"Hey, look at them. There are beautiful girls walking around."
"Are they famous models? Actress? Cosplayers?"
"It seems like they are princesses from wealthy families."
"There are goddesses walking around! Oh! I must get their sign!"
Some people walking on the sidewalk glanced at the group of girls who shone like stars. Or so they seemed.
Like goddesses drawn by the most skilled painters. Or so the men saw them. Not only men, even women opened their mouths in awe beauty to the group of girls who were Vincent's step-family and friends (and Gregor).
A group of playboys approached Vincent's girls.
"Iris should try the bubble tea that's—"
"Hey, girls."
Aria's words were cut off by a group of unknown men. From their appearance, it was clear they were a playboys who always approached and flirted with beautiful girls they considered cheap.
There were five men with various skin colors, faces, and clothing styles. The most confident man, who appeared to be expensively dressed, was the one with red-dyed hair.
"Do you have some free time, girls? We're having a big party at my private hotel." The red-haired man pointed to a hotel near the mall. "We're invite beautiful girls like you girls for some fun. How about it?"
"Ara~ it's been a long time since mother attended a party." Violet seemed interested. She rested both hands under her chin. Valian and Vittoria shook their heads. Meanwhile, Iris hid behind Aria's shoulder.
"Who are you? We don't have time to deal with you. Let's go." Vittoria walked forward, looking at the red-haired man with a sharp gaze. She tried to walk past them but was blocked by the red-haired man's friends.
"Are you sure you're going to let them?" Gregor asked Vincent, who was standing behind the girls.
Vincent shrugged, feeling no need to interfere.
"Don't worry, Vittoria can handle it."
Hearing Vincent's confident words, Gregor became even more worried and hesitant to step forward and act like a gentleman.
"Move. Or I'll make you regret it." Vittoria said in threatening tone. The red-haired man grinned and walked closer to her until there was almost no space between them. His hand was raised, about to touch Vittoria's face.
"Heh, you're quite something, pretty girl. I'm sure your face will look even prettier in my room later—aggggh!--"
Vittoria grabbed the red-haired man's hand, who dared to try to touch her face, so hard that the man's wrist turned red.
"Let go! You bitch!"
The red-haired man raised his hand and threw a punch at Vittoria's face.
"Vittoria!" Aria exclaimed anxiously.
Thud!
But the one who threw the punch first was Vittoria. Her punch landed faster on the red-haired man's face, breaking his nose.
"Ara."
"Oh.. little Ria is starting to get angry.."
"Haha, hit them, little Ria."
"Sister Vitto is strong."
"Eh?" Aria looked confused. Her friend was almost hit by a stranger, but instead, the stranger was knocked down.
Iris stood still in her spot, staring coldly at the playboys in front of her.
"See. She can take care of herself." Vincent said to Gregor, who had been about to run forward and shield the girls from the playboys. Gregor opened his jaw in disbelief.
The pathetic man fell onto the sidewalk, landing on his butt first. He covered his broken and bleeding nose.
"Y-you! Fuck it!"
"Get out of our sight. Or I'll make you have the same nose as him." Vittoria said, cracking her knuckles. She smiled threateningly at the playboys in front of her.
"Fuck! Just you wait! We'll get you back, bitches!" As his friends dragged him away, the group of playboys disappeared from Vittoria and her friends sight.
"Huff.. this kind of thing always happens when we go out. Why are there so many dickhead people wandering around lately. They're trash." Vittoria put her hands on her hips while shaking her head. Her family and friends looked at her with admiration.
"W-what? I didn't do it for you guys hmph!" Vittoria became embarrassed.
"Ara~ my daughter is indeed great."
"Hehe, Ria can always be relied on to chase away perverted men like them." Vivian gave a thumbs up.
Valian crossed his arms, nodding proudly at Vittoria.
"Big sister is amazing!" Vani exclaimed, admiring her sister.
"W-wow. Even though Vittoria is great at fighting, I'm better in other things! I won't lose." Aria turned her face away but in her heart, she felt admiration for her rival.
Iris was still silent, not saying anything. Was she still processing what had just happened, perhaps?
"I envy you having a stepsister like her, Vincent. Eh, where are you going?"
Vincent had already walked towards the hotel next to the mall. He spoke briefly to the hotel receptionist, chatted a few words with the hotel manager, then gave him his phone number. After that, he left, escorted by the hotel manager who bowed repeatedly in thanks.
"What did you just do, Vincent?" Gregor asked curiously. The group of girls and Gregor were forced to wait for five minutes for Vincent return.
"Ah, just a little business." Vincent said lightly. Making everyone's faces full of questions.
"Dad bought that hotel next to the mall?" Vani, who noticed it first, asked. Vincent just smiled slightly.
"A strategic hotel. I bought it for long-term investment. I'm sure Manager Jian will be happy to hear it."
All faces there fell silent. The quietest was Gregor. He knew his friend was the son of a well-known company, even among the top ten largest companies in the world, but he didn't expect Vincent to be able to buy a hotel as easily as buying clothes.
"Ara~ now we can rest after shopping at the mall. Vincent is indeed a smart boy~" Violet smiled gently, proud of Vincent.
"Step brother..." Vittoria could only sigh.
Vincent just shrugged.
"Let's go quickly. The weather will get hotter soon."
Vincent walked in front of the girls this time. Gregor was still lagging behind, silently looking at the hotel next to the mall that Vincent had just bought.
"Did he do it because of those jerks earlier?" Then Gregor saw playboys group being kicked out of the hotel Vincent had just bought. "Rich kids above rich kids are indeed different. Terrifying."
***
At the mall. The girls walked from one store to another. Trying on this and that outfit. Laughing together when wearing ill-fitting clothes. Complimenting each other's beauty.
At least that made Iris more accustomed to Vincent's new family and classmates. And she became more expressive, not as cold as usual.
Vincent and Gregor got bored watching the girls busy trying on various clothes. Casual clothes, home clothes, pajamas, beachwear, sportswear, play clothes, swimwear, evening wear, day wear, afternoon wear, they tried on all kinds of clothes.
Especially their experimental subject was none other than Iris. Violet, Vivian, and Aria were so excited to try various clothes on the snow princess.
"I knew you'd look good in all kinds of clothes, Iris. Your figure and facial beauty are truly exquisite. But not as exquisite as mine, of course." Aria said with a smug smile.
"Muehehehehe~ this body is truly suitable as the main character of an adult film ehehehe~" Every time Iris wore revealing and sexy clothes, Vivian grinned pervertedly while hugging and caressing Iris's body, who was blushing shyly.
"Ara~ little Iris is truly as beautiful as a princess. I wish little Iris would become part of our family." Violet praised the cool-style clothes Iris was wearing. Iris heard it, making her ears turn red.
"Thank you.."
Meanwhile, Vittoria, Valian, and Vani seemed busy with their own things.
"Hmph. I also have an equally attractive figure." Vittoria held both of her breasts. She compared them to Iris's. "S-she just have a little bigger than mine, hmph. I won't lose. Besides, Vincent surely more like that fit in his hands." Vittoria said to herself, crossing her arms confidently. She was wearing clothes that accentuated her thighs.
Valian looked at metal-style clothes. She was interested in black ripped skirts at the edges. Or tight, holed shirts. Her fashion sense was indeed a bit strange.
Vani. She just silently looked at soft doll and pulled Vincent to pick out a new doll and plushies for her.
Gregor, with perverted eyes, was so entertained watching the girls change into various types of clothes. Especially since every outfit they chose truly accentuated their sexy figures. It was like a live model exhibition. He didn't even realize blood was flowing from his nose.
After finishing shopping for clothes until they carried dozens of tote bags and hired a store assistant to deliver their shopping bag to the hotel next door that Vincent had just bought. Finally, they went to a restaurant in the mall for lunch.
"I need to get restroom first." Vincent got up because he felt like peeing. Gregor ordered five plates of steak since Vincent's family was treating today. Violet, Vincent's stepmother, was even happy to see Gregor continuously adding more until his stomach and cheeks swelled with steak.
"Ah, me too." Iris also excused herself to the restroom.
After freshening up. Vincent met a girl he didn't expect to meet outside the restroom.
It was Perseus Reiss.
She stood leaning against the wall in the hallway in front of the restroom, waiting for someone to come out of that place.
"Perseus? What are you doing here?" Vincent asked curiously. What coincidence caused him to meet the school's prima donna this year.
She wore a midnight blue off-shoulder ruffle dress that suited her so well. Her dark blue hair flowed slightly wavy at the ends. It looked elegant and intimidating. Both of her hands held a small bag in front of her body.
"Vincent. What a coincidence we met. I'm waiting for someone to come out from girls' restroom."
Vincent raised an eyebrow. Perseus's expression always looked perfect. She smiled thinly and kindly at Vincent. But somehow, he felt something strange from her.
"Alright, I'll go. Ah, before that, Perseus. I want to ask something."
"Sure."
"Did we ever meet when we were little? Like often playing in a park, for example?"
Perseus looked at Vincent with a questioning gaze.
"When we were little? Hmm, I mostly spent my childhood being strictly educated by my family. I don't really remember it. Sorry."
Vincent shook his head. "It's okay, I was just asking to confirm." He smiled slightly. "Well then, see you, Perseus." Vincent waved goodbye.
Perseus waved back.
After Vincent's back disappeared at the end of the corridor, Iris came out of the women's restroom.
"You lied. You liar."
She glared angrily at Perseus, who was grinning widely at her.
***