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“That is only 2 things.” Almera counted on her fingers “What was the third one?” “It is not a tell…” Mira smiled “It is a show.” She took out the organza package from her basket “This is for you and my soon-to-be brother-in-law. I did the same one for my mother and a different design for my godmother and Jack’s aunt.” Almera eyed her curiously as she untied the ribbon and opened the bag. “This….” Almera’s eyes widened in surprise. She opened the neckerchief and put it on looking in the mirror on the side table… “Oh, look…. This is so clever...” She ran her fingers through the hummingbird. She checked the pattern on the cravat and realized it was a couple’s pair… “Yes, I knew I am clever.” Mira gloated lifting her chin arrogantly. “This is ingenious … the pattern...” Almera kept admiring herself in the mirror. “This will go fashionably with my navy-blue gown.” Her eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands. “We will wear this to the soiree tonight.” “We will be the rage in town.” A
Jack and Mira were passionately engaged in the hot spring when the bell rang disrupting their sweet time. Jack cursed the intruder under his breath while he dried and put his clothes;Mira giggled, her face blushed pink as she hurriedly put her clothes on. “Did I disturb?” Martin chuckled as he saw the telltale signs on his cousins faces. “What do you want?” Jack grumbled in displeasure. “Just to check if my favorite cousin is okay.” Martin slithered chuckling through the opening between the door and Jack. “I am your only cousin.” Jack rolled his eyes as he closed the door and came to take a seat but before he could Martin stood up scratching his head- “Cousin, the chains are in the cart outside.” They went and bought the chains inside. Jack put one of them beside Mira to check. “Very pretty.” Mira nodded in satisfaction. Everything was as she saw in her mind… even the nail head that was made to adjust the chain height which was the shape of rising phoenixes was perfect. “You h
Mira sat quietly through the lively rackety made by the ladies. Almera got to see another side of Mira…. A side she had seen and forgotten on the first day of their meeting. She extended 10 gold sheets towards Mira. “For me???” Mira was jumping up and down with excitement in her head; outwardly she looked like she was about to faint. “Don’t want?” Almera pursed her lips that were curling up and pretended to take back the money… “No… no… I want…” Mira pouted as she jumped up to try and grab the money. “Ha…ha…ha…” Almera couldn’t burst out laughing. Mira looked too cute. “I have something very important for this week’s assignment.” Almera became serious after giving Mira the gold sheets. Mira looked attentively at her. “I have a massive order of 25 ballgowns for the palace.” Almera pursed her lips “We cannot use silk as a material as it is for the ladies in waiting. We cannot use symbols of power or do work with golden, silver, red, purple royal blue or black threads on any of th
“I am curious about this new frame.” Almera tried to get some news from Mira about the new frame design but all she got was a mysterious smile and silence. “We need to go shopping” Almera reminded as they got back to her room. “Um” Mira nodded “Let’s go after Jack comes. He won’t be long now.” Mira looked at the clock needles pointing to 1:30. “Exchanged this for a gold sheet for me please…” Mira smiled sweetly. Almera twisted her lips into a lopsided grin as she exchanged the gold sheet. They gossiped till it was time for Jack to arrive. Almera told Mira the latest gossip she learned from court. Jason was introduced as a target for one of the Lord’s illegitimate daughters. “No… Jason is too proud to go along with that.” Mira knitted her brows, unconvinced. “Don’t get hung on her illegitimate status. She is more favored than the legitimate children.” Almera whispered. “Makes sense.” Mira nodded. “Do you want to …” Almera gestured to a sign that meant destroy the alliance. “No
Almera looked at the work Mira completed once they reached the shop. She was extremely satisfied. She decided the pattern of the dress with Mira before finalizing the model. She drew them on a parchment with her notes for the girls who were going to cut and make the dress. “Are you okay for this week? I can pay in advance.” Almera asked as she gave Mira the next 5 sets. “No need.” Mira smiled. While they were chatting, Tyle came in to announce the arrival of Hawks. Almera waved asking him to bring Hawks in. Hawks had come with two copies of the amended schedule of the contract with the two additional items they had discussed in the morning. Mira signed both copies after reading and handed them to Hawks who placed the Dulstons seal on both before returning one to Mira. Aldrin had already signed the copies. “Madam, young master said that the hanging frames have picked up rage and if you could deliver 2 of them with next week’s order.” “Um” Mira nodded with a smile. Once business w
“Don’t bother about figuring out arrangements. My wagon is not particularly tied up. I will send it later in the evening with my men to pick it up.” Aldrin waved “Let’s do like this for now. I will send someone to pick them up if there are orders and you have frames ready on Friday evening.” “Okay” Mira nodded before warning “The roses have not grown to this effect. The Trellis is bare. Have you warned your customer?” “Yes” Aldrin nodded. “Alright.” Mira nodded “What are you charging them?” “Same 100.” Aldrin chuckled “I told them aunt got the special price as she was the first person to buy it. The price of a piece similar to hers is 150 gold coins.” “Um” Mira pursed her lips into a smile. Aldrin paid another gold sheet and 13 gold coins for the Trellis stands. Mira returned to Almera's shop and asked to exchange 100 gold coins for a sheet. She had bought the 86 gold coins from the safe with her today. She told Almera about Aldrin agreeing to send the wagon to collect the Trel
Mira cleaned the 32 furs that they had just skinned and soaked them in the pickling solution as they had done previously. She noted that Jack was lost in thought since Almera left. She wondered if everything was alright with Thomas. “What’s wrong?” Mira asked as she snuggled in Jack’s embrace in space. Jack pursed his lips as he toyed with the idea of whether he should say something. “Love, I don’t want my image in your heart to be petty but I can’t help being petty. The more I get your love, the more I don't want to lose it. Initially, I thought even if it was a few days, I would cherish it and then happily let you go whenever you wanted ... but now.... I cannot...” Jack confessed as he buried his face in her neck. “Ha...aa….ha…” Mira giggled “Husband that tickles.” She wriggled as she turned to face him “I want you, to be you…” She traced her fingers down his face “If its petty then that’s what I like…. If it’s silly… then so be it…I chose to like you just the way you are.” “Hus
“Aunt, we’re here.” Jack announced as he stood at the door with the basket in one hand and his other arm wrapped around Mira’s waist. “Come… come…” Oden opened the door wider; Martin and John had already come back and was relaxing with their mug of ale. “Mira...” Anne-Marie came running from the outside as she heard their voices. She couldn’t go to visit them as second brother told them that the two of them were busy. “Um” Mira smiled as she held Anne-Marie’s hand and whispered in her ears “I bought someone to visit you.” Anne-Marie eyes widened as she looked around “Really?? Where???” “He missed you terribly and snuck in when he got whiff that we were coming here.” Mira giggled. Anne-Marie pouted as she saw the basket in Jack’s hand and the worse thought crossed her mind “You promised” “Ha…ha…ha…” Mira laughed as she saw Anne-Marie’s disappointed face. “Look here.” Mira moved the flap of the apron to reveal the little bunny popping out of her pocket as he heard Anne-Marie’s vo
Bari didn’t ask any further questions and lead the group towards the tavern that was written on the scroll ‘Green Serpent Tavern’.Unlike the taverns in the other parts of the kingdom, this one reflected the true lifestyle of the gipsy where drinking was only one of the activities. There were performers, gamblers and even sporting events like blind-folded archery with live targets.“Do we have a name for the one you want to meet?” Bari asked in a low voice as they neared the tavern.“They will find us.” Cornelius answered, “We just need to sit somewhere conspicuous.”Bari nodded and was about to head to the stone gambling section which was the area that attracted the most attention when they were approached by a gipsy woman who was dressed in the attire of a dancer “Are you here for gems?”Cornelius nodded.She smiled and flirted with them as she led them slyly to a hidden area and whispered, “Behind the painted is the room where you will find what you are looking for.” As she spoke,
“Take him and go home…” Cornelius advised John in a whispered, putting on a show of staggering and maintaining balance while he laughed loudly “I am not carrying this bore….. take him to the tavern…. Throw him there …. Then we will drink till the morning bird calls.”“Let’s send him to the tavern and we will go together.” John whispered back even though he kept the act of being drunk.“Take you???” Cornelius had an expression of horror “Alex will skin me alive…go…go… don’t make trouble for me.” He pushed John away laughing loudly “Go…go…. go to the tavern…. Get a bed and a wife … drink till the morning bird calls… drink till all our toils are forgotten…. Drink…. Drink….”John had no choice but to keep up the act and with the assistance of Amice, head back with Martin. He thought that his opportunity for adventure had finally come but looks like that was still a pipe dream; when he was younger, his brother-in-law protected him, allowing him to taste measured risks under his watchful ey
‘Duk’ ‘Duk’ ‘Duk’The knock on the door came in a timely manner interrupting the staring match between Cornelius, Thomas and Orseus.“Your Grace, Carl is here.” Lazarus announced after answering the door.“Bring him in.” Jack waved his hand, gesturing Lazarus to bring him in, his lips curling in a smile as he pulled his chair to place it exactly before Jerome, hiding him behind him.Martin and Oden snickered as they saw Jack’s actions; Thomas and Orseus joined in once Oden whispered the gist behind Jack’s actions.“Your grace.” Carl greeted him with his usual amiable smile as soon as he entered but his smile soon froze on his lips as he saw the room full of heavy weights.Although he was visibly frozen for a few seconds, as the man of business of the most prestigious duchy, he quickly regained his composure and greeted every single person in the room with the same charm, making everyone forget that he had lost his composure.However, today was one day that his duke decided to test his
“Let’s head downstairs??” Baldwin hooked his eyebrows as he looked at Jack before shifting his gaze towards Cornelius.“Does it matter…” Thomas hooked his eyebrows challengingly “I mean now that we have stocked up our arsenal and are ready to battle?”Orseus had an expression of agreement; he didn’t think that there was a need for secrecy anymore. They were ready to strike.Corenlius knitted his brows unable to make up his mind one way or the other when Jack opened his mouth “Let’s head downstairs. We are not ready; we still have loose ends.”Although both Orseus and Thomas looked unconvinced, they still headed downstairs towards the study without arguing verbally. Everyone, including John and Beth, followed.“Summon Carl.” Jack instructed Harrison on his way downstairs “I have something I need to discuss with him.”Harrison nodded and went to deliver the message.Lazarus left his right-handed man outside the study to bring Carl inside when he arrived, before heading inside, to follow
Everyone waited outside the room while Leal, Cornelius, Baldwin and Caleb entered the room along with Emeralda and Jerome.“Lie down.” Esmeralda had a faint smile as she requested. It had been more than a decade since she saw their young master; even though he didn’t remember them, her inner world was peaceful. They had found each other, they were halfway…. It wouldn’t be long.She sat by his side, concentrating on the examination once she was able to quieten the noises from her inner excitement. She frowned as she realized that although he appeared to be fit from his physical appearance, the information she gathered from his examination was not so promising.Her brows knitted further as the examination continued, raising the anxiety of the men who were standing in the room observing Esmeralda. While Leal and Caleb stood still like pillars, regardless of their clenched fists and knitted brows, both Corenlius and Baldwin started pacing in the room unable to stand still.“How is it?” Th
Caleb wasn’t far off with his prediction although the healer's arrival had nothing to do with his message. The healer and a hooded man arrived at Southamberston Duchy late evening of the same day. Everyone was resting in their rooms when Harrison announced their arrival to Jack; Jack asked Harrison to clear the hall of everyone and to inform the others as he went down to the lounge area to greet his old friends. “Venerable one…” Jack greeted as he always did, without the airs of his newly found status. The healer narrowed her eyes as looked at Jack; she didn’t have her usual airy, fairy daze but this time, her gaze was sharp, like that of an eagle, before her lips slowly curled up and she knelt on one knee “Esmeralda greets the young marquess.” She had noted the Butler clearing everyone away from this area and the young commander circling with his men, she knew that there were no more prying eyes around them. The only thing she didn’t anticipate was the audience that was coming dow
Mira kept scolding and kicking the man, without showing the slightest hint of stopping or displeasure from touching his already bloodied body; the truth was, she was trembling in anger, her eyes red with rage, barely attentive to notice the state the man was in. Jack was stunned for a minute before he rushed after her and held her back in his embrace as he coaxed her, shamelessly boasting “Wife, I am fine. Look…. Do you think his three-legged skills are enough to harm me?” “Wife, calm down… let Lazarus deal with him.” Jack held her tightly in his embrace; he could feel her trembling in his embrace and his heart ached for her; although no one in the room knew, he knew why that statement triggered her so much. She had told him about her past life memories. Matthew and Harry had a helpless expression while everyone else other than Thomas and Almera had their mouths agape as they saw Mira in action. Thomas didn’t have time to admire Mira’s gallantry; he was busy soothing his wife who wa
Thomas and Orseus stepped on their toes as they leaned over their father’s shoulders and read the scroll along with them; tears rolled down Cornelius and Baldwin’s cheeks as they saw the scroll in their sworn brother’s hand and read greedily.Their tears didn’t stop even though they finished reading the letter. The guilt of not being there when their sworn brother needed them the most was eating into their soul; they listlessly handed the scroll to Jack and Mira.“So now we have to find Esmeralda to cure Uncle Jerome.” Orseus pursed his lips. He called out to Jerome as Uncle Jerome smoothly, he had no difficulty as he grew up hearing these two names, Alex and Jerome; to him, they were family, more closer to him than Uncle Alaistair and his sons.“If we have guessed correctly, we don’t have to go anywhere searching for her.” Cornelius shook his head and added with an air of mystery “She is much closer than we think.”“Are you saying that the healer that we go to is, this Esmeralda that
“If only we knew….” Harry sighed regretfully “Then we could have followed that man’s trail and found Alex sooner.”“You think too beautifully... Alex would never lead a trail if this was his contingency plan.” Baldwin sneered before his expression turned serious “But we may have stumbled upon some unexpected luck in finding Alex.”“Did granduncle Zumerong shed some light?” Orseus asked, leaning forward eagerly.“Heh!” Corenlius scoffed “They were kept in even greater darkness than us.”“Then are you talking about the man who lives at Mer waters?” Thomas asked hesitantly; he really didn’t know why his father and godfather were so confident, just because he trained with Jack?“Son, you don’t know.” Cornelius shook his head “Leal can never be separated from Alex; wherever Alex is, he will follow, whether it is in life or death.”“There has never been a more loyal shadow.” Baldwin too sighed regretfully.“Then what are we waiting for?” Almera looked around curiously; Mira leaned forward an