Malena, while packing luggage, couldn't help but sigh deeply as she watched Sitana swinging her legs on the edge of the bed.
Last night, she had been praying in her room, hoping that Sitana wouldn't cause too much trouble for Lord Hydra. Then, she heard Sitana's loud shout from outside the manor.
"WE CAN LEAVE NOW, LENA!"
These words made Miss Malena's heart skip a beat, and soon after, her unlucky sister burst into the room, laughing wildly, and babbled on and on about a lot of things.
It all boiled down to two aspects—"That Hydra ain't no human for sure" and "That Hydra's got some good points too."
After much effort, Malena finally pieced together the events of the night from Sitana's words and erupted in anger. She didn't believe Sitana's subjective disdain and criticism of Anselm because she knew her sister too well.
The two sisters had a big argument, with Malena managing to keep her voice down, while Sitana's howls were so loud she seemed to want the entire mansion to hear how much she disliked Anselm.
Having no choice, Malena had to give up the argument, feigning compliance, otherwise, she feared the maids in the mansion might sneak to their bedside with knives in the middle of the night.
Meanwhile, Lord Hydra spent the night at the manor of Earl Hardstone and had not yet returned.
Malena planned to distract Sitana and secretly plead with Lord Hydra again. Although this was truly shameless to its core, but for Sitana's future, Malena was willing to do anything.
—She didn't dare imagine the extent of Sitana's disrespect towards Anselm at the banquet, yet not only did Anselm refrain from punishing her, he even bestowed upon her a generous sum of two hundred Imperial gold coins. Even if Anselm's kindness was merely a facade, his bearing was still undeniable. Determined, Malena resolved to have Sitana remain and serve under Anselm.
Missing out on Anselm, they might never, no, certainly never, meet someone so high-ranking and magnanimous again in their lifetime.
She didn't want her sister to spend her life as some obscure hunter in the border village of the North. Sitana's talents were so outstanding; how could she watch that willful child squander them?
"Ah, right, what should we do with these two hundred gold coins?" Sitana asked with a cheeky grin, spreading her toes, her face radiating with joy.
The girl lifted her chin, daydreaming: "We can get Uncle Barton to extend the house, like adding that cozy thing in Hydra's carriage! That way, dad's legs won't ache in the winter—ah! Doctors, we can find top-notch doctors to cure dad's ailment! If he can hunt again, he'll be over the moon! We can also get new clothes for mom, and for you, Lena... You'll have a mountain of dowry, and you can snag someone way better than Gerd... No, uh, Lacarra? Nah, someone handsome and powerful... Yeah, someone better than Hydra!"
Malena was initially touched, but as she listened further, she couldn't help but cover her face and sigh.
"Ah, I can't stand it any longer! Lena, let's hit the streets!"
Imagining the warm and sturdy new home, her father restored to health, her mother no longer enduring long hours of labor, and Malena's future filled with promises, Sitana couldn't contain her excitement and decided to go on a spending spree on the street right away.
"…Ah? Now?"
"What else?" Sitana jumped off the bed, removing her top, revealing a body that perfectly combined the innocence of a young girl with the allure of a temptress, constantly showcasing her glamor—if only she could keep her mouth shut.
Malena, who wanted to wait for Anselm's return, was slightly flustered but quickly calmed down and continued packing her bags: "You go ahead, I'll catch up soon."
"?"
The snow-haired girl tilted her head, a question mark rose up on her forehead: "Why?"
"Aren't you eager to go back? The sooner we pack, the sooner we can leave."
Malena answered with a sweet smile.
"Oh…"
Sitana hummed thoughtfully, her steps light as she slowly approached her sister.
She stroked her chin, slowly crouched down, and stared straight into Malena's eyes.
Suddenly, a miraculous insight burst into the girl's mind, as if divinely inspired: "Are you waiting for Hydra to come back?!"
"!"
Malena was shocked; when did her sister become so smart!
Her shocked expression was caught by Sitana, who immediately shouted with dissatisfaction: "What's up with that face, you still got Hydra on your mind or something um um um um—"
Malena, covering Sitana's mouth, could only answer with a wry smile: "Alright, alright, I'll go with you, okay?"
"That's more like it."
Sitana satisfiedly pinched her sister's cheek and then trotted off to change clothes.
When the sisters were ready to leave, they found that Miss Meryl, the maid who had been taking care of them these past few days, was standing at the door.
"Our Butler Savile has conveyed Young Master's words."
The beautiful maid lowered her eyes: "Should the two of you require to buy anything in the city, I shall be at your service to guide you for the time being."
"Huh?" Sitana was taken aback, "Guide? You're gonna show us the way?"
"Scarletfrost City is vast, and you'll require both a coachman and a guide. I am able to fulfill both of these roles."
Sitana looked Meryl up and down, rubbed her head, and suddenly blurted out, "Ain't that too good to be true? He ain't using you to spy on us, is he?"
"…" Meryl was silent for a moment, then looked expressionlessly at Sitana, "To be honest, I am not willing to serve someone as discourteous as Miss Sitana, but as it is Young Master's command, I shall tolerate your uncivilized and arrogant behavior."
Proud of her "achievements," Sitana couldn't stand such mockery and retorted directly, "Then stay away if you don't wanna, I didn't beg you to help me."
"Young Master's orders are absolute."
"Are you nuts? Would you do it if he told you to off yourself?"
The maid was silent for a moment, then looked at Sitana with a pitiful gaze.
"It seems, Miss Sitana, you are not qualified."
"What do you mean, you—"
"You haven't experienced... the joy of truly sacrificing everything for something you genuinely care about, it seems—"
Meryl paused, her face regaining a smile, "Anyway, knowing this has made me feel much better. Now please, both of you."
She slightly bowed, gesturing with an open hand to indicate the direction, and just as Sitana was about to say something more, Malena stopped her.
The poor sister couldn't control her younger sibling's mouth, so she could only try to make amends after she caused trouble. Malena had grown accustomed to this, but it inevitably left her feeling weary.
But...
The intelligent girl looked at Meryl's face and couldn't help but wonder.
What did Miss Meryl mean by what she just said?
*
Sitting in the heated carriage, Sitana sighed deeply, curling up in Malena's arms like a kitty.
"Oi, maid, where is the best clothing store around here?"
She asked lazily.
"Clothing store..." Meryl's voice came from outside the carriage, her tone somewhat ambiguous, "The best?"
"Of course!" Sithana said with a matter-of-fact expression, "With two hundred gold coins in my pocket, I'm heading straight to the best clothing store there is!"
The maid's soft chuckle came: "As you wish."
After an unknown amount of time, Sitana, half-asleep and half-awake, was suddenly startled by a cold wind, jumping up from Malena's lap like a cat with its fur standing on end, angrily turning to look at Meryl who had opened the carriage door.
"Ladies, we've arrived."
The carriage stopped in front of a very ordinary-looking store. After getting off, Sitana looked around and found that the people around were dressed very extravagantly, and many were looking at her with a respectful gaze, no, not at her, but at... the carriage?
Slightly puzzled, Sitana followed Meryl's guidance into the shop. Just like the exterior, the interior was also very ordinary, with wooden walls that seemed no different from those in her own home, and clothes hanging everywhere.
Very ordinary clothes.
"Are you sure this is the best clothing store?" Sitana asked suspiciously, looking at Meryl,
"These are just ordinary fur coats, aren't they?"
She casually patted a hanging long coat: "There's not even a price tag."
"The Bernal family's clothing store has been passed down for one hundred and twenty-six years, it is the best clothing store recognized throughout Scarletfrost, and quite famous in the entire northern region."
Meryl explained indifferently: "All the clothes here are custom-made, and Mr. Bernal's appointments are already booked two years in advance."
"Mr. Bernal!" She called out from the center of the shop towards the back room, "I apologize for the intrusion."
"Oh... that voice is Miss Meryl, isn't it?"
An aged yet vigorous voice came from the back room, and an elderly man, though short and with a head full of white hair, emerged with a spirited demeanor.
Standing behind the counter, he greeted Meryl: "Does Lord Hydra require new clothes?"
"No, two young ladies here wish to order clothes from you."
Malena already felt a great sense of foreboding from Meryl's explanation of "custom-made" and "appointments," and just as she was about to speak, Sitana blurted out: "Gramps, are you the best tailor in Scarletfrost?"
The old man shrugged: "Perhaps."
"Then make us a dress."
"Hmm..." Bernal sized up Sitana and Malena, smiling as he stroked his beard.
The craftsman's appreciative gaze, akin to that of an artist admiring a masterpiece, did not provoke Sithana's disdain; on the contrary, the young girl felt quite proud and puffed out her chest, declaring, "Money ain't a problem!"
"Given that you are Miss Meryl's referral," Bernal said with a genial smile, "It would be feasible to commence the work immediately."
"Yay!" Sitana patted Meryl on the shoulder, "Guess you ain't totally useless after all!"
Meryl subtly distanced herself from Sitana without a trace, while Malena was extremely anxious, cautiously asking:
"Um, excuse me... what are the costs here?"
"Since you are friends of Miss Meryl, you can get a 20% discount, eight hundred imperial gold coins each."
As Sitana was unfastening the water flask at her waist and gulping down its contents, she immediately spat it out onto the clothes beside her, her voice twisting into a shrill scream: "HOW MUCH AGAIN?!"
Malena was also stunned; she had a feeling that this was undoubtedly an exorbitant cost that they could not afford, but this was just... it was just a set of clothes!
The corner of Meryl's mouth curled slightly, but she quickly suppressed it. She watched as Bernal frowned in confusion, looking at the two bewildered girls, and explained:
"Mr. Bernal is an excellent enchanter; the garments he tailors can be imbued with various permanent spells. The eight hundred is merely his labor fee; the cost of the materials will need to be provided by the two of you, or you can pay Mr. Bernal an extra fee for them."
"You, this, I—"
Sitana looked at the clothes that were soaked mostly due to her spitting on them, and incredulously stared at the old man: You're straight-up here to rob us, right?"
"This young lady..." The old man's expression turned quite displeased, "I believe that such a price is already very reasonable."
"Reasonable? What kind of moron would come here to buy clothes." Sitana felt like spitting on the floor.
Bernal's expression drastically changed, his face turning pale in an instant. He pointed at Sitana, his voice trembling: "You, do you even know what you're saying... Wait a moment."
The old man suddenly stepped out from behind the counter, stomping a few steps to stand in front of Sitana, and looked her over again.
"What? You want me to compensate?" Sitana stepped back warily.
"You are..." This time, Bernal's voice turned strange, the famous craftsman of the Scarletfrost territory, his tone suddenly becoming somewhat humble, "Excuse my rudeness, are you... Miss Sitana Rancemalos?"
"What if I am?"
"It's you!" Bernal's attitude changed dramatically, "I'm too old, I didn't recognize you right away, my apologies."
The old man's face, with its somewhat fawning smile, made Sitana feel uneasy.
"Should it be for you, I would be honored to create a dress free of charge—and for your sister too, two dresses would not pose a problem."
Meryl narrowed her eyes slightly, Malena seemed lost in thought, and compared to these two quick-witted ladies, our Miss Sitana , after a brief daze, immediately changed her expression, smiling very happily:
"No way, is this deal for real?"
"It is my honor to serve you." The old man performed a gentleman's bow, "Would you like to take measurements now?"
"Measurements..." Sitana was stunned, then turned to look at Malena, "Lena, do you remember the size of mom's clothes?"
"Mother?" Malena was also momentarily confused by Sitana's sudden question, "Of course, I know the size, but... Sita!"
Realizing her sister's intention, her voice raised: "Don't push your luck!"
"What do you mean push my luck... he's willing to make dresses for both of us, what's wrong with another one?"
Sithana nonchalantly crossed her arms: "Or you don't have to make mine, I don't need any fancy clothes anyway, yeah, that's it!"
"Gramps!" She turned to look at Bernal, "Skip my dress, just make one for my sister and my mom."
Bernal's mouth twitched: "Adding one more really isn't a problem, Miss Sitana."
"Nah, forget it, it feels like I'm forcing you." Miss Sitana generously waved her hand, "Two will be enough, Lena, go talk to him."
When the three girls finally came out of Bernal's shop, more than an hour had passed, and Sithana was getting quite bored from waiting.
After getting back into the carriage, Malena glanced at her happy sister, pondered for a moment, and then asked the maid a question.
"Miss Meryl... do you know why Mr. Bernal suddenly became so friendly towards Sitana?"
The maid outside the carriage was silent for a moment, then answered with a profound tone:
"Bernal's ancestors served as retainers for the Hardstone Clan, making significant contributions to the family. His great-grandfather founded this long-standing clothing store upon his retirement from the Hardstone family."
"Even now, the Hardstone family continues to look after Bernal, maintaining a close relationship with him."
Malena, sitting properly with her hands on her lap, immediately understood what Meryl meant: "So... Mr. Bernal learned about what happened last night from Earl Hardstone?"
"Hmm... huh?" Sitana, with one foot on the seat, tilted her head, "What's that about? Oh... hold up! I get it!"
The girl's expression shifted from confusion to joy, then from joy to pride, and finally to an undisguised, exaggerated sense of smug satisfaction.
"That old man must've caught wind of how I mopped the floor with those assassins at the banquet last night, and now he knows I'm the real deal!"
"Pfft." A soft chuckle came from the maid outside the carriage.
Malena hesitated to speak, having pieced together, with Meryl's hint and Sitana's description, the probable reason why such a skilled craftsman was suddenly so eager to please her sister. But...
But she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Miss Meryl," Malena asked, as if wanting to confirm once more, "In just one night, one morning... can the news spread that quickly?"
"Do not underestimate the keen senses and sensitivity of the nobility, Miss Malena."
When conversing with Malena, Meryl's tone became much gentler: "Believe me, it's not just the stores that have connections with the nobility of Scarletfrost. Perhaps, you have already received more unexpected surprises that you are not yet aware of, and as for the reason..."
She chuckled softly once more: "Let's just say it's Miss Sitana's 'strength'."
"What do you mean 'just say'... I'm the real deal, right! Lena, Lena! I'm gonna be a big shot in Scarletfrost, wait, I'm already a big shot in Scarletfrost!"
Sitana laughed heartily, hugging Marinna and shaking her back and forth, rubbing her cheek vigorously against hers: "Everyone's gonna look up to me now, you too, our future's gonna be brighter and brighter!"
"Sita, calm down, I think..."
"Maid! Hit up other stores, if this old man is showing me respect, others should too! Lena, we could even keep those two hundred gold coins!"
"..." Seeing Sitana's joyful appearance, Malena, who originally wanted to say something, suddenly fell silent.
She suddenly realized that this was an excellent opportunity.
⏴ Previous chapter 丨Main丨 Next chapter ⏵
Comments
Post a Comment