I Was Summoned To Be Sold as a Son-in-Law

11 – Notoriety

“Take deep breaths. Inhale~ Exhale~”

Following my directions, the clothing store owner began to steady herself.

The culprit who caused this incident had made a run for it.

‘Is this what they call life spirit? But why on earth did she act out so suddenly?’

“Thanks, bro. Because of you, I think my taste in men is going to change~”

The store owner, catching her breath in my arms, in the midst of all this, still managed to quip.

‘She’s mentally strong.’

Well, I guess having gone through this much could have made her products so remarkable.

Store customers who were shopping surrounded us, asking how she was.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine~ I must have just got a bit light-headed. Continue with your shopping~ I have to make a living too.”

She said casually as she stood up.

I supported her with one arm.

“How about taking a break for the rest of the day?”

I suggested, but she shook her head.

“I’m not injured or anything, just a bit startled. I can’t take a break.”

She then removed my supporting arm, stretching her body this way and that.

“Shall we get back to work then?”

She picks up a tape measure and resumes taking my measurements.

Chest, waist, arm, length, and so forth.

“Okay~ that’s it. A robe in the Anderson signature design should be perfect. How about your date outfit?”

She pointed to the ready-made clothes in the store.

“We can customize from the existing designs, or create a new one for you?”

Most of the clothes inside the store seemed excessively flashy to me.

I felt like they would make me look ridiculous if I wore them.

That’s when a great idea suddenly came to me.

I described the design to her.

“Oh~ hold on a second.”

She grabbed a small notebook and briskly sketched according to my personal description, then held it up in front of me.

“What do you think?”

On the notebook was a drawn outfit, almost identical to the suit I had described.

I nodded my head to affirm.

“Hmm…! It’s simple but stylish! I love this tie too! It has a different charm from a scarf.”

She seemed excited.

“How did you come up with this design? Had you been thinking about it before? How about working for us~?”

She looks at me with a tempting look in her eyes.

“hahahaha, thank you but it’s not my original design.”

“Hmm~ Really? Well, that’s too bad~”

Luckily, she didn’t question further. There must be some unspoken rules in this industry.

“When should I come to pick up the clothes?”

“Oh~ Could you come tomorrow? I need to try on the rough draft I worked on.”

“Tomorrow?”

Something was strange. Given that this brand was said to be one of the top five within the kingdom, would there be no backlog of orders?

“You’re not prioritizing my order, are you?”

“Oh my~ You caught me. I wanted to do yours fast because I liked it.”

I waved my hand to decline.

“It’s okay. Please proceed with the orders that came in first. After all, there’s still about ten days until the appointment.”

“Actually~ Yes, I do like yours, but part of my designer spirit also wants to see the actual design as soon as possible~”

I stroked my chin for a moment.

“Then there’s no reason for me to stop you. I’ll visit again tomorrow.”

I agreed and left the store. I hadn’t been in there for even an hour, but I felt tired.

I wanted to finish buying the rest of the items and rest at the Duke’s mansion.

‘Anyway, shouldn’t the store owner get compensation from that girl?’

I shook my head.

That wasn’t my character, to meddle that much.

I looked back at Carol who followed me out.

‘I was so distract, I even forgot about this person’s existence’

“Next, let’s go to the artifact store.”

“Yes, I will guide you, Mr. Thomas.”

About three hours later, I was sprawled out on a bench near the fountain in the royal road square.

“Ugh… I’m exhausted”

When was the last time I went shopping like this?

It felt like the first time since I followed my mother, who was still young, on a shopping trip. Memories were faint.

While I was resting, Carol went into the food alley next to the square to buy some ice cream.

‘There’s nothing that can’t be done with magic.’

Even this world had ice cream.

I had already tasted it a few times as a dessert at Anderson’s house.

‘But…’

Having come to a crowded place, I felt something strange.

I had this feeling as if the passing people kept stealing glances at me.

Due to my height, sometimes I’ve been on the receiving end of curious looks even back at home, but the feeling I was getting now was subtly different.

It’s as if – a sort of hesitant feeling.

Proof being, nobody has come within about a 5-meter radius of the bench I’m currently sitting on.

‘What’s this? I feel slightly hurt for no reason’

If anyone realizes people are intentionally not coming near them, wouldn’t they feel hurt?

“Mr. Thomas is back.”

Carol, who had come towards me looking sullen, offered me an ice cream.

I took the ice cream and inspected it.

And then, discovered something fascinating.

“Is this waterproof coated?”

Surprisingly, despite the ice cream being slightly melted, the paper cup was not wet.

Carol was one of the few people who knew I was from another world, so I could ask these kinds of questions without hesitation.

“This paper is an Elven Zero, capable of holding magic. It’s sold with a temporary waterproof enchantment.”

‘Really nothing is impossible here… but did I just hear a very fantasy-like race name?’

“Do Elves exist?”

“…? Yes, ah… there seem to be no elves on your side.”

She had a facial expression as if I was asking an obvious question, but soon understood.

Anyway, Elven made paper, sounds incredibly expensive.

In the first place, to be able to enchant it, the clerk should be a magician, so the unit price must be high.

“how much did you pay for these two?”

“6 silvers.”

My mouth dropped open.

That’s about ,000 won each.

‘It’s only half the size of my fist…’

I rotated the cup half a round.

There, the logo of the ice cream shop was embedded…

“Huh?”

A bold ’32’ was written on the logo.

Number 32.

A number that’s one more than the athletic icy treat shop’s record.

‘Even the fact that my pocket change was 500 won… Are there many others like me here?

It was a reasonable doubt. The rate of coincidence seemed too low when the entire world was different.

While deeply lost in thought, he suddenly felt a gaze from the side and turned his head.

There, a girl was sitting on a bench, her eyes noticeably lower than his, sucking her thumb and staring intently at the ice cream in his hand.

Looking at the girl’s plain clothing, it seemed like she was a commoner.

“Big brother, aren’t you eating that?”

Her eyes were so bright and innocent that he inadvertently offered her the ice cream.

“Do you want some?”

“Yes! I do!”

At that moment, as the girl was about to reach for the ice cream with her tiny hands.

“Cindy! No!”

A young woman who seemed to be the girl’s mother ran over, embraced the child and knelt down.

“Please, please have mercy. It’s my daughter who doesn’t know

I cut across the square with quick steps.

Passersby make way for us, as if performing a miracle similar to Moses’.

After leaving the square, I ask Carol.

“Why on earth did he do that?”

“It’s understandable since a commoner child approached the nobility so casually..”

“But?”

“His overreaction must have been due to some other reason.”

“What reason?”

“Because of the color of your hair, Sir Thomas.”

Seeing my still confused expression, Carol continued explaining.

“In society, sorcerers are seen as guardians who protect the nation and are powerful entities that cannot be approached by anyone. Even the common people hear such tales through rumors.”

“But why would they be so afraid?”

Carol’s face becomes reflective, as if reminiscing about the past.

“As a child I often heard such stories whenever I caused trouble. My parents would say, ‘A sorcerer will take away naughty children.'”

‘It’s like.. they paint the image of a devil instead of a guardian.’

“I’ve heard that the kingdom intentionally spread such rumors. Fear is the easiest tool in politics.”

“But I’m not a sorcerer. I’m just a commoner who was summoned to be a son-in-law.”

“The general public is unaware of the deeper truth. ‘The noble with black hair, that sorcerer has finally revealed himself to the world.’ They’d all probably think something along these lines.”

‘Have I become a monster that abducts children in sleep?’

“Phew… let’s quickly buy the last item and return.”

It had been a tiring day in many ways. I miss Christine’s bright smile.

I follow Carol.

Hoping that nothing else would happen at the last stop, the potion store.