Leo was practically dragged out of the clothing boutique by Furina, following behind her in a daze.
Throw it away? How could those three simple words be spoken with such absolute dominance?
After walking some distance, they reached a quieter street, and Furina finally stopped.
The moonlight spilled over Leo, illuminating his figure in his new attire. In that moment, he carried himself with an unexpectedly elegant air.
"What's wrong, Lady Furina?" Leo asked.
"Ahem… nothing. Nothing at all. Keep following me."
Furina resisted the overwhelming urge to snap a picture right then. No, not yet. It still wasn't perfect. His hair had to be done!
When they arrived at the largest barbershop in the city, the clerks spotted Furina approaching with Leo at her side and wondered if they were hallucinating.
"Do his hair," Furina ordered briskly, giving Leo a push toward the seats.
The clerk blinked, staring at Leo for a moment. Handsome… very handsome…
From her seat at the back, Furina narrowed her eyes at the clerk's overly obvious expression. It irked her, but she endured it. This was all for the sake of Leo's transformation.
Sitting in front of the mirror, Leo felt deeply uncomfortable. Several assistants and the shop manager surrounded him, trimming and styling. In the past, when his hair grew too long, he had simply hacked at it with scissors until it looked passably neat.
Now, under their careful hands, his appearance grew sharper, more refined with each passing moment.
Watching the process, Furina rested her chin on her hand, satisfaction lighting up her eyes. Just the thought of them leaving afterward to dine at an open-air café filled her with excitement.
When the barber finished, the store manager personally approached Furina.
"Lady Furina, this hairstyle will hold its shape for a full month. Just a light touch-up once every few weeks will suffice. Satisfaction guaranteed."
"Not bad. Take care of his face as well."
Leo's stomach sank. Doing my hair was already torture—and now a facial too?
After what felt like an endless hour, Leo finally escaped the ordeal. The manager even adjusted his pendant glasses to sit just right.
But before Leo could admire himself in the mirror, Furina grabbed his wrist.
"Let me see."
Turning, Leo was met with Furina's wide-eyed stare. She froze, utterly taken aback.
For the first time, Furina truly realized how handsome he was.
Leo, unused to being scrutinized by anyone—least of all her—shifted uneasily.
With a nod of satisfaction, Furina tossed a bag of Mora onto the counter and pulled him out of the barbershop.
"Lady Furina… you actually brought Mora?" Leo asked, surprised. He had been prepared to pay himself; after all, a haircut wasn't so expensive. He hadn't expected Furina to simply throw down payment so casually.
Furina walked ahead, flicking her hair so that it arced beautifully in the moonlight.
"What? Do you think I have no money?"
"N-no, of course not. Where are we going next?"
She stopped abruptly, turned, and gave him a mischievous smile.
"Let's take a photo first."
Before Leo could respond, Furina scanned the area. Her gaze landed on a perfect spot: a bench by the reflecting pool, with the moonlight shimmering over the water. The breeze carried the faint sound of dripping fountains.
"Follow me!"
Pulling Leo along, Furina positioned him at the bench, nodding with approval.
"Yes, right here. Sit down."
Obedient as ever, Leo sat straight-backed on the bench.
Producing a camera from who-knows-where, Furina adjusted it, then frowned at his stiff posture.
"Relax a little—lean back against the chair, to the side. Yes, yes, just like that."
Once she was satisfied, she walked over, sat beside him, and experimented with positions. After some shifting, she finally leaned against his shoulder. Still dissatisfied, she moved again, resting her head more comfortably against him, her soft hair brushing his neck.
Leo instantly stiffened. The delicate weight of her against him, the faint fragrance of her hair—it was overwhelming.
Feeling his tension, Furina chuckled softly, amused and annoyed at once. She whispered,
"Don't be so stiff. Raise your right arm and put it around my waist."
Her warm breath brushed against his cheek as she spoke, making him tense further. But he obeyed carefully, slipping his arm around her slim waist. The sensation was dizzying; his hand almost itched to tighten its grip.
"Now move a little to the left, and place your hand here—on the side of my stomach."
He did as instructed, though his face burned. The intimacy of the pose was almost too much.
Once she had him positioned perfectly, Furina lifted her hand, hooked her finger under his chin, and said,
"Smile."
But the expression on his face was anything but a smile.
Click. Click. Click.
The camera captured the moment regardless. Furina glanced over the photographs afterward, beaming with satisfaction.
"See? Perfect."
Leo rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. The fragrance clung to him, lingering on his arm and hand.
Furina handed him two photos.
"Put one on your desk and one beside your bed."
Leo nodded earnestly. Even if she hadn't told him, he would have treasured them. Carefully, he slipped them into his pocket as though they were more precious than Mora itself.
Then, after a pause, he hesitated.
"Lady Furina… may I have one more?"
She didn't think twice, handing over another print. She didn't particularly care why he wanted extras. She had taken plenty, after all—and could always take more.
Later, at an open-air café, the two of them found seats with an excellent view. They opened their menus, deciding what to eat.
Though Leo had eaten countless snacks throughout the evening, his training meant his digestion was fast. He could easily eat again.
In such a public place, Furina wore her familiar mask of aloofness, the same imperious air she displayed in the Opera Epiclese.
Leo, despite his fine new clothes and cape, still carried a faint rustic air that no attire could fully erase. Furina didn't mind. Around others, it was fine if he just looked presentable. But if he ever dares to put on airs with me in private—I'll make him pay for it.
Taking into account that Furina had eaten far too many desserts already and still had plenty stocked at home, Leo ordered a balance of dishes: two special desserts for her, and for himself, a spread of Fontaine specialties—spaghetti bolognese, grilled meats, fried cutlets, assorted platters, and fresh salads.
For drinks, he chose two glasses of sake, one of his favorites.