"...Do I have to be here?"

I asked, an uncomfortable look on my face as I glanced at the rows of dresses hanging around.

It wouldn't have been so jarring if it weren't for the type of dresses they were.

"What?" Christina asked, a cheeky smile adorning her face. "Are you being shy?"

"Not shy, just uncomfortable." I replied, shrugging as I looked around.

"How does this look?" Christina asked, grabbing a short black nightgown and showing it to me.

"Looks alright," I mumbled as she held the dress close to her body to examine it.

The gown was so short that if she wore it, I could see everything below her thighs.

"Are you imagining something?" she asked, making me flinch.

Noticing that, her cheeky smile widened as she walked closer.

Invading my personal space, she leaned closer, whispering softly in my ear, "Wanna see me wearing it?"

"....No," I replied, barely controlling myself from agreeing.

No matter how comfortable and safe I feel around her, I just don't want to be physical right now.

Not when I don't even know how long I would live.

"Tch," she clicked her tongue in annoyance. "And here I thought you wouldn't say no to this."

"Think what you want," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

"Anyway, I'm going to try it on," she mumbled, picking up a few dresses before moving toward the dressing room.

But instead of going inside, she looked back at me.

"Need help with something?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Can you guard the room, please?" she requested with a pleading look on her face.

"Guard from whom?" I asked, looking around and finding no one but clothes.

"Just do it, will you?" she asked, glaring at me.

"....Fine," I groaned in frustration, moving towards her.

I stood outside the room as she pulled the curtain, trying on those night dresses.

'The hell am I doing here?'

I grumbled, looking around the place with only a few older women moving about.

A few of them glanced at me with a light blush on their faces.

"..."

Wow, am I so handsome now?

[You are nothing compared to a god.]

'What a good way to crush my confidence, El.'

[I'm just warning you, don't get too proud of your face. It doesn't mean much in the long run.]

'Yeah.'

I mean, even among commoners, I've seen a few who were comparable to Senara's mother from Earth.

And she was quite beautiful herself.

[...Are you feeling some changes within you?]

'Like what?'

[...You don't usually talk about your life on Earth.]

'...'

Wait...

Have I been referring to it as my life instead of Inder's life?

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

Is this the change El is talking about?

'....I wonder how long it'll take for both of us to merge.'

I mused, stretching my body, trying to alleviate the awkwardness of being here.

"Hey, Az." I heard my name, making me instinctively turn around.

And I wish I hadn't because I found Christina in the short nightgown, the black fabric highlighting her rosy skin.

The sleeveless straps didn't help much, as I could see the entirety of her collarbone.

And, like I previously thought, I could clearly see everything below her thighs.

"You're not trying to avert your gaze?" she asked, a smile on her face.

"No reason to do so now," I replied, shrugging as I turned to look at her clearly.

Pretty sure I'll remember her in this dress for a long while.

"Well, that's all." She smiled softly and, much to my disappointment, closed the curtain again.

"....."

I silently stood before sighing and turning around again.

Luckily, there wasn't any man around, or I might have had to gauge some eyes today.

After a while, the curtain opened up again, and Christina walked out wearing her casual clothes.

"I'm going to buy this one," she said, showing me the black dress. "It might come in handy one day."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Anything you want to comment about the dress?" she asked, ignoring my question.

"...Am I the only one who thinks one of your boobies will be hanging out in the morning when you wear that type of dress?" I asked, rubbing my chin.

But I quickly froze as my own words sunk in.

...The hell did I just ask?

"Hahaha." Christina giggled softly as she started to walk. "That's one hell of an observation, Az."

"I didn't mean it that way," I grumbled, trying to find any excuse.

"You're not wrong, though," she replied, slowing her steps to match my pace. "They always slip out in the middle of the night."

"Why do you even wear them?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Because they're comfortable," she replied, shrugging.

"I see."

I mumbled, nodding my head.

"...Yeah, before I forget to tell you," she mumbled, taking a deep breath before looking at me. "I will start living in Akasha from next year."

"...For higher studies?" I asked, to which she nodded.

"...They have better options, and I also want to become a doctor who specializes in every race," she calmly explained, glancing at me.

I quietly nodded my head in understanding.

...It's the same as what happened in the game.

She left for Akasha along with my sister to complete her higher studies.

"....."

But as I remembered Sam's words, uneasiness crept within me.

...What did he even mean by that?

"Are you angry?" Christina asked anxiously as I kept my mouth shut.

"No," I replied, shrugging. "It's good that my fiancée wants to do something for herself."

"Yeah, I will have to feed my useless husband one day," she jabbed, earning a chop on her head from me.

"I can find jobs as well," I replied, even though I knew I couldn't.

"Like what?" she asked back, rubbing her head. "It would have been better if you could become a doctor like me."

"Nah, I would never go that route," I replied, shrugging.

"Who the fuck wants to read that many books, not to mention be like you—a specialist for every race."

"Yeah, yeah." She scoffed, waving her hand. "Your small brain isn't capable enough."

"Whatever." I shrugged, not arguing further.

She quickly paid for the dress as we walked out of the shop.

And from the other side, Wills was also coming toward us, holding Olesia's hand.

Again, Christina looked at Olesia with envy, which was kinda amusing to me.

"Hmm?"

But as we walked toward them, I felt a sharp gaze on us.

'El?'

[Someone from the upper floor. They're keeping an eye on Olesia.]

'...I see.'

I mumbled, not interested in anything related to her.

But I still looked up, and in the crowd above, I could see a silhouette of a few people.

'...Are they here to kill her?'

I wondered, glancing back at Olesia.

"Look, Mama bought it for me!" As soon as he reached me, Wills exclaimed, showing off the new shirt he wore.

"Stop calling her Mama," Christina mumbled, pinching both his cheeks and stretching them.

"But she is Mama," Wills grumbled, looking at Christina. "And you are also Mama."

She smiled but didn't stop stretching his cheeks.

"Anyway, what are you guys going to do from here on?" I asked, looking at them.

"Let's have some food first," Christina suggested, finally letting go of his cheeks, which he quickly started rubbing.

We both nodded to her suggestion as we moved away.