Chapter 78: A Peculiar Fitting

“Still… perhaps not.” Gern’s head instinctively drew back as she stared at the exorbitant prices of the two garments. If Lilia truly insisted on gifting them to her, Gern knew she possessed nothing of comparable value to offer in return. Surely, she couldn’t simply offer herself to Lilia?

Yet, Lilia seemed utterly oblivious to Gern’s protests, turning directly to the fox girl attendant.

“Please select a suitable size for her.”

“Certainly.”

The fox girl curtsied with innate grace, then, upon taking in Gern’s appearance, let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.

“My dear lady, you are truly exquisite. These two gowns will undoubtedly make you shine brilliantly when worn.”

Gern, her small face flushing a delicate rose, awkwardly scratched her head. The unexpected praise for her beauty made her feel a peculiar discomfort.

“Please, Miss, follow me this way.”

With these words, the fox girl began to lead the way. Gern, however, remained rooted to her spot, torn between following and staying.

“Why are you just standing there? Go on, go change!”

Just then, Lilia, who had been standing behind Gern, gave her an abrupt shove, sending Gern stumbling forward.

The little dragon girl, cheeks puffed out in indignation, whirled around to glare at Lilia. A subtle glint of playful annoyance in her eyes seemed to utterly captivate Lilia, who appeared quite enchanted by the sight.

Seeing Lilia’s reaction, Gern’s body gave an involuntary shiver. She quickly tore her gaze away, hastening to follow in the fox girl’s wake.

“Your relationship truly seems quite extraordinary.”

The fox girl, walking ahead, glanced back at Gern with a soft, knowing smile.

“It’s… it’s alright, I suppose.”

“Are you two a couple?”

“Huh?”

Gern was utterly taken aback, startled by the fox girl’s abrupt question.

“W-we aren’t that kind of… relationship yet.” For reasons she couldn’t quite articulate, Gern found herself speaking with a peculiar tentativeness.

Hearing this, the fox girl merely offered a small smile before continuing.

“My dear Miss, there’s no need to be shy. Among our fox tribe, situations like yours are quite prevalent, you know.”

“In fact, I genuinely envy the bond you two share.”

Gern’s cheeks burned a deeper crimson, yet she persisted in her denial.

“It’s truly not what you’re imagining.”

“Oh, yes, I understand. I understand completely.”

‘What in the world do you understand!’

As Gern silently bristled at the fox girl’s assumptions, they arrived before a small room.

“Miss, this is the changing room. Please forgive my forwardness, but I’ll need to take your measurements to ensure I select the perfect size for you.”

With that, the fox lady produced a cloth measuring tape, marked with various numerals, from her pocket.

She began by measuring Gern’s height, then proceeded to take her three vital measurements.

Once finished, the fox girl gazed at Gern with an air of genuine astonishment, her eyes alight with curious inquiry.

“W-what is it?”

Gern, feeling an unsettling prickle under the fox girl’s intense stare, stammered her question.

“Oh, it’s nothing at all. I was simply surprised by how wonderfully proportioned your figure is, Miss. And you don’t appear to be sixteen yet, do you?”

This question left Gern in a predicament. In her dragoness form, her outward appearance was indeed that of a girl well under sixteen. Yet, if one were to consider her true age, including her previous life, she had already lived for over three decades. Thus, she could only offer a vague, evasive reply.

“Ah… haha, y-yes… that’s right.”

“You truly are the most well-developed young lady I’ve ever encountered,” the fox lady mused, then suddenly slapped her forehead. “Oh, I nearly forgot my primary task! Please wait a moment, Miss, I shall go select your garments immediately.”

With that, the fox lady departed in a flurry.

Gern sat alone on a chair, observing the bustling staff around her, a touch of boredom beginning to settle in.

Before long, the same fox lady returned, carrying two garments. They were precisely the styles Gern had admired earlier, though these particular pieces appeared to be several sizes smaller than those displayed on the racks.

“Miss, please try these two on to see if they fit properly.”

Gern accepted the clothes from the fox girl, a complex swirl of emotions stirring within her as she gazed at the feminine garments. She had no idea how to don them, and the very thought of wearing them herself made her feel utterly peculiar.

Gern pondered for a fleeting moment, then, with an ultimately helpless sigh, she stepped alone into the fitting room.

After expending some effort to decipher the intricacies of the garments, Gern first donned the pink long dress and emerged from the fitting room.

The moment she caught sight of her reflection, Gern froze, utterly dumbfounded. Standing before her in the mirror was a silver-haired girl, her expression one of pure astonishment, one hand unconsciously rising to cup her chest. Pink and white ribbons intertwined gracefully, perfectly echoing the girl’s striking silver hair.

“So… so beautiful…”

Gern murmured, almost unconsciously. She tentatively touched her own cheek, then tugged lightly at the fabric of the dress. The image staring back at her felt profoundly unreal, as if the maiden in the mirror existed only within the realm of dreams.

The fox girl, witnessing the transformation, was equally captivated by Gern’s allure, offering her heartfelt praise.

“This ensemble truly complements your temperament, Miss.”

“Cough…”

Gern let out an embarrassed cough, offering no reply to the fox girl’s compliments. She felt utterly mortified, with no capacity to concern herself with such matters. All she desired was to quickly retreat to the fitting room and change back into her previous attire.

It was at this moment that Lilia approached. Upon seeing Gern, she, too, paused, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. Yet, her reaction was swift; with an instantaneous movement, she positioned herself directly in Gern’s path.

“Little Luoya, why the hurry? Allow me to admire you a little longer.”

“Cough, Miss Lilia, there’s still another garment to try on.”

Gern simply yearned to finish changing and return to normal as quickly as possible. Her internal sense of mortification was on the verge of exploding.

“Hmm, do you require my assistance?”

“N-no… no need.”

Gern shook her head with the frantic motion of a rattling drum. If Lilia were to enter the fitting room, there was no telling what peculiar things she might attempt. This was, after all, a public establishment, and Gern had no desire for anything untoward to occur between her and Lilia in such a setting.

“Very well.”

Lilia shrugged, a hint of disappointment in her posture, and then stepped aside, clearing the path.

Once Gern had changed into the next outfit, Lilia took her time to appreciate the look thoroughly, indulging in a playful moment with her.

Just as Gern believed everything was concluded and wished to make a swift exit, Lilia suddenly caught her small hand, her gaze drifting upwards towards the next floor.

“Little Luoya, don’t be in such a rush to depart. The Holy Fox Pavilion’s second floor also features intimate apparel, and we haven’t yet selected suitable undergarments for you.”

“Th-this…”

Gern’s face flushed crimson, and she fell silent for a moment. The undergarment she currently wore was indeed quite ill-fitting; she’d felt an occasional, almost electric, tingling sensation while walking. After considerable deliberation, Gern finally nodded, assenting to follow Lilia to the second floor.

……