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Chapter 12 - Beauty And... The Plain One

The bustling mall greeted them with a vibrant array of stores and enthusiastic shoppers. Sopatra's brows furrowed at the sight of the crowded space, but he kept pace with Seraphina, who seemed intrigued by the commercial spectacle.

Their first stop was a clothing store, and Seraphina's eyes widened at the variety of modern garments. She paused at the entrance, taking in the colors and styles that surrounded her.

The moment Seraphina and Sopatra entered the clothing store, a murmur of excitement rippled among the shop attendants. The sudden influx of attention on the duo caught Sopatra off guard, but he shrugged it off and he exchanged looks with a bemused Seraphina.

"Feel free to pick whatever catches your eye. We're here for you, after all," he said.

With a nod, Seraphina delved into the racks, examining fabrics and designs with genuine curiosity. She soon found herself drawn to a rack of dresses, their modern styles a stark contrast to the regal attire she was accustomed to.

Selecting a few dresses, she headed to the fitting rooms, her excitement evident. Sopatra took a seat nearby, awaiting the fashion show that was about to unfold.

The first dress she emerged in was a vibrant red that matched her hair, accentuating her features and flowing elegantly. Sopatra couldn't help but be impressed by the transformation. Seraphina, though not entirely familiar with Earth's fashion, couldn't deny the allure of the modern attire.

"What do you think?" she asked, twirling to showcase the dress.

Sopatra, momentarily caught off guard, stammered, "I... It does suits you."

After all, he had only seen her in Armor or military uniform back in Elysia.

Encouraged, Seraphina went on to try different outfits, each time emerging with a mix of excitement and curiosity. Sopatra found himself appreciating her adaptability and the charm she exuded, even in the most casual of clothes.

Unbeknownst to them, the attendants observed the pair closely, their curiosity piqued by the contrast between the two. Seraphina's regal aura and striking beauty didn't go unnoticed.

"Did you see her? She looks like a model or something. So elegant," whispered one attendant to her colleague as they discreetly watched Seraphina browsing through the dresses.

Sopatra, on the other hand, seemed to fade into the background, his stoic features drawing less attention. Another attendant chimed in, "He's, well, quite plain compared to her. Do you think they're a couple?"

The first attendant chuckled, "Who knows? Maybe. It's like beauty and the... plain one."

As Seraphina tried on various outfits, the attendants continued to speculate. One of them, mesmerized by Seraphina's expressive gestures, remarked, "She moves like royalty. Did you see the way she twirled in that red dress? It's like she's dancing through a ballroom."

She is royalty. Sopatra inwardly commented.

Seated nearby, he wasn't oblivious to the ongoing commentary. The attendants, fueled by their overactive imaginations, couldn't resist sharing their thoughts.

"They're such an odd pair. He's like, all serious and she's... like a fairy-tale princess. Wonder how they ended up together."

Having had enough, Sopatra turned to meet the gaze of the one who seemed to be the leader, but still remained slouched on a cabinet, also savouring the juicy gossip.

She flinched, and jumped up.

"Hey! Knock it off! You're making our customers uncomfortable!"

After dispersing the small crowd, she walked to where Sopatra sat and Seraphina was picking out the clothes. Acting as natural as her embarrasment allowed, she met him with a professional smile.

"I apologize on behalf of my subordinates, they can be a little nosy."

"Yes, I can see that you lead by example."

Fortunately, she managed to hold it together. "H-ha, hahaha... That was a good one dear customer. How can I be of assistance?"

He indifferently turned to Seraphina. "You can help by packing and calculating the price of everything."

Her eyes widened when she also turned to Seraphina, and she seemed to freeze.

Seraphina was puzzled. "Is something wrong?"

"N-nothing." The attendant was stunned, with stars in her eyes, the customer looked even more amazing up close!

She immediately adjusted her expression and called two other attendants to package the clothes while she led Sopatra to where he was to pay for the clothes.

When they came back. They met a bewildered Seraphina who was posing with one of the attendants, with the other holding her phone in a photographer pose.

Flash-!

"Yes! Splendid! Now do the peace sign!"

"Peace sign?" Seraphina's confusion only increased, her gaze sending a help-me-out message to Sopatra, but he remained in place, amused by her predicament.

"Mwah! That's it-Hey! Not fair Sis Carol! It was my turn!"

That's right, even the leader had joined the ever-growing number of people who wanted to take photos with Seraphina.

Fifteen poses later, Seraphina finally got the chance to rejoin Sopatra. She had an exhausted expression, yet her eyes were brighter than ever.

She pouted when she reached him and poked his side.

"You seem to enjoy watching me suffer huh?"

His lips curled subtly. "You can't deny that you also enjoyed it."

"Hmph! That's because you weren't the one who took the pictures."

"Yes! That's right!" A baby-faced, starry-eyed attendant appeared out of nowhere.

""What?"" They asked in unison.

"Your boyfriend! You forgot to take photos with him!"

"B-b-boyfriend?!"

"Kheum. I don't take photos."

The attendant waved the phone in her hand pleadingly. "Just one photo! Pretty Please~!"

Sopatra frowned. "No. Seraphina let's-"

"O-one photo wouldn't hurt, right?"

"Seraphina..."

"Urk-! Just look at her, who could resist such an adorable face."

That's right, Seraphina had a weakness for all things cute, well, except for rabbits, those blasted creatures.

Sopatra sighed and turned to the attendant who had squeezed out a pity-demanding look.

"Alright. But just one."

"Yay!"

---

After a successful shopping spree, where Seraphina managed to acquire an array of outfits that showcased both elegance and comfort, she turned her attention to another enticing aspect of this new world world – the diverse culinary offerings of the mall.

"Sopatra, my dear, we've conquered the fashion realm. Now, it's time to explore the delectable wonders of this place!" Seraphina declared with an impish glint in her eyes.

"But we haven't gotten you a phone yet."

"Come on! Save the boring stuff for later!"

"Alright."

Sopatra, still adjusting to the newfound attention and the lively atmosphere of the mall, could only nod in agreement. Seraphina, grabbing his arm, led him through the bustling corridors, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

He couldn't bring himself to remind her of underwear.

Their first stop was an artisanal chocolate shop, where Seraphina marveled at the vibrant colors and intricate designs of the chocolate truffles. The shop attendant, surprised by their contrasting combination, smiled.

"I welcome such a charming couple! Here, try our signature truffle – a blend of dark chocolate and passion fruit," the attendant suggested, handing them a sample.

Sopatra, caught off guard by the 'couple' reference, shared an awkward glance with Seraphina, who turned a little red, but played it off by chuckling and accepted the chocolate. The intricate dance of flavors on her palate earned an approving nod.

Delving deeper into the mall's culinary landscape, Seraphina insisted on trying a bit of everything. From gourmet sliders at the trendy burger joint to exotic teas at a quaint tea shop, their culinary journey embraced a spectrum of flavors.

As they ventured further, Seraphina couldn't resist the allure of a vibrant bubble tea stand. Intrigued by the colorful orbs suspended in sweet, flavored concoctions, she ordered an assorted mix for herself and Sopatra.

"Isn't this fascinating, Sopatra? It's like a drinkable constellation!" she exclaimed, sipping the concoction through a colorful straw.

Sopatra, ever stoic, took a more measured sip and raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment. The mismatched couple attracted a fair share of glances from passersby, who couldn't help but find their dynamic both puzzling and amusing.

Seraphina, undeterred by the curious looks, continued her gastronomic exploration. She insisted on trying freshly baked pastries, exotic fruit blends, and even persuaded Sopatra to share a slice of cheesecake at a patisserie.

As they navigated through the varied culinary landscape of the mall, Seraphina's eyes sparkled with each new discovery. Sopatra, although reserved, found himself caught up in the infectious enthusiasm of the Demon Queen.

Their adventure in the mall became a delightful montage of laughter, shared bites, and the occasional bemused expression from Sopatra as Seraphina enthusiastically embraced the culinary diversity of this new world.