“Identification card?”

Aspeiran nodded his head. I was puzzled but obediently handed my identification card to the clerk.

And I whispered to her in a meaningful voice.

“Are you sure you don’t have it?”

The clerk glanced at me and received the identification card indifferently.

Immediately after, an astonishing thing happened. Upon properly examining the identification card, the clerk’s eyes began to tremble uncontrollably. She looked like someone who had discovered a briefcase full of gold bars on the street.

She alternated between looking at me and the identification card, stammering and muttering.

“White jade with navy blue tassel……”

Then, without warning, she abruptly stood up and bowed 90 degrees towards me.

“I apologize! I failed to recognize such an esteemed guest…… Please wait a moment!”

The clerk’s back, as she hurriedly ran into the store, was filled with fear.

I stood there dumbfounded for a while, then tugged on the sleeve of Aspeiran, who was sitting diagonally beside me.

“Why is she acting like that? There won’t be any problems, right?”

“Perhaps there might be.”

“What do you mean perhaps?”

“In any case, it won’t bring you harm.”

Aspeiran’s indifferent reply had a great effect in calming my heart.

Right. If Aspeiran affirmed it, then it would truly be fine.

Feeling reassured, I picked up the swatch book the employee had left behind. There were many pretty patterned fabrics, quite pleasing to the eye.

But then suddenly, the store became noisy.

I took my eyes off the swatch book and craned my neck. Other customers, who had been enjoying their shopping, could be seen whispering to each other while looking towards the back of the store.

“What brings Garnet Velus all the way to the main hall?”

“Well, did the lady of some prestigious family make a visit reservation?”

“That prideful Garnet Velus personally rushing out just to welcome the lady of a prestigious family?”

Garnet Velus? Listening to the conversation, it seemed the owner of this clothing shop had appeared.

Before long, the figure of the madam walking out with a line of clerks in tow also entered my field of vision.

Indeed, a charisma befitting the owner operating this massive store could be felt from her.

‘But wait a moment.’

Is it my imagination? Why does it seem like she’s coming this way?

No, it’s not my imagination. The store owner was really walking straight towards me.

I closed the swatch book I had been looking at and placed it on the table. Something…… about the situation felt unusual.

“Your Majesty. Did I do something wrong since coming in here?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“No, but still.”

The store owner’s eyes as she looked at me were frighteningly sparkling.

While I was squeezing Aspeiran’s clothes like it was a lifeline descended from the heavens, the madam finally arrived in front of me.

And wouldn’t you know it, she politely bowed towards me!

“It is truly an honor to have you visit our Velus, Lady Shuria. I am Garnet Velus, the owner of this clothing shop.”

“Ack.”

Didn’t they say she doesn’t easily bow even to the lady of a prestigious family? Then why did she come out to greet me?

Ah, could it be she recognized Aspeiran? No way. If that were the case, she wouldn’t have bowed precisely to me, not Aspeiran. She even called my name.

Then is it because of the identification card? The clerk who had guided us was definitely extremely surprised after seeing the identification card.

But what about that identification card? Why would the owner suddenly be summoned just from showing an identification card once? The only thing written on it is my measly three-character name.

“Our employee made a mistake by failing to recognize an esteemed guest. Please forgive us generously. I will guide you inside right away.”

Even in the midst of my confusion, the clothing shop owner’s devoted treatment continued.

The employees surrounded us as if in a siege and guided us to the best VIP room in the back of the clothing shop. I could feel people’s curious gazes boring into the back of my head.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down my spine. It was very, burdensome.

The moment my bottom touched the sofa in the VIP room that was glittering entirely in gold, I grabbed Aspeiran’s sleeve and shook it urgently.

“Yo- Your Majesty. Your Majesty! What in the world is this situation? What’s with this identification card?”

However, he merely lightly shrugged his shoulders without much of an answer.

I was about to question him again when the employees swarmed in, bringing mountains of fragrant tea and delicious-looking cookies.

On top of that, they made a fuss, asking if I was hot, and if I was bored they would bring me something to read. I couldn’t think straight at all.

I was politely brushing off the employees’ fussing when the clothing shop owner finally reappeared. In both hands, she was carefully holding white fur.

“It just so happens that the highest quality white frost buffalo fur arrived early this morning. I am very pleased to be able to show this fur to you, Lady Shuria.”

White frost buffalo fur! As expected, they had it!

The moment the item I had been desperately searching for was pushed into my arms, the burdensome feeling that had been pressuring me until a little while ago vanished like snow melting.

I examined the fur, pretending to inspect it while sending a glance to Aspeiran. I didn’t know if this was really frost buffalo fur. Aspeiran had to take a look for me.

At my burning gaze, Aspeiran lifted his body and casually stroked the fur. Before long, he lightly nodded his head towards me. It seemed to be frost buffalo fur.

I readily placed a heavy money pouch on the table.

“Alright, I’ll order a cloak made with this fur.”

Thereafter, things proceeded smoothly.

The clothing shop owner, who had received the order form with the cloak design and other detailed requests, promised to send the completed cloak to the castle within three weeks.

“I will personally craft it, giving top priority to Lady Shuria’s order.”

“I’ll be counting on you.”

“Don’t worry.”

Great, with this, the objective is achieved.

Just as I was about to stand up from my seat with a sense of accomplishment, the owner suddenly began to bring items into the room as naturally as flowing water.

“Then, since you’ve come all the way here, would you like to take a look at our clothing shop’s new products? I was thinking of showcasing items that wouldn’t be unworthy of Lady Shuria’s beauty, what do you think?”

“Pardon? No, I’m…”

“Please don’t decline. Since it’s your first visit to our store, I want to express my gratitude, even if it’s modest. If there’s anything you like, please let me know.”

Personally running out to guide us to the VIP room wasn’t enough, now she wants to give expensive gifts too?

What’s her purpose? Do I look like a prospective VVVIP customer in her eyes right now?

But very unfortunately, I couldn’t be the kind of impressive customer to meet their expectations.

I’m a frugal salaried worker on a time limit as a possession. I’m not a billionaire villainess possession who walks into a jewelry store and shouts, ‘Everything from here to there.’

I’ll have to politely refuse any further burdensome treatment. I should get going now.

And I definitely need to get an explanation from Aspeiran about this identification card. It seems like my identification card is the root cause of this whole situation.

“I’ll be on my way……”

“Now, how about this shawl? At first glance, it’s not only very beautiful, but also extremely soft and light.”

However, I had to sit back down on the fluffy sofa, pushed by the owner’s momentum without being able to refuse properly.

Not missing that gap, the employees swarmed to me, pushing all sorts of expensive-looking items.

“This hat is the latest fashion style……”

“This mink scarf is truly born just for Lady Shuria……”

“This waist ornament has a special magic bestowed upon it……”

No, I said it’s fine! What’s with these people, really? I even felt a sense of compulsion that they had to somehow give me a gift, to the point it was now terrifying.

I firmly placed the stack of catalogs the owner had forcibly shoved into my hands on the table.

“It’s really alright. I should get going now.”

“Please wait a moment, Lady Shuria!”

It was right at that moment when I, shaking my head like a bobblehead doll in a car, and the employees with their arms full of expensive props, were at a standoff.

Aspeiran, who had been silently watching this chaotic scene, pointed to something with his finger.

“That looks quite nice.”

The eyes of everyone in the VIP room rolled towards the tip of Aspeiran’s finger.

The item he pointed to, a long blue cloth with soft fur attached, was something I knew too. Hmm, what was it called again?

Before I could even recall the memory, the owner quickly brought it over and explained the product.

“It’s called a Bolki. You put it on like this, with the center on your chin, wrap it around your cheeks and ears, then tie it at the top of your head with this string. The feeling against your skin is as cozy and warm as freshly fallen snow.”

That’s right, Bolki! It’s a winter gear used in olden times in our country, I mean, Korea. They have it here too, huh?

Indeed, that’s warm. I’ve tried it on when I was young too.

I stared intently at Aspeiran, wondering what he was going to do with that. Could it be that he wanted to use it himself?

“Come here.”

“Me?”

Aspeiran didn’t answer and just raised one eyebrow while holding the Bolki up to me.

So…… he was trying to put it on me. Well, of course.

Anyway, since His Majesty recommended it, I should try it on. I reached out my hand to receive it.

But instead of handing the Bolki to my hand, Aspeiran extended his arm further and personally wrapped my face with the Bolki.

All the nerves in my body were drawn to Aspeiran.

“When you were taking care of the dogs…… your cheeks and ears were red and swollen from the cold wind.”

His gentle voice softly settled in my ears.

Aspeiran’s large, firmly lined hand stroked up and down the top of my head. A tender touch.

Soon, after tying a perfect ribbon to secure the Bolki, he meticulously tidied my hair.

From a very close distance, Aspeiran’s deep sea-colored eyes stared directly at me. Only I was reflected in his beautiful blue eyes.

Aspeiran said with a faint smile on his lips.

“Wear it from now on. Don’t needlessly get sick.”

“……Ah.”

Ah, this can’t be.

I could feel my ears and cheeks instantly turning red. Even though there was no cold wind blowing indoors.

But it wasn’t because I was hot from wearing winter gear in a warm indoor setting. In other words, the reason my face turned red was……

Yes, let’s admit it. I just got fluttered by Aspeiran.

No, perhaps from the moment I came to the commercial district with him on horseback today.

And this was really, a huge deal!

“I- I’ll go out first.”

“Hm?”

Before hearing his answer, I kicked open the VIP room door and ran out.

Aah, Aspeiran. Aspeiran Roakin!

Saying such considerate words with that dazzling face. That wicked king! You’re just making things awkward!

I crouched down in front of the door and covered my cheeks with both hands. They were hot to the touch.

“Calm down, calm down!”

Although I got momentarily fluttered by Aspeiran, Aspeiran is my favorite character.

I had absolutely no intention of doing something like dating my favorite character.