Chapter 262

When the worker returned with three boxes, Minne perched nervously on the small bench, her hands shaking just slightly as she tried to unlace her shoes. She fumbled with the laces, her nerves making the task harder than it should have been, and only managed to knot them tighter somehow.

Kim, watching with a soft smile, knelt beside her and gently took over. "Hey, no worries," she said, her fingers moving with ease as she untangled the laces. "I’ve got you."

"Alright, maid," Tessa said as Kim got up after helping Minne. "Let’s try the badass boots first."

Minne slipped her feet in—the combat boots looked adorable and completely oversized on her delicate frame.

Jasmine tilted her head. "Cute, but too heavy for her. She looks like she’s going hiking in Antarctica."

Minne stood, trying to walk, wobbling like a baby deer.

"Okay, next," Kim laughed.

They tried the brown suede ones next—Minne’s eyes genuinely sparkled when she looked down at them.

"These... these are soft..." she whispered.

"And warm," Kim added, pressing the material gently.

"They look good," I said. "Really good."

But before we could conclude, Nala appeared behind Minne with the sleek black ankle boots.

"Try these," she said softly. "Just once."

Minne slipped them on, stood, and...

Oh. Yeah.

That was it.

She looked taller. Confident. Elegant.

"Wow..." Minne said quietly, turning her ankle to see the gold buckle catch the light. "These feel... perfect."

"That’s because they are," Nala said warmly.

Minne looked down at the price again.

Her soul left her body again.

"M-Master—these are—these are—"

I held up a hand. "Minne. Pick the one that makes you happiest."

She hesitated only a second longer, then looked down at the black boots and whispered:

"These."

"Done," I said.

The worker nodded and took the box to the counter.

But as Minne set the boots down, Nala drifted away—quietly, casually, walking toward the lingerie section tucked in the far corner of the store. Not making eye contact. Acting like she wasn’t absolutely doing something sneaky.

I watched her for a second. The way she checked over her shoulder... Yeah. She was up to something. I excused myself and walked over.

She was holding a lingerie set—dark burgundy lace, delicate, borderline sinful. She was pretending to check the stitching when she noticed me approaching and nearly dropped it.

"Oh—Evan—hi." She cleared her throat. "Didn’t realize you were—uh—right there."

I smirked. "Burgundy, huh?"

"It’s... nice," she said, totally failing to act casual. "Just looking."

"Just looking?"

She pressed her lips together. "Maybe."

I stepped a little closer. Close enough that she had to tilt her head up. "You buying it for me or for yourself?"

"Why would I buy lingerie for you?" she muttered.

"So you can wear it for me."

Her cheeks flushed instantly. She looked away, clutching the hanger like a lifeline. "You’re unbelievable."

"And you’re cute when you’re embarrassed."

She elbowed me lightly in the ribs. "Shut up. I’m not embarrassed."

"You’re blushing."

She covered her cheek with her hand. "I’m not blushing because of you."

I coughed. "Do you want it?"

"...Maybe." She rubbed the lace between her fingers. "It’s expensive though. I don’t usually buy unnecessary expensive stuff."

"Then it fits right in with everything else we’re buying today," I said. "Get it."

She rolled her eyes, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. She placed the lingerie set on her arm and nudged me. "Fine."

We walked back to the others, and Minne stood up from the bench, black boots shining slightly under the lights.

"I... made my decision," Minne said shyly.

"We know," Tessa teased, bumping her shoulder lightly. "Your face said it before your mouth did."

Minne’s cheeks warmed as she looked at me. "Thank you, Master."

"You’re welcome," I said, ruffling her hair gently. "Alright. Let’s keep going."

Minne relaxed a little, then hurried back to us.

We drifted deeper into Nuppia, passing racks of coats and knit sweaters until the layout opened into their accessory section. The lighting changed slightly here, softer and warmer, reflecting off glass cases filled with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and a whole wall of perfumes arranged by scent family.

The girls spread out immediately.

Kim leaned over one of the jewelry trays with a quiet hum of interest. Jasmine slid right toward a rotating stand of dainty silver rings. Nala checked a display of minimalist necklaces, running her fingers along a thin gold chain. Minne stuck close to me at first, eyes darting between shelves like she wasn’t sure she was even allowed to look.

Tessa was the only one who knew exactly what she wanted. She walked straight toward the perfume counter, flipping her hair back confidently as she picked up a slender bottle with a dark purple ribbon tied around the cap.

"Evan," she called over her shoulder. "Come here for a second."

I stepped beside her. She uncapped the bottle and sprayed a bit into the air, waving her hand through it. Vanilla and... huh... something spicy.

She turned to me with a smirk. "Since you’re the one who’ll be smelling me in bed, you choose."

Kim snorted from the jewelry case. "God, she has no shame."

"I have plenty of shame," Tessa said. "I just ignore all of it when I feel pretty."

I chuckled, then reached for a different bottle. I didn’t even read the label, since I knew this one. The smell just felt right: warm, floral, a hint of citrus, clean but soft. I offered it to her.

"Try this one."

Tessa raised an eyebrow, sprayed her wrist, then sniffed. Her lips curled into a slow grin. "Oh, that’s good. Alright, I’m buying this one. If I attract too many men you’ll have to take responsibility."

"I’m sure I’ll manage," I said.

Nala glanced over with an amused shake of her head. Jasmine joined me next, lifting a simple necklace with a small circle pendant.

"You think this would look cute on me?" she asked.

"It would," I said. "It fits your style. Clean but a little playful."

Jasmine smiled proudly and added it to her armful of small items. Kim followed suit, picking out two pairs of earrings and a slim bracelet. They compared pieces with each other for a minute, holding them against their necks or ears, checking the mirror, swapping opinions.

Meanwhile, Minne carefully lifted a small pair of pearl earrings, then set them down again like she was afraid to break them.

"You like those?" I asked.

"They are beautiful, Master," Minne whispered. "But they’re too expensive."

"Girl," Tessa muttered, half-angry, half-smiling. "I swear, if you say ’but it’s expensive’ one more time, I’m gonna tickle you to death. Or choke you to death. Depends on my mood."

I picked them up and placed them gently in her hands. "Let me worry about the price."

She stared at the earrings for a moment, then nodded shyly and tucked them into her small shopping basket.

Minne exhaled a small breath of relief and kept browsing.

Nala eventually brought over a thin bracelet for me to see. "What do you think? Too much?"

"It’s subtle," I said. "It suits you."

She looked away but I saw the small smile she tried to hide.

After a good while of comparing and choosing, the girls gathered their selections and headed toward the checkout. The counter was wide, with several clerks scanning clothes, perfumes, jewelry, and a dozen small items.

Jasmine set her pile down, humming happily. Kim placed her selection neatly beside it. Tessa tossed hers with a smirk. Nala placed hers carefully while Minne hesitated until I gently nudged her forward.

One by one, the girls paid for their things, tapping their cards, smiling at their totals.

When it was Minne’s turn, the worker brought the shoe box from behind the counter. "Here you go. Ready to check out."

Minne’s hands went stiff when she saw the final price pop up on the screen. She looked up at me like she was reconsidering everything.

I tapped my card before she could say anything.

"Master, I—" she started.

"Don’t worry about it," I said with a warm smile. "I told you to go nuts."

Jasmine leaned closer with a teasing grin. "You should feel lucky, Minne. He knows me more than he knows you, and even I can’t get him to pay for my shopping. You’re his favorite, clearly."

Minne’s eyes widened slightly. "N-no, I don’t think—"

"Oh, she’s totally his favorite," Kim said, giggling as she grabbed her bags.

Nala looped an arm around Minne’s shoulders. "Enjoy it while it lasts, sweetie."

Minne’s face turned bright red, but she smiled anyway.

The worker handed me the bag with Minne’s boots, and we all stepped away from the counter together, bags in hand, the warm smell of perfume trailing behind us.

I looked toward the escalators. "Coffee break?"

"Yes," Jasmine said instantly.

"God, yes," Kim agreed.

"My feet hurt," Tessa added. "Need to sit down, like ASAP."

Nala nodded. "A break sounds good."

Minne hugged her small bags to her chest and smiled. "Um... I would like that too."

"Alright then," I said, motioning toward the café upstairs. "Let’s go."

The group moved as a unit, laughing, bumping shoulders, comparing outfits and perfume choices, and drifting comfortably toward our next stop.

A cozy little café break before the second round of shopping... now that sounded good.