C11 Embarrassment in the Dressing Room

"Alright," Verl conceded, her gaze shifting to Egerton's arm. She could faintly make out the scar from when he had saved her, and she nodded, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Haha, looks like it's true love," Bran chuckled, making his exit. "We better hurry along and not keep you from your date." Though Ngoh and Hankamer didn't say much, they exchanged knowing looks with Egerton and Verl. Macleay alone furrowed his brow, seemingly troubled by something, but ultimately kept his thoughts to himself.

"Quintana, you're just an ordinary girl. Dreams of princes and princesses are best saved for the night," she mused silently. Despite the mismatch between Egerton's rough appearance and Verl's delicate features, Quintana saw them as a perfect pair, feeling a pang of loss as she departed without a word.

"These folks sure left in a hurry, and that adventurer too—didn't even say thanks before taking off," Egerton remarked, scanning the area with a hint of irritation. He didn't desire any entanglement with Quintana, but her coldness seemed excessive.

"Where are we going?" Verl asked after a moment's hesitation, her face flushed.

"We're going to buy some clothes at a nearby shop," Egerton replied.

"Okay," Verl responded, her cheeks reddening further. Shopping for clothes? That was a common dating activity! Could he really be interested in her in that way? But they had only just met. Yet, she couldn't deny he had his charms...

Her mind replayed the moment Egerton had bravely shielded her from the skeleton warrior's ambush, her heart racing and her face warming at the memory. She followed him in a daze, nearly bumping into walls along the way.

"Esteemed guests, how may I assist you today?" a shop assistant greeted them as they entered a clothing store.

"We're looking to buy some women's clothing. Could you help us find something suitable for her?" Egerton asked, quickly glancing at the price tags and noting with relief that most items were within a reasonable range.

His modest fortune amounted to no more than a few dozen silver coins. If the shop was too upscale, he would have no choice but to look elsewhere.

"Miss, to have such a beautiful lady as your companion? You truly are the envy of many."

The shop assistant lavished Egerton and Verl with compliments before presenting two or three vibrant dresses for Verl to try on.

"Isn't this a bit much?" Verl was pleased by the gesture, yet she felt a twinge of embarrassment.

She had a fondness for Egerton, but it was just that—a fondness. Accepting so many lavish gifts from him seemed improper, given her upbringing.

"Oh, it's not too much at all. You'll need at least two or three pieces," Egerton insisted, shaking his head.

Internally, he lamented how challenging life was in this world. Back in the Eastern Region, he could simply use spiritual energy to create clothes—there was no need to worry about having a change of attire.

"Why don't you try them on, and we'll see how they look? Then we can decide whether to buy them or not. Is that alright?" Egerton suggested to Verl.

"Mhm..." Verl's cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink as she nodded, accepted the dresses from the shop assistant, and slipped into the fitting room.

Three minutes later, Verl emerged from the dressing room, the curtain parting gently to reveal her in a pink dress. Egerton, who had seen his share of beauties in the Eastern Region, couldn't deny that Verl's radiance at that moment was breathtakingly unfair.

Freed from her enchanter's garb, Verl's snow-white hair shimmered with a purity akin to fresh snow. The dress cinched at her waist, accentuating her slender figure, while a subtle plunge at the neckline highlighted her fair skin. Her bashful, coy demeanor was enough to make any man's heart race, yet none would dare to tarnish such innocence.

"How does it look?" Verl asked softly, lifting her gaze to Egerton after a moment of silence.

"It's simply incredible! Miss, you outshine all the other ladies who have worn this dress. If you weren't already accompanied by such an outstanding gentleman, I'd find it hard to resist the urge to pursue you myself," Egerton finally replied, utterly captivated.

The shop assistant lavished praise on her, leaving Verl blushing once more. She looked at Egerton with hopeful eyes.

"Uh..." Egerton was well aware that Verl was seeking his compliment, but with her gaze fixed on him, he found himself inexplicably tongue-tied, much to the shop assistant's dismay. "Sir, please don't hold back your compliments. Your lady friend here is eager to hear your heartfelt admiration!"

"Very beautiful, try something else!" Egerton managed to utter those few words as if they took all his strength. He braced himself for Verl's disappointment, but to his surprise, she beamed at him, clearly delighted.

Watching Verl energetically pick out another dress and head back into the fitting room, Egerton had the sinking feeling that asking Verl to help him shop for clothes was a grave mistake.

"Lucky customer," the shop assistant muttered, baffled by the excitement over such a terse response.

"Heh, perhaps," Egerton replied, already dreading the conversation he'd have to have with Verl later.

Maybe I should just buy her a few dresses?

He weighed the idea against the dwindling number of silver coins in his pocket and felt torn.

"Why hasn't she come out yet?" Egerton wondered aloud after three minutes of silence from the dressing room.

"E-Egerton!" Verl's voice called out, as if answering his unspoken thoughts.

"What's the matter?" he asked, approaching the dressing room.

"Could you, could you help me with something?" Verl's voice was tentative, betraying her uncertainty.

"What do you need? Just tell me."

"It's this dress—it has buttons, and I can't reach the last one at the back. Could you, could you help me fasten it?" Verl's voice was barely audible, yet Egerton heard her loud and clear, his face a picture of surprise.

All he did was ask for help with shopping for clothes, and now he was being offered such an unexpected opportunity?

"Ahem, I don't think that would be appropriate," Egerton said, his sense of propriety winning over the temptation.

"But, but there's no one else here!" Verl protested, sounding distressed.

"Isn't there a shop assistant?" Egerton replied instinctively.

Suddenly, the previously somewhat flirtatious atmosphere turned icy and piercing.

"Are you serious?" Verl's voice became eerily calm.

"No, no, no, I was just kidding. I'll do it, just don't look down on me," Egerton hastily said.

As he reached to lift the curtain, Verl stopped him in a panic, "Stop, don't come in!"

"But if I don't go in, how can I help you with the button?" Egerton asked, puzzled.

"Just extend your hand in here, I'll turn my back to you," Verl instructed, her cheeks flushed.

"That works," Egerton considered, not foreseeing any difficulty.

As a Class 2 Believer, even without sight, such a task was a breeze.

"Did you get it?" Verl whispered after a few seconds.

"I haven't even reached in yet. What do you mean?" Egerton replied, annoyed.

"Then hurry up," Verl implored, her voice tinged with a coquettish tone.

"Good things take time. If I rush, I might accidentally touch you," Egerton responded, resigned.

His hand had now accurately found the dress, and after a brief search, he firmly grasped the button ends.

"Mm," Verl murmured as she felt a tightening at her chest, signaling that Egerton had the button. She hummed softly, her mind racing with what she would do if Egerton were to burst in and act inappropriately at that moment.

Lost in thought, her face turned beet red, and her body began to squirm uncontrollably.

"Hey, stop moving!" Egerton complained as Verl's wriggling caused a misalignment, making it difficult to fasten the button. "Do you want to get this done quickly, or are you actually hoping I'll keep fumbling around?"

"How could that possibly be the case!" Verl stiffened, hastily denying it, yet unable to quell the tingling sensation.

"I told you not to move; it's hard to button it with you squirming like this!"

With the button slipping out of place again, Egerton began to wonder if she was deliberately playing games with him.

A minute later, Egerton had finally managed to fasten the troublesome button. As Verl stepped out of the fitting room once more, both Egerton and the shop assistant were taken aback by her appearance. They also noticed that Verl's complexion seemed much rosier than before, though they couldn't pinpoint the reason.

"Now the next question arises: how should I explain this to her?" Egerton pondered, rubbing his temples as he faced Verl's embarrassed yet joy-filled expression, after the last piece of clothing had been chosen.

"Encircle this area; they're inside!" In the midst of Egerton's quandary about how to break the news to an elated Verl that the clothes weren't actually for her, the shop was suddenly besieged by a squad of patrolling guards, forming a tight perimeter. The leader of the guards eagerly stepped forward.

"That's the one! Seize him!" The leader pointed directly at Egerton, commanding the guards behind him.

"So, it's him. Now we're in for it," Egerton muttered under his breath, recognizing the leader at a glance. Glancing at the scores of guards outside, his headache intensified.

And who was this imposing leader? It was none other than the baron who had posted a bounty and hired assassins like Hungry Tiger to take out Egerton. Watching Egerton, now trapped like a fish in a barrel, the baron's face twisted into a malevolent grin.

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