“Dad, I want their carrot cake.” Maxwell said pointing on the menu.
“I heard their meringue here is the best.” Maximus ignored him, which made the boy snicker.
“It is macaroons though. Do you not want macaroons, Mutt?” Maxwell butted in to take his revenge.
Sweat rolled down from the manager’s temple. ‘Our best dessert here is cinnamon roll with strawberry though?’ The man knew right away that the father and son did not have any idea on what was trending in their shop but he did not have any guts to interfere.
“It is meringue.” Maximus urged.
“That was from last year, Father. It is macaroons now.” But Maxwell would not want to lose.
“Uhm… Daddy, Maxwell, it is their cinnamon roll with strawberry filling this month…” Maxinierah hesitated.
The manager felt delighted that at least the Young Lady knew their shop and felt like crying from joy. He looked at Maxineirah as if she was an angel sent from heaven.
“Ohh…” the two of them felt dejected.
Maxineirah giggled because she found their expressions adorable. She turned to the manager and said, “I would like to order meringue and macaroons and cucumber lemon for the drink.”
Maximus and Maxwell immediately brightened up after hearing those words. “As expected, my Mutt/Darling is so sweet.” The both of them thought.
“Me too.” They also said in unison, feeling happy.
The Knights in guard only ordered drinks from the waiters and waitresses as they were currently on duty.
Their orders were served immediately after a few minutes of waiting.
After eating, they left to shop for new summer clothes because early summer was approaching fast. Of course, Maxineirah knew that her brother and father would make her the most priority again and would demand her to try almost everything in the shop so before the both of them could talk, she appealed first.
“Dad, Brother, why don’t we have a family pair of clothes?” Maxineirah suggested that they look at her with a question mark plastered on their faces. They did not get what she said or should she say that they could not believe that they would not see her try different beautiful and cute dresses.
But…
“What do you mean family pair of clothes?” the Duke asked with curiosity. He does not know what it means but it sounds pleasing to the ear.
Maxineirah remembered that clothes that come in pairs for couples, family and for friends became a trend in the past around the year 668 of the Asthal calendar. It was first introduced in her brother Maxwell’s engagement party by La Preinte Boutique although Maxwell and his partner kept it secret from where it came from.
‘I am very sorry for stealing your future idea, Mrs. Creld.’ Maxineirah silently prayed.
“Oh. It is just what it means. Father, Brothers and I will have the same clothes, shoes and jewellery that also have the same design, theme and colour.” Maxineirah explained.
Maxwell and Maximus nodded consecutively as if they were pleased with the idea.
“As expected of My Mutt. You really are a bright child.” Maxwell complimented as he caressed her head.
Since La Preinte already had a branch in the capital, although small, they went there because it was what Maxineirah wanted, to ease her guilty conscience of stealing the idea of its owner.
As they entered the boutique, all the workers who had nothing to do and the manager, even in the midst of escorting a customer, approached to serve them.
They recognized the new customers right away because Duke Zachrono have his family’s clothes exclusively tailored from La Preinte and so, Mrs. Creld taught her employees that Maximus’ family was a special customer and should pay extra courtesy and politeness, that she even went to the length of showing the whole family’s face painted on a big picture on the day of every new worker’s orientation or training and made them familiarize.
“I am glad to finally meet you, My Duke!” said the manager with admiration.
“Show me the catalogues of your designs -whether be it clothes, hats, gloves, shoes or whatever- while you measure my son and daughter.” Maximus was intimidating, shoving the manager’s esteem.
‘Woah! He is even cooler when he is cold. Are heroes supposed to be like this?’ the manager thought in awe instead of resenting His Excellency for ignoring him. He even almost forgot to attend to His Excellency, good thing that the people below him heed to the words of the Duke and dragged the children excitedly to a room, leaving a few assistants and the manager.
“For what and whom you plan…?” the manager hesitated to ask after he moved on from praising His Grace’s performance.
“Every. Single. Catalogue. Bring them all to me.” Maximus emphasized every word. His voice was chilling but deep inside, he could not wait to have a pair of clothes with Maxineirah. Albeit, he was not the only one getting a pair with his daughter.
There were his sons as his own rivals for their girl’s affection.
Everyone of the workers moved fast to gather all the catalogues of the shop, both for men and women, young and adult and old and new.
The customers who first came in before the Duke’s family were struck with surprise after seeing them, that they forgot their own reasons for coming in.
After a quarter hour of looking for all the catalogues the shop released ever since the shop started up to the newest catalogue that they have not yet to release to anyone, they brought it all before the Duke’s eyes and at the same time, his children went out from two different rooms.
“What in the hell is that mountain, Dad?” Maxwell and Maxineirah’s mouth gaped at the sight that greeted them.
Maxineirah felt that her Dad was excessive. She extended her hand and was about to get a catalogue to pick a design when her father said, “Make every design, style and colour in the catalogue into different styles of dresses, coats and everything in my two children and I’s size. Money is not a problem.” Maximus commanded.
The whispers from the lower nobles inside the shop grew louder as they could not help but to express their awe.
“How wealthy the Zachrono Ducal House is!”
“How rich!”
“I, myself, envy the children.”
“That is a lot. Must have cost a fortune.”
“They could even build a Palace with all the money just for the outfits.”
The family was the target of the envy of the lower nobles and eyed them with something in mind.
The manager’s eyes twinkled with gold as they heed his words, and contacted Mrs. Creld right away to report the good news.
“Consider it done, My Duke!” the manager said excitedly. He almost wanted to jump in joy but he should show formality.
The manager sure thought that working in La Preinte was the best thing he did. He did not just meet one of the Heroes but they also received a lot of work to do. They might even shut down the shops in the meantime to follow the orders.
Maxineirah’s mouth fell in shock while Maxwell was nodding that their father did the right thing because there were no clothes that were not suited for his sister and that she must have everything because she deserves everything.
“W-wait Dad, is it not too much?” Maxineirah tried to change her father’s mind but to no avail.
“There is no ‘too much’ when it comes to you.” Maximus smiled at his daughter slightly as he pinched her cheeks gently.
“B-but what about Brother Millian, Brother Amo, Lein and Lary’s…”
She believed that she could change his mind if she were to include her brothers in the academy. Moreover, when Maximus’ expression slightly changed to sour.
“What about them? Do you mean that they should also get the same clothes as us?” Maxwell asked bitterly and Maxineirah nodded hopefully.
Hoping that Maximus would change his mind because he would need to pay more than twice.
Nonetheless…
“If they should have what we have, then, it is fine. If it would make my clothes partnered with yours.” Maximus replied after a second of silence.
“I agree.” Maxwell seconded.
“I will be sending my other four son’s lessons later. Make them partnered with us.” Maximus instructed the manager and the manager excitedly nodded his hand
Maxineirah was left dumbfounded and speechless. Deep inside, she was already screaming and going insanely crazy after hearing that.
‘Why would you spend a fortune on clothes that will not be used?!’
She felt stressed out about the idea of spending such a large account. She should take note that her father and brothers become excessive when they are too excited.
The employee got Maximus’ size before they left the boutique. It only took them a half hour in La Preinte so they still have time to wander around the city before having lunch.
“Where do you want to go, Darling?” Maximus asked.
“There is a jewellery shop around that corner, Mutt. Should we take a look?” Maxwell asked, pointing in the corner.
Maxineirah shook her head and answered immediately. “No. I want to go to the market.”
Although she wanted to go to the jewellery shop, she refused without hesitation because there was something she had to find in the market.
She was looking for land that would surely be very valuable…
“Do you want me to call for the carriage, Your Grace?” the Head Guard in charge of the escorting Knights asked Maximus, he looked at his children whose eyes were sparkling while looking at the whole place. Thus, he refused the suggestion and the Knight respected his wishes and watched over them silently.
They went to the market on foot. The sun was high up but it was not an issue because Maxwell brought a parasol solely to use for his sister.
“Thank you, Brother.” Maxineirah thanked her brother with a smile when he shaded her from the sun rays.
They excitedly went all over the place. There was not a single store that they did not look at as they were astonished with all the things they have yet to see.
Maxineirah already lived so many lives but out of all her lives, the commoner’s daily life was what really made her feel happy and content because she needed not to deal with nobles who only know and mind about etiquettes and luxury.
Maxwell and Maxineirah were looking somewhere while walking and Maxwell did not notice that there was someone in front of him.
They bumped into each other, Maxwell was able to balance himself but the other party could not.
“Kyaaah!” the other person exclaimed in shock as she fell on the ground. Some people looked at their place but no one helped the other party to stand up.
“Ouch.” Maxwell murmured as his nose hit the other’s head.
He carried it with half-closed eyes.
Maxineirah panicked because Maxwell bumped into a young lady her age, certainly younger than her brother.
The girl’s face seemed so familiar as if she had seen her somewhere but before she could think of when, she helped the young lady up.
With a worried face, she bent a little and extended her hand in front of the girl.
“Are you okay?” she asked worriedly but the girl only stared at her face for a moment and to her extended hand before she shot her eyes somewhere.
The girl on the ground ignored Maxineirah’s hand and stood up on her own.
“As you can see, I am not completely fine.” The girl responded to the previous question.
“My Lady!”
“Maxine!”
Two people shouted at the same time from their backs.
Maximus came from behind the siblings, with no guards with him. They might have been scattered so as not to catch too much attention.
“Are you okay, Maxine?” Maximus asked.
“Dad, it is me who was hurt!” Maxwell complained.
On the other hand, a young woman in her teens came late from the girl’s back whom Maxwell bumped into, panting. She ran just to cope up with her Young Mistress.
“F-Finally! I-I am able to follow you. Ha. Ha.” The teen seems like a maid said while trying to catch her breath.
Maximus noticed the other girl whom Maxwell bumped into.
“Hmm. Look who is here. If it is not Lady Marlowe.” Maximus recognized the little girl.