Perfection

Cuibis felt her hands go numb.

Why? Because all afternoon, her hands had tirelessly handled countless garments.

The racks held luxurious dresses—each a dream for any girl, rare and coveted—now carelessly piled like used paper.

Cuibis even suspected Felicia had raided the kingdom’s entire wardrobe.

The array of unique, high-end gowns dulled her sense of beauty temporarily. So many exquisite clothes might be every girl’s fantasy.

But in reality, Selina, subjected to this endless dress-up, was utterly numb.

Her emerald eyes had lost their spark. Each time Cuibis brought a new dress, Selina mechanically raised her arms for the change, letting herself be posed like a puppet in intricate gowns.

Observing this master-servant dress-up show was Felicia, who’d gathered the clothes.

Her eyes narrowed at the teal gown on Selina. Though the material and design were excellent, Felicia, with her refined taste, felt it wasn’t perfect for her sister.

Elves were natural clothes hangers—nothing looked bad on them.

But Felicia sought more than “good enough.” She wanted natural perfection, where the dress harmonized with the wearer’s aura to showcase both the garment’s and the person’s beauty.

She was struggling to find that perfect outfit for her sister.

“No, this one’s still off. Try another.”

At her command, Cuibis fetched another dress, deftly changing Selina and tossing the rejected one onto the growing pile.

At Felicia’s signal, Selina, like a wind-up toy, spun in her heels, the skirt flaring like a blooming flower. But after a moment’s thought, Felicia shook her head.

“Still not right. Another.”

Her gentle voice was despairing to hear. Despite her numbed emotions, Selina collapsed, squatting on the floor, her emerald eyes vacant…

Heaven help me!

If this continued, she wouldn’t enjoy elven longevity—she’d faint right here.

How many dresses had she tried? She’d lost count. Since entering the room, it was change, strip, change, strip. Initially, she’d felt shy under their gazes, but after dozens of changes, shyness gave way to numbness.

She had to admire elven skin’s resilience.

A normal girl changing this many times would have chafed raw, but her skin remained flawless, denying her even an injury excuse to escape.

Her stamina was drained, sustained only by will and instinct.

Exhausted, she wanted to close her eyes and sleep—perhaps only unconsciousness could spare her this ordeal.

Seeing her sister squat, hugging her knees in a numb daze, Felicia realized she’d overlooked Selina’s feelings. But since they’d come this far, stopping halfway wasn’t an option.

Children need coaxing, she recalled her mother’s advice.

Squatting beside Selina, she placed a warm hand on her sister’s head, encouraging her. Feeling the warmth, Selina’s numb eyes regained a flicker of clarity.

“Sorry, Selina, I didn’t consider your feelings. But since we’re here, let’s try one more. Just one, and we’ll stop, okay?”

Her words sparked hope in Selina. Her emerald eyes regained their luster, her nose reddening like a wronged child’s.

“Really?”

She desperately hoped Felicia meant it, fearing “one more” could become “a billion more.” But with Felicia’s gentle coaxing, she couldn’t keep acting childish.

Taking Felicia’s offered hand, she stood. Cuibis held a new dress, both eager to end this torment. The outcome hinged on this outfit’s fit.

With Cuibis’s help, Selina donned the new dress. When she appeared in the starry purple, night-sky-themed gown, Felicia’s furrowed brow finally relaxed…

What makes a dress perfect? When it dazzles onlookers, it’s likely a perfect match.

“Perfect. This is the one.”

Her decisive words brought relief to both master and servant.

Cuibis quietly returned the rejected dresses to the pile, while Selina nearly set off mental fireworks in celebration.

It was over—this torturous dressing session!

Like a child completing a task, she wanted to shed the elaborate gown, slip into a light nightdress, and sleep. But as she turned to leave, Felicia grabbed her hand, her gentle eyes meeting Selina’s.

“Don’t rush off. Clothes aren’t just for others—they’re for you too. Why not see if you like this one?”

Felicia’s warm smile was irresistible.

Selina nodded and let her sister lead her to the mirror. She planned to glance and nod perfunctorily, but when she saw the reflection, her exhaustion vanished, replaced by awe…

Was that stunning girl really her?

The midnight gown, woven as if from the starry sky, fit her perfectly. The delicate fabric hugged her curves, its bold design exposing her back—where Karina’s Sacred Marks lay.

Her tender skin, mysterious marks, and the gown’s intricate design blended perfectly.

The marks didn’t mar her natural beauty but added an ethereal, artistic allure.

Turning slightly, the girl in the mirror presented a breathtaking scene.

Selina reached out, as if to touch the reflection’s face, but the cold mirror snapped her out of her daze.

Looking down at the lace fabric slightly lifted by her budding chest, the real sensation grounded her.

The haze cleared, leaving an undeniable truth: the impossibly beautiful girl was her.

The vivid touch confirmed she was no longer Kant, the thief saint, but this captivating elven princess.