Lilia sat in front of the long desk, gazing into a small mirror that stood beside a worn ledger. She hummed like a siren as she brushed her hair—now straightened and flowing like a curtain just above her shoulders. The bristles grazed through each strand with slow, steady strokes.
"Parfait~ Sweet, creamy, parfait~
Grapes lined up, blueberries laid out, cherry on top~
Sweet, creamy parfait~"
The room was quiet as usual—only her, and the stacks of potions neatly arranged on the shelves. Enchanted weapons, magic trinkets, and several softly glowing gems were displayed in perfect order. The silence was further affirmed by the 'Closed' sign hanging on the door.
Then, the door creaked open behind her. Rosa stepped in, now changed into a more casual one-piece dress, having shed her usual robe. Her low twin tails remained, tied neatly with the familiar red ribbons.
"Thanks for the wait," Rosa said, gently closing the door behind her.
Lilia glanced back, grinning as she tied her own hair into its usual high twin tails.
"Ooooh~ really putting on the charm for a parfait date, huh~?"
"Isn't that obvious? We're heading to the festival, after all."
"Festival?" Lilia's hands paused mid-air, caught by Rosa's gaze.
"You didn't know?" Rosa tilted her head. "There's a harvest festival near the town square—just a block from that café you mentioned."
"That's news to me!" Lilia exhaled dramatically. "If I'd known, I'd have picked better clothes… I mean, I could borrow yours, but…"
Her eyes flicked briefly to Rosa's chest, then to her own. A smug grin crept up her face.
"Heh…"
A visible twitch appeared on Rosa's temple. Her eyes narrowed into a cold, deadpan glare as she took a slow breath.
"You know," she said flatly, "I was just thinking how charming Lilia would look… if her cheeks were as inflated as those lumps of hers."
She raised her hand, pinching the air like a crab as she slowly approached.
"W-wait! I didn't say anything, did I!?" Lilia backpedaled, panic rising.
"Oh, you didn't. But it came through loud and clear."
The last thing the quiet shop heard was Lilia's scream, echoing through the rows of potions and shelves of trinkets.
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The sun blazes overhead, casting a brilliant, almost oppressive heat across the city. One by one, umbrellas bloom like flowers among the crowd, amplifying the midday bustle.
"Hwaaah… so hooot…" Lilia groans, cheeks puffed and shoulders slouched, dragging herself behind Rosa like an undead hamster. She tugs at her clothes, trying to fan herself. "Rosa, share your umbrella…"
"Hmmph." Rosa doesn't even look back, her pout still firm as she marches forward beneath her umbrella.
"Hwaaaah… I am abandoned… My best friend is letting me wither and die in the suuun…" Lilia lets out an exaggerated wail.
Rosa sighs and returns to her, tilting the umbrella just enough to cast some shade on her friend. "It's your own fault for not bringing an umbrella during the dry months."
"I didn't know it'd be this strong! Usually it's that nice, warm, breezy kind of heat—but this is practically a desert!" Lilia slides under the shade, flailing her arms dramatically.
"No, it's not," Rosa deadpans, tilting her head slightly. "Besides, didn't you work in forge heat? I thought this would be nothing for you."
"That's one thing—this is another! And I had gear on when I worked!" Lilia keeps tugging at her crop top like it's a wet rag. "Haaah… even under the umbrella it's still hot… Rosa, do you have a potion or something to cool me down?"
Rosa stops in her tracks.
The umbrella shifts with her, and just like that, sunlight hits Lilia's face again.
"MY EYES!" Lilia screeches, squinting and shielding herself in horror.
But Rosa's mind is somewhere else now.
A festival. A hot day. Crowds. People like Lilia, melting in the heat. Her brain races: calculating ingredient costs for heat resistance potions, estimating how many people would buy them, and what price would maximize profits. Then she pictures it—sitting atop a mountain of coin, only for it to crack and collapse beneath her as she realizes the batches wouldn't even be ready until tomorrow, when the festival's already over.
A silent scream bubbles up in her throat.
When Lilia steps back into the umbrella's shade, Rosa sighs and promptly steps forward again.
"BahAAAA!" Lilia lets out another shriek as her eyes are once again seared by the light.
Another irk pops on Rosa's temple. "If you're going to be this dramatic, how about we seek refuge in the clothing store? Also, look at how sweaty you are…"
"Oh! Agreed! Clothing store it is! Maybe I'll pick up an umbrella or two while I'm at it." Lilia bounces back into the shade with a cheerful skip. "Haaa~ This is way better."
"Then how about that one?" Rosa gestures to a storefront just ahead, where clothes are neatly arranged outside, teasing more options within.
Lilia eagerly sprints into the shop, seeking refuge from the sunlight like a desperate traveler spotting an oasis. Rosa sighs and folds her umbrella, following her inside with a resigned pace.
By the time Rosa enters, Lilia has already scooped up an armful of outfits and vanished into the changing room.
Rosa eyes a display near the entrance, gently brushing her fingers along a pale teal blouse. "The fabric feels nice… breathable too. Could help with the heat…" She lifts the tag—and exhales. "But…"
The curtain rustles. Lilia emerges in a white frilly crop-top blouse and black trousers, her posture confident, chest puffed out.
"Hehehe, how do I look?"
Still staring at another dress across the room, Rosa mutters, "Not this one either…"
"Rosa! I'm asking you!"
"That looks good on you," Rosa replies on instinct, her gaze never shifting.
"At least look at me when you say that!"
Lilia pouts, but spins anyway, then vanishes back behind the curtain with a fresh stack of options.
Rosa stands near the rack, silently debating. Her hand hovers over the hanger—pulling, then stopping. "If I hold off sweets this month… maybe I can manage it. Then maybe…" Her fingers twitch indecisively.
Lilia reappears in an off-shoulder peasant blouse and a layered skirt. "Hmm… Something feels lacking…"
Then a corset. "Uugh, not a good pick for hot weather…"
A sundress. A vest. Shorts. Ribbons. A capelet tunic. Lilia parades through each outfit like it's a personal fashion show, while the "tried-on" rack begins to resemble a collapsed laundry pile.
Finally—she picks the first outfit she tried.
At the counter, now wearing her chosen set, Lilia beams. "This one, please!"
Rosa approaches with a long face and empty hands, letting out another breath through her nose.
The shopkeeper's smile is visibly strained. Her eye twitches. "I-Is that all, dear customer? W-what about the others?"
"Nope! This one's perfect!" Lilia replies cheerfully, while Rosa offers the shopkeeper an apologetic bow.
"I-I see… haha… hahahaha… Then… that'll be 340 gold." The shopkeeper shakily begins wrapping Lilia's original clothes into a cloth bundle.
As they exit the shop, Lilia happily swings her package while Rosa quietly sulks beside her.
"…I feel kinda bad for her," Rosa mumbles.
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As Lilia and Rosa arrive at the front of the café, they fold their umbrellas almost in sync.
"Parfait~ Sweet, creamy, parfait~" Lilia sings again, twirling with a skip in her step.
"You've been singing that song for… I don't know, I lost count," Rosa says with a resigned smile as she follows. "Is the parfait rumored to be that good, or are you just that excited?"
"You'll see, you'll see~ Not just parfait, you know? I heard this place has a unique way of—"
Before Lilia can finish, two women at the counter greet them, both dressed in elegant maid uniforms. They bow in perfect sync, like mirror reflections.
"Welcome home, meowsters~ How can we help you today, meow?" chirps the maid closest to Rosa.
Rosa's eyes lock onto a strange detail—animal ears. No… fake animal ears, attached to a headband. Behind the maid's back trails a fluffy tail, stiff and clearly artificial but disturbingly lifelike.
"M-meow?" Rosa blurts, stunned. It's the first time she's entered a place with this kind of... costume policy. Slowly, she turns her head toward Lilia, like her neck is a rusty hinge.
"Is something meowtters? Ah, is this your first time, meowsters?" the other maid says with a warm smile.
A shiver crawls down Rosa's spine—foreign, cold, and unfamiliar.
"Lilia… what is this place?" Rosa leans in, shielding Lilia's ear with her hand to whisper.
"Maid café, I think? It's pretty trendy, so I wanted to try it~" Lilia replies—loudly and proudly—blowing any sense of privacy to the wind. "Table for two, please!" she calls out to the nearest maid.
The maid bows gracefully. "Then I shall escort meowsters. Please follow meow~"
Lilia follows with a bounce in her step. Rosa hesitates, then trails behind with quiet dread.
At their table, the maid bows once more before disappearing behind a velvet curtain. Not long after, a man enters with elegant posture and crisp steps. His suit is spotless. His bearing, impeccable. Rosa's gaze travels up to his face—then her jaw drops.
"Pleased to meet you, dear masters. My name is Sebastian. How may I serve you today?" He bows with flawless grace and flips open a small notebook.
"Pastor Hendrik!?" Lilia and Rosa exclaim in perfect unison.