Chapter Text
The trip to the capital didn’t take too long, he decided to go in a carriage instead of teleporting. He didn’t need to reveal how much control he had gained over his powers just yet. It would be better if they continued to underestimate him. He glanced out the window as they passed some shops. Now that he thinks about how he never went out shopping for clothes before, he doesn’t even know where to go.
Turning to the Bull Clone in the carriage Red Son leaned back and contemplated his predicament. “Do you perhaps know which tailor store is the most popular at the moment?” He had nothing else to lose so he might as well ask his Bull Clone. The Bull Clone blinked before answering his question. “There is a popular tailor about 3 blocks from our current location. They are quite well known and produce clothes that tend to set trends. Would you like me to request the coach to take us there?”
Red Son smirked wickedly and folded his hands in his lap, “That sounds perfect.” His Bull Clone’s always knew exactly what he needed. He never should have deactivated them in his first life. He doesn’t know what he was thinking. Red Son realized the carriage had stopped moving, distracting him from his thoughts. The Bull Clone was already outside the carriage with their hand held out to help him with his descent. Red Son blinked and raised himself from his seat and stepped out of the carriage with the Bull Clone’s help, “Thank you.” Red Son paused slightly; he had said that unconsciously. The Bull Clone blinked in surprise but chose not to comment.
Brushing off imaginary dust, Red Son stared at the shop in front of him. It looked quite luxurious and the picture fits its apparent famous reputation. Red Son strided towards the entrance, he always did like to make an entrance. When he arrived at the front he pushed the doors wide open and crossed his arms with a smirk as the Bull Clone announced his presence. Immediately the atmosphere of the shop changed drastically. The employees, humans and demons alike, seemed to freeze in their spots as Red Son walked further into the establishment, his cape swaying, and allowed the door to close with a bang behind him.
The employees were staring at him with varying degrees of fear and distrust. He used to hate when people looked at him like that but now he reveled in it. He was the heir to the Demon Bull family; he needed to embrace the title and these peasants needed to learn their place. “I’ve heard of your reputation for being the best tailor shop in the capital. I, Red Son, require your services for a new tux.”
The employees remained frozen in their places. Red Son raised an eyebrow, was his presence truly that much of a shock. Before he could repeat himself more harshly one demon employee, looking braver than the rest approached him. “I’m sorry to say but we are already booked and we don’t have any appointments open.” They said with an insincere smile. He recognized that look in the employees eyes, it was the look demons gave when they looked down on him. The employee didn’t even give him, an elite, a proper greeting. Well Red Son couldn’t let that pass could he?
“If you don’t have room then make room. The establishment doesn’t look particularly busy at this time does it?” Red Son asked with a smirk. After he had entered, any other customers had made themselves scarce. The employee seemed to realize this and grind their teeth at the fact. The demon’s smile became a little more forced, “You have to make a prior appointment to be able to be served. No exceptions and no bribes, not that you could possibly have enough to pay us anyways.” The demon seemed delighted, happy to deny Red Son services. Red Son was starting to get annoyed.
Red Son glared at the disrespectful employee, “You must have forgotten my name, I am Red Son, son of the great Demon Bull King and Princess Iron Fan. I have graced you with my presence and made a request that will be answered.” Red Son smirked as the demon took a step back, as Red Son had begun to loom over them, with a look of shock on their face as they stuttered for a reply. They must be surprised he is standing up for himself. Before they could form a response, Red Son leaned back and held up two fingers beside his head that held the card his mother had given him. “And this I believe will be enough to pay all expenses and close the shop today with exclusive access for me.”
Red Son smirked at the employee’s gobsmacked expression. In fact the entire store was wearing similar faces of shock. It couldn’t be helped considering the gold mine he held in his hands. The card his mother had given him was the only one in existence. On it was stamped the symbol of the Demon Bull Family’s insignia and it allowed whoever held it access to their finances. Which was a gold mine since his family was filthy rich. There are many benefits when your father is “brothers in arms” with the King.
The once overconfident employee backed down in an instance but still hesitated. Red Son frowned. The card being in Red Son’s possession serves as a symbol that he has been accepted as the heir to the Demon Bull Family which he never properly received in his first life. If the employee was going to deny service again it wouldn’t be because he was looking down on him but because of something or more like someone else.
Before the employee could reply a demoness approached him. They were dressed in professional attire and looked to be the owner of the store. “I apologize Red Son but we are currently serving another elite like yourself and we cannot kick him out but we will gladly lend you our services. I, the owner of this fine establishment, will help you personally.” Her eyes were sparkling in delight at the sight of the card. Red Son was grateful that his mother had given him this card.
Red Son smirked wickedly, “It can’t be helped. I just hope you don’t allow anyone else in while I’m here. Thank you in advance, I’m glad someone in this establishment has manners. Maybe you should have your employees take a refresher course.” He glanced at the rude demon and the demoness laughed in reply, “I’m truly sorry about the inconvenience. Don’t fret, I will take care of the matter personally.” The demon was shaking as the demoness stared the employee down. Red Son had to hold back a laugh, it served him right. At least now he would learn his place. The demoness redirected her attention to Red Son and beckoned him to follow her to a private room.
“Come this way, I will prepare for you an arrangement of fits you wouldn’t be able to refuse!” Red Son followed them along with his Bull Clone as he left the shocked employees behind.
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Red Son was beginning to grow tired. He had already tried on various clothes, and he was pretty sure he had found the perfect one for the ball but the problem isn’t the clothes, it's the manager. Every time he thinks he is done the manager brings new clothes for him to try on, insisting that they were made for him. Maybe he shouldn’t have brought out the card. It seemed to cause the demoness to go crazy. Who knew being rich could have this kind of effect. But Red Son couldn’t lie completely; he liked the attention and the constant compliments. Speaking of which, Red Son turned away from the mirror to face the demoness and his Bull Clone in his current suit.
He was wearing a simple black suit with gold trimming with a red coat with gold trimming hanging off his shoulders. He adjusted the cuffs of his suit as he looked to see the reaction of the demoness. Her eyes were glimmering with glee as she held her hands clasped in front of her face. “Another amazing piece, your grace! The suit complements your fierce personality. You must buy this. I can't see it fitting anyone else as it fits you. You are truly an inspiration.”
Red Son smiled at the praise as he looked to his Bull Clone for their reaction. In return he revised a thumbs up from the Bull Clone. Well then he can’t let a perfect suit go to waste can he. “I’ll buy but this will have to be the last one. I need to return home soon.” Before he could return back to the dressing room to change into his normal outfit he was stopped by commotion coming from the front of the establishment. Red Son grew curious, was it the customer they were serving before he arrived or someone trying to enter? Changing into his clothes could wait. Curiosity got the best of him and he decided to see what the commotion was about despite the manager’s protest that they could handle it.
Arriving at the front of the store Red Son is met with an annoying sight. Close to the entrance of the building some employees are being harassed by a group of three nagging nobles trying to get into the shop. He could hear the employees trying to appease the rowdy bunch, “We are currently serving an elite and they have requested that no one else enter until they are finished. If you are unhappy we would be happy to have you come back tomorrow.” The employees explanations went unheard as the nobles continued to complain. The leader of the group of nobles, a young male human, spoke up haughtily, “An elite? Who do they think they are renting out the entire store? I bet it was the Monkey King’s new brat.”
Red Son decided it was time to make his presence known. Even though the noble was not talking about him his words made him angry. Who was he to look down on someone that had the status he could never dream to reach? He strided to the group of nobles and tilted his head, directing a cold glance in their direction, “Is there a problem here? I don’t see a reason for you to be harassing the staff.” The nobles looked at him, each raising an eyebrow in confusion. The confusion didn’t last long as recognition flew across their faces and they scoffed at his presence. The leader stepped in front of him and crossed his arms.
“I’m surprised to see you here. Where is your little friend? The Ivory Lady right? Maybe you should go find her instead of hogging the whole store. And what in the world are you wearing?” The two other nobles laughed at the comments as the leader smirked at him. Red Son’s temperament flared at the fake name of the traitor. Unlike the scared employees these were nobles who looked down on him in the past. They saw him as weak for wanting the approval of others and saw him as pathetic. Honestly now that this is Red Son’s second life he would agree but it does not excuse how they treated him. He was no longer a pushover. He was an elite, he had a higher status than them and should be treated with fear and respect. He’ll just have to put them in their place.
“Who are you? If you were important I’m sure I would have remembered you but I can’t seem to recall a thing.” Red Son questioned innocently. As he expected the nobles were highly offended and ceased laughing in an instant. The nobles gaped as Red Son continued on.
“Maybe if you were as half as elite as me you would have a say in what I wear. You are practically insects compared to my name.” He knew exactly who they were but it wouldn’t hurt to damage their pride a little. Red Son smirked honestly; it was too easy to offend people these days. Before they could reply he interrupted them.
“Anyways it doesn’t matter who you are. I can do whatever I want. That’s the power of money. I could buy the whole store if I wanted to, but I’m feeling generous. I will allow each of you to buy one suit.” Red Son held up the card from earlier and called the manager demoness to his side, ignoring the beginning of protests from the nobles in front of him.
“Please allow these gentlemen to select one suit and after that send everything else to my father’s estate.” The demoness was speechless, “Oh and also allow the other customer I have yet to see buy whatever they want before I leave. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience them because of a few imbeciles.” The demoness lit up in delight, eyes shining with greed and glee. “Right away your grace!”
Red Son gave the nobles one last glance before he turned back to the changing rooms. “I hope you pick something worthwhile since it will be the last thing you get from these tailors.” With that he left the scene cackling in amusement. He wished he could have captured the noble’s expressions; they were priceless.
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Changing his clothes was a quick process. When he arrived back to the main room the nobles had left thankfully. Even though Red Son liked being able to put them in their place he was getting tired. It has been a long day. He saw the manager organizing some staff, probably packing for his large order, and he thought he should talk to her before he left. When she spotted him she immediately lit up.
“Your grace, before you leave I must ask that you become my muse!” She had approached him rather quickly and grabbed his hand while kneeling before him. Red Son’s hand burned at the sudden contact. He was not expecting her to approach him so quickly. He was going to decline but she looked up at him with glowing eyes.
“Please your grace, I’ve hit a creative block lately but now after seeing you I’ve been inspired to create an entire new line of clothing. If it’ll make you happy I’ll only design for you! You can even buy my whole store!” He considered the proposition. She was the most trendsetting designer around and the clothes he tried on proved those claims true. Red Son sighed, why did he have to be so soft.
“I will allow it. Your store may continue to serve others except for the ones that came by earlier. Also I will pay you handsomely so don’t worry about any financial issues. Now, I shall take my leave.” Red Son took his hand out of the demoness grip and began to take his leave. His Bull Clone was already outside waiting with the carriage. Red Son started heading for the exit, however, before he could leave he felt a tugging on the sleeve of his coat. What else did the demoness want?
Red Son turned around and was surprised at what he saw. He almost snatched his hand back but he stopped the instinctive response, he didn’t recognize the other. Instead of the demoness he was expecting it was what looked like a mortal boy who had Red Son’s sleeve in his hand. Red Son doesn’t remember seeing him as an employee so he must have been the other customer. Funny, Red Son looked him up and down, he didn’t look like any elite he could remember. Their hair was defying gravity by the way it stood up and it was held back by a red head band. He was wearing a yellow jacket over a simple white shirt that seemed to be stained with noodles? He also wore red pants and black shoes.
Red Son looked up to meet his brown eyes. The unknown noble immediately let go of his sleeve to rub the back of his neck and began to ramble. “I’m sorry about startling you! I didn’t mean to, honest! I just wanted to talk to you before you left and I got ahead of myself.” Red Son raised an eyebrow at the other’s antics.
“I saw what you did earlier, actually I was about to step in myself. I thought it was super cool and I wanted to thank you for what you did and allowing me to buy what I wanted. I’ve been looking for a while but I finally found a good suit at this shop. I would have been disappointed if I couldn’t buy it but I don’t have to worry about that thanks to you—.”
Red Son interrupted him before he could ramble any further. He could feel himself starting to gain a headache. Red Son felt like if he didn’t stop him he would have talked forever, “Your welcome, though I didn’t do it for you. I did it to put those pests in their place.” Red Son turns back to the entrance to make his leave. He turned his head back to the noble as he strided out, “I do hope we never meet again and if we do maybe you’ll look more presentable noodle boy.” Red Son left with a smirk as the noble looked down at his shirt in shock.
On the carriage ride back all he could think about was the look on the noodle boy’s face. He was fun to mess with. Maybe he wouldn't be too disappointed if they met again.