Chapter 6

I became a genius father in the game - Chapter 6 (6/109)

Funeral (1)

“Necktie…? What is that?”

I was just as puzzled by the tailor's reaction.

‘Is there no such thing as a necktie in this world? That can't be. I even drew a necktie when I designed Seymour.’

Upon closer reflection, that was a concept art from a year later. It seemed that neckties did not exist at the current time.

‘Then, could it be that these strangely old-fashioned fashions are all…’

I thought the tailor was only showing me clothes from the old era because the fief was quite far from the capital and thus lagged behind in fashion trends.

Most of the clothes I had seen since I fell into this world were in the style of the Rococo era.

Jackets with rounded shoulders and excessive decorations, paired with white stockings that almost reached the knees.

‘A fashion that makes you feel like you need to put on a white wig at any moment.’

Among them, only Richard Mausoleum, who ran a fashion business, wore clothes in the Napoleonic style, which was somewhere between military uniforms and riding attire.

‘Is this a world where Rococo fashion is the mainstream trend and Napoleonic fashion is the latest trend?’

I stroked my chin for a moment, then nodded as I realized something.

The Mausoleum family, including Seymour, mostly wore modern suits, but upon reflection, I had only designed for the Mausoleum family.

‘Perhaps the modern suits in this world, including neckties, were first conceived by Seymour.’

Given that Seymour had an aesthetic sense and a narcissistic trait, it was entirely possible for him to pioneer a fashion trend that suited him.

After all, many of the fashion items that were popular on Earth were created by bored, wealthy medieval nobles.

Having come to this conclusion, I picked up some scraps of fabric from the wardrobe, wrapped them around the model's neck, and tied a knot.

“A necktie, you see, is something like this, much thinner and more sophisticated than a cravat….”

I couldn't finish my sentence.

When I turned around, the tailor was staring at the necktie with wide eyes.

“This is…!”

The tailor approached with a trembling voice, a stark contrast to his overly polite demeanor earlier. I took a step to the side, as his eyes were rolling.

The tailor, who was so engrossed that the model wearing the necktie was flustered, examined, held, and untied the necktie, then tied it again, muttering as if under a spell.

“It looks simple and thin, but it’s a trinity of sophistication, restraint, and elegance…!”

“What?”

“The clothes that would go with this…? Ah, so many ideas come to mind!”

The tailor, who had been caressing the necktie with a rapturous expression, suddenly turned to me.

His eyes were so wide that I instinctively took another step back.

The tailor, who was so blinded that he didn't even notice, rambled on like a madman.

“I can assure you, my lord! Although it may be less elegant than a cravat and be shunned by people at first, within three years, no, within one year, everyone will be wearing this decoration around their necks. The entire genre of fashion will change to suit this!”

“Eh… Really?”

The necktie is quite impressive.

…But was it really that impressive?

I was a madman, not a fashion designer.

My knowledge of fashion was limited to what I had studied as part of my research, so I lacked the fashion sense to empathize with Andre.

“What kind of decoration is this, my lord?”

“Just… something that came to mind.”

“Indeed, you are a lord! A genius!”

Still, he wasn’t completely out of his mind, as his flattery didn’t stop…

“Throughout history, tyrants have had a keen eye for art!”

“…What, man?”

“Even notorious tyrants became corrupt after their artistic dreams were thwarted!”

I seem to have heard a similar story on Earth. Hitler tried to get into an art school when he was young…

But more importantly, I just heard a very disrespectful remark…

“With this, my entry into the imperial capital is not just a dream…! My lord!”

The tailor suddenly knelt before me.

The sound of his knees hitting the floor was so loud that I felt more worried than surprised.

“I, Andre, am a talented person! I started as an apprentice to my master with nothing but my limbs and rose to this position in 15 years!”

I knew that Andre, the man in front of me, was a famous tailor.

Only the best tailors in the Mausoleum fief could enter this castle.

“Three years ago, I opened a shop under my name, which became the most successful tailor shop in the fief. Especially in men's clothing, I proudly claim to be the best in the region! So…!”

Andre lifted his head.

His eyes were brimming with passion like a steady stream of lava.

“Would you invest this technique in me?”

In other words, he was asking me to impart all my knowledge and information about neckties to him.

“Hmm…”

I stood there, stroking my chin.

‘It’s a good offer.’

The clothing in this world didn’t meet my standards, which were based on modern Earth.

There were no neckties, and the shirts were primitive, like the ancient ‘chemise’.

If I had been a regular person in this world, I might not have cared much.

But since I became Seymour Mausoleum, I wanted to wear the clothes I had designed.

The current clothes didn’t complement Seymour’s appearance, and the same went for Lucius.

‘It wouldn’t be bad to teach him all the modern Earth fashions, not just neckties.’

But I didn’t want to help someone else’s business grow.

I knelt down in front of Andre and asked, making eye contact.

“There is one condition.”

“I will follow anything you say!”

“The shop will bear the name of my family, not yours.”

“I don’t mind! I will follow!”

I was a bit impressed by his immediate decision.

I knew how important a shop or studio bearing one’s own name was to artists.

‘He must really want the necktie to overcome that desire.’

I liked it.

To be honest, if Andre had hesitated even a little, I would have dismissed him.

While Andre was the best tailor in the fief, there were plenty of tailors of his caliber in the imperial capital.

What I needed was obedience more than skill.

“Alright. Prepare the shop. In two weeks, we will go to the capital together.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Andre bowed to me several times.

* * *

The next day.

I called Sia to the study.

Knock, knock, knock.

Sia, who knocked and cautiously entered the study, approached me slowly, a bit hesitantly.

“Brother, why did you call me?”

I turned my eyes from the painting I was admiring to look at Sia. In turn, Sia turned her eyes from me to the painting I had been looking at.

It was an easel set up next to the desk.

“…?”

The easel displayed a painting I had drawn myself, inspired by looking in the mirror during the morning bath.

It was a painting of a man sitting in a chair, with black hair and golden eyes, radiating arrogance and brilliance.

Title: Self-Portrait.

To be honest, the model was my handsome self.

“…What is this?”

“It’s an art piece, sister.”

“An art piece…?”

I shook my head slightly at Sia’s bewildered voice.

“You should cultivate your aesthetic sense, sister. An eye for art is essential for a noble.”

“But anyone can see it’s your face, brother.”

“That’s why it’s an art piece. You should be grateful for that face.”

And you should bow deeply to me, who designed that face.

“…”

Sia, who looked at me as if I were crazy, sighed and plopped down on the sofa.

“I feel like a fool for coming here so tense…”

On the opposite side, Lucius, who had been playing with jewels he bought from the tailor, shook his head.

“Hello.”

“Yeah, hello, Lucius.”

It seemed Sia had decided to speak informally to Lucius.

After a moment of looking at Lucius with a warm smile, Sia turned to me and asked.

“So, brother. Why did you call me?”

“I called you because I have a favor to ask. I want you to help Lucius from now on.”

“Lucius?”

Lucius, being a hatchling, refused the touch of anyone except his blood relatives.

But noble life required assistance for everything from bathing to changing clothes, and I couldn’t help him directly due to the gender barrier.

“I mean, helping him with morning and evening baths and changing clothes.”

Sia’s brow furrowed at my words.

“I’m not a maid, so why should I?”

It was understandable that Sia was upset.

The Mausoleum family was a high-ranking noble family. Even a count could be below them.

Asking her to serve as a maid to her own nephew, a fellow count, would naturally be unpleasant.

But I had no other choice besides Sia.

Non-blood-related servants were rejected by Lucius, and I couldn’t trust the collateral relatives.

“Lucius only allows me to touch him, and among those, you are the only one I trust.”

For some reason, Sia’s eyes widened at my words.

“You trust me?”

“…? Of course. You are my younger sister.”

Even as I answered, I felt like I was asking a stupid question. Does a brother need a reason to trust his sister?

Then, I suddenly remembered the character traits of Seymour that I had stored in the desk drawer.

‘…If I had a family member like Seymour, I might not trust them either.’

I shook off my thoughts and spoke to Sia, who was still half-dazed.

“Don’t worry. I will make sure you are well-compensated.”

Sia seemed to snap out of it and grumbled.

“So, you’re offering more pocket money?”

“I will give you a business of your choice when you graduate from the academy.”

Sia’s body stiffened at my words.

In this world, all nobles ran businesses.

The Mausoleum family, which had been secretly operating behind the empire for a thousand years, ran numerous businesses.

‘In a world where a noble’s authority comes from money rather than history or tradition.’

The direct and collateral relatives shared these businesses, so the adults who gathered in my bedroom and raised their voices were all business owners.

For a minor like Sia, she would receive a business from the head of the family upon reaching adulthood and run it.

‘Simon received his from the previous head, the former count, and Sia will receive hers from me.’

Perhaps because of this background.

Just as there were businesses for direct and collateral relatives, there were also different businesses for the head of the family and non-heads within the direct line.

“…You’ll give me what I want?”

“A business of your choice. Anything.”

Thus, my offer was unprecedented.

‘I will soon step down from the count position anyway.’

When I step down, the next count will be either Simon or Sia.

It wouldn’t be a loss to give her a business now, which I would have to pass down eventually.

‘It might even improve my image, so even if I retire and receive more pocket money from the fief, they might overlook it.’

As expected, Sia accepted my offer with joy.

However, one thing that differed from my expectations was that her eyes were filled with hope rather than desire.

I didn’t know what that meant at the time.