141: Tailor

Looking down at the suit in my hands, I quickly convinced myself the minor alterations would be best. After all, I’d only met Alira once. I knew that Lily and Crisplet would probably prefer to represent me.

Racing out the door, I saw Cameron heading through the hall.

“Sorry, Cameron, before you go, you might be able to help me?” I said, catching him before he exited onto the stairs.

Turning around, looking confused, Cameron stammered, “Sir?”

“Sorry, I was wondering if there was anyone who knew how to tailor the suit available. I wanted to make a small change to them.” I said.

Suddenly, I felt embarrassed by it all. I probably didn’t even have enough time, and would I even wear this again? Ah well. Too late now.

“Not on the staff, sir, but I’m sure we can get someone for you if you’d like? I mean, sorry…” He apologised.

Trying to wave at him to get him to stop apologising. “It’s fine, honestly. If it can’t be done, then it’s no problem.”

It was fine. I would wear thi—

“I will get someone immediately,” Cameron said with such finality it left me stunned. Not even getting a response before he was out the door.

Entering the room again, looking at the suit in my hands. I didn’t even know what I wanted to change exactly, or if it could even be changed.

I didn’t really know what to do right now. It was still at least five hours before dinner, maybe even longer as we arrived just after lunchtime. Crisplet was clearly busy in the hearth as I watched the base of something being built out of it.

I didn’t trust cooking anything yet here as we still didn’t know the motives of the royals or what they’d expect.

What I really needed to do while I was in the capital, however, was use my skills that I had neglected—chief among them, Runes and Stock Reduction. Outside of a couple of uses, I had barely done any testing of Stock Reduction, despite it having so many plus sides.

I took a seat at the reading desk near the window, pulled out a notebook, and started creating a goals list for what I wanted to achieve while in the capital.

The main ones being: train my runescribing and see about possibly finding someone who could give me hands-on training. Milo was great, but he’d be the first to admit he didn’t actually do any runescribing, so his instructions were limited to just understanding the texts better.

The next thing I really wanted to do was find someone to teach me some cooking. Sure, I had learned from Martin and Geo, but the food they prepared was basic. I had tried restaurants now, and I was sure I could learn so much more. Perhaps if I found a chef, or maybe I could hire one as part of the house staff.

Then, I really wanted to make sure that my friends were all set up and would thrive here. I wanted them to succeed, and I would do what I needed to do to make sure of that.

Finally, besides the skills, I wanted to find a baker to teach me more in terms of pastries. Also, if I could stockpile a lot of dough, that would be amazing.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Uh, sir, the royal tailor will be here momentarily. Would you like him to be escorted to the room?” Cameron said, poking his head into the room.

I looked around at the massive snaking coal-and-ash statue Crisplet built that had already reached the roof, and at Lily sleeping on the bed. It should be fine, right? If he’s uncomfortable, we’ll go to another room.

“Thank you, Cameron. Please escort him up when he arrives,” I said, storing away my notebook and going to get the suit I was given.

Moments later, another sharp knock, followed by a much older-looking man entering the room, followed closely by Cameron.

“Sir Trevor, this is the personal tailor of the royal family, Toby Cunningham,” Cameron introduced, but I saw his eyes never leave Lily.

Toby seemed mostly unbothered by it all.

“Greetings, sir. I was told you would like to make some alterations to your suit for this evening. I am at your service,” Toby bowed.

Again trying to wave it off, but he paid no attention. I was really not used to this sort of formality.

Cameron quickly made his way out of the room, seemingly eager to leave now that his job of introductions was done, as I picked up the suit jacket I was provided.

“I was wondering if it would be at all possible to change the stitching of Alira here to a combination of Lily and Crisplet,” I said, gesturing to them as I spoke.

“Alira, sir?” Toby asked, looking confused, before just staring at me.

“Oh, sorry. The phoenix—her name is Alira. I was hoping to get her changed out for my companions instead,” I said, looking at the jacket. Was I asking too much?

“If it’s not possible, then it’s okay. Maybe I could get a jacket commissioned for the future,” I quickly added, in case it wasn’t possible.

Toby just shook his head. “Uh, no, sir. It’s not that. I can certainly change the stitching. It’s just I had never heard the phoenix had a name, and yet you say it so casually.”

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I chuckled nervously, scratching the back of my head. Clearly, word had not spread everywhere yet, so that was good.

“I am having dinner tonight. Would that be too soon to have it done?” I asked.

“So you’d like me to remove the phoenix, and then add… Lily and Crisplet?” The last part was posed as a question, so I pointed to them both again.

“Lily, you can just leave her sleeping like that, but I’m sure she won’t mind what you decide. Crisplet will probably pose for you if you—” I didn’t even get to finish my sentence before Crisplet burst out of the fireplace and struck a little pose next to me.

“Yeah, like that,” I said with a laugh.

“It might be easier to create a new jacket than it would be to remove the stitching in this and redo it. Are you set on the red jacket? I think I could make something nice to go with the white shirt you have,” Toby said, turning the jacket in his hands.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“Arms up. I need to measure. Stand still,” Toby said, seemingly having decided, putting my arms up as he started pulling tools out of storage devices he must have had.

After only a few seconds, he turned to me. “Do you have a room I can work in?”

“Um, yes, I think so. There is a room just outside my own, I believe—you can work in there,” I said, still a bit confused.

“Very well. Give me a few hours and I shall have this ready for you,” Toby said, marching out the door.