182: People at Bramsfield

People at Bramsfield

When Emily entered the vast inner room, her eyes immediately fell on a collection of small square boxes containing various fabrics sourced from different places, which hung like portraits on one side of the deep orange wall. Brightly-lit lanterns illuminated the room to compensate for the absence of windows. Within this space, mannequins stood draped in fabrics, pinned in a manner that suggested they were awaiting the final stages of stitching.

"These are the ones that we currently have," the female assistant informed her while placing two gowns on the table. 

It seemed that the Storm Kingdom did indeed offer a variety of colours, and it was just that most of the people she had encountered so far opted to wear dull-looking clothes, as if to match the weather, Emily thought to herself. Her gaze shifted from a bright golden yellow gown to a rich, deep red one. It was truly a beautiful shade of red, she noted in her mind. 

"It appears that the lady isn't pleased with the last of our gowns," Mr. Hatt remarked upon entering the room with Raylen. While Raylen took a seat on a couch, the tailor approached her and commented, "Not that I would dispute her judgement, as these are the ones that have been passed over."

"No, I think they are quite lovely, Mr. Hatt," Emily said quickly. 

"In my opinion, I think the red colour complements you well," Mr. Hatt remarked as he lifted the gown and continued, "It is made from velvet, which will keep you warm. I wonder how this one got left behind; it probably got tucked away somewhere in the cupboard."

Emily politely asked him, "Do you happen to have something lighter? Something more subdued, and not in the shade of yellow." 

Although her garments from Versailles were made from equally expensive fabrics such as those worn by the people she had observed on the streets earlier, they were designed differently than those found in the Storm Kingdom. 

"Subdued, you say," Mr. Hatt hummed with a contemplative expression. "There is an incomplete one that hasn't been finished yet." He then turned to his assistant and instructed, "Go fetch Althea from my room."

"Yes, Mr. Hatt," the female assistant replied before exiting the space. She returned to the room carrying a mannequin, and it was at this moment that Emily's eyes fell on a muted pastel light blue gown with a beige inner lining and translucent full sleeves, which were yet to be attached.

Mr. Hatt stated, "I have been working on this for two months as a side project. When exposed to light, it takes on a silvery sheen, and it is embroidered with gold thread. However, it still requires stitching and some finishing touches."

"Can you finish it by tomorrow morning?" Raylen asked, who had drawn one of his ankles to rest on his other leg. 

"Probably. But I need to make sure the gown is in perfect condition and is ready for wear before handing it to the lady," Mr. Hatt informed them. 

After Emily's measurements were recorded and half the gown's cost was paid to Mr. Hatt, they finally exited the room to allow the tailor and his assistant to commence their work. However, not before the princess cast one final, lingering glance at the exquisite velvety red dress. 

Once they stepped out of the shop, they strolled along the street when Raylen questioned her, "If you liked it so much, why didn't you buy it? The red gown." 

Emily turned to look at him, noticing that he was gazing ahead before his eyes briefly met hers. She said, "Because the colour doesn't suit me." 

"Who told you that? Your mother?" Raylen asked her with a soft chuckle. But upon noticing Emily's serious expression, he inquired, "Did she, really?" 

Emily pressed her lips together and explained, "When I was young, and I reached for colours like red, Mother would say those were hues of brazen women seeking attention. Reds and oranges." Secretly, she believed it was likely because Lady Maya had a wardrobe filled with red and orange shades that her mother disapproved of those colours. 

"No offence, but it seems your mother likes to play it safe," Raylen commented as he took out the cigar case from his pocket. Now that they were no longer inside the tailor shop, he was free to smoke without having to be reminded that the women disliked the odour of cigars on their dresses. He said, "You're not a young girl; you're a woman. Red is a powerful colour, and, as your mother said, it takes boldness to wear it."

Emily fixed her gaze on him and stated, "If you think I am going to act solely because you provoked me, you are wrong." 

"You agreed with changing your last name," Raylen pointed out, gesturing towards her. Emily nodded and then explained,

"There's a specific reason for that." When she saw him raising his lighter, she quickly added, "Can you not s—"

However, Raylen had already ignited the tip of the cigar, which he placed between his lips. He took a drag and blew out the smoke, savouring it as if he had reached Heaven before turning to her and asking, "You were saying?" 

"Why do you smoke so much?" Emily questioned him as the smell of the smoke invaded her senses.

"It is something I started to quell the thirst of my bloodlust, but now it's turned into a habit—one I find rather enjoyable. A bit too enjoyable, if you ask me," Raylen responded, his blue eyes fixed on her as he offered her the case. "Want one?" 

He saw the princess stare at the case he had flipped open for her, and he couldn't help but notice that she didn't scrunch her face with the usual distaste for the smell like she had in the past. It made him wonder if she had decided to defy the rules governing her life and cross over to the other side, leaving him curious about how far she might push the boundaries before running away. 

Emily averted her lingering gaze from the cigars before gathering herself and firmly saying, "No." As tempting as it was, she knew there was nothing but a bottomless well of cravings if she were to light up the cigar to take a discreet drag. Her voice took on a taut tone as she asked, "Can you refrain from smoking when you are with me?" 

"Why?" Raylen parried with his question, slipping the case into his trousers pocket. "You want me to starve or pounce on someone here out of hunger? Mm, I didn't know you were into violence," he teased her. 

"You wouldn't experience hunger if you simply ate your meals," Emily retorted. A part of her was drawn to the smoke, and she wondered when it would lose its allure for her, as it had before. Before Raylen would finish one cigar and reach for the next, she looked away, and added, "The smoke reminds me of the man who was supposed to be my soulmate."

Raylen stared at her, his wrist now relaxed as he had merely exhaled the smoke into the air. A sigh escaped his lips, and he dropped the cigar on the ground before crushing it underfoot. He remarked, 

"You aren't exactly making it easy for us to get along." 

Emily watched the cigar being completely extinguished and quietly expressed her gratitude with a simple, "Thank you," despite not knowing what she might have done for him to not get along with her. "I didn't know you wanted to get along with me," she murmured softly. 

"We are two different people, so getting along is a hard ask," Raylen remarked before he started walking again, and Emily quickly caught up with him. He added, "Furthermore, you are going to have a hard time at the gathering tomorrow."

"Why would I?" Emily questioned, her brow furrowing into a frown. 

"Due to the number of people who smoke at the gatherings. You can only run from something for so long before it catches up with you. Or, we can arrange for a ship if you want to return now," Raylen offered. 

But Emily had departed from Versailles precisely to avoid recalling the painful memories of Nathaniel rejecting her or being anywhere near him. Her purpose in coming to the Storm Kingdom had been to accompany Niyasa, but who could have known her sister would end up falling into the sea? She held onto hope of receiving news from the imp about her sister's whereabouts, as it was the only way she could feel at ease. 

"Or even better," Raylen began, capturing her attention before continuing, "Follow your family's wishes and find a worthy man to form a bond with that won't cause you any more pain."

Emily couldn't comprehend why the scent of the smoke continued to affect her even after Nathaniel severed his bond with her. She wished for it to stop and knew there was only one way to end her suffering—the path he and her family had alluded to. 

"Don't sulk, or I might just have to light up a cigar. Let's finish buying the other things you need," Raylen said, steering the conversation in a different direction. 

They made their way to the shoe shop and had just stepped inside when a woman's voice greeted Emily's ears, 

"Word has it that the king is strolling through the streets in the company of a woman who happens to be his niece." 

Emily's gaze landed on a beautiful woman with fiery red hair that reminded her of her grandmother. Only this woman sported wavy hair reaching just above her waist, secured in a ponytail. She found herself thinking about her family, whom she missed, and wondered what they were doing now. The woman possessed light brown eyes with a hint of yellow, a colour reminiscent of her own hair. 

"Good morning to you too, Beatrice," Raylen greeted with a sickeningly sweet smile that made Emily shudder. The two of them approached each other and stood face to face before he raised the woman's hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of it. 

"I wasn't aware you had a niece." The lady's eyes shifted from Raylen to settle back on Emily, her expression tinged with suspicion. "It does sound rather peculiar, considering your siblings died many years ago."

"This is a distant cousin, a distant niece," Raylen clarified with a smile. 

"Milady, your shoes are here," the shopkeeper informed Beatrice, diverting her attention. Meanwhile, Emily whispered to him, 

"At this rate, I might as well start calling you uncle." 

Raylen's eyes narrowed as if he didn't like the term, and he smiled, saying, "Do you want me to puff out some smoke?" 

"Who is she?" Emily asked him, curious about the woman so that she wouldn't be caught off guard. 

"My blood supplier, and pleasure bringer," Raylen answered, and Emily's expression scrunched with distaste. "That. That was exactly what I meant about us getting along. Judgy little princess." 

"Pardon me," Emily apologised before adding, "You are an old man with needs—"

"Cheeky, aren't you," Raylen's blue eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't push boundaries when you don't know what consequences lie ahead," he warned her as his lips curled into a smile that left her feeling wary. He said, "There's blood that tastes like an elixir, and then there's blood that tastes like garbage. Beatrice's blood tastes like the former." 

Emily observed the red-headed woman return to their side after trying on the new shoes, eager to show them to Raylen. 

"What do you think about them, Ray?" 

"They look lovely, as if they were made specifically for your feet," Raylen complimented the woman, which reminded Emily of the day she had clashed with him. Yet, this time, she stood there with a serene expression on her face. 

"King Raylen, how may I be of service?" The shopkeeper approached him. "I have the perfect—"

"It is not for me, but for this young lady here." Raylen waved his hand towards Emily. Feeling like she wasn't being paid enough attention, Beatrice directed an even more intense gaze at the earthling, as Raylen had never offered to accompany her during any of her shopping trips. 

"Oh! Let me check the size of your feet. Why don't you take a seat, miss?" the shopkeeper suggested, and Emily settled into the comfortable chair, her eyes on Raylen and the woman engaged in conversation. 

Emily placed her feet on the small stool and discreetly raised her skirt to reveal her shoes. The shopkeeper personally measured the length of her feet before stepping away, and she tucked her feet back beneath her dress. 

"Your niece isn't from around here, is she?" Beatrice asked Raylen, and Emily couldn't help but overhear. "Her attire and shoes are rather different. She will get her feet muddy on rainy days. Anyway, I should be on my way. Lots to prepare; I will see you tomorrow," she added as she leaned in and kissed his cheek before departing with her two servants. 

Emily's attention was diverted by the shopkeeper and his two male assistants, who brought in five boxes each and placed them all in front of her. The shopkeeper proceeded to open the lids of each box one by one, revealing a series of shoes that she had previously only seen in books imported from overseas.  2

"Which ones would you like to try first, milady?" the shopkeeper inquired, and Emily glanced around before pointing at a pair that would match the gown currently being stitched. "Those ones." Perhaps, on her return, she could bring some back for the women in her family. Surely they would appreciate it, she thought to herself. 

"Please bring your feet forward," the shopkeeper instructed, taking the shoes and positioning himself in front of the stool. 

However, before Emily revealed her feet once more, she looked at the two men beside the shopkeeper and then at Raylen. He stared right back at her, wondering about her intentions, before uttering quietly, 

"Are you for real?" When Emily remained motionless, with a subtle frown adorning her forehead, Raylen licked his lips before he chuckled. He then turned to look at the shopkeeper's assistants and ordered, "Leave the room." 

The assistants left the room, while Raylen turned away from her, moving to the window of the shop to peer outside. Meanwhile, Emily slipped her dainty feet into the shoes she liked. And once she was done, the payment was settled, and Westley took charge of carrying the three new pairs of shoes.

As they waited outside, with Emily's maid a few steps behind them, Westley proceeded to fetch the carriage. As she stood there, Emily observed the onlookers who continued to cast glances in their direction, bowing at the Storm King from a distance. His red hair contrasted with his black attire and pale skin, making him stand out in the crowd. 

"Back in Versailles, we never ventured into stores or mingled with the commoners," Emily remarked, her eyes continuously scanning everything within her sight. She observed the carriages passing by, their wheels and horses' hooves creating a rhythmic sound as they went by. She turned to him and asked, "Do you find anyone else's blood sweeter?" 

Raylen tilted his head and asked, "A few. Why the question?" 

"I always believed that only the blood of one's soulmate was meant to taste sweet." Emily shared her understanding. Then she inquired, "What if one of them turns out to be your soulmate?" 

"Worried for my soulmate or the ones I might leave behind?" Raylen's question was direct, and she replied, 

"Just curious." 

"Firstly, the women are aware that what is there between us is not tangible, and lastly, I cannot have a soulmate," Raylen answered her. "I am not an earthling like you, Princess."

Once the carriage arrived, the door was opened, and they climbed in. Shortly after, the vehicle departed from the town and began its journey towards the castle. On the way, Emily gazed outside the window at the lush surroundings. When they finally arrived back, they parted ways, heading in different directions towards their respective rooms. 

The head servant, Lauren, arrived at Emily's room to place the shoes in the wardrobe, while Julia assisted the princess in changing into another dress. She asked, "Did you find everything you were looking for, Princess Emily?" 

"I did," Emily responded with a smile. "They were all so different but beautiful. My gown will be delivered tomorrow morning."

Lauren's eyebrows lifted, and she expressed her concern, saying, "Hopefully at the earliest. I will assist you with tomorrow's preparations to ensure you aren't late."

"Princess Emily, I will fetch you a glass of milk," Julia informed before leaving the room. 

After Lauren finished starting a fire in the fireplace to warm the room, she moved to step out when Emily stopped her by asking, "Lauren, what happened to the king's siblings?" 

"Siblings?" Lauren asked, looking stupefied. She frowned and replied, "I don't think I know any of them."

Emily wondered what Beatrice meant earlier in the shoe shop. Seeing Lauren looking at her with a curious expression, she said, "It's nothing, really. The woman named Beatrice mentioned something about his siblings, and it just made me wonder."

As if something had dawned on her, Lauren inquired cautiously, "She did?" Emily detected a hint of concern in the demoness's otherwise calm eyes. In a hushed tone, she continued, "I don't believe she was referring to his demon siblings, but rather the ones from before he became a demon."

"An earthling," Emily murmured, and the woman nodded. "Where was he from?"

Lauren looked torn before saying, "From here, the Storm Kingdom. This palace has been his home since the beginning, before he descended to Hell." As if she had revealed more than she should have, she quickly added, "I will go check if lunch is ready." Offering a bow, she exited the room, leaving Emily alone with her thoughts.

—

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