Side Story 1.15
Marina held her breath. There were far too many familiar faces.
First, the woman wearing a monocle was Tuallet, the head seamstress of Margaretta—the capital’s most renowned atelier—and the Empress’s personal wardrobe consultant. Beside her, the man with a queue hairstyle was Edite, a wigmaker and stylist currently leading the trends in high-society hairdos. Across from them, the sharp-eyed individual was Sir Balak, the greatest art critic of the century, known for missing not even the slightest flaw. The man with a scar under his eye, judging by the others’ specialties, was likely Hunt, the legendary tailor once called “Hand of God” during his active years.
And though her own knowledge fell short of recognizing the rest, their sheer presence made it clear—everyone here was a master of their craft.
For such distinguished figures to gather under the imperial summons—what in the world was about to happen?
“From this moment onward, you will remain silent about what you witness.”
At the chamberlain’s warning, Marina tensed. The others seemed equally stiff.
After briefly adjusting their appearances before an ornate mirror, they stood before towering doors. At the chamberlain’s announcement, the massive gates swung open untouched.
Moving forward under the weight of an almost suffocating pressure, Marina froze mid-step.
Have I died and gone to heaven?
For a moment, the thought wasn’t unreasonable—because seated before her was a being so radiant it defied belief. His noble, luminous golden hair suggested a celestial being—no, perhaps a demon? Those decadent violet eyes seemed capable of luring anyone to ruin.
She wasn’t the only one stunned; gasps erupted around her. These were connoisseurs of beauty. None could remain indifferent when perfection materialized before them.
“That color harmony is sublime…”
“Such flawless proportions…”
“A living masterpiece…”
“The volume, the texture—ideal hair…”
Each murmured praises aligned with their expertise. Marina was no exception. Professional instinct had her scrutinizing the man’s features for any imperfection.
Not a single flaw in his eyes, nose, or lips. Even his skin is immaculate. This is cheating.
“Mind your decorum. You stand before His Highness the Crown Prince.”
The chamberlain’s tone as he urged them forward was indifferent—as if he’d experienced this situation too many times to be annoyed.
Marina startled and quickly bowed her head. She had long heard rumors of the Crown Prince’s extraordinary looks, but as someone without the status to enter the palace, she’d never had the chance to see him with her own eyes. Yet here he was—a beauty beyond words. Her assumption that the rumors were exaggerated shattered instantly.
“Let them be. That’s the point anyway.”
Good heavens, even his voice is magnificent.
“A masterpiece!”
Sir Balak’s excited mutter reached her ears. Marina silently agreed.
“The reason I’ve summoned you all is to compensate for my lacking appearance.”
His words made them doubt their ears. What exactly is lacking?
“Find the right colors, hairstyle, clothing, makeup, and accessories—then dress me up to look as pleasing as possible.”
An unimaginable command. Of course, they had no choice but to obey.
“Even if we tried adding anything to an already perfect work, it’d be like drawing legs on a snake…”
Sir Balak grumbled skeptically, but it was a feeble resistance at best. Stumped over where to even begin, they hesitated—until the Crown Prince, strangely enthusiastic, suggested:
“Shall we start by determining which color suits me best?”
They were confined for three months and ten days before finally being released. As they emerged from the imperial palace, each clutched a heavy pouch of compensation to their chest.
With a dazed expression, the critic Sir Balak muttered:
“The treasure of the Empire—no, the continent!”
He seemed to be recalling the final appearance of the Crown Prince. Marina thought it understandable—the same vision still flickered in her own eyes.
“This is the ideal hair length for Your Highness! This length best accentuates your jawline and facial features.”
“Your current hair color suits you perfectly. Just maintain its shine and pleasant fragrance with regular care!”
“You don’t need separate makeup. However, starting skincare now will help maintain your flawless appearance in the future. The skincare routine is…”
“When wearing blue-toned clothing, your lips appear slightly different in shade, so applying this color lightly would…”
“With your broad shoulders and tall stature, you look dignified in anything, but long coats with straight lines suit you particularly well. As for bottoms…”
“If you must wear a hat, the brim should be about this width, and the height…”
“Given your already radiant appearance, jewelry should be elegant yet simple rather than overly large or flashy.”
“This angle! When seated facing someone, this angle makes you look most distinguished! When standing, slightly turn your upper body to the left… When resting your chin, use your right hand… When sweeping back your hair…”
“Yes, yes. That expression. I swear by my experience with a hundred women…”
“In darkness, crimson indirect lighting seems to best enhance Your Highness’s aura. In brighter settings…”
Recalling the masterpiece born from the collaboration of experts across various fields, Marina smiled. It was a spontaneous bloom of joy, born from the satisfaction of having created something remarkable.
“By the way, who could be the woman who stole His Highness’s heart?”
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