Moreover, this was a shop she had deliberately chosen to suit a customer who clearly did not wear cheap clothing. It sold garments that were quite expensive—likely the finest one could find in a small village like Titt.

For her and her siblings, buying clothes here was reserved for truly special occasions. The last time had been around the twins’ graduation.

Aillen had wished they could continue their studies. But for a school in a small village, they had already studied longer than most. Even so, she could not help the lingering regret.

The twins themselves had not seemed particularly bothered.

Still.

Aillen spun lightly on her heel and deliberately shrugged.

“Well… I suppose it’s just not the right time.”

“Not the right time.”

Hmm.

Resting her chin against her hand, Seren let out a low breath. From the way she sat with her legs crossed, she looked as though she had stepped straight out of a painting, and Aillen rolled her eyes faintly.

“Well, I’ve been needing a hat anyway. Maybe I’ll buy this one.”

Feeling oddly self-conscious, she picked up the straw hat beside her.

‘At least this much I can afford.’

Seren, who seemed to let her words drift past as she lifted her chin and surveyed the shop with composed elegance, allowed her gaze to settle on the overalls Aillen had been staring at earlier.

Without even looking at Nelly—who was saying the parcel would be sent out immediately—Seren pointed toward them.

“Please wrap that as well.”

“Oh, shall I include it in the parcel?”

“No. I’ll take it with me.”

Seren looked at Aillen. She was not smiling, yet there was something faintly curved in her expression—something that felt unmistakably like a quiet laugh.

“You said we only needed to buy butter. I should be able to carry one outfit in my other hand, shouldn’t I?”

“Uh…”

Aillen fell silent, staring blankly at her. Seeing her reaction, Seren gave a small nod, as though she had expected it, and urged Nelly to hurry with the wrapping. Before Aillen could step in, Nelly had already whisked the garment away.

“W-Wait, just a moment! Um… was that just now my clothes?”

It sounded like a foolish question, but it needed to be asked at least once. Seren nodded.

“Seren, you don’t have to buy clothes for me. I didn’t come here expecting anything like that—”

“It’s in return for helping me choose.”

Seren gestured with her chin toward the wrapped box.

“I rather liked the trousers you chose at the end.”

“Even so, I can’t just accept something like this so easily—”

Seren lifted a hand, cutting her off.

Aillen flinched for a moment. That must be a common gesture in the north. Calix’s mother would often silence her in the same way. Seren’s motion was gentler, yet Aillen still found herself closing her mouth instinctively.

“I’m giving it because I’m grateful. So please don’t refuse too much.”

There was an undertone suggesting that it would be impolite to refuse.

Aillen opened her mouth, then closed it again.

“Still…”

Seren did not appear to be listening.

In the end, Aillen sighed and accepted the gift.

“Thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you.”

Seren had seemed rather arrogant the way she inclined her head from her seat, but that was no longer possible. Aillen let out a soft snort of laughter.

Almost unconsciously, her green eyes searched for something to offer in return. They came to rest on one particular spot.

As Nelly approached cheerfully with the box, Aillen pointed.

“Nelly, I’ll take that hat—and this ribbon as well.”

“Oh, Aillen. After buying this much, I’ll throw those in for free.”

Nelly looked as though it were her own birthday. With sales like this, she could afford to rest for quite some time.

Aillen rolled her eyes.

“I’ll accept the hat, but I’ll pay for this.”

“You’re stubborn, even when it’s free. Fine then. It’s all the same to me.”

Aillen pointed to a sky-blue, lace hair ribbon.

Seren, who had been observing from a distance, raised an eyebrow as Aillen slowly approached.

Holding out the ribbon, she scratched her cheek awkwardly.

For a moment, Seren’s blue-grey eyes dropped to the ribbon, then slid back to Aillen. The look clearly asked what it was for.

“It’s a hair ribbon.”

“That much… I understand.”

“It’s my thanks as well.”

Meeting a face that still looked unconvinced, Aillen shrugged.

“For coming out with me today. I had a good time.”

She said it as though she had invited Seren purely for her own amusement.

Seren let out a faint, airy laugh.

Her conversational rhythm was impossible to predict, but it was far from unpleasant.

“I’ll make good use of it.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

Seren accepted the ribbon without hesitation. She gathered her hair in both hands, twisted it up neatly, and secured it in place. She felt a pleasant coolness touch her nape at once, and the trailing lace brushed lightly against the tips of her ears.

When she glanced at herself in the mirror, she paused.

It suited her far better than she had expected. The soft color complemented her eyes and brightened her entire appearance, giving her an unexpectedly luminous air. She had never worn pastel shades before, yet she could not deny it —

It looked remarkably good on her.

“For something insignificant, I quite like it.”

“I have a good eye.”

At the confident smile spreading across Aillen’s face, Seren found herself smiling in return without realizing it.

***

Although she thought it excessive to wrap a single pair of overalls in such elaborate packaging, Aillen carefully held the box in her arms. The elegant ivory box had a subtle sheen that reflected the boutique’s refined reputation.

The general store, which sold butter and other everyday goods, was not far from the clothing shop. In truth, the town center was so small that everything was within easy walking distance. After the brief, almost ceremonial, exchange of gifts at the boutique, the tension between them had noticeably eased.

So, when hunger began to stir at that uncertain hour between afternoon and evening, they decided to eat in town.

They could have endured it until they returned to the inn.

However, Aillen was keen to avoid the mortifying possibility of her stomach growling in front of Seren.

“This place is run by a friend of mine. It’s quite good. Ah—do you like beef?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Their signature dish is marinated grilled beef.”

Aillen nodded, her expression brightening with genuine relief. In the afternoon sunlight, her hair shimmered like gently swaying wheat.

Seren thought that the soft curls suited Aillen beautifully.

Though dusk had begun to cast its shadows over the streets, the town still held the warm glow unique to late afternoons. It felt alive — easy and unhurried.

As Seren realized that she wanted to linger a little longer and savor the atmosphere, she startled herself.

To her, something like a stroll had always seemed a waste of time — hours scattered along the roadside. There had always been more meaningful tasks to complete and more pressing matters to attend to.

Perhaps travel truly did soften a person. Leisure. Ease. Such words had never belonged to her life.

A faint, unfamiliar feeling settled in her chest as Seren slowly took in her surroundings.

Then her gaze halted.

Ahead of her stood a fair-haired young woman.

“We’re here!”

The restaurant was boldly marked with a large sign reading ‘Bolleneu Restaurant’ and was one of the largest buildings Aillen had seen in Titt.

The exterior’s natural timber grain was preserved, giving the building a quiet, refined elegance. Through the wide window stretching across nearly an entire wall, the tasteful interior décor could be seen. Despite it being that uncertain time between afternoon and evening, the tables inside were already filled with customers.

From the moment they had entered the clothing shop until now, the young lady from the south had shown nothing but thoughtful consideration towards her. This stirred something faint and unfamiliar in Seren’s chest — a quiet ripple she could not quite name.

Aillen, of course, was unaware of any of this.

With bright ease, she pushed the door open.

“Miriam!”

“Aillen!”

Aillen rushed towards her friend Miriam, who had been taking orders, and threw her arms around her. Miriam let out a strangled sound as Aillen hugged her back tightly, and they both burst into laughter. With both of them busy in their own ways these days, it had not been easy to see each other.

“You came all the way into town? What’s the occasion?”

“What, am I supposed to stay shut up in the inn all day?”

“You have been lately. You used to wander out whenever you had the chance. Oh—by the way, what’s with the box?”

“This? It was a gift…”

As though she had remembered something, Aillen turned around.

Seren stood as still as a newly installed statue in the restaurant, yet she moved with striking elegance, even when standing still.

She held the box under her arm, yet remained composed. It hardly seemed fair.

“She’s a guest staying at our inn. She gave it to me. Seren, this is my friend Miriam Bolleneu. She’s the owner’s daughter. Miriam, this is Seren — the person who gave me this enormous thing.”

“Wow, that’s generous of you. Hello, I’m Miriam.”

“Seren.”

Seren responded with nothing more than a small nod.

Aillen noticed how Miriam withdrew her outstretched hand and gave an awkward smile. There was little Aillen could do except step subtly between them and roll her eyes slightly.

It seemed their northern guest was rather reserved with strangers. Despite working as both a server and assistant manager in a restaurant of this size, Miriam was not particularly outgoing.

Sensing the tension thickening, Aillen quickly guided them towards a table, hoping to ease the situation before it became any more uncomfortable.