-Ding!!!
The soft bell above the entrance rang as the door opened, and a customer stepped inside.
Seeing the person, Eric gave a warm, welcoming smile. That simple expression, combined with his naturally handsome face, seemed to light up the entire atmosphere of the shop in an effortless and familiar way.
Without a doubt, Eric was handsome. Not as handsome as Ash, because Ash was simply on another level altogether, something that did not feel fair to compare against. But if one were to exclude him, Eric would not fall behind anyone in terms of presence or appearance.
Although he did not have the same white hair as his mother, he had inherited a mix of white and faint rainbow shades from both his parents, along with his rainbow-colored eyes, a clear trait of the progeny of the Unicorn King. Combined with his fair skin and well-built physique, there was a natural charm about him that did not try to attract attention, yet inevitably did so.
"Good morning, Saskia."
Eric greeted the woman who had just entered the shop.
A young woman walked in with steady steps, her presence gentle and unforced. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, her long black hair falling smoothly over her shoulders, while a slender black horn on her forehead caught a faint glint of light as she moved under the morning glow.
Her features were delicate, her expression composed, and there was a quiet elegance in the way she carried herself. It did not demand attention, yet it never went unnoticed.
All in all, she was the kind of beauty that made people turn their heads without even realizing it.
The moment her eyes landed on Eric, a small, natural smile appeared on Saskia’s face. It was soft and unguarded in a way that felt almost instinctive, as if simply seeing him had eased something within her.
"Good morning," she said, her voice soft, yet clear enough to carry across the short distance.
Her onyx-like eyes met Eric’s rainbow eyes for a brief moment, but as if both had reached the same silent understanding, they looked away at the same time. Neither held the gaze longer than necessary.
"So, which type of clothes do you want this time? Are you looking to buy something new, or just enchant your previous clothes?"
Eric asked from behind the counter, his tone casual and natural, though his gaze remained attentive. It showed that he had already grown used to her visits.
The shop itself was not too large. The counter was placed at the far end, centered in the room, while rows of clothes were arranged neatly along both the left and right sides. Some of the more refined pieces were carefully displayed in glass cases mounted along the walls, their faint runic patterns barely visible unless observed closely.
Behind the counter was a single door that led further inside, where Ash worked without interruption. Above them was another floor reserved for more expensive pieces, meant for those who could afford something beyond the ordinary. The ground floor, in comparison, was simpler, though still far from ordinary.
"I will look around first to see if there is something new," Saskia replied. As she spoke, her fingers lightly brushed against the edge of a nearby fabric out of habit, her pace slowing slightly, as if she was in no real hurry to leave.
After browsing for a while, she moved toward the stairs next to the counter.
"Alright, you do that."
Eric nodded, already leaning back into his usual relaxed posture.
But just as Saskia was about to disappear from his sight, she slowed again. Her steps lost their earlier rhythm. For a brief moment, she stood still, then turned slightly to look back at Eric, as if she had been expecting him to say something more.
Their eyes met again, and this time, she held his gaze just a fraction longer.
"Umm... aren’t you going to come?"
Her voice was soft, carrying a small hesitation. Yet beneath it was something quieter, something that made the question feel less casual than it sounded.
{Did she just ask you to go with her?}
Eva’s voice echoed in his mind, curiosity laced with quiet amusement as she observed the situation far more clearly than he did.
I guess she did.
Eric replied mentally, not thinking much of it, his tone as straightforward as ever.
{I am telling you, she likes you, little brother. Do not pretend to be dumb, I know you can feel it too.}
Nah, you are reading too many romance web novels. Better read less. There is no one else in the shop, so she might just want help picking clothes.
He answered with complete confidence, choosing the most reasonable explanation in his mind without considering anything beyond it.
This time, Eva said nothing. She simply watched in silence as Eric stood up from behind the counter, completely unaware of what he had just stepped into.
"I am coming with you then, I guess. I will help you choose the best piece."
Eric spoke as if nothing about the situation was unusual.
Saskia’s expression softened the moment she saw him move. A bright, unguarded smile appeared on her face before she turned and walked toward the first floor, her steps becoming slightly quicker and lighter, as though something within her had quietly lifted.
Meanwhile, Eva laughed inwardly, the sound gentle yet filled with amusement as she watched everything unfold exactly as she had expected.
{Oh my sweet little brother, you really know nothing. A woman asking a man to choose clothes for her is never just because the shop is empty.}
She kept the thought to herself as the two of them headed upstairs.
The second floor felt quieter than the one below. The distant noise of the street faded into a soft hum, while warm light spread gently through the space, falling over rows of neatly arranged clothes whose faint runic patterns shimmered subtly, as if breathing in silence.
Saskia stepped in first and slowed down without thinking, her gaze drifting across the displays as if she was taking her time for no particular reason. Yet every now and then, her attention shifted slightly, aware of the presence following behind her.
Eric walked in after her at an easy pace, completely at home in the space. He reached out and pulled a coat from one of the racks.
"These are the newer ones," he said, holding it up naturally so she could see. "This one keeps your body temperature stable, so you do not have to worry about sudden climate changes while traveling."
Saskia stepped closer, her eyes moving from the coat to him for a brief moment before settling back on the fabric.
"So it saves me from freezing and burning at the same time, and I would not have to constantly change clothes depending on where I go," she said softly, with a faint trace of amusement.
"It keeps everything balanced without needing much attention from the wearer," Eric replied calmly. "Once you get used to it, you would not even notice the difference, which is kind of the whole point."
Saskia picked up another piece, holding it in front of her as she examined it carefully.
"And this one? How does it compare to the previous one? Is it meant for something similar, or does it serve a different purpose?" she asked, her voice flowing more naturally now.
Eric stepped beside her without hesitation, close enough to examine the inner lining.
"This one reacts to external pressure," he explained. "If someone attacks you or if there is a sudden impact, the runes absorb a portion of the force and reduce the damage, though it is not meant to completely negate it."
Saskia blinked as she processed his words, her grip tightening slightly.
"So if someone attacks me while I am wearing this, I would still feel it, but not as much as I should have," she said.
Eric nodded.
"Yes, that is more or less how it works. It gives you an advantage, but it does not make you untouchable."
She tilted her head slightly, her expression turning thoughtful.
"That does not sound very reassuring when you explain it like that," she said quietly, a faint smile hidden in her tone.
Eric paused briefly.
"Well, it depends on how much the other person wants you gone. If they are serious about it, no clothing alone is going to solve that problem."
For a moment, she simply looked at him. Then she turned away, her lips pressing together as if holding something back, though a small smile still formed.
"You are not very good at comforting people when you say things like that so casually," she said softly.
"I am just explaining how it works without hiding anything," Eric replied.
"And that is exactly why it feels worse," she said, though there was no real complaint in her tone.
They continued walking, the space between them closing naturally. Saskia reached for a coat placed slightly higher and stretched a little, but before she could grab it, Eric stepped forward and took it down with ease.
"Here, this one should be easier to look at," he said, handing it to her.
She hesitated briefly before taking it, her fingers brushing against his. This time, she did not pull away immediately.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Eric glanced at the coat, then at her.
"This one suits you more," he said simply. "The black color fits your presence better. It looks more natural on you and enhance your beauty."
Saskia blinked, a faint blush appearing on her face. She looked down at the coat again, as if seeing it differently now.
"Do you say things like that to every customer, or only when you are trying to convince someone to buy something?" she asked.
Eric shook his head.
"No. Only when someone asks for my opinion, or when I genuinely think it fits them. Otherwise, there is no point."
Her grip tightened slightly, and a small smile appeared before she turned her face away.
"...Then I will trust your judgment this time," she said quietly.
Eric nodded.
"You should. I do this every day, so I have a good idea of what works."
A soft laugh escaped her, warmer this time.
After a short pause, Eric picked up another piece.
"This one is also good. If you are considering options, it would not hurt to compare before deciding."
Saskia looked at it, then raised her eyes to him.
"...Are you trying to make me buy more than I planned to, or is this still your honest opinion?" she asked with a faint teasing edge.
Eric blinked, completely serious.
"I am helping you choose properly so you do not regret it later. You are just overthinking something that is actually very simple."
She stared at him for a moment before turning away, her shoulders shaking slightly as she tried not to laugh.
From within his mind, Eva watched everything unfold, her silence filled with growing amusement.
{He gives her one proper compliment and then immediately tries to sell her another coat. That is almost impressive. Did Brother Ash rub off his shamelessness on him? It certainly looks like it.}
{And that girl, Saskia, she is clearly smitten with my sweet little brother, yet he pretends not to notice. I really do not understand why both Ash and Eric are like this.}
{Maybe it is just Ash, and Eric learned these habits from him. I need to have a proper talk with him after she leaves.}
But she said nothing more.
She simply watched as the two of them stood there among the softly glowing clothes, talking, smiling, laughing, like for that moment, nothing else in the world existed beyond them and the quiet space they shared.
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