Finder's Keeper's

I ENTERED THE dancer's house, already out of breath from racing back from the carriages. I looked around, trying to get the attention of any one of the dancers, but they seemed to be occupied with the patrons, as the house was now more full than when I left it.

I should find Auna! Surely she’ll know by now if the watch has been found.

I headed over to the bar, where Auna was back at it again, filling up two glasses of wine.

“Auna? Have you found it?” I asked her eagerly.

“Huh~? Oh! Esmeline!” She said, looking down at me with flushed cheeks and her dress slipping off her shoulders. She was clearly intoxicated, but I didn’t mind at the moment. I just had to speak more clearly and in short sentences.

“The pocket watch? Did you find it?” I repeat.

“Oh, no, no one has said anything yet,” Auna replies lazily.

My blood runs cold, and I shift my feet anxiously. Seralind and the other dancers are getting ready right now as we speak. I only had a maximum of about fifteen minutes left.

She then gives me a sly grin.

“Hey, do you want a sip? I won’t tell Sera, I promise!” She giggles, gesturing to the glass.

“No, thank you!” I sigh, deciding to get away from her. Maybe if I asked the others, they’ll know.

I find Marionne, but she says she hasn’t seen any from the rooms she’s been in. Even Grace had been looking, but they had the same conclusion.

I felt the hope slipping through my fingers with every rejection. What was I going to do now? Seralind wouldn’t go unless her payment for the night was cleared.

I felt myself breathing heavily, tears building up in my eyes.

No, don’t cry, Esmeline! I scolded myself, squeezing my eyes shut. I rubbed them with my fists, pulling myself together. I thought about whether there were any dancers I hadn’t asked, ruminating through faces in my mind.

“There you are, Esmeline!” One of the ladies cried out. It startled me out of my head.

I looked up and saw one of the women carrying her skirt to skip over to me. Thalina was her name, I think.

“I’ve been lookin’ for ya, sweetheart! I heard you got back, but when I catch wind of ya, you disappear just like that. Hard to catch, like a rabbit!”

Thalina giggles before reaching into her skirt and pulling out a vintage golden pocket watch, with engravings on the back. It ticks slightly, still operable. It practically shines like a crown jewel, and I could feel my shoulders slacken, a big sigh escaping from me.

“I found it in one of the drawers of the rooms. I thought I’d do a quick search before leaving, and ta-da! Lucky us, right?”

She drops the pocket watch into my palms, and I stare at it. I couldn’t believe my eyes!

I tried to thank her, but the exhaustion overwhelms my body, and I begin to cry.

I thought it was over! I thought I failed!

“Oh, don’t cry! It’s okay!” She says hurriedly, holding onto my shoulders.

“T-Thank y-you!” I hiccup between sobs, wrapping my arms around her neck.

“No problem, sweetheart, but ya gonna mess up my makeup!” Thalina says, holding onto my face. She gives me a smooch on my forehead with an audible smack, and I wipe off the remnants of lipstick, sniffling.

Thalina returns to work, and I grip the pocket watch in my small hands like a lifeline, the gold warm from her skirt. The ticking clock reminded me that my own time was running out.

Another trip, I sigh, remembering I now have to visit the pawn shop. But lucky for me, it’s much closer than the carriages.

I turn on my heels, ready to exit the dancer house once again. But a shrill cackle stops me in my tracks, as a rope has wrapped around my muscles and locked me in place.

I watch as Madame Whispet stumbles into the dancer house, a smile crossed along her usually terse face. She flicks her fan in front of her face to nondiscreetly conceal a burp.

Oh, no! I think to myself. I couldn’t even hide because she locked eyes with me immediately.

Her tipsy, blissful expression twisted to annoyance at the sight of me.

“What are you still doing awake? You’re not scaring off my customers, are you?” She says, sauntering over to me.

“N-No, ma’am!” I replied quickly.

What’s she doing back here? She’s supposed to be out!!

“Hey, the girls are working, right? I came back to make sure no one was slacking around. I lost a lot of money, and I need to make sure my girls are going to get it back!”

“They’re working really hard, ma’am!” I responded, even though I was frustrated she only came back to criticize the women’s work ethic.

“You better be too! I gotta get my free bed’s worth out of you!” She says, pointing an accusatory finger at me.

I feel the pocket watch in my apron’s pocket.

Maybe if I stand still enough, she’ll leave me alone…

“What do you have there in your pocket, Esmeline?” Madame Whispet grumbles.

The Madame, although intoxicated, seemed to be able to sniff out anything of value.

“N-Nothing!” I say, tightening my fist around the watch. It was now hot because of my sweating palms.

“You’re a terrible liar, just like your useless sister. Let me see. Hold out your hand.” She demanded, extending her palm.

I gulped, wondering what to do. If she sees the watch, she’ll surely take it from me. And I couldn’t let that happen.

I hesitated to take out my hand, fumbling around in my pockets.

“Now, Esm-Esmeline!” She squawks, stumbling over my name.

I pull out my hand, enclosed in a fist. The Madame is quick to pry it open, and…

It was leftover grains from the geese that Miss Berraultier had given to me.

“What is this?” She deadpans.

“Seeds! I-I saw a baby mouse, and I wanted to feed it.” I lie casually.

“Ugh! You dim-witted brat! Don’t even think about it. Next time you see that vermin, crush it with a bucket, understand?”

I gulp and nod, shoving my hand in my pocket. My fingers instinctively wrap around the watch, as though checking if it’s still there. She saunters off, probably to yell at another girl.

I lie well enough to fool you! I think to myself proudly. I was also thankful that the Madame wasn’t completely clear-minded, as that could have ended differently.

Using my chance, I escape from the dancer house to sell off my prize.

***

I hold the five silver coins in my hands, keeping them safely tucked away in my pocket. Seralind had told me her quota is to get at least five silver coins a week, so I asked the pawn shop owner to give me at least that much for the watch. I didn’t know if it was more expensive than that, but at the moment I was too happy to care.

I ran up the stairs into the vanity room. As expected, the dancers set for the palace were all there getting ready. They chatted about themselves as they assembled their costumes for the last night.

Seralind was just about to get ready for the palace. She had most of her hair done; a hastily put-together half-updo, accessorized with several different ribbons that were tangled with her tresses to keep it intact and flowed down the length of it. Thankfully, she wasn’t in costume yet.

She did, however, have an expression of nervousness on her face as she smeared her lipstick in a rush.

“Sera!” I say, going up to her. She looks down at me with an exhausted smile.

“Oh! Aren’t you supposed to be asleep?” She says, turning back to the mirror to tend to her makeup without a beat.

“Yes, but I have to show you something,” I say eagerly. “It’s very important!”

Seralind sighs, but she still speaks gently.

“Esmeline, I’m in quite the rush right now, so it will have to wait until tomorrow. I got back later than I expected.”

Seralind takes a bottle of perfume, one I hadn’t seen before, and sprays her neck and hair. Maybe she bought it today while she was out.

“Please? You won’t regret it!” I say, trying to convince her.

“I mean it, I’m sorry!” She says instead, dismissing me. “Go out to the festival tonight, okay? Remember what Miss Berraultier said about having fun?”

I do remember what she said, and it’s why I’m doing this in the first place! I pout. How was I supposed to convince her to come with me?

I let out a small gasp, an idea popping into my head. I tuck my hands behind my back, trying to act as innocent as possible.

“Well, I wanted it to be a surprise, but I guess I’ll tell you now!” I say. “Miss Berraultier wanted me to tell you to come to her store. She’s made a new pair of slippers for you!”

Seralind halts in her movements, finally looking at me.

“What? Really?” She asks, her eyes bright with hope.

“I told her yours were destroyed, and she has a new pair for you!” I lie to Seralind. It seems tonight, I’m the most untruthful I’ve ever been.

It’s for a good cause, Esmeline. I tell myself, putting on a smile for Seralind.

“You have to be telling me the truth. Are you sure that’s what she said?” Seralind asks carefully.

“Yes! She wants you to come right now before you leave for the ball!” I told her. Seralind looks anxious, debating whether she should go or not.

“Alright,” she finally relents, standing up and grabbing a cloak off of the wall. She tells Lorelei that she has to go get something, and that she’ll meet them there.

I lead the way, practically skipping out of the dancer house with Seralind in tow. The last phase of my plan is coming to a close, but it might be the hardest part yet, as the entire night is riding on it succeeding.