Chapter 16: An Expensive Welcome

Elara:

By the time I finally changed back into my own clothes, folded the black gown carefully onto its hanger, and stepped out of the changing room, my heart had almost returned to a normal rhythm.

Almost.

The image of Kairo Greymark casually leaning against the doorway while complimenting the dress refused to leave my mind.

What kind of person just walked into someone else’s changing room? And more importantly... why did all the men on this island seem incapable of respecting personal space?

I let out a quiet sigh and followed the saleswoman downstairs.

The boutique somehow looked even busier than before. Customers wandered between elegant displays while attendants hurried from one section to another carrying garment bags and shopping boxes. Crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling reflected the afternoon sunlight, making the entire place look far more luxurious than anywhere I’d ever visited in my life.

The same woman who had helped me earlier was already waiting behind the billing counter. The moment she saw me, she smiled politely.

"Princess." She picked up a sleek tablet resting beside the register. "I have already prepared the complete list." She turned the screen slightly toward herself while scrolling through it. "Your academy uniforms, the formal wear, casual clothing, winter shawls, undergarments, and the remaining accessories."

She glanced up. "As promised, everything will be delivered directly to your dormitory by five o’clock this evening."

I nodded. "Thank you."

"It’ll be our pleasure." She tapped the screen one last time before smiling professionally. "The total comes to 250,000 after discount."

For one terrifying second, I almost choked on absolutely nothing. My throat tightened so suddenly that I had to force myself not to cough.

That number, it was higher than what I’d earned during an entire year of working at the diner, combined. Fortunately, years of customer service had taught me how to keep a straight face even when internally panicking, though barely.

I reminded myself that this wasn’t my old bank account anymore. Ms. Noctis had specifically told me not to worry about money. Still, watching someone casually announce an amount that could have paid my college tuition several times over felt surreal.

Trying not to overthink it, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the black bank card.

I had barely lifted my hand toward the counter, when another hand appeared. And a different black card landed smoothly on the polished marble surface before me.

"Use this one."

I froze. The saleswoman immediately looked up. I already knew who I’d find before I even turned.

Kairo.

Of course.

He stood beside me as though this were the most natural thing in the world, one hand tucked casually into his pocket. He wasn’t even looking at me. Instead, he spoke directly to the woman behind the counter.

"I’ll cover everything."

For a heartbeat, my brain refused to process what I’d just heard. Then I turned toward him and finally mustered the words out. "Excuse me?"

He finally looked at me. "You heard me."

I lowered my hand, more focused on the man in front of me to notice the woman had already accepted Kairo’s card. "What exactly do you think you are doing?" I demanded.

His expression remained annoyingly calm. "Welcoming you. I thought that part was obvious. I can’t exactly welcome Starfall’s Crown Princess and then make her pay for her own clothes." He shrugged lightly while adding, "Consider it a gift."

"I don’t need-"

Before I could even finish protesting, the saleswoman behind the counter suddenly spoke. "Boss, the payment has been completed." Then she respectfully offered the black card back toward Kairo.

"It has?" The words escaped before I could stop them.

She blinked at me politely. "Yes, Princess."

Though the practical side of me knew I should be focusing on the payment part, when I opened my mouth and spoke, the word was directed at an entirely different part of the statement.

"...Boss?"

The woman looked between the two of us, her confusion turning into realization. "Oh! I assumed you already knew." She smiled. "This boutique belongs to Young Master Greymark."

I slowly turned toward him and the man merely smiled. Then... actually winked.

I stared.

No. Absolutely not. This couldn’t be happening. He wasn’t just another wealthy heir. He actually owned the biggest boutique in town? How old was this man? Twenty-three? Twenty-four? Did people around here just collect businesses for fun? Or maybe it was a family business? But it didn’t sound like that.

Before I managed to recover enough to object again, he had already slipped his card back into his wallet. "Enjoy your welcome gift, Princess." Then he simply turned and walked away.

"Wait!"

I hurried after him. Ignoring the bewildered looks from several employees, I followed him all the way outside the boutique. The cool afternoon breeze greeted us as he descended the front steps.

A sleek black sports car waited at the curb. Apparently, even his choice of cars matched his personality.

"Kairo."

He paused beside the driver’s door. Finally looking back at me.

"I don’t need your money." I held his gaze steadily. "And I don’t accept expensive gifts from people I barely know."

His gray eyes regarded me quietly. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then, the corners of his lips lifted ever so slightly. "If that’s truly how you feel..." He said while opening the driver’s door. "...then return it."

I frowned. "What?"

"The money." He slipped into the driver’s seat and the next second the engine purred to life. "Find a way. I’ll be looking forward to it."

Before I could think of another response, the window slid shut. And the next second, the sports car pulled away from the curb and disappeared into the afternoon traffic.

I remained standing outside the boutique for several moments, watching until the vehicle was completely out of sight. Slowly my gaze dropped to the bank card still resting in my hand.

A welcome gift. No. That wasn’t how I saw it. Whether Kairo intended it as generosity, politeness, or something else entirely, the result remained the same. He had paid for everything. Which meant, in my eyes, I now owed him money.

And if there was one thing I hated... it was owing anyone anything. Especially handsome strangers with unknown motives.