“From what I’ve seen, not everyone will be as welcoming as Nana. I don’t like the idea of someone staying next door to us, namely those other candidates, when that castle is so freaking tiny. Also, what if that King does get closer to you? I don’t want to have to close my eyes and ears!”
Cessilia chuckled at her cousin’s exasperation, but Tessa did have a point. It would perhaps be better to make sure no one could wander to her apartments and she knew the triplets would find a close room for Tessa, as they had seen a couple of doors on their way there. However, she did have a hunch that Tessa’s sudden interest in getting her own room wasn’t about her cousin’s relationship with the King but about her own interest in a certain Royal Guard...
Still completely unaware of Tessa’s vivid interest in her brother, Nana showed them where to get some smoked fish rolls with cream and that seaweed they had already tried before. Once again, the tastes were completely new to their palates, which made the young ladies happier. In fact, more than the food, Cessilia was deeply intrigued by all the uses those people had for seaweed. She had even seen shops selling different varieties, some dried or not, even as flakes and powders. She interrogated Nana about this while they were waiting to pass the Inner Gate.
“Oh, we use a lot of seaweed!” exclaimed Nana. “Well, we have plenty of it and some families have specialized in seaweed farming too!”
“You have farms of seaweed?” repeated Tessa, surprised.
“Yes! They are used for food like here, but a lot of people also buy them to make other things like nets, fertilizer, soap... Oh, I heard they use it in some beauty products too, but those are expensive. Ah, and there are some medicinal uses too!”
“In m-medicine?” repeated Cessilia, immediately intrigued.
“Yes! I don’t know too much about it, though, and medicine is heavily regulated... but we can go to one of the apothecary shops and ask around! I’m sure they’ll know plenty!”
Cessilia nodded in agreement, very interested to hear more about this. Her undying love for knowledge was easily triggered by information such as this, and since seaweed wasn’t common in the Empire, she was twice as curious as usual.
Although, since Nana wasn’t particularly knowledgeable on the matter, they agreed to find an apothecary to visit later. It wasn’t like they had to do everything the first day after all, but Nana did seem pretty enthusiastic about taking them everywhere she could. In fact, as soon as they were back inside the Inner Capital, she guided them for a long, long shopping tour around the streets. It was as if she really knew each and every citizen living there, and the products they sold in their shops. Some she only showed them, and some she insisted they tried. A lot of those were food, though, so both Cessilia and Tessa had to soon beg her to not feed them anymore, for they were already very full.
Luckily, there was a lot more than just food offered among the many shops. Aside from all the delicacies, the shops had many choices of jewelry, pottery, woodwork, embroideries, fabrics, plants, skins and furs, and clothes. Nana proudly introduced them to all the elite craftsmen of the Kingdom, for the greatest ones were inevitably selling their best products in the Inner Capital, where the wealthy population was. As soon as they spotted Cessilia and Tessa and their attire, a lot of merchants were trying to have them visit their shops, delivering their best sales speeches in hopes to get some of that gold. In fact, this was when Nana proved to be the most helpful. She would get upset as soon as she heard of how the sellers were inflating their prices to trick the two women or lying about their products, and she didn’t let anything through.
“You lying old trout!” she shouted after hearing one man’s speech to Cessilia. “Brand new what? That pattern was already outdated three years ago! You’re only good at copying other popular patterns from the best shops! Come on, Lady Cessilia, let’s get out of here. You should be ashamed, you smelly whelk!”
“What in the world is a whelk...?” muttered Tessa to Cessi as the young woman pushed them both outside.
“I can’t believe it!” Nana kept groaning once they were back in the street. “This is the eleventh time I’ve caught one of them lying to your faces! Cunning sharks! Just because you’re rich strangers, they are multiplying their prices by two or three times what they’d normally sell it for and selling you those bad products! What kind of image does it give you of our Kingdom? So annoying!”
“It’s not that b-bad,” said Cessilia.
“No, Nana is right,” said Sabael. “Your outfits and gold are bringing too much attention, a lot of people here are desperate for any money they can make.”
“Nana, c-can you have some nice c-clothes made for us?” asked Cessilia. “It would p-perhaps make th-things easier...”
“I don’t like this,” grumbled Tessa. “I like my clothes, I don’t want to have to change...”
“We will have less t-trouble that way. For Nana t-too.”
Although she was still upset, her cousin shrugged, not wanting to oppose Cessilia on this. Next to them, Nana nodded.
“For sure! If you want really pretty dresses, I know exactly which shop we should go to! They work fast, and are renowned for their work too! If we get your measurements to them today, I’m sure they can have something ready in just a few days.”
“Alright,” sighed Tessa. “Let’s go there to get them done as soon as possible, and then go back to the castle. If someone tries to scam us again, I might really take a finger or two...”
Nana grimaced, probably wondering if Tessa would seriously consider amputating someone, but she didn’t dare ask. Their little group went to the shop Nana had mentioned, which, fortunately, seemed much more honest and welcoming. While Sabael stood guard outside and refused to enter, the three girls were all treated like princesses. The shop workers were visibly used to prestigious customers, and their attitude became twice as polite when they saw Cessilia’s jewelry. They offered them tea while Tessa stood first on the little stool for her measurements to be taken, two young girls jumping around her with their rulers and announcing numbers while an older lady took notes.
“I want something pretty,” declared Tessa. “...Nana, does your brother have a favorite color?”
“Sab?” said Nana, looking surprised. “Uh... I don’t really know... Why?”
“Nevermind,” sighed Tessa. “Just make it comfortable to move around, please. Nothing too tight or impractical.”
“What is this?” a voice suddenly came from the entrance of the shop.
“Lady Safia, I’m very sorry, but since you didn’t come at your appointed time, we thought–”
“Excuse me? Are you pretending this is my fault? I had an appointment, and it turns out you gave it to someone else? Who the heck dares to…?!”
The woman vociferating abruptly walked into the shop, glaring at Tessa where she stood. Then, her eyes went to Cessilia and Nana. Immediately, her expression changed into a scornful look.
“Ha! You’re saying these miscreants are the ones who took my appointment? How dare you serve those crummy foreigners before me! I’m Safia of the Yekara Clan, daughter of the Clan Leader himself!”
“...And queen of loudmouths?” scoffed Tessa.
The woman did not appreciate Tessa’s snicker. She immediately turned her black eyes to her, furious. It was obvious she came from a very wealthy family, from her luxurious dress, the two servant girls following her, and the many pieces of silver jewelry displayed on her neck, arms, and hair. Her hair was very long, down to her thighs, and styled into dozens of thin braids. She wore simple makeup and was undoubtedly pretty even without that. However, right now, her face was distorted by anger, her lips in an annoyed rictus.
“You should learn to show respect, foreigner girl,” she hissed. “This isn’t your country, you’re nothing here! No one wants you here, either!”
“Seems to me you’re the unwanted one, you tardy bitch.”
Cessilia sighed. She had no intention to get into a fight with any of the candidates, she hated those kinds of catfights and attitudes. Tessa, however, was prone to react to insults, and surely wouldn’t remain quiet about this... Despite her seemingly calm tone, she could tell when her cousin was really pissed. This could get out of hand if she didn’t watch it. Next to her, Nana looked a bit worried, her eyes going back and forth from one woman to the other.
The one most panicked by the situation was undeniably the shop owner; the poor woman almost ran to Safia’s side, looking on the verge of tears.
“My deepest apologies for this situation! It is entirely our fault for assuming my lady wanted to cancel your appointment. Lady Safia, please, we will happily take you now, if you can just wait a few minutes...”
“You want me to wait?” scoffed Safia. “Are you seriously thinking of serving these women while we wait? Are you daft? Have you forgotten who I am? What’s my family’s name?”
Tessa rolled her eyes at her and let out a loud sigh, exasperated.
