12:33pm.
Moonlight passes through the open window, illuminating the room where a man sits on a wooden chair with a quill in his hand, writing on paper.
The paper is filled with symbols, almost indistinguishable scribbles and is written in a language that was unknown to the vast population of Naza.
Viscount Rosenberg takes off his monocle, his grey eye turning blue in an instant, the same shade of blue as his other blue eye. With an expressionless face, he rubs his wedding ring and whispers.
"Sahra, Erit, Shi, Xun, Tar."
The ring burns hot on his hand, and it increasingly gets hot. A vision flashed through the Viscount's mind, of a female with blue eyes and black hair. It was momentary and hazy, but those details he was able to catch those with his agile mind.
Under usual circumstances, he would not be able to receive information on the chosen, but when two conditions were fulfilled, he would.
The festival weeks.
Within close proximity.
It was not an illusion, or a fax when Viscount Rosenberg earlier felt the presence of an Arrieht. A chosen of the goddess of the sea.
The ring cooled to a normal temperature as Viscount Rosenberg contemplated the sequence of events.
The Viscount felt it was all fate's doing. In a week or two, the month-plus-long festival celebration would reach its peak. On the eve of the Trident festival, a long-awaited change would sweep through Naza, ushering in a new era of 'harvest'. And right under his roof was one of the catalysts of that change. How wonderful, it is! Being the goddess's chosen carrier.
Rosenberg County would be one of the pioneers of the new era.
With excitement and visible haste, the Viscount signed his name on the letter and placed the letter into an envelope, where he sealed it with wax.
"Herald," the Viscount called out.
A man hidden in the shadows came to light, took the letter without a word and walked back into the shadows. The walls vibrated slightly, and the man exited the room.
.
.
.
Sleeping in a new environment was somewhat uncomfortable for Airin, unlike her sister Isolade who snored through the night. However, the young girl found comfort in the beautiful environment. While staying in a different location may be discomforting, staying in a beautiful location is comforting.
The night passed peacefully after a sumptuous dinner, and dawn came. Airin arose from her bed and went about doing her daily routine: bathing, rinsing her mouth and dressing up.
Yesterday, the seamstresses discussed the work schedule and reached an agreement, allocating different tasks to each other. Airin's task today is to follow Ali to buy the needed fabrics, along with Elizabeth, Martha and Simone. While the other seamstresses brainstorm on various designs for the Viscount's family attire.
Isolade has a good eye for art and fashion, so she is the main contributor to the making of the designs. Eren would simply monitor the work attitude of the group, ensure peace and give out pointers if there are any mistakes.
Airin stepped into the gorgeously decorated boutique, along with the group whom Ali had taken to a fancy boutique to buy the needed fabrics.
"Welcome to S and M's Boutique, how may we help you?" A sales assistant walked up to the group and addressed them with a gorgeous smile.
"Silk, satin and lace fabrics of the colour red, blue...." Ali paused in her description. "Ladies?"
"Red, blue, violet," Airin added.
"Yes, that. Pardon me, I am preoccupied with a lot of thoughts currently."
The sales assistant nodded with a smile then gestured for another colleague to work with her. The duo led them to a private room and brought lots of fabrics to be examined.
They became engrossed, browsing through the collection of fabrics and sharing opinions in a whisper. While they did so, a sudden shout caught their attention, bringing noise to the almost quiet room.
"Move out of the way! Get lost!" Distinct screams of shock came from outside, and all heads in the room turned to the source behind the huge glass window. From afar, one could see a knight in the street chasing a petite figure that moved flexibly.
While chasing, the petite lady weaved through the pedestrian's pathway, jumped over multiple obstacles and rolled over some, doing all with ease and unreal swiftness. The knight chased relentlessly, regardless of who could've been knocked off in his haste. Therefore causing screams of fright from innocent passers-by who barely escaped the collision.
"You bitch! Shi-!"
Riding a horse, the knight in black armour came to an abrupt halt before the glass window, opposite Airin's position. In his haste to pursue the woman, he'd almost smashed into the boutique, deceived by the woman's confusing turns.
Airin jumped away before the almost collision, staring alarmingly at the foreign man.
The knight growled, face twisted in extreme anger. He jumped down from his horse, and as Airin watched him, she could've sworn she saw his eyes were red-- a bloody colour before he put on his big helmet that shielded his face, effectively blocking outsiders' view.
The knight dashed out with speed faster than the woman, leaving his horse and leaving the seamstress and assistants dumbfounded. They turned to look at each other in confusion, and when they could get no answers from one another, they turned to Ali, who had a solemn expression on her face. Noticing their gaze, Ali's expression turned to one of surprise.
Airin noticed something off about Ali, who stood afar. The maid's posture was tense, and her look of surprise was slow and more fake the more Airin stared. It was a bit of an exaggeration.
"A thief, I assume," Ali said. "And a very sneaky one that requires the King's trusted guard to chase... That black amour and the royal family's insignia is a giveaway. The thief must've left with something important. To degrade the King's honour... certain things do not know their place."
Airin chuckled internally. 'Miss Ali sure is interesting. I didn't know one could become a thing for 'dishonouring' the King. What could that lady steal on her small body anyway? A jewel? Or a document? A secret letter that could ruin the empire or....?'
[-Or my blood perhaps. Imagine, I 'stole' my own life.]
Airin froze in shock, then turned her head around stiffly.
"Who-"
[-shhhhh! Do. Not. Make a sound! I repeat, act normal! Act normal!]
Dumbfounded, Airin stared at the lady close to her.
'I could've sworn I saw no one talking. Simone isn't talking to me. Neither is anyone talking. What-'
"Is there a problem, Airin?" Ali directed a sharp gaze at Airin whose expressions were odd, then swiftly checked Airin's surrounding as though looking for something.
An unexplainable impulse lead to her saying "No."
The sudden impulse could be explained but her latter words were beyond her understanding or control.
"I thought of something odd... But that does not matter."
Those are not my words!
Panic surged through Airin's mind at the feeling of losing her body's control. Saying 'no' could be an impulse even if something was wrong, on the basis that Airin did not want to cause concern. But the words that came after were not something Airin intended to say.
[You must be an undiscovered Arrieht... Shit. Trouble. Goodbye, lady. If fate permits, we may meet again... Or better yet, not. Two arriehts equals trouble and one undiscovered equals death.]
Airin's mind went blank, and in a split second, she regained her peace.
Simone's words jolted her out of her daze. "It seems the people in the capital are not as peaceful as we thought. And not as weak either! You saw how that lady ran? Airin, even your sister would fall behind!"
"Yes...." Airin stared blankly, then shook her head with a slight frown. It feels as though she's forgetting-
'Forgetting what? Just that same tacky gut feeling caused by a new change in my life is out to get me. I would love to be an adventurer. But can I venture with fear as an adventurer? It's best to ignore, forget, be at peace.'
The seamstress and assistants continued examining the fabrics and eventually came to a conclusion afternoon.
Ali and the group were taking a lunch break when a sales assistant walked in.
"Ladies? Forgive me but I will have to dismiss you all early. We have a very important guest and she demands a more peaceful atmosphere. If you do not mind-"
"We mind. And who is this esteemed guest of yours? Surely we could have been informed beforehand if the entire shop was scheduled to serve someone. But an abrupt send out is truly unbefitting and disgraceful of our status." Ali responded with a displeased expression.
'This maid sure cares about status and honour...' Airin humored herself internally.
"It is young Lady Cherry's order. Daughter of Marquis Rutherford."
Ali pursed her lips lightly before responding. "Had it been we were not done with our search, I would not tolerate this disrespect. Do send a word to the young lady of the favour Viscount Rosenberg has given."
"No need, she's here!" A soft laughter followed the words of a young woman, who walked through the room's door. She seemed to have just exited her teen years.
Cherry Rutherford smiled lightly. "Presumptuous as always, Ali. Favor you say? Pardon me, wrench, I can't remember Rosenberg doing any of that. As a matter of fact, I'm doing you a favor here by not kicking you out directly. But that ends now. Guards! Seize-"
"Enough!" Ali interrupted, staring warily at the bodyguards standing by Cherry's sides. "We will leave, and I will report exactly as you have said, word for word to the Viscount."
"Say hi to the family of dogs for me!" Cherry waved with a grin.
Ali stormed off angrily and Airin and the group followed in alertness, matching the maid's footsteps in haste.
'Was that drama necessary?' Airin couldn't help but wonder. 'Completely unnecessary.' She concluded.
'Ms. Romania once said... those who have eaten, and have nothing to do, must have something to do. The nobles must need drama to spend their energy.'