The mont we stepped inside, it felt like the world outside just slipped away.
The noise of the marketplace faded at once, swallowed by the soft hush of the boutique. Warm light washed over everything in a gentle, golden glow, soft enough that even the silk on display seed to shimr instead of glare.
The air carried a faint sweetness.
Not strong—just enough to linger.
Faye slowed to a stop just past the doorway.
Her fingers curled at her side, then smoothed down her skirt, brushing nervously over her hips as if suddenly aware of every line of her body. Her gaze jumped from one display of straps and sheer panels to the next before darting away, cheeks coloring as though she’d accidentally stared too long at sothing indecent.
"...There are more people here than I thought," she murmured.
"Don’t worry, I can get us so privacy."
I snapped my fingers to get a shop attendant’s attention. Or, well... in this place it felt more accurate to call them stylists. They were clearly more than just regular shop staff.
"Ah, yes!"
One of the attendants, who’d been fussing with a few laces, snapped her head toward us. She imdiately clapped a hand over her mouth, trying her best not to squeal.
"Oh my god—!" she gasped, nearly dropping the lace in her hands. The strip of fabric dangled between her fingers, a whisper of silk and ribbon that made Faye’s shoulders tense beside .
And I couldn’t help thinking... even she was pretty. Was everyone in this world just beautiful or sothing? Smooth skin, shining eyes, a mouth that looked like it smiled easily—if she’d been on display with the rest of the lingerie, she wouldn’t have looked out of place.
"L-Lord Noctierre... and... um."
The attendant walked over, fidgeting with the hem of her uniform, her gaze flicking between my face and Faye’s arm threaded through mine, then down to the ring on her finger.
"Lady Amberlyne."
"R-right. Would you like to be your personal attendant during your visit?"
"Yes. Also, could you give us a more private area to browse? Sowhere with fewer prying eyes."
"R-right away, my lord!"
The stylist—attendant—whatever she technically was—led us deeper into the shop. As if she understood exactly what I ant, she took us along paths where the fewest people were gathered.
From the outside, the place might have looked unassuming, but it definitely wasn’t short on custors.
"Wait here."
She left us standing near the entrance to one of the staff rooms, slipped inside, and then, after only a few seconds, poked her head back out through the doorway.
"Would you like to ask the rest of the staff to step out for a while?"
"If possible, yes."
She nodded and gave us an awkward smile. I couldn’t really bla her. A shop like this, a powerful duke like , and a woman she’d never seen before, wearing an expensive ring on her ring finger that clearly belonged to —it was a lot to take in.
If anything, this was basically a promotion for her. At the very least, she’d be one of the rare people who knew what the legendary Duke Noctierre preferred when it ca to lingerie—and exactly what kind of woman he wanted to see slipping into it.
"I can’t believe we get to have the entire staff room to ourselves like this..."
"It’s better if I’m the only one who gets to see you at your most beautiful after all."
There it was—another risky line!
"C-Cassian...!" Faye scolded, but there wasn’t any real bite to it. "But... I guess I feel the sa way."
Gods...
Didn’t think that would work that well...
"Everyone’s gone now. You can co in—no one’s around to stare."
The stylist stepped out of the way and motioned for us to enter. The staff room was so much cozier than the store outside.
There were soft couches for the staff to crash on, wide mirrors, mannequins dressed in experintal designs, and even tailoring tools clearly used for pieces they made themselves—not just the usual imported stuff.
For a rich new couple looking to splurge, this place was basically heaven.
"S-So, um... where should we start...?"
The stylist stamred, biting nervously at her knuckles. She tried to look anywhere but at —and failed miserably.
Yeah. Monts like this just reminded how absurd this new body of mine really was.
"Could we see your best pieces?" I asked. "For both n and won—whatever you think would suit the two of us."
"T-The two of you...?"
Her eyes went wide for a second before she snapped out of it and hurried off. "R-Right! Got it!"
"You’ve basically got her in a chokehold," ca the quiet comnt beside .
"Given the situation, I can’t really bla her," I replied.
This world still has its fair share of fairytales and cheesy romance novels about nobles. I’m sure our stylist’s read at least one in her life. That alone is enough to fluster anyone, especially when you’re suddenly thrown into a situation that feels like it was ripped straight out of a romance novel.
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