Olivia POV
"Hahhhhhhhh…"
Olivia let out a long, unrestrained sigh as she slumped back into the chair, her shoulders finally relaxing now that she had a moment to breathe.
She was inside a clothing store, tucked away in the corner near the fitting rooms, surrounded by racks of dresses and soft pastel cardigans.
For the first time in hours, she was free, if only temporarily, from the relentless energy of the sibling-like cousins.
She had known telling them about her plans with Alex tomorrow would cause some kind of reaction, but she had not expected this.
The moment she had casually mentioned that she and Alex were going out together, not a date, just spending time, the two of them had immediately latched onto her, dragging her across the shopping district like she was some kind of shared project.
Store after store, aisle after aisle, Louise and Soren had debated outfits with a seriousness that made Olivia feel as if she were preparing for a royal banquet rather than lunch with her childhood friend.
'Miss Louise, I can understand…' Olivia thought tiredly, watching the two of them argue near a rack of jeans. 'But what's going on with Soren?'
That was the strange part.
Louise being intense didn't feel unusual.
She was blunt, decisive, and oddly passionate about things she cared about.
But Soren… Soren had surprised her.
When Olivia had talked about Alex before, Soren had listened politely.
He had nodded, asked a few questions, and offered encouragement like a good friend would.
She had assumed it was just that, friendliness.
Maybe a bit of concern, maybe a bit of politeness.
But today?
Today, Soren was acting as if this were personal.
"No, no! That won't work." Soren said flatly, arms crossed as he stared at the outfit Louise was holding.
Louise scoffed, lifting the jeans and hoodie higher as if presenting undeniable evidence.
"Then what do you suggest, Little Brother, since you seem to know everything!"
"Hmph. Watch and learn."
Before Louise could respond, Soren turned on his heel and marched deeper into the store, scanning racks with sharp eyes like a veteran on a mission.
Olivia couldn't help it.
She giggled softly at their back-and-forth, resting her chin in her hands as she watched them bicker.
'They really do look like siblings…'
Anyone watching from the outside would probably think they were actual siblings, arguing comfortably, interrupting each other without offence, and somehow working together despite the constant friction.
No one would ever guess about the awkward, complicated feelings Soren carried beneath the surface.
Soren returned several minutes later with his arms full.
He laid everything out carefully on a nearby table, arranging the outfits with a level of care that made Olivia blink.
Three outfits.
Each one thoughtfully matched, down to the accessories.
Louise stared at them for a long moment before raising her hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright. I lose."
Soren smirked, clearly pleased with himself.
"Why are you so good at this anyway, Soren?" Olivia asked, genuinely curious.
This wasn't the first time she had noticed it.
Every store they entered, Louise would confidently suggest something, only for Soren to shut it down within seconds, and without fail, he would return with something that somehow fit Olivia perfectly, as if he had known her tastes better than she did.
Soren paused.
For just a moment, the smugness faded.
He stood there silently, gaze unfocused, as if he were somewhere else entirely.
"Well…" he finally said, his voice quieter than before. "Let's just say I learned a lot about fashion."
There was something wistful in his expression, something unspoken hanging in the air.
"Ah… okay…" Olivia replied softly.
She noticed it, the sadness behind his words, subtle but unmistakable.
Whatever story sat behind that answer, she decided it wasn't her place to ask.
Soren shook his head slightly, snapping himself out of it.
"Anyways, which do you like best, Olivia?" he asked, gesturing toward the table.
She stood up from her chair and walked over, leaning closer to examine the outfits properly.
The first was a pure white sundress, light and airy, paired with a straw hat, simple sandals, and a brown over-the-shoulder bag.
It looked like something straight out of a summer painting.
The second was more casual, blue jeans, a light-grey t-shirt, and an olive-green cardigan.
Comfortable, but cute.
The third was a long pink skirt matched with a white blouse, elegant without being excessive.
None of them were overly flashy.
Soren had clearly kept the budget in mind, choosing pieces that were reasonable but flattering.
They all suited her.
That, unfortunately, was the problem.
"I'm not sure…" Olivia admitted, shifting her weight.
Louise crossed her arms.
"Why don't you just try them on?"
"Is that okay?" Olivia asked hesitantly.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Oh… okay. Uhm… I'll be back in a minute then."
She gathered the clothes carefully, clutching them to her chest as she headed toward the fitting rooms.
"Let me know if you need help," Louise called after her.
Olivia nodded, disappearing behind the curtain, her heart fluttering with a mix of nerves and anticipation.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Louise Cruentus POV
"Soren…?" Olivia's voice drifted out from behind the fitting room curtain, hesitant and unsure.
Soren, who had been leaning against a nearby wall, straightened slightly.
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure these will suit me?"
There was a pause, followed by the faint rustling of fabric.
"Well," Soren replied after a moment, "I'm not the best at choosing, but I'm confident at least one of them should look good on you."
"Really…?" Olivia sounded unconvinced, her voice soft and small.
"Yeah. Have more confidence in yourself, Olivia," he said firmly.
Louise watched the interaction quietly, a small smile forming on her lips.
'This is nice,' she thought.
She hadn't expected to run into Soren today at all.
Their encounter had been entirely coincidental, yet somehow it had led to this: wandering the shopping district together, arguing over clothes, watching him tease and encourage a friend.
It felt… normal.
It had been a long time since she had spent casual time with him like this.
Their last meeting hadn't been lighthearted in the slightest; it had been heavy with serious topics and unspoken tension.
Compared to that, today felt almost refreshing.
Her gaze drifted to Soren.
'He looks happy.'
There was a looseness to his posture, an ease in his expressions that she hadn't seen in a long while.
When he talked about his life at the academy, about the friends he had made, Louise had to physically restrain herself from hugging him on the spot.
She had worried.
Deeply.
She had feared he might still be trapped in the past, still hung up on Freya, unable to move forward no matter how much time passed.
Seeing him now, animated and involved in the lives of others, eased something tight in her chest.
'I'm proud of you,' she thought quietly.
…Even if his friends sounded strange.
He had explained each of them with surprising patience.
A playboy who treated romance like a game.
A battle-crazed stalker princess whose enthusiasm bordered on dangerous.
And a teacher who had formed a bond with her own student that Louise wasn't entirely sure how to feel about.
'Lilliana…'
That name lingered.
From the way Soren spoke, it was clear they were close, very close.
Louise wasn't blind to it.
Lilliana came from a powerful duchy in Einhardt, was four years his senior, and carried herself with a presence that made even Louise wary.
And more than that…
Louise could feel it.
Affection.
Strong, undeniable affection.
Whether it was love or something else entirely, she didn't know, but it was enough to make her uneasy.
She sighed quietly, turning her attention back to the fitting room curtain.
'It's a shame that Livia already has someone.'
Out of all of Soren's friends, Olivia was the one Louise liked the most.
An innocent, earnest girl with a slightly plump figure and an open heart, someone who wore her feelings plainly and had fallen deeply in love with her childhood friend.
It was… cute. In a way that made Louise strangely protective.
"Do you want some help, Livia?" Louise asked, stepping closer.
"Uhm… is that okay?"
"Of course it is."
She slipped past the curtain…
…and froze.
"Whoa…!"
The exclamation escaped her before she could stop it.
'What on earth is this girl…?'
Olivia was sitting on the small bench in her underwear, shoulders hunched slightly as she clutched a folded piece of clothing in her hands, clearly unsure of herself.
But Louise barely registered the uncertainty.
The cute, soft image Olivia usually gave off, wide-eyed expressions, clumsy reactions, and an almost childlike innocence, was completely gone.
In its place was something overwhelming.
Her curves were full and natural, her posture unintentionally alluring, her presence radiating an almost destructive sexiness that hit Louise far harder than expected.
Even Louise, with her toned, athletic figure, felt a sharp pang of jealousy.
'This is unfair,' she thought wryly.
Whoever this Alex guy was, he was unbelievably lucky.
Once again, Louise felt that familiar sense of regret.
'It really is a shame…'
"Is something wrong, Miss Louise?" Olivia asked, looking up nervously.
Louise shook her head quickly.
"No, don't worry."
She forced her expression back into something calm and supportive.
"Anyways," she continued, clapping her hands lightly. "Have you decided which one you want to try on first?"
"No, sorry…" Olivia replied, shrinking slightly.
"It's fine. Why not just try this one first? You'll get to try them all anyway," Louise said easily.
She handed over the white sundress.
Olivia hesitated for a second, then nodded, standing up to take it from her.
"Okay… I'll try this one."
Louise stepped back out of the fitting room, pulling the curtain closed behind her, her thoughts lingering longer than she expected.
————「❤︎」————