Chapter 253 - 251: The Successful Fashion Show

Chapter 253: Chapter 251: The Successful Fashion Show

Only Duane, Count Kais, and Baron Uriel knew of their conversation.

The three parties had reached a preliminary consensus to join forces against the Ugo Calvin Clan.

However, whether this plan would be implemented or not all depended on whether Duane could actually win first place in the upcoming martial arts tournament and obtain the territory at the foot of the Jade Mountain Range.

Meanwhile, July twelfth arrived.

To uninformed outsiders, it seemed certain that Count Kudro would cause trouble again, casting doubt on whether the fashion show could even be held.

But unexpectedly, the Kudro father and daughter never made a scene, acting as if they were completely unaware of the event.

Instead, the incident of veiled criticism had ironically given the Golden Crown Opera House’s fashion show a massive publicity boost.

Nobles and socialites who had previously shown no interest in clothing began buying tickets one after another.

And so, Time Closet’s first-ever fashion show officially began in the grand hall of the Golden Crown Opera House.

The opera house, with a capacity of two thousand, was packed to the rafters, and even the vast plaza outside was a teeming sea of people.

This was the idea of the opera house’s manager, Viscount Martin.

He used a magical method to project a live feed of the fashion show, allowing those who couldn’t get tickets to watch from the plaza.

After some inquiries, Duane learned that this projection was an application of a Level 4 Water Magic called the "Shadow Folding Technique."

Despite the high cost—over a hundred Gold Coins per hour—

the opera house stood to not only recoup its expenses but also turn a small profit from the enthusiastic crowd.

Inside the Golden Crown Opera House.

The central stage had been converted into a T-shaped catwalk, and the brilliant Magic Crystal Lamp chandeliers hanging from the ceiling bathed the entire hall in a dreamlike glow.

The catwalk extended from the stage into the heart of the audience, flanked on both sides by meticulously arranged seating.

Viscount Martin had already taken a count of the nobles attending and had arranged their seating accordingly.

The area where Count Kais and his two companions had sat the day before was designated as the special guest section.

By now, the nobles and socialites had all taken their seats.

The most distinguished guest among them was the Kingdom’s Third Princess, Emily, with whom Duane had once studied.

In addition to the Third Princess, ladies from other major noble houses, such as the Hughes Clan and the Smith Clan, were also in attendance.

They chatted amongst themselves from time to time; some expressed curiosity about the fashion show, while others who disliked Count Kudro sneered at him in hushed tones.

The time came to half-past three in the afternoon.

As melodious music slowly began to play, the stage curtains parted, and a single spotlight focused on the start of the catwalk.

The chatter in the hall gradually subsided, and all eyes converged on the figure that had appeared.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!"

"I’m Robinson, the premier host of the Golden Crown Opera House, and on behalf of Time Closet, I welcome you all!"

Amid a generous round of applause, the male host, dressed in a crisp tailcoat, strode forward.

His unique attire immediately caught the eyes of the more discerning members of the audience.

In this era, garments like long robes, tunics, and knightly surcoats all featured long, split backs to facilitate movement and horse riding.

However, this type of split back was not a tailcoat design.

The host’s black tailcoat, with its slim fit and high-waisted cut, elongated the lines of his legs, giving him an exceptionally elegant posture.

Some couldn’t contain themselves (mostly rival tailors hoping to steal some inspiration) and immediately began asking about the tailcoat.

Robinson, maintaining a humble and polite smile, seized the opportunity to speak.

"When I received this outfit this morning, I was just as nervous and excited as everyone here!"

"I never dreamed that I would one day be able to wear a tailcoat that embodies elegance, high fashion, and prestige to host such a grand event!"

As he spoke, he deliberately turned to the side, showcasing the garment’s lines and fashion-forward cut.

"Tailcoat." This was the first time the word had fallen upon the ears of the audience, and many committed it to memory.

Backstage, Natalia chuckled. "Robinson is being a little dramatic!"

Duane replied, "He’s a host. Without that kind of dramatic flair, it’s hard to warm up the crowd."

Originally, this segment was supposed to be hosted by either Natalia or Zelina.

However, considering that they were both daughters of the nobility—and Natalia the daughter of a Count, no less—it was deemed inappropriate for them to make such a public appearance, so Robinson was chosen instead.

The host was a true professional. After more than a day of rehearsal, his performance was excellent.

After his introduction, Robinson guided the topic back to the fashion show.

"I know you’re all interested in the tailcoat, but I’m here to tell you, there’s more than just one amazing garment like this today!"

"So, without further ado!"

"So please, relax and enjoy the show. Marvel, gasp, or pretend to be composed—but don’t you dare blink. Because what you’re about to see is the trend you’ll be desperately trying to imitate tomorrow, but will always be one step behind!"

"And now—let Time Closet turn a new page in the book of fashion for you all!"

As his voice faded, the music suddenly shifted. The band from Silent Shore began to play a piece that had been revised dozens of times before being finalized.

The upbeat tempo and perfectly timed drumbeats invigorated everyone’s Spirit.

At the same time, the host exited, and the spotlight that had been on him dispersed.

Just then, the first model walked out gracefully.

Nervousness and apprehension flickered across her face for an instant, but months of training quickly allowed her to regain her composure.

Her beautiful features, her firm and direct gaze, her cat-like walk perfectly in sync with the music, and the voluminous Lolita dress she wore—all of it instantly captured everyone’s attention.

Whether they were glamorous noblewomen or worldly merchants, their eyes were glued to the stage.

"Heavens, what kind of performance is this!"

Everyone was stunned by the unique stage performance; they had never seen such a peculiar and novel form of presentation.

The novel excitement made some people unable to resist shouting out.

Of course, others were focused on the clothing.

"How is the dress she’s wearing so beautiful? I’ve never seen a design like it!"

Princess Emily’s eyes widened as she exclaimed inwardly,

’This outfit is a work of art!’

As a princess of the Kingdom who owned more gowns than she could count, she was not easily impressed by ordinary clothing.

But from the very first piece to appear in the fashion show, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Meanwhile, others were also gasping in amazement.

A wealthy merchant’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but whisper to his companion,

"How did they do that? How can those layered fabrics be so light!"

"The cut of this dress is so unique. If I could learn how to make it, my profits would definitely double!"

There were also those who were more interested in the beautiful women, for example:

"This lady is so cool! I love her!"

Then, as the second, third, and fourth models took the stage one after another...

"How is this lady so beautiful too? I’m in love again! What do I do?!"

The unprecedented presentation style and the breathtaking clothing designs pushed the atmosphere of the fashion show to one climax after another.

Duane stood backstage, observing the scene through a crack in the curtains, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

The faces of Natalia and the others were beaming with joy.

"We did it!" Sharp said excitedly.

"Yes, we did it!" even the mature and steady Derek couldn’t help but shout.

This was their first entrepreneurial venture, and for it to be on such a grand stage, the response was more sensational than they could have imagined.

"Yes, we succeeded!"

The group high-fived each other, sharing in the joy of the moment.

After a brief celebration, they needed to start thinking about what came next.

Based on today’s performance, there would undoubtedly be no shortage of orders.

A production capacity of a hundred pieces a month would certainly not be enough to meet market demand.

"I’m already hiring people!"

Derek said anxiously, "The assembly line is being set up, but I still feel like it’s not enough!"

"Then hire more people!"

Sharp exclaimed, "We won’t have any trouble selling!"

Duane looked at Zelina and advised, "We can raise the initial prices a bit, but once they’re set, they can’t be changed. Also, you’ll need to contact the major merchants to ensure a sufficient supply of all materials."

Zelina nodded gravely. "I understand. If necessary, I’ll ask my father for help!"

The Buchanan Clan was in the cotton business and knew many textile merchants; they could definitely be of help.

"What do you need me to do?" Natalia asked.

After the incident with Tara destroying their promotional posters and Duane’s subsequent counterattack, Duane had become the most influential of Time Closet’s five partners, taking on the air of their de facto leader.

Duane thought for a moment and said, "See if you can get any support in terms of manpower or resources from the Count. Also, while we can’t prevent copycats, we need to ensure our brand’s market exclusivity, at least in the beginning. We’ll definitely have to operate under the banner of the Kennedy Clan."

Being copied was an inevitability.

What they needed to do was establish themselves as the "authentic" brand before that happened, while expanding their production capacity as much as possible to capture a larger market share.

Of course, with such a successful fashion show, Time Closet’s reputation was already made.

While the group was backstage planning their next steps, the fashion show out front drew to a close amidst gasps of wonder and shouts of praise.

From that day forward, the Pruck Kingdom had a new form of performance: the T-stage and the catwalk.

And although the major clothing families all tried their best to imitate them, as the originators, the names of Time Closet and Duane were already famous.

Duane not only earned the title of Master of Painting, but also gradually acquired the new moniker of "fashion trendsetter."

In the two days that followed, leading up to the National Foundation Day celebration, Derek, Sharp, and the others were met with a period of intense busyness.

Because the number of orders... had exploded!