A Twenty Percent Discount for a Faceful of Softness

Before long, Cedric was standing on the fitting platform.

The large floor-length mirror in front of him showed his figure clearly.

Lia really knew her craft. The outfit fit snugly where it should and hung loose where it should, making Cedric look remarkably tall despite being only four feet seven.

The cut leaned toward formalwear, but the details had an unmistakably wizardly touch. It would look perfectly at home among wizards.

To ordinary people, it would just seem a little old-fashioned, nowhere near a bizarre costume.

Not bad. Not bad at all. He couldn't find a single fault.

The only thing that would have made trying it on better was not having a pair of soft, slender hands roaming all over him.

sigh. Being so eye-catching had its downsides. Beautiful women kept coming up to me.

Then again, Cedric wouldn't have let a woman near him if she wasn't beautiful.

A moment later, Lia emerged from the fitting room, her cheeks still flushed.

The moment she saw Cedric, her eyes practically sparkled.

Too cute! Too cute! I want to take him home and keep him!

"The outfit's excellent."

Cedric turned in front of the mirror and examined it from every angle. The details were just right, no matter how he looked at it.

He turned back and caught Lia staring at him with stars in her eyes.

Remembering what had happened in the fitting room, Cedric unconsciously pulled his coat tighter. He felt as if someone had taken advantage of his innocent little body.

The world was too complicated. Only this coat, warm in winter and cool in summer, with ventilation, odor control, moisture protection, and magic resistance, gave him any sense of security.

He was afraid that if this went on, the woman in front of him might get embarrassed, fly into a rage, and tie him up.

"I'm glad you like it." Lia couldn't help adding, "I really want to keep you in my shop as a model."

You really want me as a model? An eleven-year-old kid? I almost feel bad calling you out.

Cedric rolled his eyes to himself and joked, "Then how about another discount? I might consider it."

"No!"

Lia refused so quickly it seemed instinctive. Her mouth had probably moved before her brain caught up.

"Tch." Cedric shook his head.

Apparently, her desire for money had won out after all.

Fair enough. He hadn't promised anything; he'd only said he would consider it.

"But if you let me hug you, I might consider it," Lia added, already opening her arms.

The ball was back in his court.

Just like Cedric's offer to consider modeling, hers was an empty promise with no sincerity behind it.

Still... a hug was just a hug. It wasn't as if I'd lose anything.

Cedric plunged straight into Lia's arms.

The height was perfect. Soft and fragrant. He rubbed his face against her and gave that faceful of softness a five-star review.

Lia's face turned bright red. After Cedric rubbed against her twice, it was as red as a tomato.

Cedric, on the other hand, calmly stepped back as though nothing had happened.

"There. I did it. Want to reconsider that discount?" Cedric blinked at her.

"You, you, you... you little rascal!" Lia grabbed Cedric's cheeks and gave them a thorough squish. "That didn't count! I wasn't ready!"

"Your call. My arms are still open to you." Cedric spread his arms with a smile.

"I... I'll save it for later!" Lia hesitated for a moment, then fondly rubbed his cheeks again. "Remember to visit your big sister's shop sometime."

"Of course. With clothes this good, why wouldn't I?" Cedric paused. "More importantly, you're here."

Lia's face lit up.

"It'd be even better if you gave me a discount next time," Cedric added.

"Fine. Next time you order clothes, I'll give you twenty percent off! How's that? Your big sister treats you well, doesn't she?" Lia couldn't resist pinching Cedric's cheek again.

"Lia, you need to keep your composure. There's none of that elegance you had earlier," Cedric said with a sigh.

He felt he never should have agreed to let Lia help him change.

That one fitting had brought them closer, and now her true nature was on full display.

"Hmph. Elegance is for strangers. It's exhausting to keep it up all the time." Lia reluctantly took her hand off Cedric's cheek. His skin was so soft and smooth she hated letting go.

The pore-tightening effect of [Magic] had, in the end, proved useful for beauty care.

"I'll be going, Lia." Still wearing his new outfit, Cedric waved to her. "I probably won't see you again until next summer."

"Huh? You aren't going home for Christmas? Or Easter break? You won't even come see your big sister?" Lia's eyes widened, her expression wounded.

"Can't help it. I'm an orphan, so I usually don't have anywhere to go during the holidays." Cedric smiled.

"An orphan?"

At those words, sympathy filled Lia's eyes, along with disbelief.

"You... you're an orphan, yet you've achieved so much. You must have been through a lot, haven't you?"

Cedric's smile didn't change. "I wouldn't say that."

To Lia, a child who had lost his parents so young and suffered so much, yet still always wore a smile, must have had his spirit tempered by hardship.

That resilience only made her heart ache for him more.

Oh, I want to take him home and spoil him rotten!