There is no happy ending

The carriage had been arranged for the sailors to come and collect it before the ship left. With the rough arrangements made, Bianca spoke up. Her target was the knights of the Marquise of Moenings who had accompanied me to Bannog.

‘I’ll give you some money.’

‘…….’

‘Consider it a holiday, my lords. It’s not often that they’ll be here, so you’ll have time to kill and then return to Bayerque.’

Bannog was well-policed. It was a long time ago, during the reign of the Great King, that the city had been plagued by drugs and human trafficking.

Human trafficking had led to the disappearance of several noble children, prompting the Great King to declare war on crime. After an intensive crackdown, Bannog has become one of the safest cities in all of Falborn.

With that in mind, there was no need for an escort.

After all, Jade, the servant, had some basic military skills. It was more difficult for Bianca to carry someone around in the heat of the day.

Bianca held out a small pouch of gold coins. Sir Nicholas took it from her hand.

‘Take care of yourself.’

‘I will.’

Bianca said as if the words were new to her. Nicholas and the other knights bowed to her.

Bianca turned and walked down the street. Jade led the way.

‘It’s hot as hell. Have you checked out the costume room?’

‘It’s a bit of a walk from the inn, but I think you’ll like it. The shop is neat, and the clothes on display are not out of fashion, but made of good fabrics. Since it’s almost summer, they have some fabrics made of flax from Osiria that might suit your taste.’

‘At least it pays the bills.’

Bianca rolled her eyes at the knights, who had been trying to appear nonchalant.

Jade quickly handed her a fan. With a short, cheerful snap, the fan unfurled in Bianca’s hand.

As she fanned herself, Bianca said

‘The South is no place to live.’

It was a rare grunt, and Jade tugged at the corner of her mouth when she heard it.

It was better now than when she was stiff as a board as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn’t been hit. More like alive.

Bianca’s voice sharpened at the sight of Jade’s smile. Her voice, raised tone by the heat, never sounded so good.

‘What are you laughing at?’

‘…….’

‘Asshole.’

It would be good. Maybe.

Of course, there’s still that lingering uneasiness. Jade remembers the way Bianca looked at Bliss. Love.

Yes…… Jade had seen love in Bianca’s eyes. It was a love so deep it made her heart sink, and she couldn’t believe it could be gone in an instant.

But Bianca would be okay. Even if she didn’t, she would make it.

Bianca would not be satisfied until I had accomplished what I set out to do, one way or another, and she was here for closure.

‘It’s me that matters.

Jade reminded herself of Bianca’s words.

It’s Bianca’s word, her will, her own. Moening, herself, Bianca. It wasn’t going to happen that they would take a back seat to her values. So it was okay.

***]

Bianca followed Jade’s lead and found the costume room. It was a short walk from the inn, as Jade had said, but it was worth taking. The problem was the heat.

It was still some time before the real summer, but Bianca was very sensitive to the heat. If no one was watching, she might have unbuttoned the dress she was wearing. Bianca’s irritation flared.

But Bianca is not unreasonably angry. It was not the way to start the morning.

‘Damn it, how long am I going to walk

‘Aaah……, I’m, I’m, I’m sorry. I should have hired a carriage.’

‘What else did you apologize for?’

……Nothing.

Bianca arrived at the dressing room, her skin flushed red from the sun and sweat breaking out on her neck.

The house was better than the outside, with wider windows and a more airy layout than the capital and northern buildings. Finally, Bianca could breathe.

‘Welcome, miss.’

Bianca was welcomed into the dressing room by Madame, an immigrant. Madame had dark eyes and dark hair, possibly from Assyria. She smiled kindly and asked.

‘It’s a beautiful day today, isn’t it? The fortress is the best place in Bannog.’

It was not a nice thing to say in front of someone about to be steamed to death.

Bianca didn’t say anything back. But Madame was unfazed and led her into the parlor.

Bianca sat down in the cool, uncushioned chair and looked at Madame.

‘Here’s a book of designs,’ she said, ’please take a look and choose your favorite.’

Madame recognized the look in her eyes. She set the design book in front of Bianca with a steaming cup of tea.

Bianca picked up the book without even touching the tea.

The design book wasn’t thick, but it was well organized. It wasn’t very fashionable, but it had its style, and it was well-proportioned. Bianca’s eyes rounded in surprise.

‘If he was in the capital, he’d be a household name.

The thought crossed my mind. Madame, sensing Bianca’s thoughts, smiled affectionately and asked.

‘I’m good, am I not?’

She was indeed a good kneader.

Bianca thought for a moment. If she took her to the capital, she could make a much better living than she was now.

She didn’t know all of Bannog’s earnings, but she could make a rough guess. She could make some educated guesses based on the foot traffic and number of actual residents in the area, as well as things like the size of the costume rooms and the number of costumes and designs they stocked.

But Bianca stopped thinking. She would be away from Palborne’s social circles for a few years., and there was no use in thinking about it.

Bianca looked at the design with a blank stare and asked.

‘How long does it take you to make a dress?’

‘Three days, if not for a summer dress.’

‘That’s a long time…….’

Madame replied, noticing Bianca’s sigh.

‘It may not be to your taste, young lady, but a simple, basic dress can be made in a day. The seamstresses in my shop are quick, and Making changes to a garment that has already been made takes even less time.’

Bianca doesn’t have three days to wait. Her ship was leaving in three days. If she waited too long, she might have to get on the vessel without getting her dress.

Of course, Bianca has a lot of money. But Bianca has also learned to be frugal, so there was little point in looking at the design book. Bianca closed the design book.

‘I don’t have that much time to wait, my boat leaves that day.’

‘You’re going to Volona.’

‘Do you know all the boats?’

‘We get a lot of local guests, but we also get a lot of people who use the harbor, that’s just the way it is.’

Bianca nodded slowly and rose from her seat. The tea Madame had served was still steaming. Madame searched for a long thread to measure.

As she searched for the thread, Madame spoke.

‘I’ll make you some basic dresses. You should buy lots of them, young lady. Bologna and Osiria are much hotter than Falbon.’

‘That’s awful.’

‘It’s not for nothing that Osiria’s linen is famous, but it’s a nice day.’

Nice weather!

Bianca couldn’t agree more. It helps that Bianca is a staunch northerner, and this was her first visit to the South.

Bianca’s face contorted. Madame laughed softly.

After some quick sizing, Bianca picked out several dresses, both ready-made and new.

The number of designs was larger than she had expected, given that Volona was hotter than Bannog. No wonder Madame’s expression improved.