Mia, Kefi, and Ellaria visited several shops, finally carrying baskets filled with flour, eggs, fresh milk, and icing sugar as they walked through the bustling streets of the royal capital city.
Most of the ingredients for the cake had been purchased, but the dilemma regarding a birthday gift remained unresolved.
What to give to their teacher was truly a troubling question. It was hard to imagine what the usually cold and aloof Teacher Sefina would like.
Just then, Ellaria’s gaze inadvertently swept over a uniquely decorated shop on a street corner, and her pace slowed down.
The shop’s window displayed clothing that differed from the mainstream style of the royal capital city. The lines were simpler, the colors bolder, yet they were strangely harmonious and beautiful.
A young lady with a pair of lively cat ears and a bright smile was warmly greeting passersby outside the shop.
“Princess Ellaria, what are you looking at?” Mia followed her gaze and soon recognized the shop.
“Huh? Isn’t that the clothing store we visited with Teacher Sefina last time?” She remembered clearly that the fabric of the clothes in this store felt very comfortable, and the styles were always eye-catching.
Kefi also looked over and asked softly, “Princess, would you like to go in and have a look? Mia and I have been here before. The clothes here are… quite special.”
She paused, a flash of inspiration suddenly hitting her. “Maybe… giving Teacher new clothes would be a good choice?”
These words were like clearing away the fog; Ellaria suddenly felt enlightened.
Right, what girl doesn’t like beautiful clothes? Although Teacher Sefina usually seemed indifferent to everything, thinking back carefully, her attire had always been quite sophisticated.
Whether it was the fabric, the cut, or the color scheme, it all exuded a sense of low-key elegance. Perhaps, deep down, she also liked these beautiful things?
This thought instantly filled Ellaria with anticipation.
“Yes, let’s go inside and take a look.”
She nodded, and the three young girls entered the clothing store together.
Inside the shop, the cat-eared Lisika recognized Kefi and Mia at a glance — these were the Big Sister’s students!
As for the elegant blonde girl beside them, although she hadn’t seen her before, she was likely also a student at the academy.
She immediately stepped forward with a warm smile.
“Welcome! Please take your time, ladies. If there’s any style you like, just let me know. Since we’re acquaintances, I’ll give you a discount!”
The three young girls felt a bit embarrassed and expressed that they wanted to look around on their own first.
Lisika immediately understood and stepped back with a smile, leaving private space for the customers to browse. At the same time, she didn’t forget to call out to the maid inside.
“Flovi — ! Brew a few cups of hot cocoa for the guests!”
Ellaria’s gaze began to wander through the shop. The dresses hanging here were indeed different from the usual complex lace and heavy satin seen elsewhere.
There were knee-length dresses with clean cuts that emphasized the waistline, blouses decorated with playful bows paired with plaid skirts, and long chiffon dresses made of lightweight material and soft colors.
The style was quite different from other shops in the royal capital city, but the designs were exquisite and the appearance was outstanding.
Ellaria’s gaze carefully swept over each item, imagining how they would look on Teacher Sefina… They would surely all fit her well.
Eventually, her gaze was drawn to the shoe display on the other side of the shop.
Various kinds of footwear were placed there —
The heels of the high heels were slender and elegant, adorned with small pearls; the leather shoes were soft with delicate buckles; and there were ankle-high suede boots with unique styles and smooth lines.
Each pair was finely crafted and had a unique aesthetic.
However, besides properly considering which shoes suited her teacher’s temperament, some… extremely improper thoughts that made her face flush and her heart race involuntarily popped into Ellaria’s mind.
‘The heels on these high heels are so nice… If… if Teacher could wear them and then… then lightly step on me with the tips of her shoes…’
This thought flashed like lightning, and Ellaria’s cheeks instantly heated up.
Then came the familiar moment of rational self-condemnation —
‘Ellaria! What on earth are you thinking?! How could you have such… such dangerous and sacrilegious thoughts about your respected teacher! So shameless!’
She shook her head vigorously, as if to drive those ‘filthy’ thoughts from her mind.
Ellaria took nine deep breaths, barely managing to lower the heat in her face and regain her outward composure.
‘I can’t let my mind wander anymore!’
She steadied herself, her gaze becoming clear and focused once more. Finally, she chose a dress with a simple design but exquisite detailing.
The color of the dress was…
It was a youthful pink. Although Teacher Sefina usually preferred light blue, which leaned toward a cold and mature look, Ellaria felt that her teacher would look very good in this color…
Moreover, the fabric and material were suitable for the current season; it should be both comfortable and warm.
Ellaria also picked a pair of leather shoes that looked comfortable and versatile, matching the color of the dress.
“Excuse me, I’d like to buy these two items.” Ellaria called Lisika over, pointing to the dress and shoes she had selected.
Lisika walked over enthusiastically and took the items. She habitually glanced at the size tags, and a flicker of doubt crossed her face.
The sizes… were clearly several sizes smaller than the tall and slender blonde girl in front of her. They wouldn’t fit her at all.
“Miss, did you take the wrong sizes?” Lisika asked with a professional smile, offering a kind reminder. “The sizes of this dress and these shoes don’t seem to match your figure.”
Ellaria explained in a gentle tone, “Oh, no. These aren’t for me. They’re meant as a birthday gift for my teacher.”
“I see! A gift for your teacher!” Lisika realized, her smile becoming even brighter.
“You have great taste. This outfit is very suitable for a woman with a cute temperament.”
After paying, Ellaria carried her newly purchased gift and left the clothing store with Mia and Kefi, feeling satisfied. They intended to look around elsewhere to see if there was anything else to add.
Mia and Kefi also seemed to have some ideas about what gifts to give, and they were discussing where to go next.
After seeing the customers off, Lisika tidied the shelves while reflecting on the transaction. Suddenly, her movements paused, and her cat ears twitched in confusion.
“Wait… the teacher that the Princess spoke of… she must mean the Big Sister, right?” she muttered to herself.
But the Big Sister’s birthday…Lisika suddenly thought of something.