XIX: Suit and Tie

Days had passed since the weekend and the rather eventful training session at the warehouse. With the return of the school week, Mizuki, Eva, and I resumed practicing at the school field each day after classes ended. The focus remained on learning the basics of hand-to-hand combat, rather than any spells. However, like my mentor suggested, I had also made sure to practice the Morning Dew spell at home after every training session. Needless to say, not much progress was made on the magic side of things. Regardless, I continued to follow the instructions of “Sensei Dioli”.

After another midday training session, I found myself walking home alongside Mizuki.

“You did great today,” my best friend assured me. “You’re definitely getting better.”

“Thanks, but it doesn’t feel like it. I’m still not sure how any of this is going to help me with the gauntlet.”

“Have faith in yourself, Shinsuke.”

“I—”

The sudden buzzing of my phone in my pocket interrupted my thought. Peeking at the device revealed an incoming call from Cynthia.

Uh oh.

“Hold on Mizuki, Cynthia is calling me.”

Mizuki rolled her eyes and replied, “tch, why?”

“Let’s find out…” I said, swiping the answer button on the screen. “What is it?”

“We need to talk,” the princess responded curtly. “I’m already in Valport. See you in a minute.”

“Wait, what? You meant in person? Why can’t we just talk about whatever this is on the phone?”

“Because what we need to discuss can’t be handled over the phone, obviously.”

Before I could ask what that statement meant, she hung up on me. A familiar royal car pulled up beside me and Mizuki a second later and the back seat window rolled down, revealing the girl I had just been speaking with.

“Get in,” Cynthia commanded. I opened the door and stepped aside to allow Mizuki to enter the vehicle first, but Cynthia quickly followed with, “not her. Just you.”

Mizuki scoffed and glared daggers at the princess who looked unmoved.

“I’m sorry, Mizuki,” I sighed. The two of us traded a knowing, irritated glance and I reluctantly got into the car.

“See you at home, Shinsuke,” Mizuki said. As she started to walk, the window beside me rolled back up and the car began to move.

“So much for ‘we’re all a team’,” I remarked.

Cynthia groaned. “Oh, relax. I didn’t let the scrounge come along because I need your full attention today. I wasn’t intentionally trying to exclude her.”

“Stop calling her a scrounge. Anyway, what is this about?”

“The dates, times, and venues have all been chosen for the face off and first fight. Additionally, there will be a celebratory dinner held for all the candidates. That will come first, the face off will take place soon after.”

I buried my face in my hands and mumbled, “perfect.”

“I know. With all these events coming up, you’re going to need the proper formal attire. I brought the suit you wore at the press conference with me today. You can have it, it was made for you, after all. Use it at the face off.”

“Okay.”

“But let’s focus on the celebration for now,” she continued. “That’s the reason I needed you alone. Attendance will be mandatory for the banquet, and you’re going to need a tuxedo. Given the number of events we’ll likely attend moving forward, it doesn’t make sense to rent one, so I’m going to buy one for you instead today.”

“Buy one?” I asked. “Why can’t they just make one for me like last time?”

“Because you weren’t contesting the marriage before. Remember, now that we’re enacting the opt-out clause, you and I are on our own.”

“Oh, right. I almost forgot that quaint little detail.”

“It’s a detail that matters little,” she declared. “Even though you were rather rude to me before, I’ll overlook it. We are a team, and I know you probably can’t afford a tuxedo. Instead of placing that burden upon your parents, I will take care of this and any other financial complications that arise for you throughout this process.”

I could feel the surprise flash upon my face. “Oh, um… thanks.”

Silence followed briefly, but I quickly spoke up in the hopes of avoiding an awkward moment.

“So, you said the dates had been chosen for all these events, right? Care to share?”

“I would if I knew,” she sighed. “Like I said, father and mother are keeping me in the dark. I only know the dates are decided because father informed me of the upcoming feast. That banquet wouldn’t be scheduled if the other events weren’t set in stone.”

“I get it, unfortunately. What I don’t get is why there needs to be a stupid feast for me to meet the other candidates. I’m sure I’ll get to know them pretty well when they’re trying to pummel me.”

“The banquet isn’t for the gauntlet,” she clarified. "The gauntlet is simply a catalyst. Having all the future world leaders within the borders of Steylia is the reason for the celebration. So, you don’t really have to meet them, but you will, of course.”

“Then why do I have to attend?”

“Because you’re my ‘fiancé’ and the ‘future prince’ of Steylia. Thus, you’re also technically a future world leader.”

Perish the thought.

“Right… I tend to forget that,” I admitted.

“I keep trying to forget it too, but alas. That aside, update me on the status of your training.”

I informed the prying blonde about Eva’s approach to teaching me. I listed the techniques I had learned and told her about Eva’s philosophy concerning the fundamentals of magicless, unarmed combat.

“So, she’s not teaching you magic?” Cynthia asked, bewildered.

“Not yet, no. Though she does have me practicing Morning Dew every night.”

“Let me see if I’m understanding this correctly. She’s teaching you martial arts and military combat techniques, but the only spell she has you working on is essentially a children’s toy. Is that right?”

“Pretty much.”

“…I’m calling her tonight,” she declared, irritably. Her gaze fell upon my hand and a look of curiosity overwrote her frustration. “What’s with the bandage? Did you hurt your hand in training?”

Having forgotten my hand was wrapped at all, I glanced at it and said, “in a sense. Some thugs started harassing Mizuki while I was training with Eva. I got into a fight with one of them.”

“I see.” She paused and examined me with her jewel-like eyes. “Judging by the lack of other wounds on you, I assume you won that little scrap?”

“You assume correct.”

“Hm.” Her voice carried a tone of approval. “Give me your hand.”

Confused, I complied, placing my hand in hers. She removed my bandages and set them aside before hovering her free hand above mine. She closed her eyes and a translucent orb formed over my wounds. The cuts and bruises swiftly faded, along with the nagging pain that had bugged me since the morning after the fight.

“Wow,” I uttered. “I didn’t realize you knew healing spells.”

“I’m far from a certified healer, but I know a few,” she stated.

“Thanks.”

…

I looked down to find my hand still sandwiched in her soft grasp. “Um, are you going to let go of my—"

She yanked her hand away before I could even finish my sentence. Just as quickly, she stacked her hands atop one another in her lap and cleared her throat. “Of course. I was just making sure your wounds were fully healed before pulling away. I told you, I’m not a confident healer.”

“No problem…”

Silence again fell upon the inside of the vehicle, and this time the awkwardness I tried to prevent accompanied its presence.

I turned my attention outside the window and watched as our course gradually deviated from the familiar. We had entered the “rich” part of the city, and if I hadn’t known about the existence of the upscale side of Valport, I’d have thought we ended up in another city entirely. Fancy shops, hotels, and restaurants lined the streets, and the light wallet in my pants reminded me why I never had a reason to walk them. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before we had pulled up in front of our destination: a formalwear store named Arthur’s.

“This is the place,” Cynthia stated, breaking the silence. “Let’s go inside.”

The driver exited the vehicle and opened the door for Cynthia. I, of course, had to open my own door.

So much for “future prince”.

We entered the store where a man in a grey suit with short brown hair, round black glasses, and an eager expression stood with his hands clasped together. The second he laid eyes on the princess, he bowed.

“Welcome to Arthur’s, Your Royal Highness!”

“Thank you,” Cynthia replied. She paused to look around and I joined her.

The store was pristine as could be and smelled of a woodsy aroma I couldn’t place. Mannequins adorned in fancy suits stood tall in various locations alongside countless circular racks full of hangers carrying blazers. Dress shirts and pants sat neatly folded and placed carefully upon different wood displays, accompanied by ties and boxes of formal shoes. None of it was unexpected for a formalwear shop, but I did appreciate the bright lighting and extravagant layout.

With a look of satisfaction, Cynthia said, “I appreciate you honoring my request to keep the store closed for us today, Mr. Ruiz.”

“Of course! The honor is mine for having Your Royal Highness choose my humble establishment for your needs today!” he replied.

“Are you Arthur?” I asked.

For the first time since we had entered the store, the man looked at me and visibly recoiled. “No, Arthur Ruiz was my great-grandfather and the founder of this great business. My name is Alejandro. Anyway, let’s get you and your wild eyes taken care of. Please follow me.”

I shrugged and walked with Alejandro further into the store. We exchanged no dialogue as he had me stand beside several mannequins dressed in tuxes. A pattern quickly formed in which he framed me with his fingers and shook his head in disapproval each time, ushering me towards a new one and repeating the process. After a few repetitions, he called for Cynthia.

The pair exchanged whispers and the man disappeared into the backroom. When he returned, he was holding a mannequin wearing a tuxedo. He placed it beside me and stood with Cynthia. The two of them analyzed me.

“Young man, please go try this on.”

“Okay.”

Me and my “wild eyes” stepped into the changing room, and I put the suit on piece by piece. When I stepped outside, the two of them immediately said, “perfect!” in unison.

“Huh?” I asked, baffled. “I don’t get it, what makes this one ‘perfect’ compared to the others?”

Alejandro scoffed and lectured me. “I know fashion, you do not. Do not question my choice! Now, come with me so we can get it tailored.”

“Whatever you say.”

I followed Alejandro to a well-lit area just off the side of one of the outer walkways. He positioned me in the center of a few mirrors and began to take measurements. The entire process of getting the suit altered was a bit longer than I cared for, but I expected as much from undergoing the same process back at the castle. When it was all done, he turned me to face one of the mirrors.

“Voila!” he declared.

I observed myself and my brows raised reflexively. My reflection was clad in a sleek, black tuxedo jacket and pants. A white dress shirt with black buttons and a black bowtie laid beneath the jacket, and a red pocket square and white cufflinks completed the ensemble.

For some reason, it was even stranger seeing myself in a tuxedo than in a suit, but I didn’t hate the way it looked on me. In fact, I think I actually kinda liked it.

“This style suits someone like you perfectly,” he gushed. “Let it be known that there is no man on this planet, awful eyes or not, that Alejandro Ruiz cannot dress to perfection!”

“Uh, thanks?”

Cynthia approached me from behind and examined my reflection. “Not bad, all things considered.”

Are backhanded compliments all anyone knows how to give around here?

“What is that supposed to mean?” I pried.

The blonde redirected her gaze from the mirror to the real me and said, “it means you look good.”

“Oh, I see…”

Alejandro approached me with a black and white shoebox and said, “you’ll need some nice shoes to go with your outfit of course! These look to be your size, try them on.”

I slipped the black dress shoes on, and sure enough, they were a perfect fit.

“Looks like we’re all done here,” Cynthia remarked. “I’m ready to pay now.”

“Of course, Your Royal Highness! Right this way!”

I changed out of the suit while Cynthia took care of the bill. By the time I was done, she was waiting by the door, ready to leave. We returned to the car and the driver stored my tux in the back of the car. After the three of us got in, the vehicle began to move.

“Hey, thanks again for doing this, Cynthia.”

“It was a necessity. Your gratitude is welcomed, however. I guess you can be appreciative after all.”

Backhanded again.

“By the way,” she continued. “You’ll likely be contacted about the banquet very soon. Make sure you’re prepared for it.”

I groaned and plopped back against the head rest. “Yeah, I can’t wait to meet all the other royal scumbags foaming at the mouth to tear me apart. I’m sure they’re all wonderful people.”

“Yeah.”

Her response was oddly limp and spaced out. Her green eyes were just as distant, staring out at the passing streets. Her demeanor was radiating a strange aura of melancholy, but I had no idea why. I would have pried, but something about the look on her face made it clear that asking what was up was out of the question.

And so, silence fell upon the royal car once again, persisting until the vehicle pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex.

For the first time since her muted response, Cynthia turned to me. “Before you go, I wanted to let you know that I see you’re trying hard with all of this. I’m doing my best too, of course.” She paused for a moment before speaking again. “I know this banquet is an unwelcome, overwhelming surprise. But don’t worry about it, we’ll be there together. I won’t leave you to deal with it alone, okay?”

I felt surprise overtake my features once again. A tingle in my cheeks made clearer an embarrassment that had blindsided me equally as much as her sentiment. All I could bring myself to respond with was a nod.

Unlike earlier in the day, the driver stepped out of the car and opened the door for me. From the back of the vehicle, he retrieved the suit Cynthia brought from the castle, as well as the new tuxedo she purchased, and handed them to me. With that, the car disappeared beyond the surrounding buildings, and I returned to my apartment.

A note from mom on the kitchen counter let me know she was out buying art supplies, and it seemed dad still hadn’t returned from his mail run. I made my way to my room and stored my suits in the dresser.

The sight of the new, fancy clothes filled me with dread. I had never owned any suits before, and knowing the only reason I had now owned two of them was the upcoming banquet made me anxious. In less than a month, I had gone from a quiet, uninteresting life to preparing to have dinner with future world leaders and participate in a combat gauntlet.

Gods, why couldn’t you have just let those thieves ram me with their car that night instead?

I stepped out into the kitchen again and pulled open the pantry doors.

Ugh.

Barren.

I could really use a pudding cup right now.