Being able to live how you wanted had its appeals to her—or, if nothing else, Rene liked the idea of living comfortably but on her own if she wanted. Life in the Dazuz family wasn’t exactly what she pictured when they gave her the offer; if she could have something like she did with Hannah but more financially secure, she would take the offer in a heartbeat.
Worst case scenario, she would be back on the streets without any kind of ‘children stealing necessities is okay’ laws that keep her ‘clean.’ All she would need is enough money for a ship, then she could try to see if Hannah was still around somewhere; she couldn’t say that was ideal, but it was an option.
Rene got ready for the morning the minute the sunlight was bright enough, lazily tying her hair back into a ponytail and changing into a simple outfit. When she figured she looked good enough, she went downstairs. As per usual, she grabbed something to eat directly from the kitchen, bypassing the dining hall altogether, and left the back way.
Lord Dazuz gave his orders the night before, so she didn’t have any reason to linger. Although she seemed out of place near Dazuz’s mansion—the only people who went there were mansion staff or nobles with little to no in-between, making her stick out as being a bit of a mix of both in appearance—she felt a lot better when she followed the road down to San Asari. She slipped into the crowd and went to the music district, blending in with the larger mix of people.
Rene didn’t typically come to this side of town; seeing all the instruments, with no restrictions to who can sit down and try their hand at earning the people’s admiration or pity, fascinated her. That emphasis on the arts faded the further you got from the capital—or at the very least, actually earning anything from said arts was unlikely.
Compared to Eyset, San Asari was any kind of artist or musician’s dream—tip jars near every outdoor instrument, plenty of scenic buildings and landscapes just outside of it, and enough appreciation for people’s talents that you could actually make a decent amount of money just coming out here for an hour or two if you were really good.
Rene went to the music district’s center as instructed, sitting down on one of the benches. People were already doing the same; one older man stepped up to the gazebo, took a place at one of the two pianos, and started playing. With that first musician, others came as well; a daughter brought her elderly father, one parent told their kids to sit down and stay still while they shopped, a couple sat down in one corner and casually flirted. As more people went to the gazebo to play, more people came to watch them; she imagined that it must be in the daily routine of a good portion of the visitors or musicians.
Honestly, she envied them. She’s never really had a chance to go outside the Dazuz mansion unless they needed her to go somewhere for them.
She waited and watched until she noticed a specific twenty-something woman walk over while herding a toddler, gently telling him to stay close. She seemed to consider ‘close’ to be ‘less than a toddler-step away’ and the toddler apparently disagreed; that made her look overprotective when compared to the other parents who simply let their children sit and watch the musicians. Paired with her appearance—brown skin and reddish brown hair that fell a bit lower than her shoulders—Rene assumed that was who she was waiting for.
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The woman went up to gazebo and sat down behind the open piano. Her son fit on the edge of the bench, entertained by a little pack of crayons and drawing paper his mother brought along with them.
Rene couldn’t help but admire how the song played by the gazebo musicians shifted around the newcomer—from whatever seemed to play nicely to an actual composition. She couldn’t name it off-hand, but it captivated her.
The endearing image of the newcomer’s little son occasionally tapping on the piano keys closest to him helped. She didn’t typically see children being so innocent, and she rarely saw their parents just smiling and entertaining the child’s whims by adding a few notes that helped it blend in with the rest of the song.
She remembered what she was here for when the old man stepped down from the other piano, and she got up to take his place. Most of the performers nodded some kind of greeting towards her; the mother was no exception, specifically glancing at her.
That look lingered a second longer than it should have and as soon as Rene realized it she almost walked right back out again. The woman had nice brown eyes, at least; despite the loose clothes and more casual appearance, she still seemed elegant. Fitting for a queen, really.
Rene very carefully sat down on the piano bench and tried to match what everyone else was doing. Her inexperience with the instrument showed, but she knew the woman noticed.
She only played for a few minutes then stepped down again, recalling Lord Dazuz’s instructions from the night before.
You have one job—
The mother stopped playing and had her son walk in front of her while she left the gazebo. She stopped a few steps outside of Rene’s reach and hesitated, taking a little breath.
You just have to find out if that boy has any omynic power in him.
“Do you play here very often?”
Rene shook her head. The woman paused for another moment, then took a step forward and offered her hand.
And for the sake of all—
“I think you did fairly well, all things considered. I’m Adelinde Dakari.”
“Rene Dazuz.” She took the hand and shook it. The queen seemed as wary as she was, taking a step back again. “Your performance was…honestly mesmerizing. If we’re here again, could you show me how to play a song like that?”
—no matter what she promises you—
Adelinde almost smiled, but it faltered in a second—a little happiness overshadowed by a more bitter memory, something like fear before she took another breath. Still, she replied nicely.
“Of course. I’ll likely return in the evening; we can meet then, if you have time.”
Rene nodded and gave her own smile. “Thank you. I’ll try to make it here on time.”
She murmured some agreement, then gently herded her son away from the music district with some mention to going home for now. Rene had to convince herself to turn away, if only so Adelinde wouldn’t think she was weird.
—don’t become a second Aurik Qrian.