[Elizabeth’s POV]
Elizabeth noticed all these peculiarities inside the shop within few glances, her eyes moving across everything in that short moment, because as a person’s rank increases, their level of existence improves, and with it, their ability to process and understand things also became faster and clearer.
Thus, for a brief moment she simply stood there, her gaze resting on man who remained in that careless sleeping posture, completely relaxed as if he truly had not noticed her presence at all.
Then, as the faint sound of the store entry bell slowly faded away over the next few seconds, the shopkeeper stirred.
The book resting over his face tilted slightly before his fingers caught it and lifted it away in a relaxed motion, and as the cover lowered, his face came into view beneath the warm light, his eyes opening lazily as though he had only been resting for a short while, and in the very next moment, those eyes met hers.
And for that single moment, Elizabeth’s thoughts came to a halt.
It was not something that struck her like a sudden shock, nor was it something loud or overwhelming, yet the longer her gaze remained on him, the more it became difficult to look away, it was as if she was witnessing a flawless piece of art.
With the shopkeeper’s white hair falling freely around his face, soft strands moving naturally with the slightest motion, framing features that were sharp yet refined, while his pale skin that carried a faint glow that did not feel unnatural but instead made his presence stand out in a quiet and undeniable way.
But what captivated her the most were his eyes.
A deep golden violet hued iris that appeared calm and still at first glance, yet the longer one looked, the more one seemed to get lost in them as if staring at the endless abyss, but not the ominous kind that makes one feel fear, but the kind that makes one to jump willingly into abyss.
But the shopkeeper did not seem to care about her heated gaze at all.
Instead, his eyes widened slightly as if he had just realized someone was standing there, and he quickly pulled his legs down from the counter, straightening himself in a slightly hurried manner as he placed the book aside.
But that caused the rest of his figure came into full view, a lean yet feminine build that was packed with muscles and with his height placing him above her in a way that created a unusual atmosphere.
Even his clothing did not escape her notice, a fitted upper garment that rested perfectly against his form, slightly open at the collar in a way that revealed a portion of his chest, the fabric following his movements smoothly as if it had been made to match him alone, giving him a presence that felt effortlessly striking.
For a brief moment, Elizabeth did not speak, her thoughts not forming properly as her gaze remained on him.
"Ah... I am sorry, I was just too tired that I slept unknowingly.....after all not many people come here....."
His voice was easy, natural, carrying a simple hint of surprise that did not feel forced.
Then his gaze met her once again, and slowly, recognition appeared in his expression, his brows lifting slightly as if confirming what he was seeing.
"Wait... you are..."
He paused briefly, as if making sure he was not mistaken, before suddenly exclaiming in delight, his expression and eyes particularly gleaming with shock and disbelief.
"I am really delighted to host Miss Elizabeth in my humble shop... I saw you just now on the live stream... I never thought someone like you would actually walk into my shop..."
There was a clear sense of disbelief in his tone, mixed with a hint of excitement that felt simple and unforced, like someone who had suddenly encountered a figure far beyond his reach.
Elizabeth remained silent, watching him closely.
He continued speaking, as if trying to recover from the surprise while also doing what he was supposed to do.
"My shop is not anything special, I mainly deal with clothes that have runes inscribed into them, although they do not provide direct protection or defense, but they excel at comfort and adaptability, there are many kinds of clothes present in my humble shop that can help the wearer remain comfortable whether it is heat, cold, pressure, or any other external condition..."
As he spoke, his hand moved lightly toward the clothes displayed nearby, his gesture natural, as if he had explained this many times before.
"I also take custom orders, if there is something specific you need, the runes can be adjusted based on personal requirements, though it might take some time depending on how complex the request is..."
There was no hesitation in his explanation, his tone steady and easy to follow.
Then, as if something came to his mind, he gave a small and slightly awkward smile.
"Of course, for someone like you, I can offer a large discount... it is not every day that someone of your status visits a place like this, so it would be an honor for me..."
His words flowed naturally, one after another, without any pause that would feel forced, his behavior aligning perfectly with what one would expect from an ordinary shop owner who had just met someone far above his level.
Elizabeth’s gaze did not leave him though, but his words certainly brought her out of her reverie.
Oh my will, h-how can someone like him even exist.....
For a brief moment, her thoughts softened in a way that felt unfamiliar, her eyes lingering on him as if drawn by something subtle, noticing details she would normally ignore, the calm in his expression, the ease in his posture, and the quiet balance in his presence that made everything about him feel naturally complete.
And that was exactly why she realized something was off.
A faint stiffness settled within her as awareness returned, followed by a slight sense of embarrassment that she did not show, because she could clearly tell that her focus had slipped for a moment, something that should not have happened so easily, especially not to someone at her level.
A Celestial rank warrior being affected by appearance alone was not something she could simply ignore.
Her expression remained calm, but her mind tightened as her Will moved instinctively, and the small flame on her glabella grew a little bigger, just enough to steady her thoughts.
With that, her gaze sharpened again.
This time, when she looked at him, she did not fall into a daze, but she had to admit that he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
Now that her mind was clear, the contradiction she had felt earlier became even more obvious, and instead of pointing those out, she decided to go on with the flow.
A faint smile appeared on her lips as she stepped forward naturally.
"It seems I have come across a rather unusual place," she said in a calm and relaxed tone, her gaze moving across the shop, slowly taking in the arrangement of the clothes and the faint patterns of runes woven into them, noticing how neatly everything had been placed as if each piece had its own place.
"Clothes with runes that focus on comfort instead of protection are not something people usually prioritize, especially when most are worried about survival, so I cannot help but wonder what made you choose such a direction."
Her words sounded like simple curiosity, but they were not, as each sentence flowed lightly while carrying a quiet intent beneath it.
"And you yourself seem quite an eye candy," she continued without breaking that rhythm, her eyes meeting his directly, holding that contact just long enough to sense even the smallest reaction before naturally looking away.
"I thought this place would be popular just because of your presence, many girls might come here only to see you."
The shopkeeper smiled bitterly hearing her words, a faint trace of embarrassment appearing on his face as he spoke, "Actually, it has only been a few days since I started sitting on the counter, otherwise it is always my little brother who oversees the work, while I mostly focus on making the clothes, so I have not really appeared in front of anyone yet."
The shopkeeper rubbed the back of his head as if he felt slightly awkward sharing something so simple about himself, his reaction appearing natural and without any hesitation.
"Oh, is that so?"
Elizabeth nodded in mild surprise and understanding, but she did not stop her probing, her tone remaining light as if she was still speaking casually, "So, where is your little brother now..? Is he busy? Or is he not as handsome as yourself that not many ladies come here..?"
The shopkeeper waved his hand lightly, dismissing the thought with a small smile, "Of course not, you must be joking. He is quite good looking too, it is just that he went to see your speech in the stadium, that is why I am here. He might be returning anytime soon."
"I see."
Elizabeth muttered as she nodded, her expression turning thoughtful, but this time she did not let the conversation drift further, as the purpose behind her visit remained clear in her mind.
She decided to be just blunt.
"So, why were you gazing at me that intensely?"
The shopkeeper made a confused expression, his face clearly showing that he did not understand what she meant, his brows drawing together slightly as if trying to recall something.
Elizabeth’s gaze sharpened as she spoke again, her voice lowering just enough to carry weight while still sounding calm, "I sensed a gaze that was lingering on me for the whole duration that I spoke in the stadium, at first I was confused since everyone was watching me through the live stream, but there was one gaze that felt different, it was direct and steady, and it was coming from this shop itself, that is why I thought you were inviting me for a talk. Was it not you, Mr. Shopkeeper....?"
Silence that followed was eerie.
The surroundings fell into a quiet stillness, the air turning heavy as if waiting for an answer, with only the faint ticking of the clock echoing softly through the four walls, filling the space between them.
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