully tied his wrists to the cembalos leg. Unfortunately for Ed, he found himself sprawled out, unsure whether he was lying or sitting. He frantically looked around before raising his eyes. When he saw his bound hands, he casted Lil a pitiful look.

If you keep this up, Ill tie you to the cembalos brace next. Then, when I close the lid, your wrist will be flying, wouldnt that be fun?

Lil turned away from Ed, who was still looking up at her with a grim expression on his face. On the other hand, Lil was already regretting the way she acted before.

What did I believe that I started to care for him

I mustve been possessed or something

Lil shook her head and buried her face in the palms of her hand. Despite standing still, she had the feeling that her body was staggering.

At some point and without realising it, I was already drawn to Ed

Lil was about to rub her face with the palms of her hands, but when she realised she was wearing makeup, she nervously lowered her hands. She never wanted to admit what she had just done.

I cant believe I held him like that I cant believe I thought he was pitiful!

This is the admirals lair and Im a pirate captain

I dont care.

Lil raised her head at the sudden sound of Eds clear voice.

What?

Whoever you are, whoever I am none of it matters.

Contrary to the whining tone he had been using till now, Eds voice was full of conviction.

Ed is saying that because he doesnt know Because he doesnt know who I really am

That realisation hit Lil belatedly.

Just as Ive been angry at Ed for hiding his identity as an admiral, Ed also has the right to be angry at me for hiding my identity and pretending to be a pirate captain

Fine. It doesnt matter. But things can only get complicated from now on.

Monferrand has finally heard what he wanted, but does that mean hell give up on Alvenis?

What bullshit

Even Monferrand mustve had some doubts. He mustve been anxious that Alveniss heart might have changed somehow. But in the end, what could he be afraid of when he was proven right? The thing he was afraid of the most shouldve already disappeared.

..?

Lil couldnt understand a single word, so shook her head to make it clear to him that she didnt get what he was saying. Ed, however, leaned his head against the cembalo and smiled lazily. Despite it only being a small smile, Lils face turned red. In an attempt to hide her flushed expression, she glared and frowned at him as hard as she could.

Untie me.

Ed then leaned his head against the pinned arm above him, his messy hair cascading down his brow. Lil winced and shuddered as if she felt it sweep down her own arm. She had a premonition that something dangerous was bound to happen and it didnt help that the sight of Eds bare upper body, seen through his open robe, gave off a sensual impression. Lil was certain that if she stayed any longer, she would become entangled with Ed.

No.

My arm hurts.

You can get yourself out of it anyway.

Let me go, please.

At first glance, Ed, who was whining like that, truly seemed pitiful. His frowns and pleads of pain sounded convincing too. So, in a moment of weakness, Lil almost fell for it, but she managed to pull herself together and retorted.

Thats enough!

Lil walked to the door and opened it, letting a rush of fresh air in. Her breath, which had been soggy and stuffy, was slightly relieved. She then slammed the door and left the music room

***

Eventually, Ed twisted his hands a few times and easily untied the shawl. While turning his wrists around, he raised his head upon noticing something. Two objects that had fallen on the floor caught his interest. Ed writhed and snatched one of the shoes.

While tilting his head, he muttered

Isnt this a little too big?..

***

Roahns dressmaker walked so fast that he almost ran through the residences hallway. As he turned the corner, two servants waiting in front of the Marquess cabinet threw open the oak door. After entering the cabinet, the dressmaker lowered his head and removed his peacock feathered hat. He then quickly grabbed his wig, which was about to fall off, and spoke in a pleased manner.

Oh, Marquess. Since when did you come back?

He had been so surprised that he was sweating profusely. When Levi called for him, he went in a hurry the moment he was told to come to the Marquess cabinet. After wiping the sweat from his brow, the dressmaker tucked his handkerchief under his wig. Behind him, a group of people, carrying various kinds of silk on their shoulders, came in one after another. Ed, sitting in the centre of the cabinet, gestured to the dressmaker and Eds personal servant, standing next to him, conveyed his message instead.

Come closer.

The approaching dressmaker was handed over a piece of paper with something drawn on it.

What is this Its a foot?

I want you to make some shoes first. As soon as a pair is completed, send it to the mansion.

Yes, I will start today.

The dressmaker pulled round glasses from his pocket and put them on the bridge of his nose. He squinted his eyes before looking away from the paper.

However, the instep size is missing. Its the circumference that covers the top of the foot from the arched part of the sole, a very important size that determines the fit.

Ah

With a quill between his fingers, Ed flicked his hand. When the dressmaker handed him the piece of paper, Ed thought for a moment and then wrote down the measurement.

Now, lets look at the clothes.

Ah, yes.

The quick-witted dressmaker unfolded silk typically used for womens clothing.

Judging by the size of the foot he had just put out, and the fact that my visit is being conducted in secret like this, I can tell that a mistress has entered this mansion. Since hes a great man who puts extraordinary effort into his clothes, his spending towards his mistress will be no less than that!

This thought made the dressmaker excited. Another reason was Levi, who only wore casual clothes of simple composition, so his business line for womens clothes wasnt good in this area. The man took out Sesbrons latest pattern book and put it beside the silk.

Its been so long since Ive waited for the mistress of the Marquess to appear.

Sure enough, Ed pulled out only the finest imported silk with his keen eyes. He even turned the pages of the pattern book one by one as if to carefully select the designs.

The dressmaker, who had been dealing with the marquess family for several years now, already knew Eds taste.

Sir Edgar prefers beautiful fabrics but shuns overly sumptuous materials embroidered with gold or silver threads. He tends to use colours boldly and, occasionally, enjoys exotic colour combinations. For clothes, he mainly chooses elegant patterns and is picky enough to not rule out elegance even in costumes required for activity. However, thats still nothing compared to his hats, and among Sir Edgars collections, theres a gorgeous hat that even I covet. But because Ive never seen Sir Edgar wear it himself, I often ask myself if he only keeps it as a collectible Sir Edgars choice, by any means, has always been outstanding and even led numerous officers and other prominent people in the land of Roahn to imitate his sense of style. Above all, his appearance is the epitome of beauty, so he can be described as a walking publicity flyer. Considering how the family style of the Retiro ancestry has been obsessed with aesthetics, they made trends and led culture as if it was their second nature, and Sir Edgar is a descendant who has inherited that well. I can surely use this opportunity to expand my influence on womens clothing. The mistress must also be of great beauty given the marquess taste.

The dressmaker smiled indistinctly and called for joy inside.