“Welcome! This is Mirabel’s Clothing Shop—eek!”
The shop owner, who had been cheerfully greeting the customer, suddenly locked eyes with Kiki’s blood-red gaze and let out a piercing scream.
[How insolent, human! How dare you scream at the sight of this great being!]
Kiki, enraged by the reaction, hissed sharply, only making the owner scream even louder.
“Please calm down! It’s not a monster. It’s a monkey—an animal commonly found in the distant New Continent. It won’t harm you,” Jean quickly explained.
“W-won’t harm me? It’s hissing so fiercely—oh… my, what a handsome man.”
Despite Jean’s attempt to reassure her, the owner failed to calm down at all. But the moment she properly looked at the speaker’s face, her panic melted away as if it had never existed.
As someone who worked in fashion, the shop owner had a strong appreciation for beauty.
Even at the moment of death, she would likely boast, “There was this man I saw when I was young…” And now before her stood exactly that kind of man—stunning enough to be remembered forever—holding the hand of a child so adorable it made people gasp aloud.
Her previously dull afternoon instantly turned into something delightful.
“What brings you here today? A casual outing outfit?”
With a warm smile, as though she had never screamed at all, she ushered them inside.
The boutique was divided into two sections.
One area displayed ready-made clothing hanging neatly. The deeper section was reserved for custom tailoring.
Inside the tailoring area stood a dress form. For a moment, Vivian mistook it for a real person and flinched.
Opposite it was a large cutting table, piled with fabrics and various sewing tools.
Jean, now slightly embarrassed by the earlier “handsome” remark, picked Vivian up in his arms and spoke.
“I’ve been away for business for a long time and just returned. I’d like to have several outfits made for both me and my daughter.”
The words sounded like a trumpet of angels.
Not only was a beautiful customer here, but he was also bringing in a large order.
The owner nearly blew steam from her nose in excitement.
“Oh my! Really? You came to the right place! This is the best tailor not only in Belual but in the entire Count’s territory of Laville! …Ah, may I ask your budget? Custom clothing can vary greatly in price—hohoho.”
Only after her excitement peaked did she glance at their clothing and regain a bit of composure.
She had been about to indulge her creative passion and perhaps even exceed their budget for a masterpiece or two.
Jean, without hesitation, took out a small pouch from his coat and handed it over.
The owner swallowed hard and carefully opened it.
A dazzling golden light flooded her vision.
When father and daughter left the shop, their appearance had changed significantly.
Custom outfits couldn’t be made instantly, so what they wore now were ready-made clothes.
However, they were from the highest-quality line and adjusted slightly to fit their bodies, making the phrase “clothes make the man” feel entirely appropriate.
“Our little princess looks just like a fairy!”
“And Daddy looks like a prince!”
Vivian, now wearing a light spring-green outing dress with a lace-adorned oversized ribbon on her head, looked every bit the refined young lady.
It was a gift from the shop owner in gratitude for the day’s enormous sales.
Even though her cheeks were still a little chubby with baby fat, Vivian’s naturally charming appearance made her stand out regardless. Dressed plainly, she already drew attention—now, every passerby’s gaze lingered at least once.
Kiki, perched on Vivian’s shoulder, was also dressed proudly in a checked cape.
He puffed out his chest.
[Hmph! It is still far beneath my standards, but I shall tolerate it!]
“Daddy, Kiki says he doesn’t like his clothes.”
[When did I ever say that!]
As Vivian and Kiki bickered and hissed at each other, Jean suppressed a laugh and headed toward the only café in Beluang.
They had come a long way by carriage and on foot, so it would likely be tiring for Vivian.
More importantly, he wanted to show his daughter a café.
She had never been somewhere like this before—there had never been money for such luxuries, and she had been too young to bring out anyway.
When they opened the café door, a crisp chime welcomed them.
“Welcome. Please follow me this way.”
Guided by a kind waiter, they took their seats. Vivian puffed her cheeks, eyes bright with excitement.
The moment the waiter left after taking Jean’s order, she could no longer contain her excitement and began swinging her legs.
“Wow! Daddy! What is this place? What do they do here?”
[It smells wonderful!]
“This is a café. They serve drinks and desserts. You must be tired from coming so far, so I thought we could rest a bit.”
“Waaah!”
Vivian pressed her flushed cheeks with her hands, awestruck.
“I feel like such a grown-up!”
“What? Hahaha!”
Jean burst into laughter at her reaction, and Vivian giggled along.
“Your order is ready.”
Soon, the drinks and desserts arrived.
A cup of coffee for Jean. A large pudding for Vivian. And an identical pudding for Kiki.
“Eeeek!”
Vivian tapped the wobbling, translucent pudding with her spoon, fascinated by how it trembled like jelly. She kept doing it until Jean had already finished half his coffee.
Eventually, Jean had to stop her from playing with her food. Only then did Vivian finally take a large bite—lamenting a little as she ruined its smooth surface.
The taste was soft, sweet, and richly caramel-like, melting in her mouth.
“Mmm! It’s so sweet! Daddy, this feels weird! Try some!”
“Shall I?”
“Yes! Say ah~”
“Ah~”
Jean accepted the spoon-fed pudding with the happiest expression in the world. He exaggerated just how delicious it was, and Vivian insisted on giving him more until he had to stop her.
Meanwhile, Kiki had already finished his first plate long ago and was now devouring the second one Jean had ordered.
“My princess, eat as much as you want! It’s so good—and Daddy bought it for you. I want you to eat lots of delicious things.”
As Jean finished his coffee and watched his daughter happily enjoying herself, a sudden dryness crept into his mouth.
He had something to say.
He had been thinking about it all this time, but now that he was about to speak, he wasn’t sure how Vivian would react.
Fidgeting with the empty cup handle, he finally spoke.
“Hey, Vivi.”
“Hmm?”
“What would you think… if you had to leave this house and move to another one?”
“Another house?”
“Yes. This house is a bit old, right? Now we can afford a bigger, better one. I think it might be better… but it’s important what our princess thinks too.”
No—it wasn’t just “might be better.” He absolutely wanted to move.
Especially after what he had seen recently…
Jean bit the inside of his cheek without showing it.
It had been a night of heavy rain.
Vivian, unable to go outside and play with Kiki, had spent the evening looking longingly out the window before falling asleep.
After confirming she was asleep, Jean went to his study and reviewed unfinished documents.
“Haaah… this is difficult.”
Even though he was a regressor, at this point in time he had once been stranded on a deserted island where surviving monkeys stealing his food had been his only concern.
After escaping the island, he had not regained his memories for a long time—and once he did, learning Vivian’s situation had driven him only toward revenge.
Now, understanding the flow of the market was his priority.
So, aside from time spent with Vivian or doing housework, he buried himself in newsletters day after day.
“Let’s stop here for today.”
Rubbing his tired eyes, Jean headed to the bedroom. Just thinking of Vivian’s angelic sleeping face would ease his exhaustion.
He opened the creaky door as quietly as possible and approached the bed.
“…!”
But there was no Vivian.
Only Kiki, sleeping on his back with his belly exposed.
Thinking she might be in the bathroom, he checked there too—but there was no sign of her.
“VIVI!”
Panic set in. Jean ran through the entire house, calling her name again and again. No answer returned.
His face darkened.
Was I wrong about returning? Am I still in that cold prison? Have I gone mad…?
Breathing heavily, he rushed up to the attic floor.
The door was slightly open.
He burst inside.
“Vivian!”
At that moment, lightning flashed.
And in the corner of the attic, he saw the small body of Vivian curled up and trembling violently.
