December 22, S.1205 - Ost District, Heimdallr
"Come on, Jusis! I'm begging you here!"
"For the last time: No." Jusis firmly rejected Rean's plea, taking a swig of coffee that Machias had brewed earlier.
"Why not?!"
"Do I really have to spell it out for you?" A vein visibly popped on the blond noble's forehead. "If you were to wear my clothes at the event, we'd both be laughingstocks. You for being desperate enough to borrow an outfit and me for lending you one. It would be unsightly."
"I hate to say it," Machias cut in, setting down a cup of coffee for himself, "but I agree with him."
Rean looked at the bespectacled man with incredulous eyes. "How… How were you able to even say that without vomiting?"
"Trust me, I'm dying on the inside for even suggesting it."
"That makes two of us." Jusis took another sip. "This coffee is probably the only thing I can stomach when it comes to you."
"Likewise with your tea." Machias barked back, glaring at his rival.
Rean leaned to the redhead by his side and whispered into his ear. "Are they… Are they getting along?"
Elliot nervously laughed and shrugged. "I can't even tell anymore. Anyways, you're having trouble picking out an outfit for the award ceremony? You really have nothing to wear?"
Rean slumped into the couch. He remembered it like it was only yesterday.
"Good afternoon, Lech-"
"Yo, Rean! Sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry! Just to let you know, the award ceremony is in two days and the old man really wants you to dress nicely. So get on that. See ya!"
"...ter."
Oh right. That's because it was yesterday.
Rean had found himself in quite the predicament. It had been a month since the Northern War and now, like Sara and General Le Guin told him, he was being rewarded for it. He already didn't want the credit for anything, but now he was expected to wear something for the occasion. It was all a huge pain.
So he did what any logical mind would do: call his friends up to talk about clothes. You know, regular guy stuff.
Thankfully Machias was still awaiting the results of his application to the Inspectorate and Elliot was off tour, freeing up their schedules for the day. Jusis's appearance shocked him more, seeing as he was currently the acting Duke Albarea. Perhaps there was an event going on in Heimdallr that he needed to attend to?
Now, they were all gathered at Machias' home to take a bit of a breather.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Rean finally answered Elliot's question. "No, I don't. My family rarely attends formal events these days because, well…" He gestured to himself with Elliot nodding in acknowledgement at Rean's silent explanation. "I never really got a chance to wear anything fancy as a result."
"Can't you wear the same outfit you wore during the war itself?" Machias asked, ruffling his spikier hair. "The traveling jacket you had during the civil war."
"I'm currently getting it resized. I hit a bit of a growth spurt in the past month." Rean groaned. It had been a pain coming back home after the arduous campaign, only to find out that almost none of his old clothes had fit him. Being forced to order a new school uniform only a few months before graduation was a process that he'd never want to repeat again. At the current moment, he was only wearing his casual attire due to December's falling temperatures. However, none of what he had was fitting the needed criteria.
"In that case, my plan's out." Elliot shrugged. "I was gonna offer you some of my stage outfits, but I guess you'd have trouble fitting them even before you grew gigantically tall. I think you're as tall as Gaius now!"
"Yeah, but who knows how tall he's gotten since graduation. Speaking of which, have any of you seen him?"
They all shook their heads.
"Don't think you'll be borrowing clothes from him either," Jusis said nonchalantly.
"That… didn't even cross my mind."
It totally did.
A lightbulb went off it Machias's head. "What about Le Sage on Vainqueur? The same place where we got our stage outfits for our concert."
Rean shook his head. "I've checked there. Most of what they offer is more casual fare. I've asked Howard about anything formal they could offer, but it needed to be custom-made. Something I can't exactly afford right now, both in time and money."
Jusis rolled his eyes and downed the rest of his drink. "Then that's that. You'll have to resort to one of the higher-end boutiques here in the capital or run all the way to Bareahard and get a rush order in."
Rean slumped even further. He didn't know where any of the high end stores were in Heimdallr and even discounting the time it took to take the next train to the verdant city, Goddess knows he doesn't have enough money to rush out an order for anything remotely fashionable by tomorrow.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have my own event to attend to. Best of luck to you, Rean. I look forward to meeting up with everyone again." Jusis shot Machias a smirk. "Even you, Regnitz."
Machias clicked his tongue. "Always gotta have the last word in, huh? Pompous ass-"
Elliot chuckled at the display, glad that things haven't really changed within their friend group. "That reminds me! You never told us why you were in town, Jusis. Not that I'm not grateful that you're here, but aren't you usually holed up on duke duties?"
Machias snickered at the unintentional potty humor, which prompted the noble to shoot him a glare.
"Yes, but that's precisely why I'm here in the first place. Our schedules just so happen to align." He let out a hefty sigh. "Frankly, I would prefer nothing more than to delay the whole affair indefinitely and stay here with you all. But, alas, duty calls."
"What's going on?" Rean asked, tilting his head in curiosity.
"Marriage proposals." Jusis pinched the bridge of his nose as he spoke the two words in utter annoyance. "The hotel in the Sankt District has been reserved for a party and every nobleman under the sun is about to offer their daughters to me."
The former class vice-president scoffed and crossed his arms. "Well, aren't you lucky?" He stole a glance at Rean. "Guess that makes two of you, huh?"
"It's nothing to be envious of, I assure you. They're only interested in the Albarea name. Their false smiles and platitudes are meaningless."
Elliot flinched at the harshness of his words. "Yikes. That bad, huh? Sorry to hear that, Jusis."
"No need to concern yourself. I'll find a way to slip away without a fiancée by the end of the day."
"Oh yeah, I remember you being close to your clubmate back in school. Are you keeping yourself available for her?"
Jusis's cheeks glowed red and whipped his head to the young musician. From the looks on his face, he wanted to slug Elliot right in his face, but held back when brought against his innocuous smile.
"...Preposterous." He coughed into his fist, ignoring Machias's widening grin. "I'll catch up with you all soon. Farewell for now."
Jusis gathered his belongings and left the residence, slamming the door a tad harder than he intended.
Despite the possibility of property damage, Machias smirked. "Him and Paula, huh? From what I remember, they mixed as well as oil and water. A rather fitting match, if I do say so myself." He turned to see Rean and Elliot sending him blank stares. "What?"
"Doesn't everyone say the same thing about you two?"
"...Shut up."
Rean and Elliot shared a quick laugh before getting back to the matter at hand.
"So the Sankt District, huh?" Elliot mused. "Have you thought about asking your sister for help, Rean? I'm sure the girls at St. Astraia would know some good spots for clothes."
"Yeah, well, she told me that she was too busy with student council stuff. She didn't tell me when she will be available. Plus…" Rean felt a chill up his spine, "everytime I go there to visit, the girls always give me… looks."
"Ah, my sympathies. The consequences of being too popular for your own good."
"That's not what you were saying earlier, Machias."
"This is a different matter entirely."
"If you say so… Anyway, it might still be worth a look, right? There might be something in Garnier too, since they're super classy over there."
Rean nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Worst case, I could just call up Colette and-"
For a brief second, he felt his wallet become awfully thin.
"...Nevermind."
"Yeah, probably not the best idea…" Machia cringed at the suggestion.
Sankt District
After bidding his farewells to his friends, Rean took the tram to the Sankt District. He'd come here often to visit his sister, but the area always struck him with its majesty. It was nothing compared to Valflame Palace; or hell, even the Albarea mansion, but there was a part of the gothic architecture that gave it a sense of identity unique to the rest of the capital.
Perhaps Instructor Thomas and Mary's teachings had finally settled in as Rean had developed a love for history, both political and of the arts.
But he still questioned why he thought to come here. Like he mentioned before, Elise had been preoccupied with student council affairs and Princess Alfin was sure to be busy dealing with her own issues. In fact, coming here was a danger by his lonesome if avoiding any other St. Astraia students who didn't understand the value of personal space was his intention.
Rean let out a groan, his breath visible in the December cold.
"That was quite the defeated sigh, sir." A young voice called out from behind. "Perhaps there's something you'd like to talk about?"
"It's nothing," Rean waved off, appreciative of the stranger's concern, but thought it best not dwell too much on his problems.
"Are you sure? Because…" He felt a tug on his arm and a warm feeling pressing against him. "I think I can be the solution to all your woes~"
Rean's eyes shot down to catch a glimpse of his latest captor. A girl with long mint green hair returned him a wide, mischievous grin. "Hello there, Rean~! What a pleasant surprise."
"M-Musse?! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I do go to school here." She briefly let go of his arm to show off her uniform. Though there were a few notable modifications like the addition of fleece ladened around the collar and a slightly longer skirt. Musse also added her own raiments such as black fur boots and cute matching mittens with a blue plaid scarf around her neck. She forwent her beret entirely and yet still came out looking adorable.
"Right, St. Astraia…" Musse was far from what he imagined a girl who attended the girls school based on their illustrious reputation, but personal experience has made him wonder if Elise's proper lady-like mannerisms were actually far from the norm.
"That aside, I hear that you're looking for proper regalia for the award ceremony tomorrow?"
"Yeah and it's been a massive pain in the- Wait." Rean paused. "How did you hear about that?"
Musse pressed a finger over her lips (an action that should've looked awkward with mittens but damn if Musse couldn't pull it off) and gave him a playful wink. "I'm afraid I can't tell you. A woman must maintain an air of mystery lest she lose her appeal, do you not agree?"
The way she presented herself oddly brought some heat to Rean's cheeks. Rean averted his eyes and slipped his hands into his jacket pockets. He wasn't used to being played around with quite like this. Fie and Sara sometimes teased him, but the former was usually blunt and the latter would instantly drop her facade the moment you saw through her.
"I guess…"
"Then today's your lucky day! Allow me to offer my services to you. It'll even be my treat!"
"Hold on, what-" The cheeky girl tugged at his arm once more, dragging him away from his position. "W-Wait! What do you mean 'your treat'?!"
Rean tried his damnedest to remove his arm from the girl's tight grip to no avail. Despite her petite figure, she was far stronger than she appeared. With an innocent smile plastered across her face, she managed to lead the young man into a nearby tram.
Once the two were seated, several people stared at the strange pair. From the looks of their faces, one could tell they had to have been anything but normal. One was the famous Ashen Chevalier with a look of absolute terror and confusion as he blankly stared ahead with his mouth slightly ajar. The other was a girl from the prim and proper girls' school, lovingly snuggling into his arm with a face that was filled with utter elation.
"So how do you feel?"
"Like I've been manhandled."
"Oh silly, not about that! I meant my offer."
"Oh, uh… I mean, that's kind of you to suggest, Musse, but you really don't have to…"
"Nonsense! How can I pass up on the chance to see Elise's big brother in such dashing outfits?"
"I don't see how me being Elise's brother has anything to do-"
"And trust me when I say I have more than enough money to throw around. My grandfather has built up quite a fortune before retiring."
"Still I-"
"But ooh, what should I go with? Something gallant perhaps? It can't be too showy or revealing, as great as that would be…"
…
She wasn't listening.
Resigning himself to his fate, Rean contemplatively stared out the window, resting his chin into his hand. It felt ridiculous; having such a mundane issue such as wondering what clothes he should wear to a formal event. And yet, he still felt a bit of a smile creeping on his lips.
It was a nice change of pace, having to deal with more regular problems than what he has been acclimated to this past year.
Maybe this whole thing won't be as bad as he thought.
Garnier District
"And weeeeeee're here!"
Musse posed in front of the large building, her arms stretched out to present it as if she were the proud owner of the establishment. It was riddled with showy neon lights and decorations, something straight from Crossbell's Entertainment District. Looking at it now, it was baffling that he and his group had missed the place during their field study last year.
He chuckled to himself. Those were some fond memories he made in the Garnier District.
He recalled having to recover the missing jewelry from Phantom Thief B's antics by running all over the city and meeting Vita at the… hotel… and Elliot and Machias being thrilled at the prospect of her autograph…
…
Man, they were idiots.
Stepping into the boutique felt like a fever dream. The first thing Rean took notice of was the fragrance. A faint and calming scent of lavender wafted throughout the building to keep the customers and workers relaxed. Even if he hadn't had his sights set on a new wardrobe, the smell alone would have been enough to lure him in and hold him captive under its spell. He didn't know what that said about him, but at least it was a nice enough environment to get some shopping done.
That brought him to the array of designer outfits displayed all around the store. Mannequins wore pre-made fits that would make anyone look like they were of the highest of nobility. Snooty nobles most likely found the practice to be unsightly. How dare those lowly commoners even think of remotely resembling us?! They might say. Of course, there was a huge caveat: the prices.
Rean wanted for nothing growing up. Money was nice, sure, but the food he enjoyed most were whatever his dad found in the valley during his hunts and anything his mom grew in her garden. Even his clothes were standard fare for anyone living in Ymir. The townsfolk were more than willing to accommodate him and Elise whenever they needed them to.
It wasn't until attending Thors when he realized the horrors of the world of finances. Worrying about every meal stressed him out more than he was used to, even with the grant money given to him since his enrollment. He counted his lucky stars when they brought on Sharon to help with the chores and cooking. He also thanked the goddess numerous times for the academy enforcing a uniform or else he'd revert to his bad habit of wearing the same set of clothes every day of the week.
So it felt like highway robbery to see a simple white t-shirt being sold for nearly 10,000 mira.
"Oh, don't look over there," Musse warned. "That section is for the… specialty cases."
Rean had no idea what she meant by that and, frankly, he didn't want to know.
Scanning through the store, he found some outfits he would be more than pleased to wear. Some were fit for the highest of nobility; others he could see any regular person in the street wearing. With the right attitude and color combinations, anyone could make these work. In fact, he found his eye trailing to several jackets and coats. He held the personal belief that you could never have too many of those, much to his mother's chagrin.
Musse, unknowingly agreeing with him, pulled outfit after outfit off the racks with reckless abandon. It fascinated, and utterly terrified, him that a young girl with her small stature was able to carry such a ludicrous amount under her arms. She wasn't expecting him to try on everything , was she?
And that she was. Even with the abundance of raiments and dress wear on her person, she was still capable of hauling him to the dressing room. He did his best to ignore any onlookers and the monstrous strength the girl exhibited with no effort at all.
Rean let out a yelp once he was shoved into the dressing room with only a rack for hangers and his own reflection from the mirror to keep him company. With a swift and imperceptible motion, his mint-haired chaperone linked a variety of outfits onto the rack without even moving past the curtain to enter the cramped cubicle.
"Try these on and see what you like! I put a stopper in between each so you don't mix them up." Musse chirped from the other side. Thorough, wasn't she? Scarily so.
Still, at least he finally had a solution to his initial problem. Guess it was time for his own personal fashion show.
Outfit #1
He couldn't really wrap his fingers around the first set of garments that Musse had handed him. For the most part, it looked like a pretty normal outfit consisting of a black winter coat, a low-cut gray button-up shirt underneath, and a white collared shirt underneath that. It also came with a long black scarf which he elected to wear loosely. The mint-haired girl paired it all with form-fitting black dress pants and shoes with belt-like straps. It looked like perfectly casual wear on a cold day but…
"I don't understand this… cape."
Rean gestured to the small piece of cloth attached to the outer jacket that ran down from his shoulders to the middle of his back. Something about it being subtle but not subtle enough put it in the range of absolute tackiness.
"I think it gives you those mysterious vibes~! A brooding man does have his sexy charms, after all."
"I'm not sure if I want to arrive at the venue looking like a vampire hunter…"
For a second, he could have sworn he heard a snicker.
Outfit #2
Rean hadn't come across many zip-up shirts before, but it wasn't a bad experience. It confused him as to why the zipper didn't start at the very bottom of the shirt, but who was he to judge on how to make clothes?
He would immediately come to regret thinking that.
The shirt, pants, and shoes felt normal enough, but it was the jacket and the belts that came with it that had him questioning the world of fashion. The design was uneven, having the coattail run down further to the right side as opposed to the left. A brown belt ran down the waistline diagonally and was directly sewn onto the jacket with a second, thinner belt hanging off from the buckle. It felt as if its purpose was to adjust it to the wearer's liking, but was unnecessary as it was part of an outer piece of clothing. Then again, perhaps he shouldn't be too judgmental on the addition of unnecessary belts. Looking at his old wardrobe as a child would attest to that, but those memories were better off forgotten.
However…
"Why does it only cover my chest? And why is it short sleeved? Kinda defeats the point of a jacket, doesn't it?"
"Tsk, tsk, Rean." Musse wiggled her finger at him. "Don't you understand the idea of aesthetics?"
"...I've been told that I don't. By multiple sources."
"Then allow me to explai-"
"Next."
"Boo, you're no fun…"
Outfit #3
"Uhhh, Musse?"
"Yes~?"
"...What made you think this was appropriate wear?"
"Well, I knew that you were quite well learned in eastern culture from Elise. I couldn't help but think that we have that in common, soooooo…"
"Admittedly, it does look… good. But I'd stand out way too much in this. Especially with the headband."
"But I thought that was the idea~?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Musse…"
She let out a disappointed huff. "Fine… We'll think of something else…"
"Trust me. Walking in looking like a samurai is not gonna leave a good impression on people."
Outfit #4
"Huh. This one doesn't look bad at all."
"You think so? I was afraid that I was veering off into a realm where you'd be uncomfortable, but I wanted to try something that you'd normally wouldn't wear."
"Yeah, I like it! I can see myself wearing this! …However, there's a slight problem."
"Oh? What would that be?"
"Don't you think it's a bit too… casual for the event I'll be attending?"
Similar to the first outfit he tried on, this one had three layers over Rean's upper body. The innermost layer was a short-sleeved burgundy button-up shirt with black trimmings. Above that was a thin white button-up shirt (left unbuttoned) to add some volume, but not enough for it to physically weigh him down. The final layer consisted of a black biker jacket that he left open. Two pairs of adjuster straps wrapped around each sleeve of the jacket (one pair on each side) and the jacket left some room between the ends and his wrists, exposing a small portion of his forearms. The look was completed with a white belt loosely wrapped around his waist, gray pants, and black boots with intertwining laces.
It was definitely his favorite outfit by far, but the "combat gear" aesthetic was definitely not fitting for an award ceremony that was to be attended by the imperial family. A shame because he would have liked to have worn it on his off time.
He even had a bit of a soft spot since it somewhat reminded him of… a certain project he made when he was younger. But again, those memories were best forgotten and forever unmentioned.
Musse rested her cheek into her hand, her face forlorn. "I'm afraid you're right about that. Not to also mention that it's currently off-season. As enjoyable as the eye candy has been-"
"Excuse me, what-"
"-we're rapidly running out of time for our main objective." She balled up her fists and shook them up and down with a cute pout on her face as if she were a child throwing a tantrum. "It's so hard to choose when you look so handsome and valorous in everything you wear!"
"Perhaps you could use a second opinion?" A playful voice asked.
The two turned their heads towards the source. A stylishly spectacled woman with a small denim jacket over a striped collar shirt and a flat cap approached them. To any passerby, she'd just be another plain, yet still good-looking woman, but her sandstone-colored hair and the scent of lavender immediately tipped Rean off to her true identity.
"Vi- Misty!" Rean corrected himself. He nearly forgot that she's been keeping a low profile since the civil war. And as much as he wanted to tell Emma about her sudden appearance, now wasn't the time.
"Hey, Rean!" The woman responded cheerfully. "I haven't seen you in Aidios knows how long! How's it going?"
"Oh, you know!" Rean awkwardly shifted his eyes around. "…Shopping."
Vita giggled. "I can see that! Things must be busy for you, huh? Explains why you're out with your girlfriend right before winter break"
"W-Wait, it's not like-"
Before he could continue, he felt a tug on his arm. Musse grabbed it instinctively with a wide smile on her face while Vita bent over to scrutinize the girl.
"Last time I saw you in Heimdallr, you were with another girl, weren't you?" The woman tilted her head to meet eyes with the Ashen Chevalier, a smug smirk making its way to her lips. "Sounds like she broke your heart and you're already on the rebound. Good for you, Rean!"
"Again, if you'd let me explain, it's not like that."
"You sure have your work cut out for you, young miss." Vita said to Musse, completely ignoring Rean's pleas. "It must not be easy to catch the attention of the most up-and-coming bachelor of Erebonia."
"I try my best~" Musse replied, her grin a mix between angelic sincerity and devilish deception.
Rean let out a sigh. There was no way he could win in this situation. Best to ignore the witch's implications.
These two would make one hell of a combination if they ever teamed up.
"Anyway, you were offering your help, Misty? I suppose if anyone could, it's you."
She giggled. "My, Rean. Flattery will get you everywhere with me."
"I'm not sure if I like the implications here…"
"Oh, relax!" She playfully slapped his back, though it felt a tad harder than one he'd receive from one of his friends. Guess there was much more to Vita's expertise than just magic. "I overheard that you two needed a formal outfit for the award ceremony?"
"Oh no, not for me," Musse cut in, waving her hand. "Just for Rean here."
"Gotcha. Then that saves me the trouble of needing to match the outfits. Though, I can't help but think that would be a shame. The Ashen Chevalier and his date would simply look adorable together in complementary garb."
"Oh, I do agree~!"
Rean held back any biting commentary or retorts. Instead he just turned his eyes to the ceiling, wondering when Aidios would end his suffering.
"Let's see now…" Vita's eyes scanned Rean's body under an intense gaze. She examined his body to the same degree a doctor would for a physical examination, mentally measuring every nook and cranny of his build. Her hands traced over his limbs and joints, as well as… other areas.
Musse watched the woman with an intense gaze of her own, mesmerized by her technique and bold eye for quality. Not once had either woman's expression changed.
"Got it!" Vita exclaimed, snapping her fingers in realization.
Rean almost hesitated to ask. "G-Got what?"
"Darker colors seem to be more your thing, though white suits you as well. So you'd look best in something… monochrome. We want fancy to fit the venue, but not too fancy so that it won't look like you're trying too hard. Remember that this is an event run by government officials, not the highest echelons of society."
Rean raised an eyebrow. Did she really have to touch him to figure out what colors look best on him?
Musse nodded. "Yes. While the event isn't exactly business casual, they're not expecting pomp and circumstance either. We need to find a healthy mix between the two. Surely you weren't thinking of borrowing clothes from your duke friend, right Rean?"
Rean froze stiff. "U-Uh, of course not! W-Why would I even think of that? Hahaha…"
From the wide grins the two women shared, he couldn't tell if they were convinced of his fib or not. Thankfully, Vita followed through on the conversation before his hands could get sweatier.
"I saw something in the back that would suit you quite nicely." She positioned her fingers into a rectangle as if she were viewing him through a camera lens. "We'd just need the last few components to really make it come together!"
She motioned to Musse to come closer and whispered something into her ear. From the way her eyes lit up, Rean assumed it was those final parts to finishing their masterpiece.
"And that should be everything. You got all that, little miss?"
"Of course! This will be perfect!" Sending the older woman a mock salute and a wink to Rean, Musse ran off to another section of the store.
With the mint-haired girl finally out of an earshot, Rean glanced at Vita with his expression suddenly serious. She motioned her finger towards herself, prompting him to follow her.
"So where have you been these past few months? Emma's been looking all over for you!"
She sighed, giving him an apologetic look. "Sorry, Rean. Things have been… complicated. Especially within the society."
His brief anger dissipated before he spoke in a concerned tone. "How so?"
"I can't really go into specifics, but… Let's just say me and the other tog dogs have been in a disagreement of sorts. I'm currently in hiding."
Vita's hands waved through the racks of vestments hanging off the walls. Just as she said, they kept some quality stuff in the back, away from the prying eyes of handsy people who would only think to leave dirty fingerprints on such remarkable attire. As such, Vita only deigned to touch that which she found suitable for their endeavors and sifted through the rest with magic.
"Are you… no longer with the society?"
"No, nothing like that. We Anguis might not have as much freedom as Enforcers do, but a simple clash of opinions isn't enough to excommunicate one of us."
From the way she spoke, it seemed like Vita had no intentions of ever leaving Ouroboros. She only intended to oppose whatever she found to be morally wrong according to her personal code. It was admirable, in a way, but sure to be disappointing to his old class president.
"And speaking of Emma," Vita spoke as if she read his thoughts like a book, "I'd prefer it if you kept my appearance here a secret from her. Not that it would ultimately matter since I intend to leave the capital soon. By the time you tell her, I'll be long gone."
He raised an eyebrow. "Then why tell me in the first place?"
"Call it a trust test. You're a sweet boy, Rean, so I want to be able to count on you when it matters."
Rean scratched the back of his head, embarrassed that a woman (who was technically still a celebrity) would say such things. "Couldn't you, I dunno, erase my memory of this whole thing happening then? Sure, I'd have some gaps in my memory, but you could just transplant something else there, right?"
"Oh, silly Rean," Vita giggled. She leaned over and looked up into his eyes with a rather sultry gaze. "Witches don't have any memory erasure spells. That would be ridiculous."
"...And you have spells to go through clothes?"
"That's a different matter entirely."
He failed to see how, but it was best to drop the subject. "I'll take your word for it. You're the expert here, not me."
"Good!" She snapped her fingers as a hanger covered with a large tarp-like garment bag suddenly appeared in her hand. "Now that we've had this lovely talk, it's time for you to get suited up! Come on, don't want to keep your beautiful girlfriend waiting!"
Vita moved past him with a spring in her step, overjoyed at leaving the young man dumbfounded. It was just like Vita to waste time looking for something she already knew the location of just so they could have a talk. Yet, it surprised him all the same. It took him a few seconds to fully process the words that just came out of her lips.
"H-Hang on! For the last time, she's not my-"
Outfit #5
"Wooooow~!"
"Well, well. If you'd look at that."
Rean gaped at himself in the mirror. Even he was in awe of how dashing he looked. They may be called vanity mirrors, but even that didn't seem to sell his new look.
What Vita found in the back was an elegant black double-collared coat with gray trimmings throughout the ensemble. A gray belt wrapped around the section just above his waist, giving Rean free reign to adjust the coat separately from his pants at any time. In contrast, he was given white slacks to wear, with a thinly visible tint of gray to give it a rustic look. Musse had also nabbed him a pair of brown boots that extended above his knees, giving him an authoritative appearance. If he hadn't known any better, he would have assumed he was looking at an army commander.
The last piece to bring the outfit together was a white piece of cloth wrapped around his neck. It wasn't something he was used to wearing, but he's seen Jusis wear them countless times: an ascot. Luckily, Vita had elected to keep it as simple as possible with its plain color and forgone any added accessories to accentuate the impressive coat.
"Looking good without trying too hard. Fits you to a tee, Rean." Vita winked at his reflection. "There was another coat in red that I think would've fit you as well, but we're trying to make you look like a dignified officer, not a vengeful inquisitor."
"Haha… Thanks, Misty." Rean nodded, nearly biting his tongue on calling Vita by her pseudonym. "I couldn't have done this without you."
"Let's just say I'm paying back a favor I owe you." Vita replied, a tad somberly that Rean had almost missed it. "I hope things go well tomorrow."
"Yeah, I hope so too. But knowing my luck? Something's bound to happen."
The two share a quick laugh before bidding their farewells. Rean had changed back to his regular clothes while Vita left the store, mysteriously taking the lavender scent with her. Musse, on the other hand, had already gathered Rean's new outfit to take to the cashier.
"Hold on, Musse. What are you doing?"
"Paying, of course."
Now, Rean didn't really get a good look at the price tags, but he knew the entire ensemble ranged from way too expensive to I'll have to offer up my firstborn to the demons of Gehenna and it would deal a heavy blow to whatever pride he had left if he were to leave all that to a girl who was younger than his own sister.
"We never agreed to that."
"Oh, come on. Don't be such a busybody! You really have to stop looking a gift horse in the mouth." Musse puffed her cheeks in a pout.
"I appreciate the generosity, seriously I do." Rean took the clothing from her hands. "But I should be the one to pay. Besides," he let out a gentle smile, "spending time with you was more than enough."
The girl gaped at him, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink.
"R-Really? You seemed a bit… opposed earlier."
Rean chuckled. "I've been told by someone that I need to learn how to be more honest with myself. So, despite my protests, I had fun today. 'Sides, it's not like a lot of the money I make goes to anything other than food. A new outfit is definitely a good change of pace."
Breaking away from her initial surprise at Rean's honesty, Musse tittered. "Oh, all right. You win. But next time, I'll do something for you to make up for this! Mark my words, Rean Schwarzer! You'll be surprised soon enough!"
Rean let out a hearty laugh. "If you want to make it up to me, how about a place to eat? I'm starving."
The girl let out an exasperated sigh. "But then it wouldn't be a surprise!" However, knowing Rean would not buy her exaggerated theatrics, she giggled. "I know just the place. And don't worry, it won't put too harsh a dent in your wallet."
"I look forward to it."
December 23, S.1205 - Dreichels Plaza
"...and it's with great pride that I bestow upon Rean Schwarzer, the Ashen Chevalier, with the Imperial Medal of Valor for his acts of bravery throughout the events of the Northern War. Thank you, Rean, for all that you've done."
"It is an honor, Your Majesty."
Emperor Eugent III pinned a medal on Rean's chest. The design of the medal was intricate, strikingly similar looking to the ones Princess Alfin had given him during the civil war.
The event had been even more overblown than he anticipated. Sure, the imperial family had been involved with the ceremony's proceedings, but he wasn't expecting the crowd to be as, well, crowded. He did his best to ignore them, only focusing on getting this whole sham over with.
He had assumed it would've been a more private affair, only having government officials and nobles who sided with the reformists attend within the confines of the palace. Sure, he expected a few journalists to report on the event and screen it to the masses and maybe a rabid fan or two, but holding it outside for everyone to see it was a little more overwhelming than he wanted. He sympathized with Claire who had to lead the security detail for the day. At least he was in the company of familiar faces. Behind the emperor were the princes and princess along with his sister watching as the awards were handed out. However, behind him was…
"How humble! Truly, you set an example for every Erebonian soldier- nay, every Erebonian citizen to follow, Rean Schwarzer!"
The chancellor's applause roared louder than anything else in the venue. Rean held himself back from sneering at the man.
The proceedings continued without a hitch. Luckily, Rean didn't need to come up with a heartfelt speech to detail the "majesty" of invading another country (which ended with North Ambria being annexed, just as he predicted) so he sat quietly among the award receivers as both Osborne and the emperor finished up their own speeches.
When it was finally over, he let out a hefty sigh of relief. He'd have to thank Claire for keeping any of the public off his tail. He needed a break.
He sat down on a bench, away from prying eyes. The last thing he wanted right now was being hounded by fans or preyed upon by anyone seeking an interview.
He stared into the sky, watching the clouds fly by before a cold sensation crept onto his cheek.
"Ahhh!"
Rean jumped, briefly levitating above the bench before landing right back where he started.
He heard two giggles behind him and turned to face the culprits.
"Good work out there, Rean." Elise handed her brother a can of coffee from a recently installed vending machine.
"Yes, I can't imagine that was a pleasant experience," Alfin's expression scrunched up in pity. "There are royal gatherings and there's whatever that was."
"Yeah, well, it's something I've grown accustomed to these past few months. It's nothing I can't handle." Rean opened the can offered to him and took a sip of the caffeinated drink. He let out a face of confusion. "Did you really have to get me a cold drink in the middle of December?"
Elise shrugged. "It's not my fault all they had were cold drinks. They're still working on separating the heater and cooler inside those things."
"Haa… Whatever. At least it still tastes good." Rean took another swig.
The two girls joined him on the bench, each sitting on either side. The three of them looked onward, not really paying attention to their surroundings as they engaged in casual conversation.
"So Rean," Alfin began, "You sure dressed nicely today. I can't say I ever saw that outfit in your closet before."
"I've been meaning to ask about that too," Elise joined in. "The coat looks great on you."
"Oh, this?" Rean fiddled with his coat, admiring its quality. With the few parties and gatherings his family attended, he somewhat relished the few times he got to dress a little nicer than he usually did.
He wanted to tell the girls the whole truth, but perhaps it was best to keep Vita's appearance a secret for now.
"Musse helped me pick it out," he said, telling a half-truth. "We ran into each other yesterday and put together this whole ensemble."
"Musse?" Elise tilted her head before shooting up in a knowing look. "Wait, so that's what she was doing yesterday?! I needed her help for student council work! But what does she do? She drags my brother around for a date!"
"Oh come now, Elise." Alfin giggled. "You know that Mil- Musse isn't part of the student council. You can't force her to do anything, as if she'd let you. She's always one to play to the beat of her own drum."
"You can say that again," Rean agreed, his arms crossed in a knowing manner. "The moment she knows what she wants, she'll do whatever it takes to get it." He sighed. "Hasn't exactly left me without my share of headaches. I empathize with you two."
"Teehee, sounds like you've gotten to know her quite intimately, Rean." The princess's lips curled to a smug grin. "Do I sense wedding bells in the near future?"
"Please don't joke around, Your Highness…" Elise groaned, a hand to her forehead.
"Kidding, kidding! Things have been quite dreary lately, so I thought a joke could lighten things up." Alfin's grin morphed to a more innocent and excitable one. "Musse's always been like that, but she's a good person at heart. She means well."
Rean scratched the back of his head, the weird thoughts of the mint-haired girl making him the slightest bit embarrassed. "Yeah, I think I know what you mean. I don't know anything about marriage, but she's been a good friend so far."
"Oh, I am quite flattered you'd say so, Rean!"
Startled, the trio turned behind them as a mint-haired girl grinned at them with her chin cupped in her mitten-covered hands.
"Musse?! When did you-"
"Around the part where the princess complimented you on your coat."
"So the whole time…"
"I suppose so~" She turned to Alfin, her smile unwavering. "Speaking of which, Princess… I heard you mention that you've 'never seen this outfit in Rean's closet before'. Does that mean to imply that you've rummaged through his clothes?"
"Oh yes. Around the time of the civil war, I stayed in Ymir for quite some time. I was curious what sort of fashion sense Rean had so I got a quick peek at his closet."
…
Oh no.
She couldn't have…
She didn't…
Rean's face shot towards the princess, his expression completely mortified.
The blonde girl shrugged. "Most of what he had was rather basic. Nothing out of the ordinary, really. Though I can't say I can imagine Rean himself choosing a lot of it on his own. Almost like it was curated."
"Ah, boo… That's no fun…"
Rean let out a heavy sigh, his face relaxing at the lack of possible teasing he might have faced from the princess. He did his best to laugh off the slight to his fashion sense though. "Haha, yeah… I've been told that I don't do the best with clothes. I think I've been getting better though."
A mischievous glint shined in Elise's irises. She stood up, her hands on her hips and her chest puffed out. "Then I'm guessing Your Highness didn't see the best part of my brother's closet."
Rean's eyes widened while Alfin and Musse gleamed with anticipation.
"Ooh, tell me, tell me!"
"I must know too! Elise, I demand you inform us immediately!"
The smirk on her lips widened. "It would be my pleasure~! You see, deep within the confines of his closet, there lies- MMPH?! "
In a movement as quick as a flash, a gloved hand found its way over the young Schwarzer's mouth. Rean, as red as his old Thors uniform, held the young girl back from speaking any further. His other arm wrapped around her waist preventing her from breaking free from his grip.
He leaned into her ear and whispered in the most aggressive hushed tone he could muster.
"Another word and I'll tell Mom that it was you who dug up her garden and not Badeaux when you were five."
The girl's struggles came to a complete stop.
She slowly removed his hand from her lips.
And turned to glare at him.
"You wouldn't dare."
He responded in kind.
"Try me."
Elise scrunched up in disgust, her eyes contorted in disbelief and her mouth opening and closing as she contemplated the pros and cons of her next move. She turned back to face her two friends, her expression turning blank.
She inhaled.
She exhaled.
Satisfied by her moment of clarity, Rean released his hold on her. He stepped away, holding his hands up and a triumphant smile on his face.
"REAN HAS A COAT HE USED TO WEAR WHENEVER HE WANTED TO PRETEND TO BE A DARK HERO OF JUSTICE THAT DIDN'T EVEN COVER HIS CHEST AND YES I DO HAVE A PHOTO ALBUM."
Rean's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as his body grew stiff and heated up even in the freezing cold. His shaky eyes struggled but still tried to catch a glimpse of the other two St. Astraia students who learned about his darkest secret.
Nothing in Zemuria was able to wipe those ear-to-ear grins away.
Oh how he prayed the goddess would save him from his embarrassment and strike him down at that very moment.
December 25, S.1206 - Schwarzer Residence
Rean planted himself into his bed, letting out a muffled groan into his pillow that might have rang out throughout the manor.
The day after the ceremony had proven to be a pain. He had wanted to leave for home straight away, but apparently there had been an afterparty to attend to. He was forced to mingle amongst high ranking officers within the army and government officials that supported Chancellor Osborne's regime. He had familiar company there, but it was difficult to enjoy himself when they were still on his case about his fashion choices as a preteen.
He had spent most of that afterparty avoiding General Le Guin whenever possible. At any other opportunity, he would've jumped at the chance of sparring with her as they were both followers of the sword, but his mood was put at an absolute damper considering that he was the youngest person attending minus Elise, the princess, and the crown prince.
The next day, he took the earliest train to Ymir so that he could spend his winter vacation at home. He was so tired, he totally forgot to snitch on Elise about their mother's garden from twelve years earlier.
On the bright side, at least he didn't need to talk to Osborne.
That was always a good thing.
Rean sighed and turned over on his bed, his fuschia eyes staring at the ceiling. After a few moments of lying there, his gaze turned to his closet.
In the back recesses of the small room, he eyed a locked chest. Inside was something horrid. Something unspeakable.
He clicked his tongue. I'll deal with you soon enough, he thought.
"Rean?"
His father's head popped into the room. He looked at the young man, who only groaned in response.
"Doing okay, kiddo?"
"I've been better."
"I can tell. I knocked three times and you didn't respond at all."
"Sorry about that, Dad. I'm just tired."
"Well, before you take a nap, something came in the mail for you."
Rean pulled himself up, using his elbows as leverage to at least bring up his head and upper chest to face his father.
"What came in?"
"Two things actually… First is a letter with the Imperial seal. And the other is a package from a… Musse?"
"Oookay?" Rean was able to surmise who the letter was from. Based on his brief interaction with Prince Cedric at the party, the young prince had intended to deliver his next set of orders from the Chancellor. Usually it was Lechter who would do that, but he was preoccupied at the time.
However, he didn't expect anything from Musse. Especially since they had just seen each other.
"I'll give it a look."
His father nodded and made his exit with a simple wave. His steps vibrated onto the wooden floors until he heard the door to his office close on the other side of the hallway.
Rean followed his father's example and made his way downstairs to the main living room. He saw neither hide nor hair of his mother, so he presumed that she was either tending the garden or helping out the local housewives with a new recipe. And with Elise still in Heimdallr, he was all alone with opening his mail.
Just as Teo stated, there was a package on top of the coffee table with an intricately-designed envelope placed over it. The wax indeed had the Imperial seal imprinted onto it, but he decided it best to leave it for later.
He took out a switchblade he had received as a birthday gift from Fie to quickly open up the package. He didn't know how, but he should have expected a girl like Musse to elegantly make bog standard mail packages feel substantial and elegant.
Rean spread open the cardboard flaps of the box, revealing something he didn't quite expect.
Another envelope rested inside. Under it was a familiar black jacket with layers of clothes neatly folded below the outerwear. Under closer inspection, Rean recognized it as the casual outfit he tried on at the boutique the other day that he recalled liking.
"She didn't…"
He tore open the envelope, revealing a letter.
Hello, Rean~
I hear it's customary to give gifts to people you love during the winter in some parts of the world. So, what better way to celebrate our budding relationship than with a little touch of foreign tradition? Heehee, just kidding~!
"Of course she did."
Anyway, I know things have been tough lately for you, so I went back to buy this as a bit of a "get well" present if you would. Maybe also as an apology for egging you on about your… past tendencies. You looked nice in it and you seemed to like it, so it would be a waste for you to not have it!
Please take care of yourself.
Love, Musse Egret
Rean was glad no one was there to see his goofy smile.
P.S. While you don't have to feel obligated to make it up to me, I would adore it if you could send me pictures of your old Dark Prince ensemble. Even better if you send those with you wearing them~
"And then she has to ruin the moment. Typical."
He took one more glance into the box, pulling out the jacket and taking a hard look at the garment.
He smiled. At least he got better at this whole "fashion" thing.
Rean folded the jacket back to its original state and placed it back into the box. He picked up the other letter that came in the mail and tore it open, caring less if he damaged the inner contents.
It was a single sheet of stationery and it made Rean's forehead crease with skepticism.
My dearest Rean,
How do you do? These cold months do take their toll on the body. I don't know how you can tolerate much less enjoy such weather when you're forced to conceal your beautiful body under such thick clothing!
Who the hell…?
Whoops, apologies. He may not be hounding down my shoulder at the moment, but I can already feel Mueller's icy glare boring through me as I write. Old habits die hard.
That answered that question.
I'm here to offer a proposition for you. I'm aware that you are unhappy with your current station, if I were to put it plainly. Seeing as I spearheaded the Class VII experiment, nothing hurts me more than to see you suffer in silence. As I am now ousted from the board of directors, I've decided to celebrate my forced retirement with one last hurrah.
Have you heard of Leeves? It's a suburban area right off the outskirts of Heimdallr. In the opposite direction of Trista, in fact. Lovely place with lovely people. There's a nice little bakery there that reminds me of home. But that's not the point. I've proposed the foundation of Thors Branch Campus. While I cannot divulge its purpose now, I want you to become a part of this new academy.
Rean, I will put this bluntly. I am offering you a position as an instructor if you so desire. With this, the power the government will have over you will be limited and it will be more difficult for them to make use of your and Valimar's power.
Please, Rean. I am not asking you as the prince nor as your superior. Think of it as a request from one friend to another. The final choice, however, is up to you. I pray that you think it over. Whenever you get a chance, do tell me your decision.
Olivert Reise Arnor
P.S. If that sincere call to action wasn't enough for you, I know just what to get your attention. Rumor has it that a certain wildflower will be there to greet you, my friend. Best not to keep her waiting~
…
Rean read the letter again.
He examined every nook and cranny of the paper, wondering if he had somehow damaged it during his haphazard opening process. But no matter how much he looked through, his eyes did not deceive him.
An instructor, huh?
He had to admit, the idea sounded somewhat… enticing. Despite how unprofessional she may have acted, he always admired Instructor Sara's methods of teaching and how she always kept a close eye on all her students. She was part of the reason why he and his classmates were so close in the first place.
If he could do that… well, maybe then he could actually accomplish something he could be proud of. Besides, what else was he going to do with all the interesting Erebonian history that had been swimming through his mind? Better to teach it than contribute to it.
The more Rean thought about it, the more it enticed him. He loved his time in Thors, even during his second year when things weren't as smooth sailing. Being able to give back to it, even if it was only a branch campus, would mean the world to him.
But that aside, the "wildflower" comment the prince had added gnawed at his brain. He seemed to be referring to a person, indicated by the pronoun. But who was it?
…
Eh, it didn't matter right now. He'd find out once he got there.
Rean, with a smile on his face, went to grab his own set of stationery and a pen.
He would have to give the prince his reply straight away.
What's a better way to end this whole mini-arc than with an old-fashioned fashion show? In case you didn't pick up on it, every outfit I used as reference in this chapter are from Rean's concept designs for Cold Steel IV. The only exception being outfit 3, which is a DLC costume from Reverie. It felt like a waste to not ever use those designs, so I might as well incorporate them in a fun way!
I originally wanted to do a bit more with the other characters, like having Rean interact with Cedric, Aurelia, and Wallace, but it felt like that it would have bloated the chapter a bit too much. Especially since I felt that would've detracted from the intentional comedic feeling of the chapter.
As of this point of the story, we are now at the end of Rean's story in CS2. I technically *could* cover the next few months before Rean officially becomes an instructor, but I honestly don't know what I could add at this point that I haven't already explored or won't explore later.
