Kidnapped Princess C55

Chapter 55

Luminas and I stepped into the boutique.

Normally, if I were entering a boutique with Luminas, I would expect rows upon rows of gorgeous dresses. But today was different. Today, we were here not for dresses, but to buy a suit for Luminas.

I nudged Luminas forward slightly and spoke to the staff.

“Show this child suitable clothes. Dylan gave us plenty, correct?”

I asked Mild quietly. I wanted to buy Luminas something nice, so I had chosen a prestigious boutique, though I was slightly worried.

If Dylan had been stingy with human currency, I’d have to fetch gold coins from the vault; after all, I had no human money of my own.

“Of course.”

“Good.”

Today was a day I could legally spend a ridiculous amount of money. Mild’s reply let me exhale in relief. But the employees only stared between Luminas and me, looking confused. Even the surrounding clientele glanced over with puzzled expressions.

“Um… I’m sorry, but I think you’ve come to the wrong place.”

“Hm?”

“If you’re shopping for the young lady’s attire rather than the gentleman’s, you should head to the building next door.”

They pointed to the women’s shop right beside us—where the dresses were.

But we were here to buy a suit, not dresses. Luminas needed to start getting used to suits anyway; he was growing visibly by the day.

“This is the right place.”

“So, the gentleman is shopping for a suit…”

“I said I am choosing clothes for this child.”

Why were they like this? I clearly came here to pick clothes for Luminas.

Both sides fell silent. Then, one of the employees, as if realizing something, cautiously asked Luminas,

“…Are you not a young lady?”

Ah. Now I understood. We asked for men’s clothing while Luminas was wearing a dress. Of course they were confused.

I averted my eyes. I did not want to be seen as someone who dressed a man in women’s clothing.

“…He is a boy.”

“I—I see.”

They held back the questions clearly burning inside them, exercising extraordinary professional composure. Embarrassment flushed hot under my skin.

I should’ve just forced any men’s clothing on him before coming here…! This was the human realm! Of course it looked strange for a boy to be walking in a dress!

In the Demon Castle, even after Luminas’ gender was revealed, no one cared if he still wore dresses. Here was different.

“That child’s perso—”

One staff member couldn’t resist and spoke up—only to receive a sharp elbow from the colleague beside him. I almost bowed in gratitude. I coughed in desperation.

Let’s just buy and leave quickly.

Beside me, Mild maintained a perfectly neutral expression. Admirable, really.

“It’s nothing like that. Just show us clothes.”

Yet nobody would believe me with Luminas right there in that dress. Reluctantly, the employee nodded.

I found myself fanning my face. The gazes from nobles browsing nearby were increasingly noticeable.

Why was I feeling shame among humans…?

A headache suddenly throbbed between my temples.

“Do you know who that person is?”

Someone whispered, curious about my identity.

“That blonde—an elf?”

Suspicion about Luminas followed.

“Oh? A fine one. Perhaps we could share—”

An irritating voice reached my ears. Instantly, I snapped my gaze toward it. Two noblemen whispered in a corner, eyes fixed on Luminas with disgusting intent. I snorted.

Know your place, worms.

I refused to continue feeling like an animal on display. I demanded a private room.

“I’m sorry, all private rooms are booked.”

Of course they were reservation-based; those who reserved them first had rights.

“You dare refuse, not knowing who stands beside me—”

You told me to hide my identity! Why reveal it now!?

I pressed Mild’s head down firmly.

Do. Not. Cause. A. Scene.

My lips clearly mouthed the warning. He realized his mistake and bowed quickly. I sighed deeply. This was exhausting.

I asked Luminas if he’d found anything he liked. Once he chose clothes, we could escape.

“Luminas, did you find anything you want?”

“I don’t really know… I want you to choose for me, Master.”

“Hm… what would suit you best?”

Though vastly different from his usual attire, I picked out a simple black suit—safe and classic.

“…”

“What? You don’t like it?”

“No. More than anything… it matches Master’s outfit.”

I nearly clutched my heart. His radiant smile made even bystanders clear their throats and blush.

Soon after, Luminas emerged changed. Wearing properly tailored clothes, he looked completely different. Shedding the dress revealed a new aura altogether—yet it suited him beautifully.

“Of course… Lord Haron’s taste is impeccable.”

“Looks good?”

“Of course.”

Just changing clothes altered his aura entirely. Gone was the purely beautiful and adorable air—now he looked cool as well.

Beautiful, cute, handsome… he could embody everything.

Even the employees, once doubtful, seemed stunned now that he wore the clothing. They must have thought he was frail, but he actually had subtle muscle beneath.

“…We should buy generously, right?”

I felt stares again—many, many stares. Appreciation, curiosity… and lust.

I wanted to rip out some of their eyes—but showing our identities here was forbidden.

There must be even more of these types in the human realm…

I knew what happened to elves enslaved by humans. Luminas wouldn’t become a slave, but nobles could forcefully claim those they desired. Especially in remote areas.

In the Demon Realm, I could protect him—but here, there were too many places I couldn’t reach.

Worry flooded me—though first, we had to finish buying clothes.

“Are there more outfits? I want to see more. We have plenty of money.”

I signaled Mild, who handed over the coin pouch. Enough money to say “show us everything.”

High-end boutiques always considered the customer’s finances when choosing clothes to present—if the buyer couldn’t pay, disputes could arise.

The employee peeked into the pouch—and nearly popped their eyes out. Their shock didn’t fade easily; they bowed deeply.

“I—I will fetch the manager immediately!”

Before I could stop him, he sprinted away.

“…How much is in there?”

“You said humans must not look down on Your Majesty, so I prepared generously.”

“And your definition of ‘generous’?”

“I included platinum coins.”

“And the value of each platinum coin?”

“One is equal to a hundred gold coins.”

“…”

As Mild finished speaking, the manager hurried over in a panic. Understandable—if that pouch held multiple platinum coins, the sum was outrageous.

“An esteemed guest indeed… We shall prepare a private room at once.”

“You said earlier there were no rooms.”

When Luminas asked, the manager replied,

“There is always at least one reserved for VIP guests. Please, this way.”

Well, that worked in our favor, so I followed.

We bought armfuls of outfits befitting Luminas, now stylishly attired. The boutique promised to deliver them to our residence.

“Where shall we send these?”

“…I’ll take them.”

I snapped my fingers, sending the items away. Faces around us widened in shock.

“A—a mage?”

“Well, something like that.”

We left behind a trail of stunned gazes. Luminas seemed awkward in his new clothes but soon adjusted, walking casually down the street.

The cool wind lifted his hair gently.

“Luminas, won’t you cut your hair?”

He had grown his hair to hide his gender; now was the perfect time to trim it short. But Luminas stubbornly refused. In the end, only the ends were trimmed.

“You called my hair beautiful and praised it. I’ll keep growing it. If not this, how will anyone see us as lovers…?”

So that was why he seemed sulky after leaving the boutique… He’d been worrying about how we appeared.

With his long hair, he still looked feminine at first glance, though in a suit he now resembled a strikingly beautiful boy. Yet…

I placed a hand on Luminas’ shoulder. His shoulders, surprisingly broad and firm, showed how rapidly he’d been growing thanks to proper meals.

His fragile impression was fading—but his radiant features still meant people could mistake him at a glance.

“You worried about that?”

“It’s the most important matter to me!”

Footnotes

Luminas started calling the Demon King “주인님” (juin-nim), which literally translates to Master/Owner