Caleb’s lips twitched slightly as if he were suppressing a laugh. Astrid, however, was too flustered to notice.

Feigning innocence, Caleb asked, “…What do you mean?”

Astrid hesitated briefly, then moved closer to Caleb.

“She said she only takes orders if people come in person…”

“…!”

Astrid’s breath brushed against Caleb’s ear, sending a soft shiver down his spine. Unnoticed, she had moved close enough to whisper in his ear, her lips just grazing it.

Standing on tiptoe to reach him, the hem of her skirt lightly swayed near her ankles. Caleb’s gaze softened as he watched the gentle motion.

Her attempt to be discreet in front of Sharon by whispering directly into his ear was both adorable and endearing. Watching the two, Sharon could barely contain her admiration.

‘The man’s got rugged charm, like a wild beast, with a face that carries a hint of mystery. And the woman—she’s like sunlight itself! So pure, so elegant, so irresistibly lovely. Oh, if only I could make her my model…!’

Sharon would have gladly offered all the outfits Astrid ordered today free of charge and even agreed to make her future wardrobe exclusively, just to plead with her to grace the next season’s catalog as the star.

‘This creative fire… it’s burning inside me!’

However, Sharon forced herself to suppress her impulses. Being temperamental and a bit eccentric by nature, restraint wasn’t her strong suit. But something about Astrid’s demeanor warned her that coming on too strong might scare her off.

With a discerning eye, Sharon swiftly assessed the pair’s outfits. While modestly dressed, the fabrics were of the highest quality. Astrid’s hairpin and Caleb’s shoes also hinted at significant wealth.

Sharon came to a conclusion as she evaluated Astrid’s overall appearance.

‘She’s definitely a noble. No wealthy commoner could carry themselves with such natural grace. And that man… Is he her husband? A lover? Either way, he’s someone to watch closely…’

Sharon had lived by her principle as a tailor: “I won’t take on work that doesn’t please me, no matter what.” That conviction had never been broken, thanks to her exceptional skill, her prestigious background in Bliss, and her brother Guol’s protection.

‘Guol isn’t just a genius with jewelry—he has a knack for charming people, too.’

When it came to tailoring, Sharon confidently believed she was the best on the continent. Even so, she hesitated to ask Astrid to be her muse.

‘Even if the lady agrees, I doubt that man by her side will allow it.’

Her instincts, which rarely steered her wrong, warned her with unmistakable clarity.

As an artist, Sharon’s intuition was sharper than most. Sometimes she predicted the weather or dreamed of events yet to come. Her brother Guol, who had once nearly paid with his life for ignoring her warnings, now trusted her instincts implicitly. And her instincts now screamed a warning.

Don’t provoke this man.

‘He’s dangerous.’

The man exuded a sense of peril, distinct from the aura of typical nobles. If someone dared to harm the woman in his arms, he wouldn’t let it slide.

Sharon was utterly convinced of this.

‘He’ll kill anyone who dares touch her.’

Though his expression remained composed and calm, Sharon wasn’t fooled.

The man’s every nerve seemed attuned to the woman beside him.

‘Calm, my foot. He’s sharp as a finely honed blade.’

He didn’t miss a single movement or subtle change in Astrid’s expression. Sharon noticed how his eyes meticulously drank in every detail.

But there was something unnerving about the way he looked at her—not merely a lover’s gaze but something darker. His watchful eyes carried an almost predatory edge.

‘Pretending not to care, but the moment she’s out of his sight…’

He would pounce like a beast and sink his teeth into her neck, ensuring she could never escape him.

Sharon glanced at Astrid, who was completely unaware of the man’s intensity, her expression earnest as she browsed a catalog. Sharon found herself feeling a little sorry for her. Asking Astrid to be her muse would undoubtedly be a challenge. Still, Sharon had no intention of giving up.

For her, “giving up” simply wasn’t an option.

‘Give up? That word doesn’t exist in my vocabulary.’

Sharon’s first goal was to blend in subtly without rushing. To achieve that, it seemed she had to completely indulge the lady before her today.

Determined to secure her target step by step, Sharon flashed a radiant smile at Astrid.

“…!”

Astrid shrank back slightly, unnerved by the somewhat overwhelming grin. However, she quickly straightened her posture, returning a polite smile. Though it wasn’t a natural expression, even that stiffness appeared as art to Sharon’s eyes.

“What sort of attire are you looking for? If you tell me the style and type, I’d love to make some recommendations. Though, you seem capable of pulling off almost anything. It’s rare to see someone who suits my designs so perfectly!”

“…Ah.”

Sharon’s gaze was so earnest it bordered on fervent, making Astrid quickly avert her eyes. Her fair cheeks turned a deep crimson, resembling a sunset. Caleb noticed this and couldn’t suppress a quiet chuckle.

“…It’s not for me.”

“Sorry?”

Sharon tilted her head, unsure if she’d misheard. Astrid quickly clarified with an awkward expression.

“I’m not here to shop for myself. I’m looking for a gift for someone special.”

“…Ah.”

“My apologies. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but earlier, I overheard you mention that you only take orders from people who come in person. Is that true?”

“Huh? That’s odd…”

Sharon instinctively glanced at the man standing beside Astrid. His face was impassive for the most part, but every time he looked at Astrid, his eyes softened ever so slightly.

He kept some part of her—whether her fingertips, arm, or shoulder—constantly in contact with him. Occasionally, Sharon noticed an almost startling gentleness in his gaze as he watched her.

‘A man like that wouldn’t come all this way just to choose a gift for someone else,’ Sharon mused.

She was certain. Her designs were notoriously expensive, equivalent to a commoner’s yearly salary per outfit. Even nobles wouldn’t order her work lightly. Furthermore, the scar on the man’s face…

Sharon stole a quick glance at the jagged scar running across his face. It seemed to suit him naturally, blending seamlessly with his rugged yet handsome features.

In a border region rife with monsters, such scars were common among mercenaries or knights. However, this man felt distinctly different from them.

There was an innate authority in the way he carried himself, coupled with a languid confidence that hinted at a high social standing.

‘A strikingly handsome man, with a scar across his face and an aura of nobility. If someone like that brought along such a partner…’

Realization dawned on Sharon, and her eyes widened in astonishment. At that moment, Caleb’s gaze locked onto hers. Frozen like a prey caught in a trap, Sharon found herself unable to move.

When Caleb offered her a small, lopsided smile, she instinctively nodded in response. Whatever his intentions, her finely tuned instincts told her compliance was the safest option.

The Savage Duke, Caleb Lionel. Rumors of his cruelty and violent tendencies had turned out to be exaggerated, a revelation Sharon hadn’t discovered until he came to Cliff. Still…

Though his temperament might not be as ruthless as the rumors suggested, the raw, untamed air of a man hardened by years on the battlefield radiated from him. It left Sharon in a constant state of hyperawareness.

Her headaches and anxiety, which had improved during her travels, threatened to resurface. A foreboding sensation crept over her.

“Make as many as you can, anything that suits her. Price isn’t an issue.”

“Caleb! That’s too much—”

“It was an important gift.”

Caleb cut Astrid off firmly, leaving no room for further objections. Sharon broke the tension between them.

“The person receiving the gift must be a paragon of nobility, combining the elegance of a mature woman with the purity of a child’s innocence. Like a goddess, almost otherworldly.”

“…Pardon?”

Though Astrid hadn’t described the recipient, Sharon’s words mirrored what Caleb had once said. Puzzled, Astrid tilted her head.

Caleb nodded approvingly at Sharon, a satisfied expression on his face.

“Precisely. Clothes, shoes, accessories—let’s select everything, then move on to jewelry. Please make haste, Madame. She’s not in the best of health, so I’d like her to rest soon.”

Before Astrid could respond, Caleb wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. His grin was broad and carefree.

“Of course, Your Grace! On the honor of Bliss Duchy’s finest tailor, I’ll deliver only the best. Once we finalize the list and designs, we can schedule fittings for a later date.”

“…”