Vincent and his maid were in a luxury car.
The interior was high-quality, and the seats were incredibly comfortable.
Since he had to leave to have his measurements taken and his uniform prepared, he asked his family for transportation. Having never needed to go out or travel to the city, as he received everything he needed from his family, he had no means of transport at his villa.
He sent the message, and this state-of-the-art car arrived immediately.
It wasn't because his family cared about his comfort, but rather because, as the son of a nobleman, his parents wouldn't allow him to travel on foot or in a dilapidated vehicle.
That could create rumors, something his father couldn't tolerate, no matter how small.
"That idiot who cares more about his appearance than his family…" Vincent sighed. "At least I can travel comfortably," he muttered.
They arrived in the Capital City; it was a normal, modern city.
Although this world had nobles and a semi-feudal style, the technology, architecture, and everything else were from the modern era.
It was as if some aspects of the world had stagnated while others had progressed. A superficial glance would be confusing, but there were many explanations.
In a world with magic and abilities, bloodline was synonymous with power. Abilities were cultivated across generations: the stronger the predecessor, the stronger their descendants would be.
The nobles, with hundreds of years of history, had cultivated their powers meticulously and jealously guarded them.
Commoners, who could only think about what they would eat the next day, lacked such abilities.
So, over time, the nobles and royalty simply grew stronger, and the gap widened more and more.
Although exceptional individuals sometimes emerged from among the common people, the nobles generally surpassed most.
Even though there were firearms and other weapons, the nobles could simply oppress the common people, and the latter, even armed, could do little.
In this way, the old system that should have disappeared continued to this day, and it didn't seem likely to disappear anytime soon.
The vehicle stopped.
The maid stood up and opened the door; Vincent extended his hand and stepped out with her support.
Vincent took her hand and let the maid lead the way.
The maid entered the workshop, which was a clothing store.
An employee approached with a friendly smile.
"It's a pleasure to see you. If you need help choosing fabrics or styles, I'd be happy to assist you."
The maid replied immediately, "We've made an appointment for measurements."
Normally, it would be disrespectful for the maid to respond, but since Vincent had no desire to speak, he left everything to her, regardless of etiquette or such nonsense.
"Of course, you can come in right away," she said as she led them in.
They entered a room with a mirror, ribbons, and strips of clothing.
The attendant took a measuring tape and immediately measured Vincent's body.
"You're ready. You can leave and come back in an hour, or wait in the waiting area."
The maid looked at Vincent for instructions; he just nodded listlessly.
"We'll wait," the maid replied.
They were both led to a large room with a table in the center, and they waited quietly. They were served high-quality desserts.
His maid cut a piece of cake and held it out to Vincent, who simply opened his mouth and she fed him.
Although at first it was awkward being treated with such care, he was now so used to it that it no longer bothered him much.
Besides, the only time he had refused, his maid had looked as if the world had ended. So he simply let it be.
The door opened. Vincent turned his head slightly, glancing toward the entrance, and saw a young woman with blond hair, red eyes, and a red dress.
"Is someone here?" she asked, surprised to see him.
Vincent reluctantly stood and gave a slight bow. Since everyone who came here was a noble, he should introduce himself in case he accidentally encountered someone of high rank.
"A pleasure to meet you, my name is Vincent de Nightingale."
"The pleasure is all mine. Eleanore de Medici."
Vincent frowned immediately, though with his head bowed it wasn't noticeable.
The Medici family was high-ranking, one of the five ducal families.
What bad luck.
Vincent raised his head and, with a courteous smile, invited her in.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," she said with a polite smile as she sat down.
"It's no trouble at all, Lady Eleanore. On the contrary, it's an honor to meet the daughter of the Duke of Medici."
Eleanore giggled slightly, covering her mouth.
"A silver tongue at such a young age is impressive. Your father must be proud."
Vincent frowned slightly but quickly regained his composure.
"My lady's flattery is unnecessary."
Vincent picked up a cup of tea.
"Would you like to try the tea? It's of high quality."
"I appreciate the offer," she said, taking the cup of tea her maid served her.
They both sipped slowly.
"A truly delicious tea," Eleanore remarked with a warm smile.
Vincent smiled, thinking, How long until I can finally leave this damned place?
They continued chatting briefly until the door opened.
"Lord Vincent, your uniform is ready."
Vincent, his eyes gleaming, stood up.
"It was an honor to meet Lady Eleanore."
"The honor is all mine, Lord Vincent," she replied with a beautiful smile.
But to Vincent, it looked like the smile of the devil himself. Without wasting another moment, he left immediately, almost running.
Lady Eleanore watched Vincent leave as quickly as he could, and her eyes turned cold at once, losing any trace of warmth they might have held.
"My Lady, do you want us to get rid of him?" the maid asked, noticing her mistress's expression.
Eleanore shook her head immediately.
"No. He's just an interesting child."
She smiled slightly, remembering the boy before her, but that smile was tinged with malice and a deep-seated ill will.