Billionaire's Hidden Princess by Alegna Ciee (tharntype novel english .TXT) 📕

Although having no one around works better for a socially anxious person like Leticia, she still can't help but wonder just what in the world happened.

The entire boutique has been completely wiped out that it almost felt like an apocalypse broke out. But then, since Livius wasn't having any of it and just continued acting like normal, she was eventually convinced that it's just probably her imagination.

As she decided to simply brush off the fact that not only did the customers seemed to vanish but the staff as well, she started to turn her focus back on her companion and their current endeavor once more.

"Here, Livi, try this one!" Leticia chirped a bit ecstatically, picking up a royal blue long-sleeves polo shirt and draping it across his figure.

"Hmm... Just as I thought, dark colors suit you better. This one accentuates your masculine build, but still retains a cool image..." she then began to ramble, finally shedding light on the designer in her.

Livius is a bit caught off guard as soon as he realizes that Leticia is no longer stuttering nor nervous. Though she's also beginning to act that way to him, this one in particular has something to do with her passion.

It's like gushing about fashion has paved the way for her inner confidence to shine through at last. Intrigued by her character's constant improvement and one hundred eighty shifts, he finds himself deeply absorbed in her eager chatters.

There's no doubt. Fashion designing is truly her calling.

Then again, despite how awkward she can get sometimes, she isn't like that when it comes to how she presents herself at all. In fact, she looks wonderful today, especially in that vintage floral dress and a pair of doll shoes.

That's when his mind goes sidetracked as he begins to ponder to himself, "Wait a minute... Have I even told her that she looks beautiful today-"

"Umm... Livi...?" Leticia suddenly called out after catching sight of him visibly transfixed, consequently snapping him out of his train of thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"S-Sorry for getting too caught up in my jibber-jabbers. I know it's boring to listen about fabrics and stuffs, and you probably don't get half of what I'm-"

"Not at all, Eya. I understood everything."

"You do?"

Livius only nods at this with a meaningful smile, making her beam in delight. For some reason, seeing her this overjoyed by something as simple as that suddenly makes him feel strangely mesmerized - as if he's falling deeper, not only because of how bubbly she looks at the moment, but more on the entire idea that she's this pure and zealous.

"Are you finally comfortable with me, Eya?" he then asked out of nowhere, making her pause and tilt her head quizzically.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, am I no longer one of those people you're still having a hard time to deal with? Do you think you find it easy to get along with me?"

"Oh..."

Leticia only falls silent and stares at him with a contemplative gaze. She then scoots a little closer to him and beams once more.

"Yeah, I find it comfortable to spend time with you... A-And I know that I stutter a lot, but please don't take that as a reason to think that you're hard to deal with... I-I'm the one who has the problem here, a-and to be honest..." she trailed off before shying away, a small blush creeping up to her cheeks.

"You're perfectly fine as you are, Livi." 

Then, he stills. 

At that moment, Livius can no longer decipher his own reaction - all that matters now is this lovely brunette before him as he only keeps repeating those words in his head like a broken recorder.

It's as if she sees something in him that he doesn't.

It's as if she's embracing all his physical flaws despite ironically calling him perfect.

It's all a weird notion, a peculiar feeling, a strange turn of events -just when Livius thought that falling in love at first sight is bizarre enough for someone like him, he comes plummetting even deeper into this emotion. 

And once more, he really doesn't find it in himself to complain.

"Thank you for that, Eya."

"You're welcome."

With that, they continue with their shopping in a smooth-sailing pace and a cheerful note.

After buying a fresh new set of clothes, the two proceed to the next stage and go straight to a salon. While they stand by the entryway, Leticia notices how Livius tenses up out of nowhere.

"Livi...? Is something wrong...?" 

"N-No, it's nothing."

Deny as he might, though, she can tell that something is bothering him. It's as if he's about to enter a battlefield instead of a salon, especially with how stiff his expression contorts all of the sudden. 

"Don't worry, Livius. I'll guide the stylist. I know what kind of look will be good on you. You'll be just as perfect as you are now after this - perhaps, only a bit clearer to others," she assured him with a smile and a small pat on his back.

In reality, though, that isn't really his concern.

Livius is now in a pinch.

This is exactly why he wants to shop for his clothes first before going to a salon. The entire place is like some sort of a dead end in his eyes, a line that is drawn to remind him that this is as far as he can go.

The thing is, that location will soon turn out to be the very setting where the spell is going to be disenchanted. 

"Oh. My. Goodness..."

An hour later, that's exactly what just happened.

As the hair stylist who assisted them only gawks at him in astonishment, people also begin to flood all around him after catching a glimpse of his major make-over's aftermath. That's when a gush of eager murmurs sprawls.

"Hey, are you seeing this...?"

"My, he's absolutely gorgeous~!"

"Is he really that nerdy guy earlier...?"

"How very handsome...~"