Opening the door, they stepped into the locomotive. Inside, they found plush red cushions that looked inviting and comfortable. Unlike the previous ride, this one lacked the overpowering stench of liquor, making it a more pleasant experience.
"Price?" Anissa asked after a brief pause.
The driver chuckled and responded, "It's nothing high, miss. Just 20 pence."
Keifer glanced at Anissa but chose to remain silent. Anissa casually looked through her purse before responding, "Okay, sir, but please be fast. We have somewhere else to be."
The driver nodded, quickly donning his black cap adorned with golden stripes. The locomotive hummed to life, and they began their journey.
...
About twenty minutes later, Keifer saw a stone bridge ahead. It spanned a calm body of water, likely the Gae River, known for flowing gracefully into the city.
Anissa noticed Keifer's interest in the bridge. "That's the Vasco Bridge," she explained. "It's named after the bridge in the empire's capital, Saldin, but this one is not as grand. It separates Lower Canen from Upper Canen."
Keifer nodded, observing that the buildings on the other side of the bridge were taller and more intricate than those in the area they had just left. Spires reached for the sky, and towers adorned with flower motifs seemed to blend nature and architecture seamlessly. It appeared that floral designs were a prominent theme in the city.
As they drove onto the bridge, Keifer noted its ascending path at the beginning and descending slope at the end.
Numerous other locomotives and carriages traversed the bridge, while pedestrians carefully navigated the edges, avoiding the crisscrossing vehicles. The journey across took less than three minute, slowed only by mild traffic.
They entered Upper Canen.
Within minutes, Keifer noticed a change in the air. Lower Canen, particularly Belle Rose, had smelled of oil, stale food, and garbage. Here, the air was fragrant with the scent of flowers, particularly roses.
They came upon a sparsely populated street, lined with street lamps and pedestrians dressed in ragged, double-breasted shirts, mostly brown. These people carried watering pots and were sprinkling a sparkling, transparent liquid onto the ground, occasionally splashing it on the driveways and even the walls of buildings.
"Them what we call perfumers," the driver said in an accent that didn't quite match Canen City's usual dialect.
Perfumes? Keifer pondered this unique practice, realizing the stark contrast between the middle and upper classes.
The distinction was as vast as heaven and earth.
"Bet you folks have never seen a perfumer in your life," the driver continued. "These ones are common in these parts. The bigger tycoons have personal ones, and I think they even go to a special private school to learn the stuff." He chuckled, seemingly amused by the notion of a school for perfumers.
Keifer noted the man's subtle mockery of their status as Lower Canen dwellers, understanding the complex social hierarchy of the city.
....
"Here we are," the middle-aged driver announced as the locomotive came to a halt, hissing softly as it released steam. Keifer and Anissa stepped out onto the bustling street, immediately drawn to the row of shops on the right side. Each shop was dedicated to clothing, with mannequins in elegant garments that screamed high fashion and wealth.
Live models posed among the mannequins, their unique outfits designed to lure people into the stores.
The street was lined with parked locomotives, each distinct in design. Unlike the modest vehicle, Keifer and Anissa arrived in, these machines were ornate, with elongated fronts and large wheels painted in vibrant reds, blacks, blues, and even gold. They were symbols of luxury and status.
Everywhere, ladies in ruffled dresses moved gracefully.
They flowed in and out of the shops or climbed into their carriages and locomotives, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Each was accompanied by a guard who carried their purchases. The women's voices blended into a melody of admiration for the lavish garments on display. Keifer overheard a memorable snippet about an earring priced at an astonishing two hundred pounds!
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
It felt like they had stepped into a festival of wealth and fashion. The women paraded their noble status with pride, showing off their high rank in society. Among the female-oriented shops, there were a few displaying men's double-breasted coats, suits, and shirts, but these were mostly modeled by mannequins. It seemed improper for men to pose in such attire in this society.
The golden sun hung low in the sky, its light dimmed by dark rain clouds overhead. The mingled scents of various perfumes were overwhelming, a heady mix that momentarily made Keifer's head spin. The aroma of luxury and excess was inescapable.
"Here, sir." Anissa's voice cut through Keifer's observations. She handed the driver two coins, each marked with a bold '10'. The driver took the money and, without a word, drove away.
Anissa smiled, pointing towards a shop on the left side of the road. Following her gesture, Keifer spotted a modest one-story building in the distance. Its exterior was a faded red, with large transparent windows giving a clear view inside. Mannequins with a metallic sheen stood outside, adding a peculiar aura to the place.
Keifer noted that few people entered this shop, and he wondered why. As they crossed the road, a patrolling officer assisted them. The officer, a middle-aged man with black hair and eyes, wore a dark blue uniform and trousers. He carried a black baton and had a brooch pinned to his chest.
His smile seemed directed at Anissa, whose beauty was evident even through her netted bonnet.
Upon reaching the other side, the officer waved and continued his patrol. Keifer knew the Canen Public Police (CPP) were responsible for maintaining order, yet he couldn't help but wonder why they hadn't been present during the burning of the heretic. Perhaps it was because Lower Canen was a place for society's lower classes.
As they approached the shop, the first thing Keifer noticed was a sign written in Canese: "Dean's Clothes Store." The mannequins outside emitted a faint coppery scent, reminiscent of blood. It was a smell Keifer was all too familiar with from his years as a soldier before becoming the Emperor.
Keeping his silence, keifer following Anissa's lead stepped into the open store.
Just then, the scent of rust, polished wood mingled with roses permeated into his nostrils, his nose wrung up as a result. Nonetheless, he got a sight of the store; Dark mahogany shelves lined with neatly folded fabrics extended to the high ceiling, illuminated by radiance from the side windows casting a warm, golden glow.
Dark gray Mannequins draped in exquisite gowns and tailored suits stood like silent sentinels, showcasing the finest silks and brocades. Rich, velvet curtains frame the fitting rooms, and the silence of steps makes the room appear more silent and welcoming.
It was then that a figure emerged from the shadows of the room. Keifer turned to face the newcomer.
A man, appearing to be in his mid-twenties, strode forward, clad in a black double-breasted suit. His inviting smile contrasted with his peculiar appearance: hair so dark it seemed to absorb the light, yet with a subtle undertone of blue and an elusive hint of red. His eyes were a metallic black, reflecting an uncanny depth.
The man's demeanor was a blend of warmth and enigma as if he were both welcoming and appraising his visitors with the precision of a predator assessing its prey.
Keifer, a former emperor, could discern this with keen insight.
The man's expression softened, and he spoke with a smooth, almost hypnotic voice, "Hello, customers. How may I assist you?"
Anissa stepped forward with a bright smile. "Salo, Mr. Dunn," she said, tapping her forehead in greeting.
Salo? She's Valandorian? Keifer pondered the significance of her gesture.
Since arriving in this world, he had rarely encountered a true Canese who greeted in such a manner. Through his interactions, especially with Elena the banker, he had learned that this greeting was associated with the Kingdom of Valandora.
The question now was whether Anissa was from that kingdom or merely a visitor who adopted the culture.
The clothier's eyes flickered with recognition before a smile spread across his face. "Oh, Anissa! How are you doing?"
"I'm well," she replied, lowering her hand. "I'm here for some clothes."
Dunn chuckled, stepping closer. "Ah, is this the one?" He glanced at Keifer.
"Yes," she confirmed.
"Alright, let's get started." Dunn smiled as he moved towards a rack of clothes. His fingers danced through the fabrics before he selected two pieces.
One was a true black double-breasted suit with pockets on the front and sides, the other a dark blue suit of the same design but adorned with silver buttons and inlaid threads that gleamed with a mysterious black sheen.
Keifer's eyes were drawn to the latter, but he knew from its craftsmanship alone that he couldn't afford it. His pride wouldn't allow him to ask Anissa for the money, despite her willingness to offer it.
Anissa, on the other hand, lit up at the sight of the black suit, her favorite color. She turned to Keifer and asked, "The black suit? Do you like it?"
Keifer remained silent for a moment before shaking his head. He wasn't dismissing the suit but feared that showing any interest might prompt her to spend what he assumed must be at least five pounds.
Anissa's head jerked slightly, her eyes lingering on the black suit, her gaze wavering. "Are you sure you don't like it?" Her reluctance to part with it was evident.
Before Keifer could respond, Dunn interjected. "Why not let him browse through the shop himself? Meanwhile, you and I can have a coffee while we wait."
"Coffee?" Anissa instinctively checked her pocket watch, which read 11:21 a.m. "It's almost Gray Day, and you want to have coffee?" A smile almost curled on her lips.
Sighing, Dunn rehearsed his line with a smile, "Then how about some milk tea? I have some here in the shop. We can wait while he picks the clothes he likes."
Anissa glanced at Keifer before turning her attention back to Dunn, her smile partially hidden beneath the veil of her bonnet. "This is why you don't have any customers. You waste your time chasing ladies."
Instantly, Dunn raised his palms in a defensive gesture. "No way, I only ever see one."
"That's unsightly. Aren't you a believer in the Lord of Crafts? Should you really be saying such a thing?" Anissa scoffed.
"Of course. But the Lord of Crafts only frowns upon showing skin when married; He never said anything about courting." A long smile curled up on Dunn's face as he said those words.
Keifer remained silent, watching the two engage in their flirtatious banter. It was already quite obvious that they were romantically attached to each other. As such, he remained 'invisible' while they continued.
A few minutes later, Anissa sighed and turned to Keifer. "I need to speak with Dunn here. So, pick the clothes you want and call me when you're done."
How motherly of you. Keifer noted her mannerisms with a smile on his face.
After that, she and Dunn walked to a different part of the shop, demarcated by a brief wall. That section had a few tables and desks, likely a relaxation area for customers.
However, Keifer found it strange that such things existed in a clothes shop.
Wasn't Dunn afraid that his clothes might get stained?
As soon as the two left for their little corner, Keifer looked around the shop. His aim was to find the least expensive wear he could afford. Even though he had only a few pounds, he hoped to find something priced at two pounds.
After a few minutes of careful consideration, he found the desired clothing.
The moment he picked it up from the hanger, a boom of lightning echoed. The flash of light tore through the sky as the already darkened atmosphere grew even more ominous.
Winds howled into the city, and in a few moments, a torrential downpour began, the rain hammering down upon the earth with a relentless fury.