The clothing shop remained brightly illuminated despite the late hour.
Warm golden lanterns cast gentle light across polished wooden floors.
Rows of dresses stretched throughout the store.
Elegant fabrics.
Beautiful embroidery.
Exquisite craftsmanship.
And standing before a large mirror.
Evelyne stared at her reflection.
The dress Kel selected suited her perfectly.
A simple blue dress.
Neither extravagant nor plain.
The design emphasized elegance rather than luxury.
The fabric flowed naturally around her figure.
The fitted waist highlighted her graceful proportions.
The long sleeves added refinement.
For a moment.
Even Evelyne herself was surprised.
The woman staring back from the mirror looked...
Beautiful.
Not because of makeup.
Not because of jewelry.
Not because of noble status.
Simply beautiful.
The realization made her cheeks warm again.
Meanwhile.
The old merchant nearly cried tears of joy.
His business instincts had never failed him.
Never.
And once again they proved correct.
The old man clasped both hands together dramatically.
"Magnificent!"
Evelyne jumped slightly.
The merchant continued.
"Absolutely magnificent!"
Then he pointed dramatically toward Kel.
"Young master has excellent taste."
Inside his mind.
Seiren immediately began laughing.
"It's starting again."
Kel sighed.
"I merely selected practical clothing."
The merchant looked disappointed.
Clearly.
That answer was not romantic enough.
Evelyne lowered her gaze.
Unfortunately.
Her reaction was significantly different.
The praise made her blush again.
Because the merchant wasn't complimenting the dress.
He was complimenting Kel's choice.
And somehow.
That embarrassed her more.
The old man immediately noticed.
His eyes sparkled.
The merchant sensed opportunity.
Not emotional opportunity.
Commercial opportunity.
The most important kind.
"Young master."
Kel looked up.
"Hm?"
The merchant smiled.
"If one dress suits madam this well..."
A dramatic pause.
"Why not several?"
Silence.
Seiren immediately knew what was about to happen.
"We're about to lose money."
Kel looked toward Evelyne.
Then toward the dresses.
Then nodded.
"Reasonable."
The Guardian froze.
"WAIT."
Too late.
Far too late.
The silver-haired youth began selecting dresses.
One.
Then another.
Then another.
Blue.
White.
Green.
Black.
Travel attire.
Formal attire.
Winter attire.
Everyday attire.
Practical attire.
Ten dresses.
Ten.
The merchant stared in awe.
This was the greatest customer in his entire career.
The old man looked ready to erect a statue honoring Kel.
Evelyne looked equally shocked.
"Aedon."
The woman blinked.
"Ten?"
Kel nodded.
"You need clothing."
"Yes but—"
"You currently own none."
The argument ended immediately.
Evelyne opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Because unfortunately.
He was correct.
She literally owned nothing.
Not even shoes.
The merchant immediately joined the attack.
"Wise husband."
Evelyne nearly died.
The silver-haired youth ignored him completely.
Which somehow encouraged the merchant further.
The old man rapidly packed dresses.
Then added accessories.
Then added shoes.
Then suggested more accessories.
Then suggested winter cloaks.
Then suggested hats.
Then suggested decorative ribbons.
Then suggested matching gloves.
The man was unstoppable.
Inside his mind.
Seiren laughed.
"He's trying to drain your wallet."
"He is succeeding."
"And you're letting him."
"Correct."
The Guardian sighed.
The silver-haired youth was unusually vulnerable to merchant tactics.
Not because he was gullible.
Because he genuinely believed useful items should be purchased.
The merchant quickly realized something.
A problem.
A significant problem.
Throughout the entire evening.
Only one person had reacted.
Evelyne.
The woman blushed constantly.
The silver-haired youth?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
No embarrassment.
No reaction.
No visible emotion.
The old merchant narrowed his eyes.
A challenge.
A worthy challenge.
The greatest challenge of his professional career.
Make the husband blush.
The merchant immediately declared war.
Inside his mind.
Seiren sensed danger.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"He's hunting."
Kel looked confused.
"The merchant?"
"The merchant."
The old man approached.
Then smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"Young master."
"Hm?"
The merchant nodded knowingly.
"Madam looks very happy."
Kel glanced toward Evelyne.
The woman immediately looked away.
Face red.
Very red.
"Good."
The merchant waited.
Nothing happened.
No blush.
No embarrassment.
No reaction.
The old man frowned.
Round one failed.
He immediately launched round two.
"Young master."
"Hm?"
"Few women receive such care."
Kel nodded.
"Unfortunate."
The merchant blinked.
Then frowned again.
Still no blush.
Round two failed.
Inside his mind.
Seiren was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe.
"He's trying his best!"
"I noticed."
The Guardian wiped imaginary tears.
The merchant refused to surrender.
Round three.
The old man pointed toward Evelyne.
"Such beauty."
Evelyne immediately blushed again.
The merchant pointed toward Kel.
"And such devotion."
Kel nodded.
"Thank you."
The merchant froze.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
The compliment was supposed to embarrass him.
Not receive acknowledgment.
The old man stared.
Then began planning more aggressively.
Evelyne noticed.
And somehow felt guilty.
Because the merchant looked genuinely determined.
Like a warrior facing his greatest battle.
Several minutes later.
The purchases were finished.
The dresses were packed.
The shoes were packed.
Everything was packed.
Kel handed over another pouch of gold.
The merchant nearly ascended.
This was the happiest night of his life.
Yet.
One regret remained.
He still hadn't succeeded.
The silver-haired youth had not blushed.
Not once.
The merchant couldn't accept defeat.
As Kel and Evelyne prepared to leave.
The old man launched his final attack.
His ultimate technique.
His strongest move.
"Young master."
Kel stopped.
"Hm?"
The merchant smiled warmly.
A sincere smile.
Not commercial.
Not manipulative.
Genuine.
Then he spoke.
"Take good care of her."
Silence.
The shop became quiet.
Even Seiren stopped laughing.
The merchant continued softly.
"She looks at you as though you saved her world."
The words lingered.
The old man smiled again.
"And I think."
A pause.
"You would carry that responsibility even if nobody asked you."
For the first time.
Kel paused.
Only briefly.
A fraction of a second.
Yet it happened.
Inside his mind.
Seiren gasped dramatically.
"WAIT."
The Guardian pointed.
"THERE!"
Kel frowned.
"What?"
"A REACTION!"
The merchant's eyes widened.
Victory.
Tiny.
Microscopic.
But victory.
The silver-haired youth simply nodded.
Then answered calmly.
"As long as she chooses her own future."
A pause.
"I will help."
The merchant smiled.
Satisfied.
The battle was over.
Meanwhile.
Evelyne stood silently beside him.
Her cheeks warm.
Her heart strangely unsettled.
Because once again.
The strangest student in the world had said something that sounded simple.
Yet somehow felt more valuable than any romantic words she had ever heard.
And as they finally left the store together.
The merchant stood at the doorway.
Watching proudly.
Certain he had just witnessed the beginning of a beautiful love story.
Unfortunately.
Neither of the two main characters seemed aware of it.