The clothing store was quickly cleared out.
I think I was just a ready-made clothes hanger, being handled and rearranged by several shop assistants with shining eyes, but in the end, when it came to the final product, I ended up with the same outfit as before.
Two attendants stood behind me. The little princess, sitting in the best viewing spot, nodded with satisfaction as she looked me up and down. She rested her chin on her hand, snapped her fingers elegantly, and made the decision: "This white one is the best looking."
"Also, the black fitted dress and the navy blue dress I tried on before were packed up as well, along with the burgundy and black and white striped outfits..."
"Where's the jewelry? Did the person who went to collect it return?"
"Young Miss, that's the best batch in the store..."
Grey glared at her: "Does my word mean no weight for the stores under my family's name?"
Please, little princess, stop your magic tricks! The shop assistant looks like he's about to collapse from anxiety.
but……
"Is it really necessary to dress up so elaborately? It's just a simple auction."
I loosened the tight collar to let myself breathe a little, but I still felt a bit uncomfortable.
Having grown accustomed to wearing loose-fitting school uniforms and spending her days casually in the miniature garden, I rarely shopped for clothes. Now, suddenly having to go through this ordeal, not only are my bare feet a little numb, but my back is also aching unbearably because I have to stand up straight without wrinkling or soiling the fitted fabric.
To be honest, I've really had enough.
If I didn't have an extra purpose today, I would have run away from here long ago.
"I don't know about other places, but since you're attending an auction held by my family's chamber of commerce, this is just a necessary formality."
Grey walked over slowly, stopped a step away, raised her hand to tie the ribbon at my collar, and gently pressed the collar down before taking two steps back. She then unfolded her fan, which resembled flame-like downy feathers, with some satisfaction: "Just like that, stay still. Senior, you really aren't good at taking care of yourself."
"Although I know you may not like it, a neat appearance is a necessary quality if you want to appear in front of the public in the future."
“But the academic community won’t care about these things…” I tried to argue.
"wrong!"
Grey suddenly pointed at me with her folded fan, as if she were a real princess at that moment. She raised her head high, her neck, exposed by her hair tied up, was a snow-white expanse, blocking my words: "The audience we need to show is not academia, but ordinary people who yearn for magic."
"What the senior said is indeed correct. For the academic community, mages only need to do their research. But for the general public who have not yet deeply understood mages and only have a vague impression, the top mages and the rising stars who have emerged from the academy are walking billboards, the embodiment of their aspirations."
"The achievements they make are part of their job, but only a small fraction of those whose research overlaps with theirs can truly understand and apply them. And for the general public, besides the tangible benefits, what's more important and immediately apparent? It's the image! The image!"
She paced back and forth in the room, declaring with a fiery expression completely different from her previous demeanor: "This is also part of the collaboration between our family and the academy in recent years. Every year, the rising stars who leave the academy are packaged and promoted to the public by us, making them well-known and setting an example, thereby preventing more potential people from going astray."
This is the first time I've ever heard of this.
Although I had vaguely noticed that the reputation of the Academy City had grown stronger in recent years, I didn't pay much attention to it. I just subconsciously thought that it was a century-old prestigious school, and that the students who had graduated from the academy had gradually spread out and worked hard in various cities over the years, eventually creating a powerful influence. I never expected that the key point would be here.
However, thinking about it this way, perhaps my repeated setbacks at the Wan Jin Chamber of Commerce can be explained in a new way—I usually just went there dressed in casual clothes or college uniforms, and I was still politely invited to the VIP room and received by a special person. Perhaps I even benefited from the college's influence.
After receiving the various jewels laid out in a row from the hurriedly returning shop assistant, Gray solemnly removed her lace sleeves and put on more professional white gloves, under my fearful gaze. After comparing them several times, she carefully took out a clear crystal with a hint of lemon yellow in a sky blue color and gestured for me to bend down.
"After all, people are all about appearances, and they judge everything by what they see. If you're good-looking, you'll eat more and be more popular, and if you're well-dressed, you'll be more liked."
After personally adorning the knot with beads and making several adjustments and examinations, Grey then gestured for me to go to the dressing mirror to check it out.
At this moment, I had changed out of the standard cape I wore all year round. The fitted white dress had gold patterns on the edges, and it conformed to my every movement as if it were tailor-made. My slightly long hair and left sideburns were tied up with a sea-blue ribbon, revealing the [Saint's Earring] hanging from my left ear. The beads on the collar showed a beautiful lemon yellow against the gold background and pure white fabric, but there was also a faint blue fluorescence around them, showing a dreamlike brilliance.
As for the bracelet on her wrist, the extra tie clip pendant... and other accessories, I won't go into detail.
With a casual wave to the heartbroken shop assistant, Grey added, "You can also attach a spell to this. The space for recording is already reserved. Just add whatever you want."
"Conditional activation techniques are more recommended. While continuous activation techniques are also good, they have a very high probability of damaging the structure of the jewel itself. Unless it is a necessary life-saving technique, it is generally not recommended to inscribe them."
As she spoke, she gestured for me to observe the beaded necklace and the dangling flower-shaped earrings around her neck. In my perception, faint magical fluctuations were clearly condensed on them, distinctly inscribed with two different spells: defense and counterattack.
When I asked about the price, the little princess just smiled and waved the gold card to indicate that I didn't need to worry about it.
"It's just a basic investment. If my senior can grow into a successful person in the future, then this investment will be worthwhile."
"Besides, this little bit of money is nothing to me. It's not even a tenth of my allowance~"
To this, all I can do is respond with a sincere smile.
I understand, this is clearly a price I can't afford.
I was then half-pushed and half-forced to stuff a bunch of clothes and accessories into my pockets. Soon, I left the shop and boarded a magic carriage that was much more stable and faster than the flower fairy's vine carriage. Our group returned to the front of the auction house and met up with Professor Adrian and Hughie, who had been waiting in the hall for a long time and were also dressed up.
I observed the crystal lens with a concealed gaze, smiled and greeted the two people in turn, then touched the end of the paintbrush hidden in my sleeve and took a deep breath.
We need to find out what Adrian is up to.
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