Chapter 398: Chapter 398 – “You look…Gorgeous!”

The calm morning air lingered gently around the grand gates of Arcadia Academy, the sunlight casting long, soft shadows across the stone pathway as the quiet of the weekend allowed the surroundings to feel more open and unhurried than usual.

Luca looked at Selena for a moment, noting the composed stillness in her posture, the subtle distance that still lingered behind her violet eyes.

“Why don’t we take a walk around the city first?” he suggested casually.

Selena remained silent for a brief moment, her gaze drifting toward the open road beyond the academy walls as though measuring whether the suggestion carried any hidden meaning.

After a pause, she gave a small nod.

They left the academy together, stepping beyond the gates into the lively rhythm of Arcadia City.

The city was already awake, its streets filled with the soft hum of activity. Merchants called out to passing customers, the faint scent of freshly baked bread drifted from nearby shops, and the gentle chatter of townsfolk blended into a comforting backdrop of everyday life. Sunlight reflected warmly off polished shop windows, illuminating colorful fabrics displayed behind glass, while the occasional carriage rolled slowly along the paved roads.

Luca and Selena walked side by side without speaking, allowing the simple atmosphere of the city to fill the silence between them. Their pace remained unhurried, their presence blending quietly into the flow of pedestrians moving about their own lives.

For a while, neither of them said anything.

Selena’s expression remained calm, her eyes occasionally scanning the surroundings with quiet observation.

Then, as they passed by a boutique with elegantly arranged displays, Luca noticed her gaze shift ever so slightly.

Her violet eyes lingered momentarily on a particular dress displayed behind the glass.

An ink black piece of fabric with delicate silver floral embroidery, the cloth catching light in a way that made it appear almost moon-kissed.

Her gaze rested there for only a second.

Then she looked away, continuing forward as if nothing had caught her attention at all.

Luca noticed.

But he said nothing.

They continued walking a few more steps before Luca suddenly reached out and gently took her hand.

“Let’s go,” he said lightly. “I want to buy some clothes.”

He gestured casually toward the very store they had just passed.

Selena stopped.

Her eyes shifted slowly toward him.

“You do realize,” she said calmly, her tone carrying its usual cool detachment, “that this is a women’s boutique.”

Luca paused briefly as though just now noticing the obvious.

“…Yeah,” he said after a moment, maintaining a straight face.

“I want to buy something for Astra. Help me pick it.”

Selena stared at him for a moment longer, as though weighing whether his reasoning was genuine or simply an excuse.

Then, without further comment, she allowed him to lead her inside.

A small bell chimed softly as they entered the boutique.

The interior was warm and refined, soft light reflecting off polished wooden floors while elegant dresses in varying shades of pastel and jewel tones were displayed neatly along the walls. The air carried a faint fragrance of lavender and fresh linen, creating a calm and welcoming environment.

A receptionist greeted them with a polite smile.

“Welcome. Please take your time looking around.”

Luca nodded politely before explaining he was searching for clothes suitable for a young girl around five or six years old.

The receptionist quickly guided him toward a section displaying children’s dresses, where smaller garments in soft fabrics and gentle colors were arranged neatly on racks.

Luca picked out a few options before turning toward Selena.

“What do you think?” he asked, holding up a light blue dress with embroidered ribbons.

Selena examined it briefly, her gaze sharp despite her otherwise calm demeanor.

“It is acceptable,” she replied simply.

Luca suppressed a small smile before showing another.

“And this one?”

“This one is more practical.”

“What about this?”

“The fabric will be uncomfortable.”

Her responses remained short, precise, and honest in the way only she could deliver them.

After selecting a few pieces, Luca glanced toward her again.

“Now that we’re already here,” he said casually, “why don’t you look for something for yourself?”

Selena’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at him.

For a moment, she did not move.

Then, without another word, she turned and walked toward the section where the dress she had briefly glanced at earlier was displayed.

Her fingers lightly brushed the fabric as she examined it again, her expression unchanged yet her movements slightly more deliberate this time.

Luca approached, stopping beside her.

“Why don’t you try it on?” he suggested gently.

Selena hesitated for a fraction of a second before giving a small nod.

She took the dress and moved toward the changing room.

Luca waited quietly outside, his gaze drifting occasionally across the store as time passed slowly.

Then the curtain shifted.

Selena stepped out.

The ink-black floral dress fit her perfectly, its soft fabric flowing elegantly around her figure while delicate silver patterns shimmered faintly under the warm indoor lighting. The dark color contrasted beautifully with her pale skin, while her white hair tied in a ponytail rested lightly over her shoulder, strands catching the light like threads of moonlight. The dress accentuated her naturally graceful posture, giving her an appearance both refined and distant, like a night spirit walking quietly among mortals.

For a brief moment—

Luca forgot to speak.

Selena observed his reaction carefully.

Then she asked calmly, her voice maintaining its usual composed tone—

“How is it?”

For a brief moment, Luca simply looked at her.

Then, almost unconsciously, the words left his lips.

“You look… gorgeous.”

Selena blinked once, calmly absorbing the compliment as though she were registering a simple fact rather than reacting emotionally to it. After a quiet pause, she gave a small nod.

“I see.”

Without another word, she returned behind the curtain to change back into her usual clothes, leaving Luca standing there for a moment longer than necessary, the image of her in that ink-black dress lingering in his mind.

Soon, she stepped out once again in her familiar attire, her composed expression restored as though the brief moment had never existed.

As they approached the counter, Luca paid for the dresses without hesitation, placing both Astra’s clothes and the floral dress onto the counter.

Selena immediately noticed.

“Why did you pay for it?” she asked calmly, her violet eyes observing him carefully.

Luca shrugged lightly.

“Just consider it a thank you,” he said casually. “You helped me pick clothes for Astra.”

Selena studied him for a moment longer but did not protest further, quietly accepting the explanation with a small nod.

From there, the rest of the day unfolded naturally, as though both of them silently agreed to simply allow time to pass peacefully.

They wandered deeper into Arcadia City, letting the liveliness of the weekend guide their steps.

At one point, Luca convinced Selena to enter a magical arcade hall where enchanted devices responded to mana input, creating competitive games that tested reaction speed and control. Though Selena initially appeared indifferent, she soon participated, her precise mana manipulation allowing her to outperform Luca effortlessly. The faintest hint of quiet satisfaction flickered across her expression each time she won, though she did not say a word about it.

Later, they passed through a lively street where performers demonstrated small illusionary magic tricks, creating floating lights that shaped themselves into miniature animals and blooming flowers mid-air. Selena paused briefly, watching the display with subtle curiosity before continuing forward, though Luca noticed the slight slowing of her steps.

They also stopped at a small bookstore tucked between two stone buildings, where shelves carried everything from magical theory texts to fictional tales of heroes and ancient kingdoms. Selena absentmindedly skimmed through a few volumes, her fingers pausing briefly on older manuscripts discussing elemental harmony, while Luca flipped casually through travel journals filled with illustrations of distant lands.

By afternoon, they settled at a quiet café along a shaded street, its outdoor seating surrounded by climbing ivy that swayed gently in the breeze. They shared a simple meal, exchanging occasional remarks that did not demand emotional vulnerability, allowing comfortable silence to exist between them.

Afterward, Luca insisted on stopping at a small dessert stall where he bought two lightly sweetened pastries infused with mild mana crystals that gave off a faint cooling sensation when tasted. Selena did not comment much, but the slight narrowing of her eyes suggested she approved of the flavor more than she would openly admit.

As the hours passed, they continued strolling through the city, sometimes pausing to observe small details others might have overlooked, sometimes simply walking side by side without speaking, the quiet companionship itself becoming the purpose of the outing.

By the time evening arrived, the sky had begun shifting into warm hues of amber and rose, golden light slowly fading as a cooler breeze drifted gently through the streets.

Eventually, exhausted from the long day, they found themselves seated on a quiet bench slightly removed from the main roads, where the sounds of the city softened into distant murmurs.

The air carried a gentle warmth mixed with the cool promise of approaching night.

Birds flew overhead in small groups, their silhouettes crossing the painted sky as they returned to their nests, their soft chirping echoing faintly through the calm evening atmosphere.

Selena sat quietly beside Luca, her violet eyes following the birds as they disappeared beyond the rooftops, her expression unreadable yet peaceful in its stillness.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then Luca glanced toward her and asked softly,

“What are you thinking?”

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