| A Week and a Half Later |
Ephyra stared down at the shoppers moving through the aisles, her gaze idly following the flow of people in the luxury boutique. Rows of elegant dresses hung on display, their rich fabrics illuminated by the store’s warm, ambient lighting. Soft shelves held ticulously folded garnts, and accessories displayed under golden lighting.
Wealthy won moved through the boutique, their designer heels clicking softly against the polished marble floors. So wore understated but undoubtedly expensive ensembles, while others flaunted their status with bold statent pieces. Celebrities, draped in casual luxury, browsed discreetly, occasionally adjusting their sunglasses. Social dia influencers stood in glittering clusters, their six-inch heels and silk dresses. So exchanged pleasantries in hushed, practiced tones, while others barked demands at the staff as if they were personal attendants.
From her vantage point in the private shopping lounge, Ephyra took another slow sip of her pink, creamy strawberry cheesecake milkshake, the cold sweetness lingering on her tongue as she observed the interactions below.
"Are you going to keep watching them, or are you actually going to do what you ca here for?" Jania’s voice broke through her thoughts.
Ephyra glanced over her shoulder at her but made no move to step away from the railing.
Jania raised a brow. "You do realize this is a shopping trip, right? That involves shopping?"
"I’m taking a break," Ephyra replied, her tone languid as she took another slow sip of her ice cream.
Jania scoffed. "A break? We barely got through the tops and skirts! There are still trousers, dresses, shoes, underwear, sleepwear, coats, jackets—"
"Do we have to?" Ephyra drawled, sounding almost bored.
Jania shot her an incredulous look. "Of course we do. Or did you not hear Master Lyle when he specifically told you to update your wardrobe?" She crossed her arms. "And you did gleefully agree, might I add, claiming your clothes looked ’too cute’ for your taste." She narrowed her eyes. "That was also the last ti you saw him, wasn’t it? Since you’ve been actively avoiding him."
Ephyra took another sip of her milkshake, deliberately ignoring the latter comnt.
Jania arched a brow. "Well? You didn’t seem to have a problem when you agreed. Or did you not expect to be shopping for everything—including sleepwear and underwear?"
Ephyra exhaled, licking a stray drop of her milkshake from her lips. "I didn’t think it would be this extensive." She licked her lips, then added smoothly, "And I’m not going to respond to that last part."
"It’s winter, dummy," Jania pointed out, glancing at the clear blue sky beyond the boutique’s glass walls. "Even if it’s not as bad as last year, you need coats and jackets." Then, her gaze sharpened, her voice taking on a more inquisitive edge. "And you are avoiding him. That much is obvious. What I don’t know is why—but I’d love to hear it."
Ephyra sighed, turned around, and walked to one of the long couches in the room. "I’m not avoiding him and can we see the next set of clothes, please? We have used for up to two hours just to check two out of the eight types of clothes."
Jania gave her a long, knowing look but didn’t push the subject—at least, not yet. Instead, she turned to the boutique staff and gave a crisp nod.
"Please bring out the next set," she instructed.
The staff, efficient and well-trained, imdiately moved to wheel in another rack of clothing. This ti, it was a selection of dresses—so elegant and understated, others bold and daring. Rich fabrics of silk, velvet, and lace caught the light as the attendants carefully arranged them for viewing.
Ephyra leaned back against the couch, crossing one leg over the other as she absentmindedly twirled her straw between her fingers. "We’ve been at this for two hours, and we still have half the list left," she mused, her tone sowhere between amusent and resignation.
Jania shot her a dry look. "That’s because you keep stalling."
"I’m being thorough or you can say I’m taking my ti."
"You’re being impossible."
Ephyra rely smirked, lifting her milkshake for another sip.
Jania exhaled through her nose, clearly trying to hold on to her patience. "Just try these on, will you?" she said, waving a hand toward the dresses. "The sooner we finish, the sooner you can go back to pretending you’re not avoiding Master Lyle."
Ephyra set her milkshake down on the glass table beside her and stood gracefully. "I told you—I’m not avoiding him."
Jania scoffed, arms crossing. "Right. And I’m a nun."
Ephyra arched a brow. "That would be terrifying."
Jania rolled her eyes. "Just pick a damn dress."
Ephyra humd, running her fingers along the luxurious fabrics. "You know, if I truly were avoiding him, wouldn’t he have co looking for by now?" Her voice was casual, but there was an underlying curiosity in her words.
Jania gave her an unimpressed look. "You’re underestimating him if you think he doesn’t know exactly where you are at all tis."
That made Ephyra pause.
Jania smirked. "You haven’t noticed, have you?"
Ephyra slowly turned to face her, eyes narrowing slightly. "Noticed what?"
Jania’s grin widened as she leaned in slightly. "The fact that even though he hasn’t shown up, he’s still watching you."
There was a beat of silence. Then, Ephyra let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "That’s ridiculous. I know he keeps track of , but watching ? That would be creepy—and so unlike him." She moved to a backless silk dress, running her fingers along the smooth fabric as if deep in thought. "I know he’s changed—a lot. Maybe it started before the banquet, or maybe after. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it." Her voice softened, almost contemplative. "Because how could he say sothing like, ’I will never leave you,’ when I asked him to stay that night?"
Jania stayed silent, watching her closely.
"And the way he looked at ," Ephyra continued, almost to herself. "Sotis, I still think I triggered sothing in him—that maybe it wasn’t really him with that night, but... the other side of him." She exhaled, her fingers tightening slightly on the fabric. "He was so different—attentive, gentle. He even let hold him." She scoffed, shaking her head. "And ? I fucking got emotional. Repeatedly. As if the previous night wasn’t enough, I—"
"Ephyra."
She didn’t hear Jania, too lost in the mories.
"I felt warm and sad at the sa ti when he comforted , and I couldn’t help it." Her grip on the dress tightened. "I hugged him, and he didn’t push away. He let —"
"Ephyra!"
The sharp call of her na finally broke through her thoughts. She blinked, turning to Jania, whose expression was exasperated yet oddly knowing.
"For god’s sake, I heard everything, alright?" Jania huffed, rubbing her temple. "And now I know exactly why you’re avoiding him." She reached forward and pried the dress from Ephyra’s grip before she could damage the delicate lace.
Ephyra frowned, glancing down at her hand. The fabric was slightly wrinkled where she had unknowingly clenched it too hard. She let out a slow breath, schooling her expression back into one of cool indifference.
"I told you—I’m not avoiding him."
Jania gave her a look. "Right. And I’m secretly the Queen of England."
Ephyra rolled her eyes. "You’re so dramatic."
"Says the one having a full-blown existential crisis over a hug." Jania smirked, tossing the dress onto the nearby rack. "Just admit it, Ephyra. You don’t know how to deal with the fact that Lyle is capable of being... affectionate. Well... I also didn’t know he could but since you ca nothing has been impossible whenever it cos to Master Lyle."
Ephyra exhaled, her gaze flickering away. "...It’s unexpected, that’s all."
Jania’s smirk widened. "Unexpected or dangerous?"
Ephyra turned sharply. "What’s that supposed to an?"
Jania leaned in slightly, voice lowering. "You’ve spent so much ti keeping your walls up, convincing yourself that Lyle is just another piece in the ga you’re playing. But what happens when he stops being predictable? When he becos sothing more than just an ally—or a ans to an end?"
Ephyra’s jaw tensed.
Jania’s smile turned knowing. "Yeah. That’s what I thought."
Ephyra let out a slow breath, then picked up another dress, this ti deliberately examining it. "Are we done psychoanalyzing , or do you plan to keep at it?"
Jania laughed. "Fine, fine. Try that one on before I start charging you for my therapy services."
Ephyra shot her a dry look but took the dress anyway.
But as she walked toward the fitting room, Jania’s words lingered in her mind.
Soon, she ca out dressed in a deep red cropped halter top with a matching satin maxi skirt in red.
Ephyra ran her fingers over the smooth satin of her skirt, a sudden curiosity sparking in her mind. She wanted to see the full effect—heels, accessories, styled hair, makeup. How would the ensemble transform with the right finishing touches?
"You look stunning, ma’am," one of the boutique attendants said with a polished smile. "Would you like to see the complete outfit?"
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