Julia quickly pushed him away with her forehead and shook her head.
"No. It's more fun to play with my sister than with you during the day. And we promised to build a sand castle with Ed. But why next week?"
When Julia asked with her eyes blinking, Endymion answered obediently.
"A delegation from Ametrine has arrived. We have some additional matters to discuss with Cheryl."
"Oh really? Well, now that you mention it, you said that only Ametrine was given more time as an exception."
"I was secretly concerned about the special treatment," said Julia.
"Thank you, but you don't have to be so kind to us anymore, Mion. Semele has been helping us out a lot in many ways, so our exports of Ametrine have been in the black every year. In any case, the basis of the Ametrine economy is agriculture, so it wouldn't be good to focus too much on investing in Cheryl."
"It may be okay if it's a stable item, but it's a luxury item that could burst at any time."
Julia said with a smile.
"My father was happy because he was earning more money right away, but he didn't seem to be completely in love with Cheryl. When I asked him what he planned to do with Cheryl's income, he said he would reclaim the wasteland and create new farmland. He also increased research on new crop varieties."
"As expected, the master is wise."
Endymion moved his lips, still barely touching.
"I knew it from the moment he sent me his smart daughter."
Well, it's just plain simple. Julia felt ticklish, but she smiled brightly at the compliment.
Her father was a man who valued the comfort of his people more than wealth and honor.
After ascending to the throne, Endymion tried to grant Ametrine many privileges, but her father refused any excessive favors, saying that he should not receive unfair benefits.
This time, the Sheryl reduction recommendation was completed earlier than expected, even though there was ample time left on the proposed period.
"It's been a while since I've seen the Ametrine people. I hope to see some familiar faces."
If she's lucky, she might even get to see her adopted brother. He's currently in the process of becoming a successor, so based on his experience, he might come to Semele.
When Julia liked it, Endymion raised his eyebrows.
"Although you are smart, you are not very perceptive."
"I?"
Julia's eyes widened in bewilderment. Then, Endymion, who was sitting next to her on the sofa, shrugged his shoulders.
"I said that when the messengers come, the time we spend together will be reduced. But you just like it."
"Ah. Well, I guess there's nothing I can do about it..."
Julia was embarrassed and trying to make excuses, but Endymion whispered as if he had been waiting for her.
"So I wanted to enjoy this precious opportunity to be together in advance."
The beautiful eyes smiled wickedly.
Even though she didn't let him sleep at night anyway, he thought that Semele was the best at joking. When he suddenly leaned over, Julia blushed in embarrassment.
"Wait a minute. Again? This isn't even a bedroom."
"If you lie down, isn't it all a bedroom?"
Endymion replied slyly and climbed onto her. Julia, who was now completely lying down on the sofa, covered her hot face with her hand and cried out.
"Door!"
"It's locked."
In terms of thoroughness, it was the best on the continent.
Although she was honestly attracted to it, it took Julia some time to make up her mind about anything, but a bed, as she had not yet completely abandoned her morality.
"Uh, what about the windows? You didn't even close the curtains."
"It's on the third floor, so no one can see it. And it needs to be bright to see it better."
And Endymion was a master at appeasing her.
As Julia was almost over, Endymion quickly began to untie her dress. Julia whispered softly.
"Don't break that! My dad gave it to me as a birthday present last year."
"Yes."
Endymion answered gently, but the speed at which he untied the strings became faster and faster, never cautiously.
How did I become such an immoral person...
The education she had received as a Queen as a child was completely in vain. Julia felt both trembling and a sense of inferiority as her heart beat faster in anticipation.
But the more it was like that, the better it was, so Julia pretended not to win, even though she was torn by a sense of guilt. Even though she knew that she would pass out every time late at night from exhaustion.
Even at first, she would panic if she woke up late, but these days, sleeping in has become a daily routine.
'Wait a minute, I can't get caught!'
Then, a sudden thought occurred to Julia, and she opened her eyes wide.
The Ametrine people knew her as an exemplary Queen. What if the envoys who came this time found out that she was living such a debaucherous life?!
The moral values that had been ingrained in her through her early education as a Queen were poking at her. It was already spilled milk in Semele, but she had to protect her image in her hometown!
'At least you have to choose the time and place!'
Julia, growing impatient, pushed Endymion away.
"Wait, wait a minute, Mion. I guess we..."
Sizzle.
But she pushed too hard and the fabric ripped. The problem was that it was soft and light for indoor use.
Julia looked at the torn dress with a blank expression.
'I can't believe I've fallen this far.'
Unable to resist the urge, she did it on the conference room sofa in broad daylight and tore and ate her clothes...
"I am the epitome of depravity..."
Julia cried and blamed herself.
Then am I a devil? Endymion thought in bewilderment. If this was the extent of corruption, then the imagination in his head was worthy of being put on trial by the Inquisition.
"What should I say when Ametrine asks where these clothes went?"
Julia muttered in vain.
What can you say? Just say that it ripped while you were taking it off.
But Endymion swallowed his words because it was obvious that Julia would be offended if he said that.
He thought for a moment, then quietly raised the corners of his lips. Then, trying hard to control his excitement, he got down from above Julia.
"Let's go."
"Where..."
"To match the same thing."
***
"Welcome! This is Madame Elphaba's shop."
As the carriage stopped, the attendant opened the door and greeted her loudly. Today was the day the new season's clothes were released, so the place was packed with customers.
"How about taking a waiting ticket? Afternoon admission is closed, but there are evening admission tickets left."
The servant asked the young man and woman who got out of the carriage. Judging from the plain carriage and their unglamorous attire, they did not seem to be famous nobles in the capital.
"I will go alone privately."
The red-haired man spoke briefly as he escorted the pink-haired woman. The attendant paused upon hearing those words.
'Isn't that a service only known to the highest-level customers?'
It was a so-called special treatment. It was a priority service where you could see all the clothes you wanted at once without waiting in a large building set aside for you.
No matter how high your status or how much money you had, you couldn't use it unless you were a long-time customer of the Elphaba Shop. In the first place, the purchase amount was calculated every quarter, and only the top few customers were given the right to use it.
"Excuse me, but do you have a reservation? The private hall is empty right now, but a silver customer is scheduled to arrive in an hour."
The attendant spoke indirectly. If he had just checked the name, he could have immediately confirmed that the person was not qualified, but there were many cases where he would have gotten angry because he was embarrassed.
"By the way. I don't know where I heard about the private hall. Judging by the way you're dressed, you look like a Baron or a Viscount."
The special services of the Elphaba Shop, used by high-ranking nobles, were a secret known only to those in the know. That way, their value would increase.
The servant thought that the young noblewomen and men would return home anyway. Since he had mentioned the Silver Customer, he would realize that he was not qualified.
But then the man suddenly held something out. The attendant took it without thinking and was so surprised that his eyes almost popped out.
"Does the Diamond level also require a reservation?"
"Oh, excuse me! I'll bring it to you right away!"
It was a diamond engraved with the shop's emblem. A free pass given only to the top 3% of Elphaba Shop customers!
The servant ran inside and spoke to the manager.
The manager who had been frantically greeting the nobles in the main hall was startled and handed over the key, and soon the young man and woman boarded the carriage and entered the private hall.
***
Julia and Endymion entered the hall where costumes were spread out.
Fortunately, Elphaba Shop operates a chain of stores on the continent. The diamond certificate that Endymion brought was not issued by the main Semele store, but by a branch in another country, so he was able to hide his identity and pretend to be a foreigner.
"Mion, didn't you just come here to get clothes fitted? I didn't know you came here to shop..."
Julia whispered, playing with her pink hair. She had been using illusionary magic to change her appearance, so she thought they were stopping by somewhere else for a change of scenery.
"Humble, humble."
Endymion spoke calmly and took her away.
The damaged Ametrine dress she brought in was immediately sent to the top designer at Elphaba Shop.
Elphaba's Shop, equipped with the best tailors and sewing rooms, immediately replied that they would make the same dress in an hour or two. However, instead of moving, E mndymion suggested that they go shopping for clothes in the meantime.
'Hmm, it's not like it won't work.'
Julia tilted her head for a moment, then linked arms with Endymion and went inside.
"Welcome, customer!"
Dedicated salespeople were waiting to greet the two.
"What kind of clothes are you looking for? Women's or men's? We have everything from indoor wear to ballroom wear to horse riding. Just ask!"
Julia blinked as she sat next to Endymion.
She had exclusive designers make her clothes, so it was her first time seeing so many clothes at once.
The private hall was now filled with colorful clothes. There seemed to be at least three hundred different types of clothes.
"Who is the highest here?"
Endymion, on the other hand, seemed quite familiar.
In fact, every year on Julia's birthday, he would call together designers from the most prestigious shops and costume shops, not just in Semele but from all over the continent.
And they laid out dozens or hundreds of masterpiece dresses they had created, and chose the most perfect one as a gift.
So it was familiar, but Julia, who had no idea about it, looked at it with a curious look.
"It's me!"
In response to Endymion's question, a woman raised her hand and shouted cheerfully.
"I'm Annie Fide, the second-in-command designer here. Today is the day my new dress goes on sale, so I was in the main hall, and I heard that a diamond customer was here, so I came running!"
"Good. Tell everyone to step aside except you."
"Oh? Oh, that's right! Well, I'm sure I can give you satisfactory advice on my own!"
Annie boasted that her sense was first-class. In fact, that wasn't it: Endymion just wanted to go shopping together in a cozy atmosphere.
"Yes, then tell me what kind of product you're looking for! We also have a lot of new products that haven't made it to the main hall yet!"
Annie asked excitedly, clapping her ringed hand together. Julia looked at Endymion curiously.
Oh, you wanted to go shopping for your own clothes after a long time? Since you came to get my clothes tailored.
"Look at the women's clothing. Over there."
Endymion opened his mouth with his characteristically bored expression.
"Yes? Women's clothing, and I'm sorry, but could you say that again?"
Annie, who had misheard, smiled and slightly lowered her head. Endymion placed his hand on top of Julia's and raised the corners of his lips lazily.
Soon, strong fingers scanned every inch of the hall.
"From there to there."
"Yes... yes?"
Annie opened her mouth blankly.
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