Kaito was being escorted by Cornelia-san to a shop that specialized in dedicated brushes for monsters. Along the way, he planned to see if they could also manufacture brushes for Dragon Species.
"So, Rin, could you spare a few of your scales?"
"Kyu!"
After a short nod, Rin shifted her neck to inspect her body, then peeled off several scales that were nearing their shedding phase and placed them in his palm. He tucked them into a small vial he had prepared, and with that, his preparations were complete.
"There, there. This should be enough to get a dedicated brush for Rin made. I'm looking forward to it."
"Kyui!"
He figured the process wouldn't be much different from making Bell’s brush, so there shouldn't be any issues. In the worst-case scenario where the trading company didn't stock them, he could always fall back on Alice.
As he was lost in thought, a soft cry caught his ear.
"Kuu..."
"Hm? Sera? What is it?"
Sera, who was usually quiet and reserved, was looking up at him. When he asked what was the matter, she held a single scale from her body in her mouth and offered it to him.
"...Ah, I see. You want a dedicated brush for Sera too, don't you?"
Sera remained silent, but her intent was clear. It would be a shame for Rin to have one while she didn't, especially since she looked up to Rin like an older sister.
Smiling at the adorable request, Kaito collected a few more scales from Sera just as he had with Rin and placed them in a vial. It wouldn't hurt to have extra, and he decided he would buy a brush for her as well to give to Sieg-san as a gift.
While Kaito was relaxing with his pets and waiting for the appointed time, Cornelia was in a room at the Sharon Count House in the Arclesia Empire, staring intently into a mirror with a grave expression.
(This isn't a formal party or a tea ceremony, so I must be meticulous with my grooming. Flashiness or overt luxury would be a mistake. A refined, understated design that doesn't draw too much attention in the city, yet signals the status of a noble daughter to those with a discerning eye... that would be the best approach.)
As the eldest daughter of the Sharon family—who were merchants as much as they were counts—Cornelia had been immersed in various social circles since childhood. She was confident in her knowledge of fashion, having kept a close eye on the latest trends in the Hydra Kingdom.
But when she considered that her partner was Kaito-sama, she felt she had to be more careful with her attire than ever before.
(Matching the vibe of Kaito-sama’s clothing would be ideal, but if our styles are too similar, mine will inevitably look inferior. Though he wears them so naturally, the outfit he wore to the tea party... it appeared simple at first glance, but the craftsmanship was a masterpiece. The jacket was likely woven from the thread of a Demon Realm Crown Spider. Procuring enough thread from such a Specially Designated Dangerous Creature is impressive enough, but the artisan's skill is simply divine. Given Kaito-sama's astronomical wealth, I can only imagine what that set cost...)
To Cornelia’s expert eye, Kaito’s clothes were the pinnacle of materials and technique. She was convinced his financial power was on a completely different level.
In reality, Kaito bought his clothes from Alice. That entire tea party set had cost him a mere 500R.
To a commoner, that was a significant sum, but the clothes Cornelia currently wore were actually more expensive in terms of market value. Of course, Alice was head over heels for Kaito and would never compromise on his wardrobe. She personally sourced the highest-grade materials for everything she made for him.
(Kaito-sama is clearly a man with a profound obsession with clothing. If I show up in something subpar, I'll be a laughingstock. I've narrowed down the choices, but I must think this through once more.)
This was, in fact, a Great Misunderstanding. Kaito was actually quite indifferent to fashion; he gave Alice rough ideas and left everything else to her. However, because Alice’s sense of style was impeccable and she stayed ahead of every trend, Cornelia perceived him as a true connoisseur.
Serious-senpai: "...The subtitle changed. That means there's plenty of time and chapters left to fill... It’s all over for Cornelia's stomach."