Chiori hurried off, clearly with urgent business to handle. Neither Clorinde nor Richard paid it much mind; they weren't the sort who demanded others orbit around them.
Clorinde absently pinched at the hem of the sample dress. The fabric was smooth to the touch, but also delicate, so fragile it felt like the slightest pull might tear it apart.
Richard, however, thought the outfit suited her perfectly, especially the faint tightness around her chest, and the pale, shapely legs that peeked from beneath the skirt. Even without stockings, they were a sight to behold.
In truth, whether legs looked good depended entirely on their natural form, not on black silk, white silk, flesh-toned stockings, or leg rings. As the saying went: beauty wears anything well; beauty without clothes wears it best.
Clorinde's legs weren't bloated or heavy. They were proportionate, full, round thighs paired with slender, strong calves. Together, they formed perfection.
If Richard had to describe her allure: half came from her aura, the other half was split evenly between her legs and her chest. Truly, she was a woman whose legs alone could captivate for years.
Noticing his gaze, Clorinde glanced at another nearby sample and, almost without thinking, asked:
"Should I try on another one for you?"
Richard blinked, caught off guard by her willingness. He hadn't expected Clorinde to suggest changing outfits on her own.
Seeing his surprise, Clorinde hurriedly explained:
"I just think this one feels a little tight…"
To prove it, she tugged lightly at the fabric. Her slender fingers sank into the material like they were pressing into cotton, an image enough to stir anyone's heart.
Rip, !
The sound of fabric tearing filled the fitting room. Clorinde froze. She had suspected the sample wasn't sturdy, but she hadn't thought it would be this fragile. One extra finger, and it split.
Judging by the sound, the tear was at the back. As long as she didn't move too much, maybe it wouldn't be obvious…
She carefully withdrew her hand and reached back to inspect the damage. But that small movement only worsened the strain.
Riiip, !
This time, the sound was louder, longer, like the fabric tearing from top to bottom.
The restraint on her chest snapped back with equal force. Though soft as cotton candy, the curves had elasticity far beyond it. Freed from pressure, they surged out with startling presence.
Quickly, Clorinde crossed her arms over her chest and crouched, curling herself into as small a ball as possible.
Her smooth, bare back, once only partially revealed, was now entirely exposed before Richard. It was, in a sense, payback, since she had once peeked at him through a gap in the door. Now, he saw her fully from behind.
And with his vantage point above her, the view extended lower: a deep valley, two rounded curves barely concealed.
Thankfully, the sample held at the lower half, preserving the final line of defense. Richard, of course, didn't just stand there gawking. He hurriedly removed his coat and draped it over her.
As he knelt to cover her, he inevitably glimpsed the pale side of her chest, meaning by now he had seen nearly every "hemisphere," save for the south and the very center.
"Mmm…" Clorinde clutched the coat tighter around herself, looking up pitifully.
Richard sighed. "Alright. We're even now."
He thought that would appease her. To his surprise, she shook her head, bit her lip, and whispered:
"I… I didn't see nearly as much as you just did…"
"…What are you saying?" Richard frowned.
Clorinde gathered her courage:
"I want to look back."
Her main principle: never take a loss.
Richard nearly laughed. "Do you even realize what you're asking?"
"Is it… not allowed?" She loosened the coat slightly, revealing just a hint more than before. Only a little, but enough to tempt.
Richard groaned. "What's going on in that head of yours? Is this how exchanges work? What if I wanted to touch you, would you say I could if you touched me back?"
"…That works too," Clorinde muttered after thinking it over. She did want to feel his abs. If offering her own stomach as a trade was the price, she could accept that.
"Forget the chest, though," she added firmly.
Richard tapped her forehead with his finger, exasperated. "So that's the truth. Beneath your icy exterior, you're just lusting after my body."
Clorinde puffed her cheeks in protest. Well, you never dressed lightly around me either.
From the start, Richard had always been neatly suited, even in casual wear. She'd never gotten a proper look at his physique.
Yes, she knew he was strong. But strength could still come in different forms. A man's chest or abs, like a woman's legs, drew their charm from subtle lines and definition.
And to her eyes, Richard's form was perfection, her type exactly. The moment she saw him, it struck her like a spark.
Love at first sight? Desire at first sight? Either way, the old saying fit: A fair lady, a gentleman's desire.
Everyone had their own tastes. Richard liked hands, feet, faces, chests, hips, legs. Clorinde, on the other hand, simply liked him. His body, his build, nothing more complicated.
So when she said, "I just want to look. Nothing else," it was her clumsy defense.
"You even wanted to touch just now!" Richard countered.
"Because you said trade…"
"…Want to try the chest instead?"
Gulp. She was tempted. But reason barely won out this time, and she shook her head.
"N-no… that's too much."
She wasn't stupid. Abs were fine. The chest… too intimate. Too far.
Richard stared at her in disbelief. "You actually considered it… Clorinde, don't tell me you're some kind of… perv?"
Her face turned scarlet. "P-perv?! Impossible!"
If she really were, she'd have barged into his room that night instead of sneaking a peek.
Flustered, she dropped the subject entirely. But her eyes still flickered, every so often, toward his torso.
Richard decided not to push further. He had discovered her weakness; there was no rush. Better to savor it slowly. Letting someone like Clorinde trap herself in his snare might prove far more entertaining.
Moments later, Chiori returned, only to see Clorinde crouched on the floor, clutching Richard's coat. Her brows rose.
She'd only been gone a short while. How had things gotten like this? If her suspicions were right… then Richard moved very fast.
Noticing her look, Richard explained:
"The dress was too tight. It tore."
Chiori blinked, then nodded. With Clorinde's figure and the too-small sample, it made sense.
"My apologies. The measurements must have been off. I'll need to remeasure properly, without the clothes." She glanced at Richard.
Understanding, he moved toward the door to give them privacy. But Clorinde suddenly said:
"No need to go out…"
Both Richard and Chiori turned to her, startled. Chiori's eyes practically gleamed. What's going on here? So open already? Am I part of this play now?
Clorinde quickly clarified:
"I mean… we can use the cubicle inside. There aren't enough seats outside."
The excuse was flimsy. There were plenty of chairs outside, and all comfortable sofas too.
Still, before Richard could comment, she stood, clutching the torn dress closed, and scurried into the cubicle with Richard's coat. Chiori sighed, picked up her tools, and followed, giving Richard a final look on her way.
That look made him rub his nose awkwardly. What? I didn't do anything! If anything, I'm the victim here… Why does she look at me like I'm some playboy?
Once measurements were redone, Clorinde changed into another sample, this one casual, comfortable, and looser-fitting. No tightness this time.
Still, it had its touches: a leg ring around her thigh, paired with black stockings, indented just enough into her skin to accentuate her curves.
Richard thought to himself: No wonder Chiori is famous. She really knows her craft. A true expert. He'd come back again for sure.
Chiori, apologetic, said:
"It was my oversight. I must apologize again, Miss Clorinde."
It was only right. If such a mistake had happened with the final gown, the consequences would have been disastrous, her reputation ruined, her boutique shamed.
"I accept. But next time, choose sturdier fabric," Clorinde replied coolly.
"…Understood." Chiori nodded. In truth, the material she'd chosen was already among the sturdiest in eveningwear. But Clorinde's figure… placed impossible pressure on that poor button.
A true lady of power, indeed.
Fortunately, the other samples, all casual wear, fit fine, since they were designed for comfort.
After finishing the fittings, Richard paid the balance without hesitation. A perfect client. Pleased, Chiori even gave Clorinde a gift before they left.
Inside was a hat like Navia's, adorned with an ice-blue fabric rose. Exquisite workmanship, clearly expensive, and perfectly suited to Clorinde's temperament.
"The finished gown will be ready by Monday. Shall I deliver it to your estate?"
"I'll pick it up myself. After work." Clorinde replied.
Convenient, since Wednesday was the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the Institute. At the ceremony itself she wouldn't need a gown, but at the banquet afterward, she could dress formally.
In the past, she would've worn her Duelist uniform. It was formal enough, giving her an air of sharp elegance. But now, her identity as Furina's secretary outweighed her role as a Duelist. A gown was more fitting.
Most importantly, when she stood beside Richard, she'd look like his companion, not his bodyguard. And perhaps it would dissuade some of the women who eyed him hungrily at such events.
Lady Furina, Clorinde thought. You like Richard as a man. I like him for his body. In the end… we're on the same side.