Part 1 - White

Cartwheels started rolling on the rough stone pavement as dawn broke. Jane opened her brown round eyes and the sun’s rays started to seep between the boards of the wooden window shutters and their white silk curtains glowed and faintly illuminated the room. Beside Jane was her husband under their red blanket, he had medium length golden hair, prominent cheek bones, and a square jaw. She kissed him softly on the forehead, slipped out of bed slowly, brushed off her flowing black hair from her face, and tip-toed on the floor, across the green carpet at the center of the room, and sneaked out the door.

Jane washed her face and hands in the kitchen, still wearing her white night gown, from a wooden bucket she had filled with water last night. She had put some coal in the stone furnace, started a fire, and filled a pot with water to boil. On the table right next to the furnace, she began slicing the bread prepared on the night before and took two cups on the wooden shelf above the table.

As she placed their breakfast on the table, Jane heard footsteps coming towards her, she turned around- “Good morning,” her husband greeted her, still only in his white pajamas with his messy hair and he wrapped his arms around her small waist.

“Good morning, darling,” Jane greeted back with a shinning smile looking at his emerald eyes.

“Your beauty never fades,”

“Really? Do you feel guilty about something?” Jane said as she moved her face away.

“Of course not,” he chuckled, “Am I not allowed to compliment my wife?”

“You dreamed of another woman again, didn’t you?” her eyes squinted.

“What? No. You’re the most beautiful woman in this town, that’s why I married you, darling,” he smiled.

“And you’re the most handsome and most charming man in this town. Which is why I must keep an eye on you, Lucas!” she said jokingly.

Lucas removed his arms around her and sat at the table, “Let’s eat, darling.”

After breakfast, Jane stayed in the kitchen to clean up while Lucas went to his shop. The walls were entirely covered by shelves and cabinets filled with fine clothing, color and dyes of various shades and hues were seen everywhere in the room. He opened the curtains and unlocked the door.

Lucas sat behind his desk, as usual, and from below, pulled a thick black leather covered book with a mark between the pages and opened it. Jane went inside the shop and placed a cup on his desk, “here’s your tea, darling,” she said.

“Thank you.”

“What are you reading?’

“It’s titled, The Heathen State, it’s about the Republic of Diveria, written by someone who visited there.”

“Oh my- They allow people to go there?”

“Of course, ships had been going their ever since it was established, it says in this book that the people there are just like us.”

“Not everything written in books is real, Lucas, you should be careful with the things you read,” Jane shook her head.

“I know, dear, but there are a lot of interesting accounts here, want me to read some for you?”

“No thank you, you know I’m not interested in books, I’d rather just serve you here at home,” she said with a soft smile and left. Lucas picked up his cup of tea, took a sip, and put it down half full, he did not drink from it again.

An hour later, someone knocked on the shop’s dark oak door. Lucas put down his book, stood up, and walked towards the door and opened it. The young man outside wore a bright yellow cap with a white feather on the left side, he had a small and thin frame. He bowed and handed a letter to Lucas; it had a lordly wax seal which the tailor recognized. Lucas bowed back and thanked the messenger before the latter left.

Jane returned to the shop to take her husband’s cup. Lucas was taking the clothing from the top shelves and stuffing them in a chest in a hurry.

“What’s all the shuffle about?” Jane asked.

“Here,” Lucas turned to her, sweating and with a smile, and handed her the letter.

“This is good news! We better prepare immediately.”

“I’m so anxious to be honest, darling. I was still a boy when I accompanied my father to that castle. Do you think they will be impressed with my work as much as my father’s?”

“No doubt about it,” Jane replied with an assuring smile.

The couple started sorting and going around the shop. Tools and expensive garments were put in their respective containers. Lucas closed the curtains and hung a “closed” note on the door.

Part 2 - Grey

The two black and brown mares pulling the packed wooden cart had stopped in front of a large wooden gate. A guard, wearing a maille shirt and armed with a sword, approached Lucas, who wore a red hood over a white tunic with floral patterns, and his hair was tied behind his head, was holding the reins,

“State your business,’ the guard commanded.

“I am mister Lucas, the tailor.”

“Ah, yes, of course, the lady had sent for you. Do you have the letter?”

Lucas took the letter from inside his coat and handed it to the guard, the latter opened it and read.

“Mister Lucas Shearman the third- “

“Son of Lucas the third, I am Lucas Shearman the fourth, my father had died a year ago, so I took over the shop, naturally,” he intervened. The guard gave him a strange look, with his hand on his sword, he walked around the cart and inspected every corner and board. Jane, who was seated at the back of the cart, sat silently with her eyes on the ground, her plain yellow dress contrasting with her black hair caught the guard’s eyes and he suddenly paused for a second to look at her face then continued with his inspection.

“Alright, you can go inside.”

The gates slowly opened, and the mare walked in. The keep, with its two large stone towers at the front, overshadowed the front yard and the cart. Wooden walls covered with white plaster, and towers surrounded the pale grey keep. Eyes from the battlements followed the cart slowly making way on the dirt path towards the keep’s dark wooden doors.

Servants welcomed them as they reached the front of the keep. Jane and the keep’s servants begun taking and carrying the fabrics and chests from the cart and Lucas handed the reins to the stable boy afterwards.

Behind the front doors was the castle’s hall, two rows with four stone pillars each, lined up towards the lord’s dark oak table and decorated chairs where his family is seated. Between the two rows of pillars was a long red carpet on the stone floor with five iron candle stands on each side. The sun’s rays enter through the thin windows and dimly lit up the wide empty hall. At the left of the lord’s table was a door, Lucas and Jane entered and was led by the servants carrying their materials which was led by a woman in red, it led to a hallway which had red and white painted on the upper and lower walls respectively, decorated by paintings of the lords that owned the castle through the centuries.

The couple and the servants ascended the stairs at the end of the hallway and walked through another one. The servants stopped at the fourth door from the stairs,

“Lady Elizabeth is waiting for you inside,” the lead servant said.

Lucas opened the door and entered followed by his wife and then the servants. Half of the room was lit by the sunlight that entered through a single window and the other half was lit by candles placed at the sides of the white painted stone walls. Below the window was a bed for two, at the end of the bed was a decorated dark wooden chair with red cushions where Elizabeth was seated dressed in a plain blue dress matching her eyes and her blonde hair was tied at the back of her head, she had a book in her hand. The couple bowed and so did the servants, as they raised their heads, Jane watches her husband’s face, observing any reaction upon seeing the beautiful wife of the castle’s knight.

“I’m Lucas the tailor, my lady. Shall I begin?” he said nervously.

“Yes, Mister Lucas,” Elizabeth replied as she stood up and put her book on the bed. She walked towards the tailor and spread her arms. Her blue dress was closely fitted enough to reveal more accurate measurements for the tailor. Lucas opened a small chest and took out his measuring tape. Jane watched every movement of her husband’s, she measured how close his fingers were to the lady’s body, every movement of his ten digits was followed by her two eyes. As Jane watched Lucas’ hands, Elizabeth noticed his eyes squinting on the book she left.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Part 3 - Yellow

“It’s The Heathen State,” said Elizabeth.

“Pardon me, my lady?” asked Lucas.

“The Heathen State, that’s the title of the book.”

“Really? I’m reading the same book too, my lady,” he lit up and continued taking Elizabeth’s measurements of the limbs.

“What chapter are you in so far, mister Lucas?” Elizabeth interrogated.

“I’m in chapter twelve, Sir Paolo had- “

“Hush! I am still in chapter eight, mister Lucas, please do not spoil it to me,” Elizabeth interrupted as Lucas was measuring her left arm.

“My apologies, my lady, I’ll be shut as a clam.”

“No worries, I’m not angry mister Lucas, but I was surprised a man would be reading the same book. Noblemen are usually so busy jousting and hunting, perhaps they should learn a thing or two from you,” Elizabeth complimented as the tailor measured her right arm.

“Well, I am just a humble tailor, my lady. They fight wars and I make clothing, nothing more.”

“At least you made the world seem less lonely to me, I thought I’d never meet someone with the same interest as I do.”

“I’m glad that I had pleased you, my lady,” Lucas blushed.

Jane silently stood behind them, now looking down at the floorboards, as she listened to them, her husband’s voice sounded like he was younger, when they were younger. The tailor and his client conversed about their book, but Jane could not understand anything as if they had their own bubble and she was watching them from the outside. If only she accepted Lucas’ offer to read with him, then she thought she would not feel isolated from her own husband.

“All done,” said Lucas, “please choose a color and fabric of your liking, my lady.”

The servants lined up holding the fabrics and rolled it down. Elizabeth started inspecting starting from the fabric that Jane was holding, which was olive green colored silk, to the left where the servants lined up and at the end was the lead servant holding blue colored silk.

Elizabeth pointed out the colors- emerald, navy blue, violet, and yellow. Lucas took notes of the lady ordered six dresses, two of which would have two colors combined. Lucas gave them a gesture and then Jane and the servant began rolling them up.

“Miss Jean will hand you the pay for your services today,” Elizabeth said and pointed at the lead servant.

“It’s a pleasure conversing and doing business with you, my lady. My wife and I are grateful for your patronage.”

Jean led the couple and the servants out of the room and back to the front of the castle. Lucas was given his pay and the stable returned his cart. The servant and the tailor’s wife packed the fabrics and chest back on the cart. As the horses pulled the cart away from the castle, Jane noticed the guard staring at her continuously until they lost sight of the castle.

Part 4 - Green

Jane woke up and her husband was already out of bed. She went down to the kitchen and there was already a pot of water on the flames, the bread was cut, and an apple core on the table. After washing her face, she made a cup of tea and went to the shop. Lucas, already wearing a proper shirt and hair tied, was already drawing his designs on the table. The loom was already prepared behind the shelves.

“You’re early and full of energy,” Jane said as she placed the cup on the table.

“Good morning, darling. I must. Six dresses are a lot of work, the sooner I finish, the better,” Lucas replied.

“Can’t wait to see and talk to your special client again?”

“Special client?” her husband chuckled, “Darling, she’s a client with deep pockets, that’s what makes her special.”

“Deep pockets, a pretty face, and fancy books just like you.”

“Oh darling, you’re prettier than her. And if I wanted someone with deep pockets then I would’ve married old Madam Victorina from on the next street,” Lucas stood up and held her by the waist. Jane chuckled and bit her lips as she looked back at her husband’s green eyes.

“You’re lucky I can’t get angry at that charming face of yours,” Jane smiled, put her arms on her husband’s shoulders and leaned for a kiss. Lucas sat back to continue his draft and his wife left the shop.

An emerald, navy blue, violet, and yellow dress lined up on the racks and on another was a dress with both yellow and green, and another dress with both blue and violet. Jane touched the silk sleeve of the emerald dress that was lined with white fur.

“It’s the same color as your eyes,” she said.

“Do you think I had done better, darling?” Lucas asked.

“Each one you make is a masterpiece, darling.”

“Be honest.”

“I am honest, darling, now I really do envy her.”

“Don’t worry, my dear,” Lucas chuckled, “After this job, I’ll make you the most beautiful one that even the Holy Patriarch will fall for you.”

“You should!” Jane replied.

The couple then folded and loaded the product carefully in the cart. Lucas gave his wife a kiss and sat on the front of the cart.

“Be careful, darling. Comeback home immediately and let’s make that dress you promised.”

Lucas pulled on the reins and the horses began walking. Jane waved and the cart began to speed up until it joined the busy streets of the town and blended in with the traffic.

Jane sat behind the desk at the shop, there were two cups but only was still full. Cartwheels slowed down at the front of the shop and the door opened.

“Good evening, darling,” Lucas greeted.

“What took you so long? Are you alright?” Jane asked.

“Yes, darling. It’s just…,” her husband scratched his head, “I had to draft another dress for the lady, she was impressed by my work and commissioned another.”

Jane frowned and looked away.

“It’s just one dress, darling, it’ll be over in a week,” Lucas pleaded.

“Alright,” Jane replied coldly, she then took the empty cup and went back to the kitchen. Lucas followed her but stopped at the doorway. His eyes followed Jane as she made her way to the large barrel of water to wash the cup. She did not say anything nor looked at him. Lucas sighed and went back to his shop.

Part 5 - Black

The cart was loaded and Lucas, he wore a green jacket, and trousers of the same color, sat and held the reins of the horses. He turned to his wife, who was standing at the doorway silently, and was wearing her brown apron over a white dress, and he waved silently.

Jane turned away and closed the door. The cartwheels started rolling until she could not hear it anymore. She leaned on the door and sighed. For a moment, she paused and cleared her head until a thought came, an unpleasant one, now she regretted it, she questioned herself why she was like that, she questioned if it would make things better, and she concluded that it would not. Immediately, she opened the door and stepped outside, but Lucas had already disappeared.

Candles were lit at the table and two warm cups were again on top. Jane had sat the whole day waiting. A knock on the door. She quickly jumped out of the chair and reached for the door. Slowly the door was unlocked, she opened it a little to peek and it was kicked wide open. The door hit Jane and knocked her down. She looked up and saw the intruder’s face from under the brown hood, it was the guard from the castle, he wore a black robe over a blue jacket and black pants. Even though shaky, Jane stood up as fast and she ran away but the guard grabbed her hair, pain surged all over her head as if her scalp was about to be torn away from her skull, she let out an awful scream. Still having her thoughts, she reached for a cup and threw the freshly boiled tea at the intruder’s face. He finally let go of her hair and groaned in pain.

Jane ran to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. The guard followed, his face red, and walked in calmly. She pointed the knife at her assailant, and held it with both hands,

“Stay away from me!” she roared. The guard grinned,

“What’s the point of resisting? No one is going to come and rescue you.”

“My husband is on his way home!”

“Home?” the guard laughed, “He’s having too much fun with the lady at her chambers. I doubt he will be home soon.”

“Shut your mouth! You’re a bloody pervert!” rage had mixed with her fear.

“Your husband is not very faithful, miss tailor, you’re just going to let him have all the fine?”

“I said shut your damn mouth!” her vision narrowed, and breath became heavy.

“Don’t you want to get even with him?” the guard walked closer. Jane, sweating and shaking, retreated until she bumped into the kitchen wall.

“You’ll feel better. Trust me. You’ll just be doing to him what he is doing to you,” the guard licked his lips.

“Prove it.”

The guard stopped walking and smirked.

“Prove it,” Jane continued, “and you can do whatever you want with me for one night.”

The guard laughed,

“The contraceptive they use in the castle gets flushed out of a man’s body with the urine. If you see something blue, I assure you that you will,” he smiled, “that means he is using it… and not because of you.”

Jane did not answer and still held the knife pointed at the guard. The latter showed and opened his hands and stepped back,

“I’ll be back for my prize tomorrow,” he then turned back and walked out of the kitchen, through the shop, and disappeared into the dark streets.

Jane dropped the knife and sat on the floor. She cried, and wailed, and pulled her hair. She knew he was telling the truth and every word stabbed her in the chest and suffocated her. But she cannot let her husband see her like that. Jane stood up and washed her face. The knife was washed, and her clothes wear changed, she made another cup of tea and cleaned up the shop.

Part 6 - Red

Three knocks were suddenly heard after hours of silence both outside and inside of the shop. Jane walked towards the door and opened it,

“Good evening, darling,” Lucas greeted.

“Good evening,” Jane replied with a little smile.

Her husband entered the shop and took off his jacket, Jane embraced him and pressed her face on his chest covered by a white cotton undershirt.

“What’s for dinner?” he asked.

“I boiled some sweet potatoes for us. And your bath is waiting for you,” she replied.

“Thank you, darling. Let’s eat, I’m starving and exhausted,” then the couple went to the kitchen for their supper.

Lucas returned to the kitchen from their privy. He sat back at the table while Jane was cleaning the pot and knife.

“I’ll start working on your dress tomorrow, darling,” Lucas said and yawned.

“Really?” Jane responded.

“Yes, the lady actually commissioned another dress, but I can’t just make my wife wait all the time, right?” Lucas then stood up and embraced his wife from behind. Jane wiped the pot dry and put it back on the shelf.

“Now you’re getting me all excited, darling. I’ll just use the bathroom, okay?”

She set herself free from her husband’s arms and walked to the privy carrying a candle. As she slowly reached and opened the wooden door, her heart started to beat rapidly again. Jane stepped in and hovered the candle over the chamber pot, she closed her eyes upon seeing what she was expecting to see. There was no longer any pain or anxiety, she already knew what she was going to see, and she already knew what she would do. She left the candle on the shelf against the wall inside the privy and returned to the kitchen.

Lucas was sitting back on his chair, facing away from Jane. She walked slowly towards him and touched his shoulder,

“Let’s call it a day, darling,” Jane said. Lucas held her hand,

“Yes, I want to sleep already, dear.”

He rose and walked first towards the stairs. Jane embraced her tightly from behind,

“Oh, darling, what is- “

Lucas’ throat was sliced open, and blood gushed out and poured all over his shirt. He tried to shake Jane off, but she refused to let go, her right hand was still holding the knife. Blood splashed all over the floor and walls as he struggled. Jane press on him even more and the blood was dripping all over arms and started to stain her apron. The couple crashed at the furniture and walls leaving a messy crimson trail on the floor.

On his knees, Lucas was finally too weak to move. He turned grey and leaned on his wife. Jane pressed her face on her husband’s back soaking it with tears, mucus, and saliva.

A few minutes later, her husband’s arms dropped, and she felt no heartbeat. Jane finally released him from her arms and his body dropped on the floor sideways to the right. She put the knife back in to her apron and dragged Lucas into the bathroom where the tub had been filled with warm water. After stripping her husband and herself, she pulled him into the tub and sat him in front of her. Jane grabbed the knife from her apron and drew a lateral red line on her left wrist. After dropping the knife on the floor, she caressed Lucas’ left cheek with her right hand and smiled as tears fell and dropped on the water.

Lucas brushed his short wet blonde hair and caressed Jane’s face. His new wife leaned on her left arm resting on the rim of the tub,

“What do you find interesting about me?” she asked.

“Well, you’re beautiful, kind, and I know you will be the perfect wife,” Lucas answered with a smile.

“I mean, what do you like about me as me?”

“I just told you, didn’t I?”

“Never mind,” Jane replied weakly as she stared into the still clear water.