59th Dawn - Origin House

The only thing that I'm glad about this whole situation is the fact that I finally met someone who's worse than me when it comes to household chores.

Alexander's a hopeless case. Though I get that he's a fallen noble and has smoother hands than mine due to his lack of participation on those grinding housework, I think a mop shouldn't be something that'll ruin a man's career. I'm aware that as a fashion designer, he managed to stay awake all night, squinting his eye on that small hole of a needle without dozing off at all. That's why I believe that learning to wipe the floor shouldn't be something so arduous for someone like him.

"Let's just clean it together, Sir Alexander," I proposed, only to receive an appalled reaction from him.

"No, it isn't necessary. Let's just wait for them. You can stay at the upper floor for now since it's less messy. I already prepared your room as well."

"We won't be able to get any work done at this rate, though."

"Why the rush? I only have to teach you for this week anyway."

Now, he's reasoning that it's discussion week. It's as clear as day that he just doesn't want to get his hands dirty. I won't blame his background and upbringing, but I still think he has to adjust to this way of living if he wants to survive as a commoner. Fashion can't solve every problem, after all. That aside, I also refuse to have an instructor who's this incompetent in something that's as easy as ABC.

"What are you doing?" Alexander asked in bafflement as I suddenly sauntered to a closet at the corner, which I assume is where the cleaning materials are.

"I'll clean. It's fine if you don't since you're my teacher and you can order me around," I answered with a deadpan look.

"What? I already told you it's not needed. You haven't even rested yet."

"You know, Sir, there are other ways to express your love for something. I realized just now... Walking around this town and being inspired can't get me settling down at this point, so I decided to just release some steam from this burning passion of mine by cleaning."

"You... What in the world are you babbling about...?"

With that, Alexander only stares at me as if I just grew two heads. I may have blurted them out all of the sudden, but he shouldn't be that puzzled. That isn't even a riddle or a mathematical problem. His incredulous expression gives me the idea that he simply doesn't understand at all, nor will he ever. That's unless he'll experience it himself, of course.

"Here's what I honestly think, Sir Alexander..." I trailed off, taking a mop and pacing towards the center of the room before beaming at him.

"...This place is where colors will soon come flying through, and where dreams will come true. Don't you think we should know it better? Once we made it into this splendid garden of dresses, we'll surely come to realize that every crook and cranny has been worth searching. That said, this fashion house is a big part of our passion. We should treasure it ourselves!"

I'm really rambling right now.

The truth is, I just want to end this day in a productive note. I'm also not into the idea of living in such a filthy place for three days. I may not be a fan of cleaning, but there's still should be a certain extent to someone's laziness. What I was yapping about came from the heart as well. Since this David of a building is going to defeat a Giant someday, just like Alexander said, then all the more reason we should raise and cherish it with our own hands.

"Those who don't work, won't eat~" I remarked overzealously in a sing-song voice, flummoxing him even more.

"You really are weird..." is all he can retort as I finally start mopping the floor, deliberately going against his will.

As Alexander continues standing still near the doorway, unsure of what to make of my boldness and tenacity, I just busy myself with rummaging around the closet and taking out an old rag along with a brush, which I plan to use in wiping the dusts off. He stays silent for quite some time, his gaze following every move I make all the while. I don't really care if he'll just leave me be, though I also doubt he won't feel ashamed if he did so. At this rate, he might have no choice but to join me in the end.

"What you said isn't wrong, though," Alexander voiced out all of the sudden, much to my surprise.

"Pardon, Sir?" I replied, swerving back to his direction and finding him leisurely leaning on the doorframe, both arms crossed.

"About every crook and cranny being worth it... Or more like, everything you said... I bought this studio for that reason, after all."

At this, I momentarily halt my cleaning and face him, ears peeled open. He then begins telling me how his deceased mother used to obsess herself over buying this particular lot, but at that time, she's still contracted to work at Freya's and his father was firmly against the idea of going independent. It's only after she died that he got to learn the reason behind this. Along with a few other secrets, she told him every element he needed to take note of in order to attain their much-desired revolution.

"The very first fashion house in Ellicht had stood at this exact location... She said it's where everything started. I wasn't that convinced at first, but then, I tried to make a research on it. That's when I found this very old book at the temple's library. It happened around the time of my coming-of-age. Within its pages are Ellicht's ancient history that had been kept obscure from the public... And that's where I confirmed Mom's revelation."

Fascinated, I can only listen to Alexander at the moment, eyes subtly gleaming with wonder and zeal. He says it like it's some kind of an untold legend or a hidden myth, which I somewhat have a soft spot for since Mother used to feed me a lot of stuffs similar to this. Now that I think about it, our mothers are a bit alike when it comes to their choice of genres. They're also both mysterious in a way and withheld a fountain of knowledge, especially regarding those that revolve around Ellicht's background and origin.

"So, you chose this place because it's historical and your mother said so?" I asked, tilting my head at him quizzically.

"Well, yes... But it's not only that..." Alexander trailed off before pacing towards the flight of stairs at the center front of the room. He then swivels around and faces me again, a knowing smile gracing his features. I just continue staring at him in puzzlement, clueless as for what's running in his mind this time.

"It's also because it's magical."

Then, I blinked, baffled and surprised.