After finishing their meal, Merlin and Linda walked out of the restaurant. Despite the earlier trouble, it hadn’t affected their mealtime at all.

“So, where do you want to go now, Master?” Merlin asked.

Linda rubbed her chin, as if lost in thought for a moment. Then, she turned her head toward a fashion store in the distance and pointed at it.

“Let’s go there.”

Merlin followed the direction she pointed and gave a small nod. “All right. Let’s go.”

They then walked to the store. It was a luxury fashion boutique, and women dressed in elegant clothes entered with cheerful expressions.

But when Linda appeared, everyone turned in surprise, as if they couldn’t believe such a beautiful woman existed.

“What a beautiful woman! Is she from a noble family?” one of them asked in amazement.

Another shook her head. “I doubt it. Her outfit looks too plain.”

“Shh! Don’t underestimate someone’s outfit. Sometimes, those born into noble or wealthy families prefer to keep a low profile so they don’t attract attention,” another woman warned seriously.

“You’re right. We shouldn’t underestimate appearances, especially a woman this beautiful who carries such a unique temperament. By the way, who’s the little boy next to her? He’s quite handsome for his age.”

“Tsk! Your words are dangerous, but you’re right—he is very handsome! If I could have him at home, I’d teach him how to eat properly… hehehe…”

Linda and Merlin naturally understood what they were talking about. However, Merlin didn’t really care. His face was indeed very handsome, even at such a young age.

After all, he was the most handsome character in the novel The Lost Hero. Unfortunately, Linda didn’t feel the same way. An inexplicable anger flared inside her.

The urge to beat them up rose within her, but Merlin’s voice stopped her.

“Ahem! Master, don’t be angry. They’re just ordinary people who don’t know anything. Let’s continue shopping.”

He glanced at Linda’s face, which had turned gloomy, as if she would kill them if he had been even a little late.

That reaction was clearly dangerous, especially since Linda’s identity was very special. It wasn’t impossible that it would attract criticism from various parties later on.

Linda took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. “You’re right, they’re just ordinary people. I shouldn’t be angry.”

Even so, the gloom on her face didn’t disappear immediately. Merlin felt helpless but also happy.

‘Almost maximum affection is truly extraordinary,’ he thought.

If Linda’s affection had only been at 50 or 60 points, she wouldn’t have reacted like this. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t pleased by it.

With that, Merlin took her hand and led her inside.

“Good afternoon, customers,” a beautiful female staff member greeted politely.

“Thank you.” Linda nodded slightly. “Do you have a variety of women’s clothing styles?”

“Of course, ma’am. Our store is affiliated with the Beethoven family. Our goods come from various cities and other kingdoms. I’m sure you’ll find something you like.”

“The Beethoven family?” Linda was surprised. She knew very well the reputation of that family—famous for their wealth and prestige.

Unexpectedly, this fashion store belonged to them. It was truly remarkable.

Merlin was just as surprised. His eyes swept over the elegant and luxurious interior of the store. It perfectly reflected the Beethoven family’s style, which always prioritized customer comfort.

The female staff guided Merlin and Linda to the dress section on the right side of the room. The area was quite spacious, with many dresses hanging neatly on the racks.

“This area offers various types of dresses, from formal to casual. Please choose whatever you like. If you need help, just call me,” the staff said kindly.

Linda was pleased with her attitude. “I understand.”

The female staff quickly left, giving them space to relax and look around.

“Merlin, which one do you think looks nice?”

Linda picked up two dresses, one black and one white, and showed them to him.

Merlin examined both carefully. The white dress on the left was made of silk. The front and back were fully covered, making it suitable for a conservative woman like Linda.

The skirt was slightly thick and loose, with delicate lace around the edges. The pattern wasn’t completely plain—faint blue floral designs decorated the back and stomach.

Meanwhile, the black dress was made of silk that felt slightly rough, indicating that other materials had been mixed in.

The top only reached the shoulder blades, revealing Linda’s cleavage if she wore it. The waist was slightly narrowed, accentuating the wearer’s curves.

After carefully observing both dresses, Merlin pointed to the white one without hesitation.

“This one suits you better.”

“Oh?” Linda’s eyes lit up. “Why do you think this one suits me better?”

For some reason, she felt a strong curiosity about his reasoning.

“It’s because I think you’ll look very beautiful in it. Besides, it’s comfortable for a modest woman like you, Master.”

Hearing that, Linda felt both embarrassed and happy.

“You’re right, I also feel this suits me.”

She put the black dress back in its place and folded the white one. Then, she and Merlin continued walking around the store, picking out various dresses they liked.

Before they knew it, half an hour had passed, and Linda had chosen thirty dresses.

She didn’t actually need that many, but since her beloved disciple said they all looked good on her, she couldn’t help but feel pleased and decided to take them all.

“The total is two hundred gold coins, ma’am,” the cashier said.

Linda was about to pay, but Merlin pulled her hand to stop her.

“Master, what are you doing?” he asked with a frown. “Let me pay for it.”

With that, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a large pouch, and poured two hundred gold coins onto the cashier’s counter. They were so many that they nearly covered the surface.

“This…” Linda was stunned. She wanted to ask where all that money had come from, but she held back.

The cashier was equally surprised and looked at Merlin with a meaningful glance.

The system, which had remained silent until then, finally spoke.

“[Master, you really are a devoted disciple! Didn’t you see the look on her face just now?]”

Merlin smiled proudly. ‘Finally, you realize how great I am, right?’

The system just rolled its eyes and fell silent. Once all the dresses were wrapped, the two of them walked out.

Linda turned her head, about to speak, but Merlin interrupted.

“Master, I’m going to the restroom for a moment. Please wait.”

Without waiting for a reply, he dashed into the crowd and disappeared, leaving Linda confused.

Fifteen minutes later, Merlin returned, panting.

“Let’s continue our walk, Master!”

Linda simply nodded, though her eyes kept flicking to his pocket, as if she suspected something was still inside.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep