Alie walked with her usual poise, arms folded behind her back, her long coat fluttering slightly. Noah, hands in pockets, scanned the passing storefronts — bakeries, barbers, tailors, and a few more upscale boutiques decorated with polished wood and brass trims.
Noah glanced around "Alright, guide , fashion expert. I need sothing that doesn’t make look like a clown."
Alie snorted. "A bit late for that, don’t you think?"
He rolled his eyes. "See, this is why I don’t take you out more often."
"You literally begged to co," she said, smirking.
"I said you’re a noble, you probably know fancy clothes, not please save my life."
"Sa energy," she shrugged.
Noah tilted his head. "You know what? I’m starting to think you’re not here to help. You’re here for entertainnt."
Alie grinned. "Exactly. Now stop whining and pick a shop before I drag you into the frilliest one I see."
"Touché," Noah muttered, scanning the row of storefronts. "Let’s get this over with before I’m broke and humiliated."
They stepped into the first boutique on the corner — bells jingling softly as the door closed behind them.
The boutique was clean and full of sunlight, with mannequins wearing overpriced outfits and mirrors on every wall like so kind of narcissist’s temple. Soft instruntal music played in the background, and a bored-looking attendant gave them a nod before returning to folding trousers with surgical precision.
Noah looked around like he’d just walked into a trap.
"So... which of these makes look less like a servant and more like soone who can afford lunch?" he whispered.
Alie humd thoughtfully, already picking through a row of blazers. "This one’s not bad. Dark navy, sharp shoulders, high collar. You’d look halfway competent."
"Wow. Complint and insult in the sa breath. Impressive."
She tossed him the jacket. "Try it on."
He did. It was tight. Not in the flattering way.
"Okay, I can’t breathe, and I think I lost circulation in my left arm."
"You’re being dramatic."
Noah yanked it off and threw it back on the rack. "I’ve worn armor more comfortable than that."
Next ca a brown suit with gold accents.
"Absolutely not," Noah said the mont he saw it.
"You didn’t even try it."
"I refuse to look like soone’s rich uncle at a wedding."
They went through three more outfits. Nothing fit right. Nothing felt right. And Alie’s laughter only got louder each ti he stepped out of the changing room looking like a misplaced noble’s son.
Eventually, Noah sighed, rubbing his face. "This is hell."
Alie leaned against a shelf, grinning. "I’m having a great ti."
Noah stepped out of the changing room one more ti, wearing a simple black suit. The fabric draped just right, sharp at the edges but soft enough to move in. Understated. Clean. It looked... good. Too good, maybe.
Alie looked up from the bench, where she’d been lounging with one leg crossed over the other. Her usual teasing smirk was gone.
"That one," she said quietly. "That’s the one."
Noah turned to the mirror, tugging lightly at the collar. "Yeah," he murmured. "Looks expensive."
She shrugged. "Well, you wanted sothing nice. Welco to the noble life."
He smirked faintly, but the look didn’t quite reach his eyes. After a mont of silence, he glanced at her reflection. His voice ca a little lower this ti.
"Hey... how have you been lately?"
Alie blinked. "Huh?"
"You know," he said, facing her now, "the past few days. You’ve seed... a bit off."
She tilted her head. "Is that why you asked to co along?"
"Partly," Noah admitted. "The shopping was real. But... yeah. I noticed you were kinda down. Figured you wouldn’t say anything unless I gave you a reason to get out."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "I know we don’t know each other that well, but—if you ever need to talk or anything. I’m around."
Alie’s expression softened.
"Thanks, Noah," she said. No teasing this ti, no jokes. Just honest gratitude.
He gave a casual shrug. "Don’t ntion it."
A comfortable silence settled between them for a beat, broken only by the soft hum of the shop’s music and the quiet city noise outside.
Then Noah pulled out a coin pouch and tossed it to the clerk. "Alright. Wrap it up. I’ll take it."
Noah stepped out of the shop with the boxed-up suit under one arm and Alie walking just beside him. The sun had started to dip slightly, casting warm tones across the cobbled street. The city buzzed with casual chatter, the clatter of carts, and the occasional magical hum from one of the floating delivery runes zipping past overhead.
They strolled along slowly, still chatting about nothing in particular.
"Noah, you really spent all your coin on that suit?" Alie asked with raised brows.
He sighed, flicking the edge of the box. "Pretty much. I’m almost broke again."
She laughed. "You could’ve gone for sothing less dramatic."
"I don’t do half-asures, Alie. If I’m crashing a fancy place, I’m crashing it loud."
As they turned a corner into a quieter street lined with cherry blossom trees, Noah’s expression shifted. His eyes narrowed slightly, scanning the alleyways and rooftops.
"...Hold up," he muttered.
Alie followed his gaze. "What is it?"
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stopped walking and turned on his heel, looking up at a second-floor balcony across the street.
"Yo, you planning to follow us all day or what?" he called.
There was a pause.
Then, awkwardly poking her head out from behind a wooden post, was Lys Everin — unmistakable with her short blue hair and the little star ornant gleaming in it. She blinked twice, then stepped out fully as if nothing strange had happened.
"Oh," she said, clearing her throat, "fancy eting you two here."
Noah sighed.
"You suck at stealth," he said bluntly.
Alie squinted. "Wait—were you seriously tailing us?"
Lys smiled nervously. "I was just... passing by! Coincidence."
Noah arched a brow. "Wearing the sa clothes you had yesterday, Lys."
Her ears turned red. "T-That’s not important."
A silence stretched between them.
Then Noah sighed again, exaggerated and theatrical.
"Well," he said, adjusting the box under his arm, "since you’re already here... might as well co along."
Lys lit up a little, then tried to tone it down imdiately. "I-I an... sure. If you insist."
Alie looked between the two of them, raising one unimpressed eyebrow.
"This is going to get weird, isn’t it?"
The three of them found a quiet corner in a small food stall tucked between two shops. It wasn’t fancy—just a few wooden benches, a counter, and the sll of fried at and roasted peppers hanging in the air. A far cry from the usual noble restaurants, but Noah preferred it that way. The food was cheap, warm, and filling.
Lys sat across from him, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Alie was beside her, arms crossed, clearly enjoying the tension.
"So," Lys finally asked, leaning forward slightly, "what were you two doing?"
Noah didn’t even flinch. "Buying a suit."
Lys blinked. "A suit? For what?"
"For a event next month," he replied, stretching out his legs. "Can’t show up looking like I just got out of training grounds."
"...And you didn’t think of asking to co along?"
Noah smirked. "You’ve been busy. Weren’t you assigned to community service or sothing after turning the training grounds into a disaster zone?"
Lys’s expression twitched. "True..." she mumbled, suddenly deflating a little.
She looked down at the nu, playing with the corner of the paper.
Noah raised a hand toward the old woman working the counter. "Order whatever you want. My treat."
Alie glanced around. "This doesn’t look expensive."
"It’s not," he said flatly. "I just dropped a hundred gold on a suit. I’m on life support."
Lys let out a tiny laugh.
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