Chapter XV: A Happy Refrain

"Alright, what shop should we go in first?" Sylvia asked her friends the moment they set foot inside the Emerald palace, a luxurious mall that housed most if not every famous brands of products in the continent.

Sunlight bounced off the crystal-clear windows that made it easier to see what the stores had in store for its customers. From fancy dresses all the way to designer bags that most people would fight to hold, there was no shortage of fancy products that made Sylvia gulp in nervousness.

"Wait... I think we're at the wrong part of the mall." she whispered anxiously as she has only been following Dorotea who was skipping through the crowds of people that were window shopping.

"Mhmm? Why would we be?" the mauve-haired girl asked while innocently tilting her head. "This is where we mostly get our clothes and other stuff."

"O-oh" Sylvia squeaked out. "Then what store should we check out first?"

Carmella stared at Sylvia who was nervously laughing as Dorotea bombarded her with questions about which stores were her favorites.

"Calm down Dorotea," Delta sighed. "I'm sure you're just pressuring Sylvia."

"Pressuring her?" Dorotea mumbled while looking at Sylvia who was sweating bullets. "How?"

"... Sylvia hasn't shopped here before." Carmella deadpanned while running on ahead inside one of the stores, specifically one that housed gaming consoles.

"H-Hey! No need to announce that!" Sylvia whined at Carmella's back before skittishly facing Dorotea who looked like had just received some shocking news.

"You can't be serious!"

"I-I... Never really had the money to shop here before." she confessed. "I could barely meet my rent..."

"That's just awful! I refuse to believe that some bastards out there didn't give you enough money to go out shopping to treat yourself!"

"Dorotea, not everyone prioritizes shopping as much as you do."

"Tsk, tsk Delta! You need some new clothes too!" she countered Delta's words with a huff. "How are you gonna attract the boss dressed like that!"

"Attract... The boss?" Delta muttered in a dumbfounded manner with her eyes darting to one of the nearby stores that was being handled with a clerk that seemed to have eyed their group.

' Man, those eyes are scary ' Sylvia thought to herself as she met the clerk's icy gaze that immediately broke off as he was called to do some work.

"Anyway, let's start!" Dorotea exclaimed out of nowhere and dragged Sylvia into the nearest store that sold different kinds of dresses.

She was then placed at the mercy of both Delta and Dorotea who shoved her inside the dressing room with a mountain of dresses.

"Nope." Delta shook her head as she came out wearing a one-piece dress that seemed perfect for a wedding.

"Too big." Dorotea scoffed the moment Sylvia walked out wearing a white and orange sun dress that was too big around the chest.

"No."

"Too long."

"No."

"Too bright."

A tired groan escaped Sylvia's lips as an hour had already passed since she had been trying on dresses that none had been approved by the two of them. She then closed the dressing room after seeing Dorotea walk up to a towheaded clerk that seemed to laugh at something she said.

"This... Is the last…" she whispered to herself while staring at the black, strapless dress that reached up to her knees before pulling back the curtains.

"Mhmm, that looks good." Delta nodded with a smile and looked back at Dorotea who was jumping up and down in place.

"Yes! Perfect!" she exclaimed and pulled Sylvia out of the stall to give her a spin. "See!"

Two male clerks chuckled at the sight of Sylvia spinning helplessly in Dorotea's grasps as she was excitedly ordering Delta to buy the dress which the lavender-haired woman immediately did.

"Hey, Dorotea. I'm hungry." Carmella deadpanned out of nowhere making the two clerks shout in terror as the ghost-like woman suddenly appeared behind them.

"Mhmm? Where have you been?" Sylvia asked as she helped Delta try on one of the fancier dresses.

"I just bought the new game called 'Merry Redder'." Carmella shouted in glee as she boasted the white console that she had in her arms. "They have a lot of hot men, so I'm gonna be playing it on my free time."

"Ooh, that sounds nice. Let me try sometime." Dorotea smiled at Carmella before turning around to look at Delta who was currently wearing a black pencil dress with the back being made out of see-through fabric which made the dress more elegant.

"... It's not fair on how you can make everything look good."

"I... Must agree on Dorotea on this one."

"Damn she looks great!" one of the clerks while turning around in what seemed to be an attempt to hide his tears.

"Don't say that out loud, the boss might fire you." the towheaded clerk sighed and walked away to leave the four girls.

"Mhmm, I guess I'll also get this one." Delta whispered with a smile and walked up to the counter.

"... Why is she hugging that T-shirt of hers still." Carmella deadpanned while pointing at Delta. "Isn't that weird Sylvia!?"

"P-please don't drag me into this."

"Mhmm, a blue dress... No that makes me look fat. How about a white dress? That just makes my ass look fatter!"

Sylvia and Carmella gazed back at Dorotea who was basically rummaging on piles and piles of dresses that she had dumped onto the floor in just seconds of them talking.

"I think you two should go on ahead and eat."

"You sure?" Sylvia asked Delta who walked towards them while wearing her original attire.

"Yeah, Carmella is hungry and Dorotea is gonna take a long time." Delta heaved a sigh and gazed at Carmella. "She'll be fine, right?"

"Yeah, I can take care of her." Sylvia nodded and walked out of the store with Carmella in tow. The orange-haired maiden's eyes remained glued at Sylvia's back like she was trying to drill holes at the back of her head

"So where should we eat?"

"Food court!"

"Alright then." Sylvia giggled as she followed Carmella who ran past her in search of food with the setting sun setting the skies ablaze with red and orange as the shadows of night began to slowly creep over them.