Sheze accepted my terms and we began our temporary relationship. We met up at the town square for our first date a week after our first meeting.

I wore a white buttoned up shirt with my usual black corset A-line mini skirt and a cropped black jacket on top. I also wore some knee-high laced boots over my black thigh highs.

The society we lived in happened to be somewhat of a Victorian as well as more modern time for fashion. Women no longer wore clothes that covered their ankles and could wear shorter skirts. I preferred wearing shorter skirts for better mobility. In case I need to escape from a crazed stalker, I would rather be able to run away without a long skirt trailing behind. I can also hide things underneath my skirt if needed.

"You look beautiful, Lilian," Sheze said with a bright smile on his face.

I was a bit blinded by Sheze's handsomely looks for a moment. Sheze wore a white collarless buttoned shirt with a brown vest and long tan coat. His style was very chic and becoming of him.

"...Thank you," I said nervously.

Although we skipped many steps and went through all of the bases, I felt nervous meeting the man whom I shared a passionate night with.

I eventually felt his hard staring. He examined me from my head to my toes as if he were looking for something out of place.

"...Are you no longer going to wear men's clothing again?" Sheze asked with a slightly disappointed tone in his voice.

Does he prefer men's clothing???

I did not mind wearing pants and having functional pockets for once, but having the binding on my chest all of the time was too uncomfortable.

"Th-That...I do not have a hobby of dressing as a man that often. These are my usual clothes. If you do not like them, should I go change into something else?" I asked nervously.

"...You look more beautiful as you are now," Sheze said. My heart warmed at his response. I wanted to act a aloof since I did not want him to think I was an easy person, so I tried hiding my smile. "Is there anything that you would like to do first?"

Self defense items!

"Shopping I suppose...I am interested in some new stationary," I said.

"Then, let's go," he said as he took my hand.

It was my first time holding hands with someone other than family. It was reassuring and comfortable holding his hand.

We skipped a lot of steps and somehow ended up here...

"Sheze, you have a very comfortable hand to hold," I said with a smile.

He suddenly changed the way we held hands and laced his fingers with mine.

...Why so intimately?

"I enjoy holding your hand as well," Sheze said.

Sheze Chaldean is supposed to be a cold man who rarely ever smiled even in front of the heroine who he supposedly had feelings for.

Who is this smiling stranger in front of me?

"...Sheze, your smile is very charming," I said.

"Why so suddenly?" Sheze asked with surprised eyes.

"There are so many things that I want to say. It be a waste if I could not say them out loud in the end," I said.

He picked up our connected hands and lightly kissed my hand.

"I like your straightforward nature as well," Sheze said.

His smile is so innocent and cute that it makes me want to kiss him...

After a short while, we found ourselves at a stationary store. We released each other's hands. Sheze grabbed a shopping basket and followed me around at I made my purchases.

"Let's see...I need some tape, sewing needles, a compact mirror, snare wire, steel wire, rope, matches, a box cutter..." I mumbled to myself.

"Lilian, do you really need this many items?" Sheze asked worriedly as the items I listed started piling up. "What on earth are you going to use all of these items for?"

I smiled innocently and left him with a silent response for a short while.

"Various things," I answered. When I was ready to pay for my items, I took the basket from Sheze and brought out my wallet. "These items, please."

"I will pay for it," Sheze offered.

I quickly took out the amount of money needed and handed the cashier my money

"Thank you for offering, but I would like to pay for these items myself. I am not exactly short of money. Furthermore, there are many other places we need to go to," I said.

Our next destination was a blacksmith shop that the heroine traveled to before with Sheze while they were lost in the novel. The owner is a well trusted man with an honest love for his trade and has never overpriced his customers.

"Here?" Sheze said with a slightly confused look. "There are more popular shops on the main road..."

"I wanted to come here," I said as I hugged his arm.

"L-Lilian, your chest..." he said nervously.

I wonder why he was so flustered when he was so bold with it a few days ago...

I dragged him in the shop regardless. When Sheze entered, he was genuinely surprised of how well kept the place was and began to do some of his own shopping with his eyes.

"It is a nice shop, right?" I told Sheze as I released his arm.

"How did you know of such a place?" Sheze asked.

I placed one finger over my lips as I said, "That is a secret."

"Welcome Dear Customers!" the Blacksmith Arthur said. "How can I help you?"

"Would you like to shop around while I talk to Arthur?" I asked Sheze.

"I did not bring my sword today, so I will come back later for service," Sheze said.

"I am surprised that you know my name, Little Lady!" Arthur said.

I made the mistake of using his name before he introduced himself...

"...I have heard stories! I am a big fan of your work. I honestly love the kitchen knives you made," I said nervously.

"I only made kitchen knives for the Lemaire Family...You must be the Young Miss! How can I help you? Are you here for accessories I have made?" Arthur asked as he showed me his beautifully crafted hairpins.

"They are all so beautiful, I can tell that a lot of thought was made into them. I would like to get a closer look later, but I would actually like to have a custom-made order put in first," I said.

"Custom order? What would like?" Arthur asked.

"I would like a scabbard holster," I said.

"I think I have some pre-made ones, but I would have to adjust the waist strap for your size. I also need the kind of sword that you will be using," Arthur said.

"I would not like one out in the open around my waist," I said as I grabbed the ends of my skirt and raised them upwards to reveal my thighs. "I would like them here."