novelraw Chapter 704: Fashion Expert
Chapter 704: Fashion Expert
While a small crowd had begun to gather outside the store—people craning their necks and peering through the stores large windows after word spread that the Saintess of Compassion herself had arrived—Maria continued browsing the racks with quiet delight.
She ran her fingers over soft fabrics, admiring the delicate embroidery and gentle colors, but after a few moments she paused.
A sheepish expression crossed her face as she turned back toward Cassius and Madame Elise.
"This is embarrassing to admit." She said quietly, her cheeks flushing. "But I honestly have no idea how to pick clothes for myself."
Cassius raised an eyebrow.
"I’ve always worn whatever the church gave me. The few personal items I own were bought by Aqua."
She looked down at her hands, her voice growing smaller.
"So, I don’t know what suits me. What colors look good on me. What styles flatter my figure. I’m completely clueless."
She glanced around at the beautiful gowns, feeling inadequate.
"Every woman seems to have an innate sense for these things. They just know what works. But I feel like..." She hesitated. "Like I’m failing at something every other woman learned long ago."
Hearing this, Madame Elise stepped forward, her expression warm and motherly.
"Lady Maria, please don’t trouble yourself over such matters." She placed a hand over her heart. "You spend your days saving the sick, comforting the dying, bringing hope to those who have none."
"You don’t have time to waste on trivial things like fashion."
She smiled.
"You are suited for much nobler purposes."
Maria’s blush deepened at the praise.
"As for the clothes." Madame Elise continued. "You need not worry." She pointed at Cassius. "The Young Master will help you."
Maria blinked. "I thought you were going to help me? You’re the store’s owner, after all."
Madame Elise’s expression flickered with something between embarrassment and awe.
"Well, yes. Normally, I would. I am the most knowledgeable person in this store when it comes to fashion and design. I’ve spent decades cultivating my eye, my instincts, my understanding of what works and what doesn’t."
She glanced at Cassius.
"But then the Young Master appeared. And in his presence, my knowledge is nothing. Compared to his expertise in fashion—in design, in color theory, in the very art of clothing, I am a child learning to crawl."
Maria’s eyes widened.
"He’s taught me techniques I never dreamed existed. Shown me designs that have allowed my creations to reach the capital itself."
Madame Elise bowed her head slightly.
"Whatever he says, trust it. He knows what he’s doing."
Maria turned to look at Cassius.
He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his chin lifted, looking for all the world like a peacock displaying its feathers. He was so obviously pleased with himself that she almost laughed.
The surprise faded quickly, however, as understanding dawned.
Of course—he had organized that magnificent fashion party and created those breathtaking gowns for his wives.
It made perfect sense that he possessed such talent.
What surprised her more was that he willingly shared his secrets and techniques with others.
Most people guarded anything profitable with jealousy, yet here Cassius was, freely helping a local shopkeeper simply because he could.
No demand for compensation, no hidden agenda.
Seeing the respectful way Elise looked at him made Maria’s heart glow with quiet warmth.
This was especially since she had earned her title as Saintess of Compassion precisely because she always put others first, helping without hesitation no matter the cost.
So, to discover that same generous spirit in Cassius made her regard him with even deeper fondness.
Cassius, unaware of her thoughts, was already examining the racks.
"Honestly." He said, pulling out a dress and holding it up. "There’s no need to overthink this, Maria. Any dress you wear will look absolutely glorious on you."
Maria blinked. "What?"
"That’s the problem with beautiful women."
He shrugged, tossing the dress over his arm and reaching for another.
"They can wear anything—rags, sacks, literal garbage and somehow make it look fashionable."
"You even could walk out of here wearing a potato sack, and people would assume it’s the latest trend from the capital."
The female clerks behind the counter let out soft giggles, covering their mouths.
Maria felt her face heat up; when they were alone she could handle his teasing, but with an audience it was mortifying.
She pouted, which only made her look even more enchanting and the staff stared in open awe.
Cassius, undeterred, began moving through the racks with confident energy.
"Nevertheless, there are a few pieces here that stand out even among all these lovely options—dresses that would suit you perfectly."
He pulled out a flowing gown and held it beside her, comparing the two.
"See? This soft shade complements your fair, smooth skin beautifully. It would make you glow."
He set it aside and selected a lighter skirt next, holding it up to her legs.
"And this would be wonderful for showing off those long, elegant calves of yours."
Maria instinctively covered her legs with her hands, embarrassed. He moved on to another dress, lifting it near her face.
"This one pairs wonderfully with your pretty pink hair—it brings out the warmth in your complexion."
He reached for a fourth piece, eyes drifting toward her chest as he began.
"And this neckline would—"
Maria’s hand shot out and clapped firmly over his mouth before he could finish.
"There’s no need, Cassius!"
She hissed through gritted teeth, cheeks blazing. She then leaned in close, whispering urgently into his ear so only he could hear.
"I don’t mind if say those things when we’re alone...but not now. Please."
Her eyes were wide and pleading.
Cassius’s heart gave a visible flutter at her closeness and that vulnerable gaze, but he nodded obediently.
He stepped back and continued selecting outfits in thoughtful silence, adding several more to the growing pile.
Maria watched the mounting stack with widening eyes.
"Cassius...why are you taking so many? Isn’t one enough?"
The store fell silent.
Every clerk, every seamstress, even Madame Elise herself turned to look at her with expressions of pure horror like she said some blasphemous words.
Cassius’s eyes narrowed.
"Maria." His voice was firm. "You cannot determine which dress looks best on you by trying on only one. That’s like judging a feast by tasting a single grain of rice."
"But—"
"Multiple options allow for comparison. Contrast. Evaluation." He held up two different dresses, one in each hand. "This blue brings out your eyes. This green complements your hair. How would you know which is better without trying both?"
The clerks nodded vigorously.
"Furthermore—" Cassius added more clothes to the pile "—different occasions call for different styles."
"A daytime walking dress is not the same as an evening gown. A casual lunch requires something different from a formal dinner."
The pile grew.
"You will try them all." Cassius declared and handed the clothes over to her. "And then we will decide."
The clerks applauded.
Maria looked at the mountain of clothing in her arms, then at Cassius’s determined face, then at the eager expressions of everyone around her.
She had a sinking suspicion that Cassius’s desire to see her in pretty dresses had nothing to do with practicality and everything to do with personal enjoyment.
But she couldn’t deny him.
Not when he looked at her like that.
"Fine." She sighed.
Madame Elise immediately appeared at her side.
"Over here, Lady Maria. Right this way to the fitting room."
Maria followed, balancing the mound of garments, already wondering how she would manage to try them all on by herself.
Just as she reached the curtained doorway, Cassius’s voice drifted over with playful innocence.
"Maria, if you need some help putting on so many clothes...I’d be more than happy to assist."
Maria shot him a look of pure dismay, then rolled her eyes. She then turned to Madame Elise with a kind, slightly apologetic smile.
"Would you be able to help me instead? I think I’ll need an extra pair of hands with all of this."
Madame Elise’s face lit up with unrestrained excitement.
"Of course! Of course, Lady Maria. I’ll be right by your side, assisting you every step of the way."
The two women disappeared behind the heavy curtain together.
And the moment the fitting-room door clicked shut—the remaining female clerks swarmed Cassius from every side, surrounding him in a cheerful, chattering circle.
"Young Master! Young Master! Look at what I made!"
A young woman held up a blouse, her eyes bright with pride.
"I was inspired by your butterfly design. See the stitching on the collar?"
Another clerk pushed forward, waving a skirt.
"I learned the hemming technique you showed us last month! Isn’t it clean? Isn’t it perfect?"
"I’ve been practicing the embroidery you taught me!" A third chimed in. "Look at these flowers—do they look real?"
Cassius examined each piece, offering praise and gentle critiques.
"You’ve improved." He told the first girl, running his finger along the stitching. "But here—see how the thread pulls? Loosen your tension slightly, and the fabric will lay smoother."
She nodded eagerly, committing his words to memory.
"These colors suit you." He told another, holding the skirt against her waist. "You should wear more jewel tones. They bring out your complexion."
The girl blushed, already planning to buy fabric in every jewel tone she could find.
"You look lovely today, Taia." He said to a third, and the woman nearly swooned.
Gossip, compliments, and flirtatious questions flew at him from every direction.
This sudden enthusiasm was because every girl in the Holyfield estate seemed to carry at least a small crush on Cassius, and with Maria safely out of sight they seized the opportunity.
And Cassius didn’t seem the least bit bothered. In fact, he looked positively delighted to be surrounded by so many beautiful, admiring women.
He returned their energy with easy charm, offering flirtatious compliments and warm words that made their cheeks flush and their hearts melt.
Each girl secretly daydreamed about trading places with Maria—going on a date with the lord they adored would be the greatest thing in the world.
—
As Cassius continued selecting a few more dresses to send back with the girls at the Holy Guard later—the sound of the fitting-room curtain sliding open made everyone turn at once.
A collective hush fell over the store.
Maria stepped out, no longer in her dark, formal sisterly robes.
Instead she wore a beautiful blue gown with delicate frills cascading down the full skirt.
The fabric shimmered softly, the cut elegant yet playful—exactly the sort of dress noblewomen wore to grand parties.
On anyone else it might have looked gaudy, but on Maria it transformed her entirely.
She looked like a princess from a fairy tale, radiant and twenty years younger, the youthful sparkle in her eyes perfectly matched by the gown.
She fidgeted with the skirt, cheeks pink.
"I’m sorry for taking so long—the dress was far more complicated to put on than I expected. Madame Elise insisted I try it."
She glanced around anxiously.
"How...How does it look?"
The female clerks burst into delighted applause and a chorus of praise.
"So pretty!"
"Beautiful!"
"You look like royalty!"
Madame Elise, standing behind Maria, was beaming with pride.
But Cassius—
Cassius was staring.
His mouth was slightly open. His eyes were wide. For a long moment, he didn’t speak, didn’t move, didn’t even seem to breathe.
Then he snapped out of it.
"GORGEOUS!" His voice rang through the store, loud and enthusiastic. "Absolutely, completely, utterly gorgeous!"
Maria’s cheeks flamed.
"If I didn’t already know who you are, Maria, I would have thought you were a princess from some faraway kingdom!"
"I would have dropped everything to court you on the spot. And even if I couldn’t bring you back to my household, I would have followed you all the way to your own kingdom just to become your devoted servant—so I could see you like this every single day!"
Maria blushed furiously, waving her hands in embarrassment.
"Oh my...isn’t that a bit too much, Cassius?"
He shook his head with solemn conviction.
"Not at all. I mean every single word."
Madame Elise and the clerks nodded vigorously in agreement, their eyes sparkling with the same admiration.
Maria, unable to handle any more praise, turned on her heel.
"I—I’ll try the next one." She mumbled, retreating quickly into the fitting room.
But even though she didn’t admit it, after hearing Cassius’s praise she was much more enthusiastic about trying out the others clothes all for the sake of listening to more of Cassius’s honeyed words.