“Not at all!” Countess Elstein replied.

I bit my lip. Some part of me was really hoping she’d say “no.” It wasn’t going to happen; she was going to be interested in my symbol—had already shown interest.

And so, I needed to think on my feet. Well, actually I’d had plenty of time to think earlier, but I hadn’t. Thankfully, Countess Elstein seemed content to work on, measuring and humming and scratching notes down.

Originally, I’d just intended to tell her what I was but… such openness would only serve to deprive me of a useful tool later. Or so Seyari would have probably told me. Or my sister, or Taava.

So I chickened out.

“It’s a personal thing,” I said semi-truthfully. “I’d prefer to keep it obscured, if possible.”

“Truly? But such a gem must have come at no small expense. Why would you wish to hide it?”

“Like I said, it’s personal.”

Countess Elstein hummed thoughtfully, looping the ribbon around one of my arms. In that moment, I almost caved and told her. Tossed off my human guise right then and there and asked to get tail and arm measurements. Arm measurements for my lower pair, that is. I assumed they were the same size, but it would pay to—

“We each have our secrets,” the countess said, interrupting my thoughts. Disappointment was evident in her tone. “Disappointing—and not just for hiding your tattoo. You have beautiful collarbones, and while a risqué neckline might not have been the most elegant idea, I daresay you could pull it off.”

I shrugged. “I’m not looking to attract gazes anyway.”

“Oh?”

“Married.”

Countess Elstein looked up from studying her notes. “Who’s the lucky guy? I’d imagine most men would be intimidated by your size. Also, we’re almost done—I just need to check your left wrist again.”

“Girl,” I replied reflexively.

“Oh my!” she looped the ribbon around my wrist. “Lucky girl then.”

“Honestly, I feel like I’m the lucky one.”

Countess Elstein sighed. “Love, then. Too rare in noble circles—I’m one of the lucky ones—although I suppose your title was earned rather than inherited. My husband earned his title, too—in the war—and suddenly everything changed. To be honest, I’m still not entirely used to living as a noble, but you do get used to things.

“Well, everything except what on Varra to do with your days. Tailoring has always been both my passion and trade, and County Carrin is close to here—as I’m certain you know.

I did know. We’d passed near their land on the way into Linthel from Gedon.

“Look at me rambling…” Countess Elstein continued with a small laugh. “You don’t have to be so polite, you know. Tell me if I’m carrying on too much. Anyway, we’re done! With the measuring at least. Get dressed, please, and we can talk styles—I have a book with me and the illustrations are just wonderful.”

I nodded and dressed myself behind the screen. While I was there, I had a moment to think. Countess Elstein had told me, well, rather a lot about herself. Was there a reason? Was I reading into this too deeply?

I need allies. But… I don’t know if she could be one yet, although a commonality of “low” birth…

She rambled on purpose, didn’t she?

Did she?

I shook away the idle thoughts and rejoined Countess Elstein, sitting down on a too-small sofa across a small, too-low table from her.

She chuckled. “My! I apologize if it’s uncouth to say, but you do make the furniture seem small.”

“The furniture is small,” I grumbled.

“Touché.” She opened a large, but not thick, book situated on the table. “I have a few designs I’d like you to consider—based on your proportions.”

“Sure. You saw my clothes. This is all… new to me. Relatively.”

She nodded, and pointed down at the open page to a… wow that’s a pretty dress! I wish I could have—wait!

“I like that one. A lot.” I stared down at the dress: proud shoulders, elegant sleeves, a laced bodice, and layered, warm looking skirts below.

“I thought you might,” the royal tailor replied smugly. “Your shoulders are an asset. Well, everything is with you, lucky girl, but your shoulders are strong. This plays on that, emphasizing your height through the lacing and sleeves, while the skirts are staggered, preventing you from looking like a tall curtain.”

Intent, I nodded along, eyes still on the dress.

She flipped several pages—some designs poofy or frilly, and a couple nearly as revealing as my purple dress from Elena. All of them were more complex, and understandably so. These designs would be worn potentially by royalty! Even… pfft—even that one.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Countess Elstein caught me giggling. “That one was a special request—I really should take it out of here.”

“Is it made of bows? What’s with all the ribbons?”

The royal tailor sighed. “Let’s move on. How about this one?”

Oooh, another good design!

From there, Countess Elstein showed me another two designs, neither of which caught my eye as much as the first one.

“Do you have any colors in mind? I can give some suggestions, if you like, or take a base color or concept and work with it.”

Nodding, I thought about color schemes. Crimson skin was unusual in what colors it tended to go with. Except, I was going to be wearing this as a human. Fine enough.

“Something that brings out my eyes,” I answered vaguely, absentmindedly feeling Tania’s necklace. “Oh, and something that matches this!” I lifted the keepsake and leaned forward.

Countess Elstein offered a half smile. “A quaint piece. I assume it holds sentimental value?”

“Yes, very much so.”

“Hmm. Silver and white—dark silver at that. Silver already goes with your eyes and hair quite nicely; you’d look terrible in gold. What about… blue, a shade darker than your eyes, for the primary color. For your first social event, black and white should both be avoided, but a dark gray could also work.

“Personally, I think the blue would best bring out your eyes, and be a little less somber. Then, for the accent color, we can use a brighter silver than the metal. And finally, pearls for the jewels. We can use topaz and silver for accent jewelry, and perhaps add a dark gray ruff to ward against the cold—not that this dress leaves much bare.

“Similarly, I think either accent-matching or dark gray shoes would be best. Would you like a heel? I assume not, but it’s polite to ask.”

Surprisingly, I found myself following along, the image of the dress building in my mind. “Blue is good. I’d also like the ruff, and you know what, I’ll take heels. Make sure they can support my weight—I’m not so insecure as to deny that I must weigh at least double what an average woman does.”

Countess Elstein chuckled. “I can already guarantee you no one is taller—that I know of—but alright.”

“So, is King Carvalon covering this?”

“I thought you knew?”

A shiver ran down my back like ice water.

“I’m joking! I believe he is. Regardless, the alternative is that your estate will be charged and I do not think Astrye so poor it cannot afford this.”

I folded my hands in front of me and raised my chin. “The people of Astrye need much. If King Carvalon is not paying for this dress, then my apologies, but I will go in the one dress I do have.”

“I will be sure to pass on your message.”

Deflating, I relaxed into my seat, suddenly remembering what I’d wanted to ask before being distracted by dresses. “Why didn’t you ask me about Astrye anyway, Countess Elstein?”

She shrugged in a practiced motion, the hints of a frown that’d been forming returning to neutral age lines of her face. “I’m here as a tailor, not as a countess, dear. Would it not be uncouth of me to ask such a thing without expecting to divulge my own secrets? Though, I think it would be lovely to chat a while. I’ve heard through the grapevine that you led quite the offensive removing some demons from Astrye, and I would love to introduce you to my husband sometime before Duke Reynard’s ball. Tea tomorrow, perhaps?”

“Will I have time?”

“Later in the week then. You’ll hear from me.” She smiled, this time genuinely. “If that is all, you really should get going. I imagine Tina and Mary are more than ready to continue.”

They’re still out in the hallway!? Immediately, I was glad I hadn’t spilled all the beans yet. Soon enough, rumors would start flowing, but the claim that a marchioness is a demon combined with how few people travel between Astrye and the rest of Edath would buy me time before the fact was widely known.

Or, more hopefully, ease people into it. After all, I was done hiding. All this nobility stuff amounted to nothing more than a very serious game; the real stakes were with Envy and Styrix. And perhaps the Church of Dhias, to a lesser extent.

“I should go then. Thank you, Countess Elstein.” I rose and inclined my head—hopefully the right amount of respect.

She bowed—I’d gotten it right.

With as much confidence as I felt comfortable projecting, I left the room and strode back out into the hallway, closing the door behind me. Sure enough, the older maid, Tina I now knew, and Mary were waiting politely. The younger Mary smiled when she saw me, and I returned the gesture.

“It went well,” I said simply. “Where to next?”

“Your temporary chambers,” Tina said with curt professionalism. “I and Mary will show you how to use the enchanted fixtures.” With that she turned, and beckoned for me to follow.

Enchanted fixtures… While our rooms in the Knight’s Rest had enchanted fixtures, the term made me think of Lilly. And it also made me realize that I should contact her and make sure everything was going well with the war in Navanaea, that it hadn’t reached Sandmeadow. I also hope Aretan is well.

The Sovereign of Lust had said she had agents in a lot of places, so perhaps Taava, Seyari, or Nelys could help me out. Lilly surely didn’t have eyes in Astrye already or I’d have heard from her.

The walk from where I’d been measured to my chambers was a short one. The first door we entered led simply to a smaller hallway; two doors sat opposite each other to the sides, and a window at the end let late morning sunlight flow down the lavish, dark blue carpet.

“Here are your chambers. To the right are your bedroom and bathroom, and to the left is your sitting room.”

“Thanks, Tina.”

The older woman nodded sharply. “Follow me. Mary, would you do the demonstrations, please?”

“What demonstrations?” I asked as Tina opened the bedroom door.

“The bath, sink, and…”

I stopped paying attention to what Tina was saying, because the room was lavish. If King Carvalon wore outfits that trended toward the practical, this was where all the excess opulence went. Silver-tasseled, blue curtains had been pulled aside to reveal a lavish, four-poster bed done with white sheets and dark wood. Each post was intricately carved, and the eyes of some of the beasts depicted were inset with jewels.

The rest of the room followed a similar pattern: blues, whites, silver, and dark wood. It was all very… Edathan. In colors, at least. The wealth on display here was enough to make me feel uncomfortable, and I suspected that was the point. To what end, I couldn’t guess.

While I gawped in a manner most unladylike, Mary opened the bathroom. Inside was all porcelain and silver and wood so polished I could have used it as a mirror. I only just stopped myself from activating aura sight. Having that ability was one thing; showing off demonic eyes to an observant, clinical maid was another. Instead, I steeled myself and vowed to remain observant until my tour was done.

The sentiment was nice, but I kept getting distracted along the way. The bath was a giant, claw-footed thing, big enough for two people; and as such, it was big enough for me alone. Indoor plumbing that ran hot or cold and carried away wastewater was followed by a tour of the sitting room that included a fireplace I could light via its own enchantment. Provided the servants didn’t prepare the fire, that is.

The bedroom had a similar, if slightly smaller fireplace, and we ended the tour with a notice that lunch would arrive at noon and dinner at sundown. Given the amount of my day remaining, I asked after leaving between lunch and dinner.

Tina explained that, as a guest, I was not bound to my chambers, although many areas were off-limits. I was, however, expected to return for dinner.

Leash extended, I waited through a diminutive, but delicious lunch and soon found myself once again out on the streets of Linthel, with the rest of the daylight to visit Bourick, find a book for Seyari, and scope out places I might be able to use to contact Lilly when I wasn’t surely being followed.