"188 centimeters," Aléxandros noted, resting the long strip of measuring tape on his nape and jotting down Douglas' height on his pad.

Pandora and King watched on a leather divan by the side. They had known Aléxandros since they were little. He was a gentle person, the type of guy who wouldn't even hurt a fly. But taking that out of the account, he was a monster with threads. Aléxandros had been a go-to spot whenever clothes, exquisiteness, and parties were involved. The qualities of his clothing works had always been notable.

"Good lord. You sure have turned into a giant," Aléxandros chuckled. Douglas beamed with pride, and King huffed at him. "So, how is life in Venice?"

"Different," Douglas replied, his arm stretched to his side, "it's busier, noisier."

"Although the greater crowd tends to get nosy people out of your back," King added, flinging his head slightly to the side.

"Well, that's a plus," Alexandros said. He contemplated for a moment before saying, "I might be seeing you there next year."

The three slightly raised their brows at him. "You're leaving?" Douglas asked.

"Yes." Alexandros replied, pushing up his spectacles. "I plan to change my surroundings. I've been here for more than twenty years now," he added, excitement slowly stirring in his eyes. "Though I couldn't be more grateful for everything I have accomplished here, I still wish to venture."

King looked at the tailor's helpers. "What about them?"

Aléxandros smiled. "The shop shall be theirs now."

 "There's no need to worry," Lucas, one of his protégée, said. "Sir Aléxandros had taught us well."

"Indeed I have. I would deem myself as a failure to my profession if the opposite was to happen."

Pandora nodded. "Whatever it is that shall make you happy."

"Thank you, Domnișoară. Domnule." Aléxandros whipped the measuring tape in a swift, adept move and continued taking Douglas' measurements. "So, a masquerade ball. Why such a fancy event?"

"A friend of the family will be turning sixty. The golden age calls for a golden celebration," King said, though half of what is the truth. Aléxandros might have been a longspun provider for their pride, but he is still a human and thus oblivious to the true nature of one of his long-standing clients. 

Aléxandros eyes wandered. Then his eyebrows lifted, looking as if he had remembered something. "That reminds me of someone."

"Hm?" King raised a brow. 

"I think some of our recent customers might be going to the same event as well."

"Recent?"

One of Aléxandros' helpers came in with a tray of glasses. "Fresh apple juice?" she asked. The three each took one. King slowly sipped at it, moistening his drying lips.

"Yes—" The tailor's eyes traveled across the room. He adjusted his glasses up and pointed to where three sets of mannequins stood. They wore heavy aristocratic suits, each adorned with luxurious accessories — one with fur, one by velvet brocade, and the last bemedaled with brass brooches and hanging charms in its vest's panel. "—the gentlemen that had those suits made." 

King glanced at the apparel.

"Splendid gentlemen," the tailor stated while jotting on his notes again. "Siblings and new in town, if I remember rightly. They requested an outfit similar to yours, a full dress and a mask. Stated that it was for a ball and that they received words about our shop."

Pandora's expression was clouding. "... Do you recall their names?"

"What was it again, Lucas?" Aléxandros asked.

"What was what, sir?"

"The name of those gentlemen we had that came here for those dresses?"

"Oh! Are you talking about those three gentlemen?"

"Yes, them."

"I believe their last name was—" Lucas rubbed his chin, "Lykaios—"

"Pfft!" King choked on his drink and hacked a series of coughs.

"Oh dear, are you alright?!" Aléxandros asked. 

"Y-yeah," King hacked out, feeling an unpleasant residue of the apple juice on his throat. "I just choked. S-sorry."

"Do not worry about it," Aléxandros said. He called over a person to bring in the mop and some tissues. King wiped the corners of his mouth with it. "So do you know happen to know them?" Aléxandros added.

The three contemplated. "... Yes, but not entirely. They just run a business similar to ours," Pandora just said.

"Oh, is that so?" Aléxandros exclaimed. "Actually, one of the gentlemen is coming to take the suits today—"

"What?!" 

The tailors stared at King and Douglas with raised brows and wide eyes. "Um, did I say something wrong?" Aléxandros forced a slight chuckle.

Pandora discretely jabbed Douglas and King. King blinked, realizing their suspicious behavior. He shook his head.  "N-no. None at all. It's just that—"

Suddenly, the shop's hanging doorbell jangled, and the people inside the shop froze.

"... Speak of the devil," Lucas said.