I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 868: A Relaxed Jeanne

”I never thought I would go shopping with you in another world,” Eric said, shaking his head as he looked around the luxurious floor of Crown and Silk.

The words carried a strange mixture of amusement and disbelief.

Even after everything they had experienced, moments like this still felt unreal.

Somehow, Eric was standing in a high-end clothing store in Edenis Raphiel while Jeanne searched for outfits for him.

Jeanne glanced at him.

”I never thought I would go shopping with you at all, to be honest.”

Eric blinked.

”Right...”

Then he laughed awkwardly.

”We never did, did we? I mean, would it not have been strange?”

”We did not have much time,” Jeanne replied. ”And we both had our own things to do.”

”Yeah,” Eric said, looking at the rows of clothing around them. ”Strangely enough, we have more time to spend together in this world.”

”Circumstances,” Jeanne said simply.

She reached toward one of the displays and took out a long-sleeved blue jacket.

The jacket was well-made, with a fitted design and pale silver details along the sleeves. But the most noticeable part was the large pair of white wings embroidered across the front.

Jeanne held it against Eric’s body and examined him seriously.

”You cannot be serious,” Eric said.

”You never know until you wear it and look at yourself in a mirror,” Jeanne replied.

”Was this not supposed to be about finding me a proper coat for the ceremony?” Eric asked.

They were clearly on the wrong floor.

This section was dedicated to casual men’s clothing, expensive casual clothing, but still casual. The formal coats, ceremonial uniforms, and outfits suited for the academy’s entrance ceremony were displayed on the upper floors.

Jeanne did not seem bothered by that.

”You might as well buy other clothes,” she said. ”Rubina seemed very disappointed by your fashion sense.”

A small smile appeared on her lips.

Eric narrowed his eyes.

”And what about yours?”

Jeanne gave him a stern look.

”My sense of fashion is much better than yours.”

She did not need to explain why she was so certain.

Her mother had made sure Jeanne understood how to dress properly from a young age. She had been taught what colors suited her, what fabrics were appropriate for different occasions, how to choose jewelry, and how a person’s clothing could affect the way others perceived them.

Jeanne had not always enjoyed those lessons.

But she had remembered them.

”Alright,” Eric said, lifting his hands in surrender. ”But let us not spend too long on this. We still need to find me a coat for the ceremony and a gown for you.”

Jeanne’s expression changed.

She looked almost upset.

”Do you have something better to do?” She asked.

Eric paused.

Jeanne looked away, pretending to inspect a row of jackets.

”We will not have much time together once the academy starts,” she continued. ”Things will become busy.”

Eric watched her quietly.

Then his expression became warmer.

”Oh,” he said. ”Wait. You just want to spend more time with me?”

Jeanne immediately glared at him.

Her cheeks had grown faintly red.

”It is not like that.”

But it clearly was.

Jeanne found it difficult to admit that she wanted simple, normal time with her only actual family in this world. Time without discussions about Celesta, her duties, politics, or the role that had been forced upon her.

Once the academy opened, she would have to wear her golden mask again.

The carefully controlled expression expected from the summoned Hero of Celesta. She would have to appear composed, strong, graceful, and untouchable. People would watch every word she spoke. They would treat her as a symbol rather than a person.

And in that environment, she could not casually tease Eric or spend an afternoon choosing clothes with him as though they were still living ordinary lives.

Eric, however, seemed genuinely happy.

”Alright,” he said. ”I was only worried about making the princesses wait.”

”I think they will be fine,” Jeanne replied.

Sylvia had seemed delighted to spend time with Aurora. Jeanne doubted the sisters would mind being left alone for a while. If anything, they were likely taking their time as well.

The people Jeanne felt most sorry for were the Celesta guards waiting at a distance.

They had been assigned to watch over the royal princesses without being too obvious. The task was likely exhausting. They had to remain alert while pretending not to follow them, and they had to be prepared in case anyone recognized Aurora or Sylvia.

Thankfully, the store was busy enough that most people only saw Jeanne as another very pretty woman shopping with her companion.

Aurora and Sylvia, however, would likely have a more difficult time remaining unnoticed. Even dressed casually, they carried themselves too naturally like royalty.

Jeanne turned her attention back to Eric.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she had never bought him much on Earth. Not beyond small necessities or occasional gifts. Their lives had been too busy, too ordinary, and too complicated for moments like this.

Perhaps that was why she wanted to do this now.

To make up for something that could no longer be changed.

Eric seemed to understand that much.

He did not know much about fashion, but he stopped complaining as Jeanne carefully examined each jacket, shirt, pair of trousers, and accessory she considered for him. She was precise in her choices, paying attention to colors, fit, and the kinds of clothes that would make him look good without making him feel uncomfortable.

By now, Eric was holding more than ten sets of clothing.

Eventually, he had no choice but to take one of the wheeled shopping boxes provided by the store and place the growing pile inside.

He looked down at the clothes.

They were all expensive, as expected.

But none of them were for Jeanne.

She had access to nearly unlimited money through the Celesta royal family, but Jeanne was not the type to waste it. She bought necessities when she needed them and rarely spent much on herself.

”I feel like these are still too expensive-looking for me.”

Before Jeanne could respond, they stopped.

A short distance away stood a young pair.

The girl looked to be in her mid-teens. She wore a hat that hid part of her face, though her dark amber eyes remained visible beneath the brim. She stood beside a younger boy who was blushing in obvious embarrassment.

The boy wore a gold-colored vest over a light shirt.

It was not an ugly outfit.

In fact, it suited him well enough. But judging from his expression, he clearly preferred darker colors, less decoration, and clothing that would not make him stand out.

Eric’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at him.

The boy felt strangely familiar.

Eric could not explain why.

But he said nothing.

”Then what about this one?” Olga asked.

She pointed directly toward the set of clothes Eric had been considering.

”Hm?”

Orlin looked at the wheeled shopping box filled with clothing.

Then he raised his gaze toward the red-haired young man standing beside it.

Finally, his eyes shifted to the woman beside him.

Orlin did not recognize Eric.

Not properly, at least.

There was something faintly familiar about him, but Orlin could not place where he might have seen him before. The woman standing at his side, however, was impossible not to recognize.

He had seen her face everywhere.

Her image had been displayed across Celesta so often that, at times, it almost felt as though she were a goddess who had descended into the kingdom rather than merely the Hero who had been summoned to protect it. Her face appeared on public screens, newspapers, official banners, and broadcasts.

Belle had explained to Orlin that she was the Summoned Hero of Celesta.

A girl called Jeanne.

A Hero summoned from the same world Edward had once come from.

”Is something wrong?” Jeanne asked.

She had noticed that Orlin seemed frozen.

Her expression changed slightly.

”If you want those clothes, you can take them. We have not bought them yet.”

”No,” Orlin said quickly.

Then he hesitated.

”I was only surprised.”

His eyes remained on Jeanne.

”You are the Hero of Celesta, are you not?”

Jeanne blinked.

She seemed genuinely surprised that someone had recognized her here in Lioren.

Then she nodded faintly.

”Yes.”

”Are you from Celesta?” Eric asked immediately, wondering maybe he had seen him before.

”No,” Olga answered before Orlin could speak.

She looked toward Jeanne with a calm expression.

”Her face is just everywhere.”

Jeanne’s cheeks turned pink.

She looked away.

If she had been allowed to choose, Jeanne would have removed her own face from every screen in Celesta. It was embarrassing enough to see herself displayed across the Dorian Capital, much less throughout the entire kingdom.

She had even asked Aurora whether anything could be done about it.

Aurora had apologized, but explained that it was impossible.

Jeanne’s public image had become too important. To the people of Celesta, she was not only a young woman summoned from another world. She was a symbol of hope, the Hero who had come during one of the most unstable periods in the kingdom’s history.

As a result, Jeanne had no choice but to see her own face on enormous screens whenever she walked through the capital.

Apparently, the recognition had reached Edenis Raphiel as well.

”Are you two alone?” Eric asked.

Orlin glanced briefly at Olga.

”No,” he replied, though there was slight hesitation in his voice.

”My Dad is upstairs. My sister is there too.”

”Then are you his friend?” Eric asked Olga.

Olga did not look much like Orlin’s sister.

There was something unusual about her, something Eric could not place. Jeanne sensed it even more clearly than he did, but she did not question Olga about it. In fact she also found something odd about Orlin as well but she couldn’t put quite a finger on it either.

Instead, Jeanne found herself wondering why the two young pair were wandering through the store without an adult.

They did not appear lost.

They were calm, and they clearly knew where they were going. Yet Jeanne still could not stop herself from worrying.

She had heard too many stories since arriving in this world.

Children being kidnapped. People being sold. Criminal organizations operating beneath the surface of wealthy cities. Even the Dorian Capital, for all its beauty and importance, had corners where darkness thrived.

The thought of two children walking around alone in a place as busy as Crown and Silk made Jeanne uncomfortable.

Perhaps their father was nearby.

Perhaps someone was watching them from a distance.

But Jeanne could not be certain.

For a moment, she considered asking where their father was and offering to return them to him.

But that might make the children feel as though they were a burden.

So she chose a different approach.

”Would you like help choosing clothes?” Jeanne asked.

Orlin looked at her in surprise.

”Huh?”

”She has good taste,” Eric added, quickly understanding what Jeanne was trying to do. ”Do you not think so?”

He looked toward Jeanne with a small smile.

He had considered suggesting that they help the children find their father, but that could easily come across as intrusive. The two had been fine until now. It was better to stay with them for a while, help them shop, and make sure nothing happened.

”No, thank you,” Olga said.

She was already turning away.

”Wait, Olga,” Orlin said.

Olga stopped.

Orlin looked back toward Jeanne and Eric.

Then he smiled politely.

”I would appreciate the help.”

Olga gave a faint, displeased sound beneath her breath.

But after a moment, she returned to Orlin’s side.

The four of them began walking through the floor together.

Jeanne quickly took control of the shopping.

At first, she only offered suggestions. But soon she was comparing fabrics, checking sizes, matching colors, and holding different jackets against Orlin’s shoulders with the same seriousness she had shown while choosing clothes for Eric.

She had become a stylist for both of them.

Orlin was surprisingly receptive to her choices.

Jeanne seemed to understand his preferences almost immediately. He liked darker colors. He did not want excessive ornaments. He preferred clothing that looked clean, composed, and comfortable rather than flashy or overly formal.

She chose a dark-gray jacket with subtle silver details, followed by a black shirt that fit neatly beneath it. Then she found trousers in a deep navy color and a pair of simple boots that looked refined without being too eye-catching.

Orlin looked at the outfit in the mirror.

His eyes widened slightly.

”I like this one,” he admitted.

Jeanne’s expression softened.

”Then we will keep it.”

Eric stood nearby, watching Jeanne with a small smile.

She was examining clothes with complete focus, occasionally stepping back to study how they would look on Orlin, then looking pleased whenever she found something that suited him.

For someone expected to stand in royal ceremonies as Celesta’s Hero, Jeanne seemed far happier choosing clothes for others.

She smiled more.

She relaxed more.

She looked more like an ordinary young woman enjoying time with family than the symbol of hope the kingdom expected her to be.

Eric found it difficult not to smile at the sight.

Jeanne rarely showed emotions this openly anymore.