Chapter 45: One, Two, Three—Freeze, Don’t Move~
Peiya walked out from behind the curtain, looking a little shy.
Wearing the court-style long dress, she looked just like a real princess.
The light beige silk dress fell smoothly and neatly. The waist was fitted just right, and the skirt hung down slightly. The collar and sleeves were decorated with thin silver-white stitching.
Her small silver-haired head was slightly lowered. Her long, delicate eyelashes looked like a pair of butterflies, gently fluttering with each blink.
Her cheeks were slightly red, and her shy expression might make people think she was about to cry.
In fact, Peiya’s feelings were indeed complicated.
She had learned a lot about etiquette before.
Putting on clothes wasn’t hard for her, the real problem was how it felt to actually wear women’s clothing.
Theory and reality were completely different.
She could feel the folds of the skirt constantly brushing against her waist. She didn’t know if her body was just too sensitive or what.
Anyway, it felt itchy and uncomfortable.
She really wanted to take it off right now.
Also, the feeling of the skirt brushing against her legs was very strange. If she had to say, this was probably her first time truly wearing women’s clothing.
Last time, when Elise made her wear her childhood clothes, it was just a white shirt. Basically no different from men’s clothes.
But now, this was real women’s clothing. It felt like ants were crawling all over her body, making every pore stand on end.
She really couldn’t get used to it.
And on top of that, she had to stand there while Elise looked her up and down the whole time.
Peiya bit her lip and softly said, “H-have you looked enough?”
Elise smiled slightly. “You look very beautiful. But why are you holding your legs together so tightly? Can’t you relax a bit?”
“Then I’ll just let the skirt down. I only lifted it so you could see better.” Peiya turned her head away, unwilling to meet Elise’s eyes again.
She didn’t know what was wrong with her. Her thoughts were a mess. Maybe she was really moved by what Elise said earlier, so she wanted to show herself.
Or maybe she was just afraid the skirt would touch the ground and get dirty… she couldn’t figure it out.
Usually, court dresses almost touch the floor. The reason Peiya was holding up the skirt was to keep it clean.
And also… she had promised Elise to let her look properly.
A person should keep their word.
“You might have misunderstood me. I asked you to relax because I was worried you might fall if you keep your legs too tight. Also… your legs are very nice.”
Elise’s gaze moved over Peiya’s smooth, fair legs. Under the dim light, they looked slightly mysterious and dreamy.
The more unclear and soft the image was, the more it made people want to look closer.
Like a rose, everyone knows it has thorns, but still can’t help wanting to pick it.
Meeting Elise’s interested gaze, Peiya became flustered.
“W-what are you suddenly saying? My legs? What’s so good about them? Stop joking.”
“Don’t put yourself down so quickly. You’re actually very beautiful.”
“Beautiful?”
Peiya never thought that word could be used for her.
“Really?”
“Yes. Your legs, I like them. They’re exactly my type.”
Elise looked at her again, her gaze a bit bold and direct.
Peiya wanted to resist, but her hands were too nervous, gripping the skirt tightly. Finally, she couldn’t hold it in anymore and said,
“Have you seen enough? My hands are tired from holding the skirt up.”
“Not enough.” Elise smiled playfully. “If your hands are tired, give them to me. I’ll massage them for you.”
“I’ll pass. You already took advantage of me once. If I let you massage my hands too, won’t you get all the benefits?”
Elise looked seriously into Peiya’s eyes. “But the more you say that, the more I want to keep looking. What should I do? And I have a reason, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Miss Peiya, you’re really too much. Is this part of your plan?”
“No way! Don’t make things up. You can lie to me, but don’t lie to yourself.”
Peiya strongly protested this kind of accusation. She even started to wonder if she had been completely manipulated by Elise.
Otherwise, why would she obediently put on the dress and even lift the skirt for her to see?
This was too strange.
“Elise, let me ask you one more time, what exactly is our relationship?”
“Friends. That’s what you said, we’re completely innocent.”
“Right… but what kind of friends lift skirts for each other like this? What kind of friendship is that?”
Peiya felt more and more that things were going in a direction she couldn’t control.
“What’s wrong? I think this is what friends are like. Or… do you have other thoughts about our relationship?” Elise looked at Peiya with interest.
Peiya’s hands froze while holding her skirt. When she met Elise’s cheerful expression, she took a few cautious steps back.
“What are you trying to say?”
Ever since the last time Elise suddenly held her hand, Peiya had felt that their “friendship” was becoming a bit strange.
The old Elise would never have been this bold. She clearly remembered that at first, Elise was like a shy little rabbit.
When they first met, Elise was polite, knew her limits, and was socially awkward.
And now you’re telling her this is still “socially awkward”?!
This “little rabbit” was practically turning into a meat-eater.
Was she really still socially awkward?
What kind of “social anxiety” is this?
More like a “social menace”!
Peiya felt like she had been tricked. Back then, Elise would get nervous just from talking.
But now, every sentence she said made Peiya’s heart itch.
Was the little rabbit evolving into a big bad wolf?
Elise placed a finger on her lips and smiled slightly.
“I mean exactly what I said. Alright, I’m going to change clothes now.”
“?”
What does that even mean?
Peiya watched as Elise carried her dress to the other side of the fitting room. Her eyes couldn’t help but drift downward, not because she was being inappropriate, but because she really did see Elise taking off her shoes.
A delicate, smooth foot was revealed, the curve of her foot slightly raised like a drawn bow.
Even from the side, it was clear her foot shape was very beautiful. Her toes looked neat and soft, like small pearls.
At that moment, a voice came over.
“Peiya, you weren’t peeking, were you?”
“N-no! Why would I look? There’s nothing to see. I—I’m fixing my skirt!”
Peiya’s face turned red, like she had been caught cheating on a test.
She was bad at lying. After speaking, she almost apologized out of habit, but a voice in her mind told her not to.
If she admitted it, what would that make her? A peeping creep?
While Peiya was still struggling inside, Elise walked out wearing her own court dress.
It was different from Peiya’s.
Elise’s skirt was much longer. If Peiya looked like a princess, then Elise looked like a knight protecting the princess.
Her dress was long and well-fitted, outlining her graceful figure perfectly.
When it came to leg shape, Elise’s looked even better.
Peiya was still bothered by her earlier lie and didn’t dare to look at Elise, quickly turning her gaze away.
Seeing this, Elise’s expression softened. She didn’t want to miss this chance and pressed forward.
“Miss Peiya, let me ask you, what kind of relationship do we have now?”
“Friends. We’re completely innocent, didn’t you say that?”
Peiya gave a small cough, trying to steady herself.
“Then why won’t you look at me? Do you think I’m ugly?” Elise blinked, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth.
“No! How could you be ugly? You’re beautiful, very beautiful!”
“Then why won’t you even say my name?”
Elise smiled slightly. She wasn’t trying to make things difficult. She simply seemed to enjoy this moment.
Hearing that, Peiya immediately got fired up.
Who’s scared?!
“Hah, what’s there to be afraid of? Elise, Elise! I said it twice—happy now?”
“I am. I was just joking. Since you’re done changing, let’s go out. Give me your hand, you’re wearing a long dress for the first time, don’t fall.”
“……”
Peiya hesitated for a moment, but still placed her hand in Elise’s.
The two of them walked out of the fitting room together again.
The moment Nair, who was waiting at the door, saw them, her heart completely melted.
They looked like two butterflies just emerging from their cocoons. The dresses made them look especially charming, and their presence stood out beautifully.
Perfect.
Yes, this is the feeling!
The most perfect pair of girls ever.
She really…
…really couldn’t hold back her excitement anymore!