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"You don't have to go though with it." Eirika knocked lightly on the fitting room door, a sheepish shrug to her shoulders. "I think my brother will have more respect for you if you told him no."
Thunk.
"It is not that easy, Eirika." Seth's voice was muffled through the door. "I have always respected Ephraim and if I can do do this to prove my intentions—"
"Oh, stop it." Eirika frowned, crossing her arms. Her back bumped against the wall that split fitting room stalls from each other. "The only one who ended up getting less respect for saying no was Innes — and that's just because they're always trying to embarrass each other."
Something like elastic snapped. Seth's attempt at stifling his swear brought a grin to Eirika's face. Quickly, she wiped it away. "Well. Let me know if you need help."
"….okay."
Taking that as a no, thank you, Eirika pushed away and headed out of the fitting room area. Ephraim stood nearby, inspecting the rack of rejected clothes with a curious glint to his eye. He knew Eirika approached him, but did nothing to stop her shoving at his shoulder. If anything, it just made him smile.
"I cannot believe you," Eirika whisper-yelled. She crossed her arms over her chest, stamping her foot. It was a childish display, she knew, but it was also cute. Her being cute was a weak point for Ephraim and may work in her favor.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't act innocent!" Eirika poked at Ephraim's shoulder. "What did you do to hustle Seth into a losing bet?"
He raised his brows, turning to his sister and returning the poke — right into her cheek. "I have no idea what you mean."
"Ephraim!" She swatted at his hand, sighing. "You do this with everyone who has ever looked at me twice. Why is that?" It didn't matter the gender of who showed interest in Eirika. Ephraim took it upon himself to set a standard with a challenge that their father never would have, being a benevolent man as he was.
But to answer Eirika, he shrugged.
"Will you just… go tell him you were joking? Please? I don't think he has any idea of what he's gotten into." Or how to get out of it.
"I suppose." Her brother shook his head, humoring her. Truly, he wanted only the best for Eirika. He didn't mind lying now and again when her past crushes ended up also backing out or balking at his challenge. To have Eirika stand up for Seth was a passing grade in and of itself; clearly she was taken with this fellow.
As he stepped around her, a movement from the fitting room caught his attention. Glancing up, Ephraim did a double take. "Ah. Seems I am too late." A note of glee coated his words, causing Eirika to turn as well.
Surprisingly at ease in heels, Seth strode across the shiny tiled floor to the pair of twins. The maid dress was a little tight on his broad frame, the bow at his chest uneven and not even tied at the back, and the headband was crooked. But he folded his hands in front of him and bowed carefully at the waist, lest he rip the borrowed clothes.
"By the Stones," Eirika breathed, red from her neck to her ears. "Seth!"
"Yes?" he asked, somehow keeping his voice level despite the embarrassed flush on his cheeks. "How may I be of service to the lady?"
Without a second thought, Ephraim opened his phone and snapped a picture. For posterity.