I became a father with a genius face in the game

“Tie…? What is that?”

The tailor’s reaction made me just as puzzled.

‘Does this world not have ties? That can’t be. I even drew ties when designing Seymour…’

Upon further thought, I realized that was concept art from a year later. It seemed that ties did not exist in the current time.

‘Then, could it be that all these oddly outdated fashions…’

I had assumed that the tailor was showing only old-fashioned clothes because the territory, being somewhat far from the capital, was behind on trends.

Most of the clothes I had seen since arriving in this world were from the Rococo period.

The fashion included jackets with excessively round shoulders and decorations, along with white stockings that reached nearly to the knees.

‘The kind of fashion where you feel like you should put on a white wig right away.’

The only one wearing anything close to modern fashion was Richard Mausoleum, who ran a fashion business. His clothes were a mix of military uniform and riding clothes, resembling Napoleon’s style.

‘It seems that Rococo fashion is the mainstream, and Napoleon-style fashion is the latest trend.’

I tapped my chin for a moment and then realized something, nodding in understanding.

Although the Mausoleum family, including Seymour, wore modern suits, I had only designed for them.

‘Perhaps Seymour is the one who first conceived the modern suit, including the tie.’

Seymour, with his aesthetic sense and narcissistic traits, would definitely be capable of creating a fashion trend that perfectly suited him.

After all, many fashion items that became popular on Earth were created by rich, bored medieval nobles.

Satisfied with my conclusion, I grabbed a piece of leftover fabric from the wardrobe, draped it around the model’s neck, and tied it.

“A tie, then, is something like this. Much slimmer and more sophisticated than a cravat…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

When I turned around, I found the tailor staring at the tie with wide, shocked eyes.

“This…!”

The tailor, trembling, hurried toward me.

Unlike the overly polite behavior earlier, his eyes were wild, and I had to step aside to avoid him.

The tailor, in a daze, fumbled with the tie, examining it, untying it, and tying it again, murmuring to himself as if enchanted.

“Truly simple and thin, yet within it, there is a sophisticated restraint, with elegance added in… The perfect trifecta of ornamentation…!”

“What?”

“What kind of outfit would suit this…? Ah, so many ideas are coming to mind!”

With a blissful expression, the tailor stroked the tie, then suddenly turned to me.

His eyes, now full of madness, made me instinctively step back.

The tailor, seemingly oblivious to my reaction, poured out words in a frenzy.

“I can guarantee it, Count! Right now, people may reject this compared to a cravat, but in 3 years, no, within just 1 year, everyone will be wearing this around their necks. The whole fashion genre will change, and there will be fashion styles that match this!”

“Uh… really?”

The tie is indeed impressive.

…But was it really that amazing?

I was a doctor, not a fashion designer.

My knowledge of fashion was limited to a little study as part of research, so I didn’t quite have the sensibility to relate to Andrei’s enthusiasm.

“This… Where have you seen such an ornament?”

“Well… it just came to mind.”

“Of course, it’s you, Count! You’re a genius!”

It seemed he wasn’t completely out of his mind, but the flattery didn’t stop…

“Throughout history, tyrants have been known for their skills in the arts!”

“…What?”

“Even the infamous tyrants, they say, became corrupted after their artistic dreams were thwarted!”

I think I’ve heard something similar on Earth. Hitler, for instance, wanted to attend art school when he was young…

No, wait, did I just hear something really inappropriate?

“If I had this, it wouldn’t be just a dream for me to make it to the Imperial capital…! Count!”

Suddenly, the tailor, Andrei, knelt in front of me.

The sound of him kneeling was so loud that I was more worried than shocked.

“Andrei is a talented person! Even when I had nothing but my arms and legs, I joined my master’s workshop, and in 15 years, I’ve come this far!”

I knew that the man in front of me, Andrei, was a famous tailor.

Only the best tailors in the Mausoleum County could step foot into this estate.

“Three years ago, I opened a store with my own name, and it became the most successful tailor shop in the County. Especially in men’s clothing, I proudly consider myself the best! So…!”

Andrei raised his head suddenly.

From his eyes, passion poured out like molten lava.

“Would you invest in this craft of mine?”

In other words, he was asking me to share all my knowledge and information about ties with him.

“Hmmm…”

I stood still, tapping my chin.

‘I like the offer.’

The fashion of this world didn’t quite satisfy me, as someone who had lived on Earth.

This world didn’t even have ties, and its shirts were nothing more than primitive ancient “chemises.”

If I had just been an ordinary person reincarnated in this world, I might not have cared too much.

But since I had become Seymour Mausoleum, I wanted to wear all the clothes I had designed.

The current clothes didn’t suit Seymour’s appearance. The same went for Lucis.

‘It wouldn’t be bad to pass on not just the tie, but the entire fashion of modern Earth.’

However, I wasn’t planning on just filling someone else’s pockets.

I knelt down in front of Andrei and looked him in the eye.

“I have one condition.”

“Anything, I will follow!”

“It won’t be a shop named after your name, but a shop named after my family.”

“I don’t mind! I will follow!”

I couldn’t help but be a little impressed by his resolute decision.

I knew well how important it was for artists to have their name attached to a shop or studio.

‘Is the desire for the tie strong enough to override that ambition?’

I liked it.

Honestly, if Andrei had hesitated even a little, I would have dismissed him.

While Andrei was the best tailor in the County, there were plenty of tailors with similar skills in the Imperial capital.

What I needed wasn’t skill but obedience.

“Alright. Make sure your shop is ready. You’ll need to come with me when we head to the capital in fifteen days.”

“Yes, Count!”

Andrei bowed his head repeatedly.

***

The next day.

I called Sia to my study.

Knock, knock, knock.

Sia entered cautiously, knocking before stepping into the study, looking a bit shy as she slowly approached me.

“Brother, why did you call me?”

I turned my attention away from the painting I had been admiring and looked at Sia. She, in turn, avoided looking at me and glanced at the painting I had been looking at.

It was the easel set up next to my desk.

“……?”

On the easel hung a painting I had created myself, inspired by my reflection in the mirror during my morning bath.

It was a portrait of a man sitting in a chair, his black hair and golden eyes glowing arrogantly and brilliantly.

Title: Self-Portrait.

No need to hide it—the model was, of course, my handsome self.

“……What is this?”

“It’s a work of art, little sister.”

“A work of art…?”

At Sia’s astonished voice, I shook my head slightly.

“You should cultivate a better aesthetic sense, little sister. For nobles, having an eye for art is essential.”

“But… this is obviously your face!”

“Exactly. That’s why it’s a work of art. You should be thankful you were born with that face.”

And I, the one who designed that face, deserved a deep bow of gratitude.

“……”

Sia, who had been looking at me as if I were a crazy person, sighed and shook her head before plopping down on the sofa.

“I feel like a fool for being so nervous…”

On the opposite side, Lucis, who had been playing with jewels bought from the tailor, shook his head.

“Hello.”

“Yeah, hello, Lucis.”

It seemed Sia had decided to speak casually with Lucis.

For a moment, Sia smiled at Lucis, then turned to me and asked, “So, brother, why did you call me?”

“I called you because I have a favor to ask. I want you to help Lucis from now on.”

“Lucis?”

Lucis, being a hatchling, fiercely rejected the touch of anyone other than his family.

However, noble life had its inconveniences, especially when there was no one to help with things like bathing and changing clothes.

But I couldn’t do it myself due to the barrier of gender.

“I want you to help with washing him in the morning and evening and changing his clothes.”

At my words, Sia frowned.

“Why would I do that? I’m not a maid.”

It was only natural for Sia to be upset.

As a count’s family, we were considered high nobility. The Mausoleum family could even place a marquis beneath us.

It would be one thing if I asked her to be a maid for a princess, but asking her to act as a maid for her own nephew was understandably unpleasant.

But I had no choice other than Sia.

The non-blood-related servants were rejected by Lucis, and I couldn’t trust the distant relatives.

“You’re the only one I can trust to care for Lucis.”

Sia’s eyes widened at my words.

“You trust me?”

“…? Of course. You’re my real sister.”

It was a somewhat silly answer. Was there a need to justify trusting my sister?

Then suddenly, Seymour’s character traits, which I had stored in the desk drawer, came to mind.

‘…If someone like Seymour were family, even I might not trust him.’

I shook off the thought and spoke to Sia, who was still half-dazed.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”

Sia seemed to snap out of her stupor and muttered, “So, are you going to give me extra pocket money?”

“When you graduate from the academy, I’ll give you the business you want.”

At that, Sia froze.

All the nobles in this world were running businesses.

Especially the Mausoleum Count family, which has been secretly operating behind the Empire for a thousand years, was managing numerous businesses.

‘In a world where the authority of nobility comes more from money than history or tradition.’

The direct and collateral branches appropriately divide and operate these businesses, so the elders who gathered in my bedroom and raised their voices were all owners of various businesses.

In the case of Shia, who was still a minor, she would take over a business from the head of the family as soon as she became an adult and manage it.

‘Simon received his from the previous head of the family, the late Count, and Shia will likely receive hers from me.’

Perhaps because of this background, just as there were separate businesses for direct descendants and collateral relatives, even within the direct line, there were distinctions between businesses that the head of the family and non-head members could manage.

“…You’re saying you’ll give me what I want?”

“Any business you want. Anything at all.”

Thus, my offer could not help but be extraordinary.

‘After all, I’ll be stepping down from the Countship soon.’

Once I step down, the next Count would be either Simon or Shia.

Since I’d be passing on a business to them anyway, it wasn’t a loss to offer it in a fair trade now.

‘Rather, my image will improve, and even if I get some extra spending money from the territory after retiring, they’ll likely turn a blind eye to it.’

As I expected, Shia happily accepted my proposal.

However, there was one thing that surprised me: instead of desire, her eyes were filled with hope.

At that moment, I didn’t yet understand what her gaze truly meant.