It feels like Clara's spirits are still not very high...
On the way, Stelle would occasionally sneak a glance at Clara. Although the latter looked no different from usual, as long as she thought about it seriously, she knew that Sis Clara was so perceptive—how could she possibly show if she really wasn't in the mood?
ps: Actually, it's not like that.
In any case, after deep consideration, Stelle suggested: "Sis Clara, how about I call March and the others over? We can all gather together?"
She remembered that the first time they met Clara, it was when their Express trio encountered Clara in the dungeon beneath the Mechanical Settlement Manor. At that time, Stelle hadn't realized at all how valiant Clara in this universe would be.
"Call Miss March 7th and the others...?" Clara pondered for a moment, but in the end, she still shook her head: "Forget it. They definitely have other arrangements. I don't want to cause trouble for everyone because of me."
"Just the two of us now is fine. You and me—that's enough."
Due to her survival environment from childhood to now, Clara found it hard to open her heart to others without reservation. In the past, Svarog was about the only one at most.
Now... Stelle pretty much counted as one too. Clara could feel her sincerity.
"Alright then." Stelle thought for a moment, then suddenly patted her own shoulder and said: "Sis Clara, want to sit on my shoulders and walk? Hm? Hehe."
"Ha?"
Clara was slightly stunned, then said somewhat unnaturally: "Wh-what are you saying? So childish?"
"But at your age, shouldn't you be a bit childish?" Stelle said with a grin: "Come on, it's not often we meet."
Still "at your age"...
Clara's little face was full of disdain: "No, those kids like it doesn't mean I do. No, definitely no."
"Try it~ If someone wanted to ride on me and I didn't agree~"
"No."
"..."
A few minutes later, Stelle was full of vigor as she carried Clara on her neck, her hands gently holding the latter's white and tender ankles, secretly thrilled inside.
Clara still feels close to her! Happy!
Clara felt the gazes of the surrounding passersby all turning toward them, and her little face rarely couldn't hold it together. She could only depressedly rest her chin on Stelle's head, curling up like a little cat.
She had said she refused, but somehow she still inexplicably boarded the "pirate ship"... Hmph.
Clara unconsciously twirled her fingers in her hair. She discovered that being with Stelle really wasn't the same as being with others:
Even if not in Belobog's Underworld, Clara would instinctively hold back a bit of vigilance toward the people around her. She was like that with Cocolia too—not because she was aloof, but because the survival rules of the Underworld over many years had been etched into her memory, forming an instinct.
This instinct certainly protected her, but it also trapped her in an iron cage, gradually reducing her emotional expressions.
But when with Stelle, it absolutely wasn't like that. Stelle's side felt like a safe zone to Clara. By her side, Clara could let down her guard and vigilance, and safely be a real ten-year-old little girl.
"Hey, what are you looking at?"
At that moment, Clara suddenly noticed Stelle's footsteps pause as she stared thoughtfully at her little feet, and couldn't help but ask.
"I want to buy you a pair of shoes." Stelle said candidly.
Shoes?
Clara's heart stirred, unexpectedly feeling a bit of anticipation, but on her mouth, she tried to maintain her image as the big sis of the Underworld: "N-No need, I've gotten by like this for so many years. Didn't need them before, won't need them in the future."
"But before, you were just persisting alone by yourself. But now, you don't have to." Stelle gently pinched Clara's ankle and said: "Persisting alone for too long is tiring. Your feet are a bit cold."
This sentence seemed to poke at something in Clara's heart, making her unexpectedly unable to say anything for a moment. A subtle emotion began to brew in her chest, making it feel stuffy, and her eyes uncomfortable.
"Then... as you say." Clara's voice was a bit muffled.
"Alright, let me think where to go. Hmm... how about Central Starskiff Haven? That's the liveliest place on the entire Luofu."
"Okay..."
...
"Welcome, honored guest, please come inside."
Stelle brought Clara into a shop at random, and a familiar, sweet and coy voice came from the side: "If there's anything you need, you can tell this little lady oh."
Hearing this voice, Stelle was first stunned, then looked over suspiciously. Tingyun held a folding fan, dressed in a vibrant red cheongsam that was alluring and charming. Her pointed fox ears made one unable to resist the urge to rub them hard.
"Eh? It's actually you, Star Guest. You and this little lady really are fated." Tingyun said with a beaming smile.
A question mark slowly rose above Stelle's head: "Wait... aren't you the manager over at that restaurant? How did you end up here?"
The folding fan in Tingyun's hand gently tapped her palm, her voice soft: "Honored guest is attentive, but most of the businesses in this small area of Central Starskiff Haven are under this little lady's management. This little lady simply likes this job, so of course, honored guest might encounter this little lady at any time and place."
Stelle was speechless for a moment. So, Ning is a rich woman too?
One could only say, as expected of the noble lady.
Now, Stelle was no longer surprised by these suddenly popping up strange settings.
"So, does honored guest need anything? Or... are you simply here to find this little lady?" Tingyun smiled slightly, her voice carrying a hint of teasing.
"N-No, not that..." Stelle pointed upward at her head, explaining a bit embarrassedly: "Miss Tingyun, I want to buy a pair of shoes for my friend. Do you have any recommendations?"
She could feel that as soon as they encountered an outsider, Clara had immediately become less relaxed than before.
Tingyun sized up the two people up and down, her smile deepening a bit: "Hehe, Star Guest is truly a wonderful person. In that case, follow this little lady. Whether company imports or Xianzhou-made, this little lady has everything here."
...
"Clara?"
When Clara came back to her senses again, Stelle had already helped her put on the shoes. They were a pair that Stelle had carefully selected from a bunch of children's shoes—red and white colors that oddly matched Clara herself, as if they were designed for her from the start.
Stelle poked Clara's little leg and asked: "Comfortable wearing them?"
To make Clara feel more comfortable, Stelle had specially chosen a pair of white socks for her.
Clara tried moving a bit. After putting on the shoes, although it felt a bit inconvenient to move, at least compared to stepping barefoot on the ground, it was much more comfortable and warmer.
"Pretty good." Clara said softly.
Tingyun explained with a smiling chant: "Honored guest has good taste. These are handmade from Zhuming, a bit pricey, but according to inside info, these shoes are definitely worth more than they cost. If honored guest buys them, this little lady can even throw in a little story for free~"
Stelle "heh"ed, unhesitatingly pulling a card from her pocket: "Swipe it however."
After returning from Penacony, she had lost interest in money.
"Thank you for your patronage. Total of eighty-eight thousand eight hundred credit points. The store currently has a family group purchase special—enjoy the discount~"
Tingyun seemed to be saying it to Stelle, but actually winked at Clara and smiled: "Want to try?"