As the trio continues their journey through the palace, Wulfric suddenly emits an “ahem” sound, drawing Kaiden's attention. Kaiden observes Wulfric, taking note of the mix of emotions playing across his face, seemingly indicating some discomfort. Kaiden patiently waits for Wulfric to gather his thoughts and speak.

Wulfric releases a sigh, his tension dissipating as he relaxes. He turns to Kaiden with a firm tone, expressing his gratitude, "I didn't have the chance to properly thank you for your assistance in the throne room this morning. I am truly grateful that you were able to save me from losing my honor in front of the Emperor."

Kaiden casually runs a hand through his hair, responding with a nonchalant shrug. "It's nothing, really," he reassures. "I shouldn't have goaded you on like that either. Just try to take it easy and avoid dissing your fellow warriors."

Wulfric nods, his expression slightly softer, as he responds, "I'll keep that in mind and take it to heart." He then adds with a hint of remorse, "I'm also sorry for not helping you out that day and for stabbing you. I can admit that I'm quite dense sometimes, and I've overheard that from others as well."

Wulfric suddenly halts in his tracks, swiftly pivoting to face Loden, who was silently following behind them. Loden, who appeared to have been zoning out, now stops as well, suggesting that he had not been paying much attention to the ongoing conversation between Kaiden and Wulfric.

Wulfric begins, pausing momentarily before continuing in a more empathetic tone. “Loden,” he says, his voice tinged with a sincere apology. “I want to apologize for the way I've treated and spoken to you since we first met. I hope we can set aside any ill feelings and work together as a team to become the best warriors possible to assist Kaiden on our journey ahead.”

Loden takes a moment to digest Wulfric's words, acknowledging them with a nod. He then extends his hand, offering a truce, and responds simply, "No worries, man. Truce."

Wulfric reciprocates Loden's handshake, their hands meeting in a firm grip. The tension between the two seems to alleviate as they part ways. Kaiden smiles to himself, pleased to witness the improved relationship between the two warriors.

After a brief moment of awkward silence, Kaiden breaks it by asking, "Are we nearly at the Royal Tailor's? By any chance, do you think there's a possibility of getting me a different outfit since I've been wearing the same clothes for what feels like a month now?"

Loden can't help but let out a soft chuckle as he responds, "It's only been three weeks, you know. If you'd mentioned it earlier, I could've let you borrow some of my clothes."

Wulfric points to the left and informs Kaiden, "The Royal Tailor is just up ahead on the left. Let's continue onward," and he starts moving in that direction once again.

As they continue walking, Kaiden resumes the conversation, addressing Loden, "You know, I've only ever seen you in the clothes you're currently wearing. Could I possibly borrow something to wear?"

Loden responds to Kaiden's inquiry with a sly smile, "I guess I've been making do with what's on my back. Any particular reason you're interested in borrowing something from me, huh?"

Kaiden confused says, “you just said a second ago that I could borrow clothing from you, but you don’t have any extras to offer. Then how would I even borrow anything from you if you got none to spare.”

Loden laughs heartily at Kaiden's puzzled expression and clarifies, "Ah, I see your confusion. I did offer to let you borrow some of my clothes, but it seems I spoke too hastily. I don't actually have any extras to spare for you, my friend. I apologize for the mix-up."

As Kaiden shakes his head in bewilderment, he ponders why people in this world can be so perplexing at times. Wulfric comes to a halt in front of a pair of impressively adorned doors, their design featuring intricate etching.

Wulfric pushes open the elaborately designed doors and calls out into the room, "Gideon! I have orders from his majesty." Loden and Kaiden remain silent, waiting to see how Gideon responds to Wulfric's statement.

A tall man with silver hair and dark eyes shielded behind glasses emerges from a corner further within the room, expressing his displeasure towards Wulfric's loud entrance. "I've told you a hundred times already: stop yelling when you come in here!" he admonishes. "I'm not deaf, but if you keep it up, you might just make me go deaf" he grumbles. "Always these damn soldiers, acting like they're all high and mighty just because they carry a sword."

Wulfric confidently strides up to the man, grabbing his shoulders in a friendly manner, and says warmly, "Loden, Kaiden, let me introduce you to Gideon, the Royal Tailor. He can create clothing for any occasion, despite his somewhat gruff demeanor."

Gideon adjusts his glasses with a slight huff, distancing himself from Wulfric. "Oh, I can certainly make any clothing you desire," he responds. "But I'm often in a bad mood because I'm interrupted during my work. I'm working on a garment for the Empress for the upcoming festival, and I only have two weeks to finish it. Everyone always gives me the worst notice."

Gideon's eyes dart over to Loden before settling on Kaiden, and his attitude undergoes a sudden shift. His fingers immediately begin to move in a rhythmic fashion on both hands as he reaches out toward Kaiden. "Where did you find these remarkable clothes? I need to take a closer look at the exquisite craftsmanship.” he asks with a fascinated tone.

Loden instinctively steps in front of Kaiden, shielding him from Gideon’s scrutinizing gaze. Wulfric interjects, explaining, "Gideon, we require a piece of clothing to be crafted for the Royal Proclamation of the arrival of the Priestess."

Gideon's gaze moves to Wulfric as he expresses his disbelief. "What? When?" he exclaims, his thoughts quickly shifting to time, labor, and required fabric.

Kaiden feeling a bit uncomfortable, decides to step out from behind Loden, seeking a better vantage point of the room and the Royal Tailor, Gideon.

Wulfric shakes his head and explains, "The Emperor has arranged for the proclamation ritual to take place in three days. You have been tasked with crafting a garment for the priestess." Wulfric gestures toward Kaiden and clarifies, "This is the priestess, Kaiden, whom you will be creating the garment for on that special occasion."

Gideon once more looks at Kaiden, though this time, keeping his hands controlled. "I see," he replies. "There's not much else to do but get started," Gideon responds confidently. He briskly moves around the room, seizing various items in quick succession and placing them on a table adjacent to a full-length mirror.

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Gideon having placed all the necessary items on the table, adjusts his glasses. “Priestess, if you would be so kind, I need to take your measurements to create a garment that perfectly fits you. If you would kindly step towards the mirror," he requests with a polite yet firm tone.

Kaiden proceeds to the mirror and stands beside Gideon, who holds a measuring tool in one hand. Gideon instructs the two with a brief glance over his shoulder, "You are free to leave or take a seat and stay silent." Wulfric and Loden nod and find a seat further away to observe quietly.

Gideon gives a fleeting smirk, and then nods, signaling the start of the measuring process. "Let us commence, priestess," he says with a hint of eagerness, his hands holding the measuring tool at the ready.

Kaiden nods in agreement, a subtle trace of trepidation in his demeanor. "Yes, please proceed," he responds, attempting to calm his nerves.

As Gideon carefully measures Kaiden's arms, legs, and shoulders, diligently jotting down the numbers on a piece of paper, a flicker of anxiety ignites within Kaiden. The moment Gideon wraps the band around Kaiden's stomach, his nerves begin to heighten, causing his face to blush with warmth.

Gideon pauses, noticing Kaiden's apparent unease, and asks with a concerned tone, "Are you alright, priestess?" He loosens the band around Kaiden's middle and diligently adds the measurements to his notes.

Kaiden takes a deep breath, managing to control his nerves, and responds in a composed tone, "Yes, I'm alright, thank you. Just a bit nervous, I've never had my measurements taken for clothing like this before." He gives a small smile, trying to hide the fact that he is feeling a bit self-conscious under the scrutiny of the experienced tailor.

Gideon, a pleased smirk spreading across his face, bows slightly in response to Kaiden's words. "You flatter me, young priestess," he says with a hint of playfulness in his voice.

Gideon's eyes dart towards Wulfric and Loden before shifting back to Kaiden, their color suddenly darkening with a sense of malicious intent lurking beneath. His gaze becomes ominous, as if he is calculating some secret plan.

Gideon skillfully moves the measuring tape back around Kaiden's stomach and slowly slides it upward towards his chest, securing it from the back. His fingers exert a gentle but firm pressure on the tape as it meets Kaiden's shirt, causing it to dig in slightly.

Gideon quietly mumbles to himself as he pulls on the tape, causing it to tighten further around Kaiden's frame. Kaiden, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, asks in a hushed tone, "Is it supposed to feel this tight?"

Gideon releases the tape, jots down the measurements, and replies, "Of course, it must fit perfectly." He then resumes wrapping the tape around Kaiden's stomach again, before slipping in a subtle remark in a hushed tone, "It would be even better if you weren't wearing anything."

"What did you say?" Kaiden responds, turning slightly towards Gideon. Gideon nonchalantly dismisses Kaiden's question, asserting, "I didn't say anything, priestess." He then commands, "Now remain still and don't move."

Kaiden straightens his stance, his gaze shifting to the mirror, fixating on Wulfric and Loden conversing in the background. He notices that their heads are bowed, preventing them from seeing his current situation. Caught off guard, Kaiden fails to observe Gideon's movements next to him.

Gideon gently and swiftly places the measuring tape around Kaiden's waist, his hands holding both ends and slowly overlapping as he seeks to find the measurements. In a rapid movement, Gideon suddenly presses the tape against Kaiden's rear, applying an unexpected amount of pressure while his hands inadvertently grasp Kaiden’s butt in the process. Kaiden jolts in surprise, feeling violated by the unexpected touch on his rear, causing him to stumble forward and collide with the mirror. The glass comes crashing down, resulting in a loud commotion that instantly attracts the attention of both Loden and Wulfric.

Kaiden lands on the shards of broken glass, his voice filled with a mix of confusion and hurt as he confronts Gideon. "What was that for? Why did you suddenly grab my ass?" Kaiden exclaims, struggling to make sense of the situation.

Loden quickly rushes to Kaiden's side, urgently kneeling beside him to assess any injuries. Meanwhile, Wulfric swiftly grabs Gideon by the collar of his shirt, displaying an expression of anger and concern.

Wulfric expressing his anger and concern, vigorously shakes Gideon. He demands, "Answer Kaiden's question." The tone of his voice indicates a stern insistence that Gideon explain his actions now.

Loden checking on Kaiden's injuries, notices that they are superficial cuts, nothing too serious. He then reassures Kaiden with a calm voice, "Don't worry, it's just a few minor cuts. We can bandage them up, and they should heal within a day or two."

Loden and Kaiden shift their gaze towards Gideon, whose face is turned away, making it unclear whether he feels ashamed for his actions or simply doesn't want to answer the question. Kaiden gingerly rises to his feet, feeling the fragments of the broken mirror glass beneath his feet as he moves to stand near Wulfric, who remains holding Gideon aloft.

Loden filled with anger at Gideon for harming Kaiden, moves to stand behind the priestess. For a brief moment, his thoughts seem to center on something, but they dissipate just as quickly, hidden underneath his anger towards Gideon at this moment.

Kaiden locks his eyes firmly onto Gideon, his voice resolute as he repeats the question with a hint of frustration, "Why did you grab my ass?" The intensity in his tone indicates that he demands a clear and honest answer.

Gideon's shoulders sag as he turns to face Kaiden, his voice quivering slightly as he responds. His words come out in a pleading tone, "It was an accident, dear priestess. I swear I didn't mean to touch you like that. I was simply trying to measure your waist."

Wulfric's grip tightens on Gideon's collar, causing the man to shake in midair. Wulfric's voice seethes with anger as he accuses, "That's a lie, and you know it. You never touch someone's ass while measuring."

Loden, his voice laced with a quiet and dangerous calm, slowly retrieves a dagger from his boot. He proposes, "Perhaps we should cut a finger off for him to start speaking the truth."

Kaiden and Gideon exchange startled expressions at Loden's words, but Gideon's panic quickly escalates. He starts to struggle and protests his innocence, muttering that it was a mistake. Kaiden swiftly reaches for Loden's arm holding the dagger, restraining it to prevent any hasty actions.

Kaiden, his tone gentle yet firm, addresses Loden, "Loden, there's no need to take Gideon's fingers for this offense." Kaiden's words aim to reason with Loden, advocating for a less extreme response.

Loden's anger subsides slightly as he considers Kaiden's words, pulling his arm back and sheathing the dagger into his boot. He gives Gideon a stern ultimatum, his voice laced with warning, "Tell the truth, tailor, or we will report this incident to the Emperor."

Gideon, his panic momentarily halted, glares at Loden, challenging his threat. He fires back with a tone laced with superiority, "You wouldn’t dare. And who will the Emperor believe? His most trusted tailor or mere street garbage and a warrior bristling with disdain for lower classes?"

Kaiden steps forward, his stance exuding authority. He asserts firmly, "The Emperor will believe us. As the priestess and two celestial warriors of Astralyn, our word shall not be dismissed."

Gideon's gaze travels over each individual, finally settling on Kaiden. He shakes his head and confesses, "I apologize for touching you in a private area. I haven't had the chance to be near a priestess, and it would have been different if you were a woman. From behind, your ass can be mistaken for a woman's."

Kaiden's face pales at Gideon's comment, stunned by his audacity. Loden and Wulfric react immediately, their voices rising in anger as they shout at Gideon, their words laced with vulgarity and disgust as they berate him.

Kaiden, shaken, turns away from the trio and distances himself from Gideon. His voice quivers slightly as he declares, "We are done for the day. Work with the measurements you currently have and craft the garment."

Loden attempts to approach Kaiden, but the Priestess pulls away from his touch, turning his gaze towards the ground. Kaiden then speaks softly, "I'm going back to my room. Please inform me when lunch is ready."

Kaiden swiftly leaves the room before either Wulfric or Loden can say anything further. Loden and Wulfric stand silent, their eyes lingering on the closed door. Wulfric turns to Loden with a mixture of concern and unease, "What just happened? Why did Kaiden react like that?"

Loden shrugs in response to Wulfric's question, unsure of the exact cause. He agrees, "We can talk to him later. Right now, we should deal with this ‘slime.’”

Kaiden hastily flees back to his room, his face flushed and warm with embarrassment. The weight of the situation and Gideon's comment leaves him feeling a mixture of shame and indignation.