Soon, led by Aetherinra, Ian’s group arrived at the largest clothing store in Far East City.
As they stepped through the entrance, a server greeted them warmly.
However, when her eyes landed on Ian standing behind Aetherinra, she froze in place.
Who in Far East City didn’t know of Ian’s reputation as a wicked young master?
If someone accidentally provoked him, they would be lucky if he only forced their shop to close; at worst, he would ruin their entire family.
“Excuse me, miss, we would like to pick out some clothes. Could you give us some recommendations?”
Aetherinra asked with a kind wave of her hand.
“Ye… yes.”
The server summoned her courage and stepped forward, forcing a strained smile onto her face.
“My lady, our latest styles just arrived yesterday. If you need, you can try them on in the fitting room.”
“Do you have anything suitable for her?”
Aetherinra pointed toward Elise, who was standing beside her.
Elise clearly hadn’t expected Aetherinra to buy clothes for her.
She hurriedly waved her hands in refusal.
“My lady, I don’t think I need any. I’m already so grateful that you bought me that doll. I don’t need clothes as well. Besides, the maid uniform issued by the Duke’s Mansion is still perfectly wearable.”
Seeing how sensible Elise was, Aetherinra liked her even more.
In her heart, the desire to snatch Elise away from Ian grew even stronger.
“Elise, let me ask you, are you still doing maid work at the Duke’s Mansion?”
“It seems… I haven’t been lately.”
Hearing Aetherinra’s question, Elise thought back on her experiences over the past few days.
If she wasn’t training her Mana, she was engaged in practical combat with Veronica.
It seemed she really hadn’t done any maid work at all.
“Since you aren’t doing that work anymore, why do you still need to wear a maid uniform?”
“That’s true…”
Elise felt that what Aetherinra said made sense.
She then looked toward Ian, hoping to get his opinion.
“Since Aetherinra went to the trouble, Elise, you should accept her kindness,” Ian said.
“Understood, Ian.”
Having received Ian’s approval, Elise happily accepted Aetherinra’s goodwill.
Ian cheered inwardly upon hearing Elise’s answer.
‘This successfully gets two of them out of the way. Now I just need to get rid of Aetherinra.’
Thinking of this, Ian cleared his throat and spoke to Veronica.
“Since we’re already here, Veronica, you should go pick out a few outfits as well.”
Veronica’s brow furrowed, and she shook her head.
“I’ll pass.”
After speaking to him, she turned to Aetherinra.
“My lady knows that I have no interest in these things.”
“That is true,” Aetherinra replied.
She didn’t press the matter, knowing Veronica’s habits well.
Seeing this scene, Ian mentally clicked his tongue.
Since he couldn’t get rid of Veronica, he could only change his strategy and try to buy clothes himself.
He would just have to sneak away while he was changing.
“In that case, Elise and I will go pick out clothes first.”
Just as Aetherinra was about to lead Elise away, Ian suddenly spoke up, addressing the server.
“Um, I would also like to buy some clothes. May I try some on as well?”
The server was stunned for a moment before answering tremulously, “I’m sorry, sir, but this is a women’s boutique. We don’t carry any men’s clothing.”
“Eh?”
Ian felt himself turn to stone.
‘Is this seriously a women’s shop? Does that mean my plan to escape via the fitting room is over before it even started?’
Aetherinra saw Ian standing there in a daze.
Her lips quirked up slightly as she felt a secret sense of joy.
Everything was going according to her plan.
She had chosen a women’s clothing store on purpose.
Though she hated to admit it, it was a fact that Ian was quite good-looking.
To prevent Elise from being deceived by his appearance after he changed clothes, Aetherinra had been forced to resort to this tactic.
Looking at Aetherinra’s slight smirk, Ian was shocked.
‘Could… could it be? Did Aetherinra see through my plan and choose this store specifically for that reason? No, that’s not right. If she had found out, she wouldn’t need to play these games with me. This must be a coincidence.’
However, even if Aetherinra hadn’t seen through his plan, he still needed to find a way to escape.
Ian made up his mind; he decided to throw caution to the wind.
He scratched his head and said to the group with a smile, “Actually, I have a bit of an interest in women’s clothing. Haha… haha.”
As soon as he said that, everyone present fell into a profound silence—a silence so deep that one could have heard a pin drop.
‘Hey, hey! Why is everyone looking at me like I’m garbage?’
Aetherinra was the first to break the silence.
She looked at Ian with a look of utter disbelief. “Ian, you…?”
Hearing Aetherinra’s trembling voice, Ian gave a hollow laugh.
“Haha, I was just joking to lighten the mood.”
*Sigh.*
Ian felt a sense of relief.
For a moment, she had really thought Ian was being serious.
“Don’t make jokes like that again. People will really think you’re a pervert,” Aetherinra warned.
With the farce over, Aetherinra took Elise toward the fitting rooms.
Ian sat down on a chair inside the shop, while Veronica stood a short distance away.
“Um, Veronica, I was really just making a small joke earlier. I hope you guys don’t take it seriously.”
“I didn’t take it seriously.”
“If you were willing to stand a bit closer to me, maybe your words would be more convincing,” Ian said, his lips twitching as he looked at Veronica, who was standing as far away as possible.
“No.”
Those two simple words instantly crushed Ian’s internal defenses.
‘She thinks I’m a pervert, doesn’t she? Veronica definitely thinks so!’
He had regretted those words the moment they left his mouth.
After all, compared to death, he hated being viewed as a pervert even more.
Yet now, it seemed he had been branded as one regardless.
While Ian was wallowing in his misery, a voice suddenly drifted over that made his jaw drop in shock.
“What do you mean ‘women’s clothes are designed for women’? Are you trying to make a fool out of me, clerk?”
Ian looked up and saw a man dressed in the finery of a Fat Noble, currently harassing one of the shop assistants.
“Um, dear guest, even if you say that, women’s clothes are indeed designed for women. I’m afraid we don’t have anything here that can meet your requirements,” the clerk said helplessly.
“What? Are you playing with me?”
The Fat Noble asked, pointing a finger at Ian.
“That guy over there just said he wanted to wear women’s clothes, and you didn’t say anything to him! Why is it different for me?”
Ian froze.
‘Who is this guy? He seems like a real pervert. And what do you mean they didn’t say anything? I didn’t even give them the chance to speak!’