The store in which Leon alongside Ren, had just entered was somewhere Leon was all too familiar with. He had visited many times in his past life and even purchased quite a few sets of clothes under different disguises.
The store went by the name of 'Clover Boutique'.
In his past life, Clover Boutique was the talk of the capital and even though Leon brutally stole the throne from his second brother. Many stores for citizens that didn't have a choice but to remain in the empire still opted to carry on with their businesses.
At the end of the day, although Leon was at war. The welfare of citizens of the empire, for the most part, increased. Just like the storekeeper of Clover Boutique. Of course, the storekeeper had zero clue about this happening since Leon didn't publicly announce this as he knew then some citizens angry at him, would outright reject his help.
But since he had taken a liken to this place he could in a sense say he 'nurtured' the shopkeeper's talent for tailoring by giving her a wider stage to perform on.
[I wonder if I can do the same in this life. After all, they do say money makes the world spin. If I can somehow dominate the merchant guilds in the Maxwell empire, it would do wonders for my political standing.]
[Intresting...]
Interrupting Leon's tangent, the storekeeper approached Leon and Ren with a wide smile. She was a middle-aged woman in her late 20's. She had long rosie red hair and hazel brown eyes contrasting them. Her skin was well maintained but signs of ageing were beginning to creep in, perhaps due to work stress.
He clothes were clearly made by herself as although they weren't exquisite like the clothes dotted around the store. The tailoring skills were evidently remarkable if one looked deeper.
[She really is a tailoring prodigy!]
"Afternoon, gentlemen. What can I do for you today?" She asked with a gentle voice, remaining professional even though she had tints of hope in her heart.
"Afternoon shopkeeper." Leon greeted back, "I've come for a suit piece for an important event. I need to impress but I can't be so open about doing so... Do you understand?"
Noticing that they had plans of buying something, the shopkeeper decided to give it everything she had got. "I understand and I can promise I'll make you the most handsome man in the capital hehe."
Leon just smiled at the shopkeeper's antics as she guided him to her workstation. She proceeded to measure and ask questions about his preferences to clothing to gauge the type of customer he was.
Tailoring wasn't always just about making the very best suit. It was about meeting the demands of the customer so that they could leave happily. This was also the reason why Leon found himself appreciating the shopkeeper so much in his last life.
Instead, of just trying to earn money she was always trying to leave the customer happy. It wasn't an exaggeration to say she had the heart of a tailor.
"Do you mind shopkeeper, if you would tell me your name? You can choose to ignore my forwardness if you wish..." Leon making conversation asked warmly.
The shopkeeper hearing Leon's words was slightly confused. It was common knowledge that customers weren't meant to ask for that sort of information as a tacit agreement. It normally only happened when the customer was either trying to court the shopkeeper or secondly, business.
And given that the customer seemed no older than 15, it was obvious it couldn't be the first option.
Silence fell upon the room as the shopkeeper began to think. Stepping away from Leon she stared at him trying to read his body language and emotions but she was unable to discern anything. The boy stared back at her with a cool calm and collected facade, waiting patiently for her response.
Seeing this she couldn't help but think the boy was very mature for his age.
"It's Cecily... Cecily Adams!" She spoke after some time. To which Leon smiled.
He obviously knew her name but this was the first time in this life that he had engaged with her and he couldn't just say 'Hey, I knew you in my previous life. let's be friends again' could he?
So asking for her name formally was a way to shorten the gap but also to help her out and progress with his own plans too.
It was what they say [Killing two birds with one stone].
"And your name, young man?" She threw the question back Leon's way.
"My name is Leon Maxwell, the third son of Alexander Maxwell, the king!" Leon spoke normally without giving emphasis to any of the words he spoke. Yet that couldn't help the shock the shopkeeper received after he finished his sentence.
"Huuuuuh? Your... Your royalty?" She stuttered and even shouted slightly in her response.
It wasn't long before she realised what she had done and panicked. Immediately bowing her head to address the young prince as she should have, with a salute.
"Forgive me, young prince, this little one doesn't have eyes!" Her voice carried her panic too which Leon just sighed at.
[This is the problem with being royalty... People aren't allowed to treat you normally once they find out the truth!]
"Don't worry about it, I preferred your actions previously. So enough with the formalities and call me Leon. And if you can't do that then just address me as young prince." Leon spoke while ushering her with his right hand to stand up straight.
The shopkeeper hearing Leon looked at him like a little chicken. She didn't know how someone of his status could be so... normal?
Normally, nobility always treated commoners as dirt and cared for their rankings too much. Always using it to stand above those under them and treat them poorly. It was one of the main reasons Clover Boutique was doing so bad. Since no nobles came to shop here since the tailor was a commoner, business for Cecily couldn't take off. Even after opening the shop around a year ago.
Yet here she was standing before a prince in her very own shop.
Mindblowing...
"Anyways, Cecily. Can I call you that?"
"Of course... young prince..." Pausing before choosing to use young master instead of Leon, Cecily replied.
Leon just giggled lightly at Cecily which made her smile too, "Cecily the truth is, I wasn't planning on revealing my identity when I entered the store and was only going to purchase a suit or two. However, seeing the quality of the store and the clothes but also your demeanour to your clients and you're clear as day love for tailoring. I've thought it over in my mind and I'm wondering If you'd be interested in my proposition."
Leon had slipped into business mode and so did Cecily. Although she was just a shopkeeper, well she was a business owner that was living off the expenses of this store to survive. So she treated whatever, the prince said with even more importance.
Just because he was a royalty didn't mean she could afford to bow her head to him in this situation.
"Hmm, ok I will hear out your proposition but you must understand that if it is unfavourable to myself or the store then I will flat out decline. Do we have a deal?"
"Wonderful, those are my thoughts as well," Leon said as he smiled charmingly.
"Shall we speak about this over a cup of tea after we finish with my suit?"
"Sure that works for me..." Cecily smiled while returning to her work mode.
****
30 minutes later or so, Leon had finished all the preparation for his banquet attire. Finishing the details of choosing the correct materials and placing an order, it would be completed 2 days prior to the Banquet with Cecily personally working on the suit herself.
Cecily had a side room to the store that she used as her office, which both Ren and Leon joined her in. Leon of course chose to take a seat. Whereas Ren was more formal and stood next to the door, with both his hands behind his back.
Seeing this Leon could only sigh, [He really is a butler by heart!]
"Now then, Cecily. Shall I tell you what I have in mind?"
Nodding her head, Leon began to speak, "My thoughts are simple really. I wish to become the sole sponsor of your Clover Boutique."
He didn't bother beating around the bush and jumped straight into it. To which Cecily was inwardly shocked. She had expected this from the start when she realised he had business intentions. However, with the young man being well... young. She expected him to sugarcoat things first before getting to the main topic.
"I see, well, truthfully young prince my Clover Boutique is nearing bankruptcy. I have been working tirelessly for around a year now but even though I get one or two orders from common folk that have more savings than others. I can't seem to entice the noble community. Leading to only one thing, zero profit."
"If it wasn't for my love for tailor and my dream of running a successful boutique. I would have closed the store many months ago." Cecily seemed to grow somewhat depressed at the topic as her eyes carried many emotions.
"I understand that Cecily." Leon interrupted her. "I had gathered that much when I noticed nobody entering the store. It was the main reason I decided to come in and take a look." Leon lied in the last part but well who cares...
"Still I wish to be your sponsor!" Leon confidently declared.