In the following days, Seraphine and the entire Damian family had returned to their mansion in the capital, embroiled in preparations for the upcoming banquet at the imperial castle. The air was alive with excitement, and the mansion was a hive of activity.
Mariana and her daughter found themselves immersed in a whirlwind of fabrics and designs. They had sought the services of a skilled tailor from a reputable dress shop. It was a noble tradition to have new dresses tailored for every significant banquet, and Mariana wanted everything to be perfect for her family.
Even Damian and Adrain, who typically cared little for clothing and fashion, were compelled to partake in this custom. While it may have been a source of annoyance to them, they understood the importance of upholding the family's reputation and traditions.
In Seraphine's room, a tailor took precise measurements as she stood still. In her previous life, she had rarely experienced the process of having custom-made clothing. Most of her attire had been store-bought, ready-to-wear garments.
It struck her that the concept of mass-produced, ready-to-wear clothing seems absent in this world. This realization sparked a business idea in her mind, one that she filed away for consideration at a later time.
The tailor, who had laid out a catalog of extravagant and expensive designs, politely inquire, "Miss Seraphine, what kind of design are you interested in?"
Seraphine perused the catalog, her eyes drawn to a myriad of exquisite and opulent designs. "They are all truly beautiful," she commented, somewhat overwhelmed by the choices before her.
Seraphine carefully flipped through the pages of the catalog, each dress more elegant than the last. Her eyes danced over intricate lacework, shimmering silks, and rich brocades. She couldn't help but feel a tad overwhelmed by the sheer opulence of it all.
The tailor, noticing her hesitation, kindly offered some advice. "Miss Seraphine, may I suggest something? Given your lovely brown hair and fair complexion, a vibrant green dress could be absolutely enchanting on you. It will complement your natural beauty and stand out in a crowd."
Seraphine considered the suggestion and nodded with a smile. "That sounds wonderful. Let's go with this design."
The tailor's eyes brightened with approval. "An excellent choice, Miss Seraphine. I'm certain it will look magnificent on you."
As the measurements were completed and the tailor made notes for the dress, the door to Seraphine's room swung open, and Damian walked in. He wore a warm smile as he observed the scene.
"Seraphine," he greeted her, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "I see you've been busy making preparations. Is everything to your liking?"
Seraphine turned to him, her eyes sparkling with appreciation. "Yes, young master, everything is perfect. you even provided me with a private tailor. Thank you so much for arranging this."
Damian waved off her thanks with a dismissive gesture. "Don't mention it. You're part of our family now, and we want you to feel at home."
Seraphine's heart warmed at Damian's words. The sense of belonging she felt with the Damians was something she cherished deeply. "I'm truly grateful, young master. You have been incredibly kind to me."
Damian, however, seemed to have something mischievous on his mind again. He asked with a hand on his chin, "However, I think you could do me a favor, Seraphine."
Anticipating his request, Seraphine inquired, "What can I do for you?"
"We've been through a lot together," Damian said with a smile, "Shouldn't you call me by my name instead of 'young master'?"
Seraphine was taken aback by his request. She hadn't realized that she had been using the title "young master" for almost a year now. Time had indeed flown by. "Is it alright for me to call you like that?" Seraphine asked Damian for confirmation.
"It's totally fine," Damian responded warmly. "I would be very happy if you called me by my name."
With a newfound sense of familiarity, Seraphine smiled and said, "Then... Damian, thank you for everything that you provided for me." ( 674 )
To Damian's surprise, his heart began to flutter wildly, and a rosy hue slowly spread across his cheeks, extending to his ears. He hadn't anticipated his reaction to turn out like this when Seraphine agreed to call him by his name.
In a flustered move, Damian instinctively covered his face with his hand, hoping to hide his expression.
"Are you alright, Damian?" Seraphine inquired with a gentle smile, concern in her eyes as she noticed his sudden shyness.
"I'm... I'm fine," Damian stammered, his voice slightly shaky. He knew he needed to regain his composure, but her smile was making it increasingly difficult.
Realizing he needed to leave the room before he further embarrassed himself, Damian hastily excused himself. "By the way, I have to leave now. See you later."
With that, Damian practically fled from the room, leaving Seraphine to wonder about his unusually flustered reaction.
"What happened to him?" Seraphine mumbled to herself, perplexed by Damian's behavior. Meanwhile, the tailor, who had been an awkward witness to the whole exchange, cleared his throat, trying to break the tension.
"Ahem, Miss Seraphine, should we continue?" he asked politely, offering her another catalog, this time filled with a selection of accessories and jewelry.
"Oh, I totally forgot about that," Seraphine replied with a sheepish smile as she accepted the catalog.
While she perused the accessories, the tailor couldn't resist striking up a conversation.
"It seems Master Damian is quite fond of you."
The comment caught Seraphine off guard, and her cheeks turned a shade redder. "Well, you could say that," she admitted, feeling a bit shy about the whole situation.
The tailor, noticing the rosy tint on Seraphine's cheeks and her shy smile, couldn't help but think to himself, "Young couples are always such a delight to tease."
As Seraphine browsed through the catalog of accessories and jewelry, the tailor patiently guided her, offering suggestions and insights into which pieces would complement her chosen dress best. His experienced eye was a valuable asset in helping her make her selections.
Finally, after much consideration and exploration, Seraphine made her choices. Her accessories would complement her beautiful, shining green dress perfectly, enhancing her natural grace and beauty.
As they wrapped up the preparations, Seraphine couldn't help but smile at the thought of the upcoming imperial banquet. It was a chance to enjoy a night of festivities, leaving behind the troubles and challenges of the world outside. The sense of warmth and happiness that had filled the room lingered, a testament to the anticipation and excitement that the event held for her.
With her preparations complete, Seraphine was ready to face the grand imperial banquet with grace, beauty, and a heart filled with hope and anticipation.