A Good Eye for People

Like I was saying, the trip to Valieris was rather uneventful. As expected, money really does solve everything. The caravan didn’t take the path I would have, but after everything that had happened I decided to keep my directions to myself. See, who said I’m not capable of reflecting on my actions?

My little sister was worried about crossing the border, but the guards let us through after I passed them a few coins.

After entering Valieris, I told the caravan driver to take me to the number one fashion central location. According to him, based on where we entered the country from, the best place to go was the city of Milize. After a few more days on the old dusty trail, I was dropped off in what I could only imagine was the biggest city in the world. A backwater Podunk like Ah’Ruh couldn’t even compare. I already knew that Milize was more my speed.

The first thing we needed to do was make sure that I could still access my money at the Temple Knights in Milize. Turns out it worked just as smoothly as they said it would. Apparently they had to do some exchange rate calculations, but that didn’t seem like my problem. With my only real concern made obsolete, I made sure to give my sister the ability to access my gold and sent her off to find us somewhere to live. She had a good head on her shoulders, so I was certain she’d find somewhere nice.

If it was up to me, I’d just rent a room in an inn. That just seemed like the kind of thing a mercenary would do. And over time I’d build up a rapport with the innkeeper. He’d always have a glass of my favorite liquor ready for me. And after I saved him from some ne'er-do-wells that came to rough the place up he’d let me stay for free.

That’s the life of a mercenary, but I couldn’t live like that anymore. I’ve got to look out for my sister. Staying somewhere like that would be putting her at risk. Kids need to grow up in a stable environment.

Was I a good big sister or what?

‘Aren’t you just pushing all the decisions you don’t want to make to her?’

The bird slept most of the day, but he still felt the need to make himself known on occasion.

“Shut up. I’m furthering her growth as a person.”

Anyway, with all of that settled I was finally able to go buy some clothes.

After wandering through the city for a few days I decided to settle on a fancy looking place called ‘The Golden Thread.’ It was the kind of place where you had to pay a few gold coins just to go inside. Apparently that money would go toward your future purchases, but I wasn’t certain if they gave it back if you didn’t end up buying anything.

I definitely didn’t decide to buy my clothes there just because of that though!

Ignoring the fact that I wanted to get my money’s worth, the dresses they had on display were the best I’d ever seen. With my level of sewing knowledge I couldn’t even fully understand how they stitched their clothes. Safe to say, these were clothes suited for royalty.

“I’ve decided this store will suit me. Bring me to your finest seamstress!”

I may seem like the type to yell out to no one in particular, but in this situation there had been a store employee catering to me from the moment I entered. I also made sure everyone in the store, customers included, understood that despite my current outfit I wasn’t a young girl. I was in the market for something that would suit a big sister like me.

“Of course, ma’am. I would be honored to take your measurements.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

A woman who I’d assumed was another customer forced herself between the employee and myself.

“Ah, um, Lady Milize, I was unaware that you had an appointment today. Please, allow us to empty the store.”

Wow. This Milize lady must be a big deal. People were happy to treat me like a princess when I was throwing gold around, but when a genuine article showed up I was back to being a nobody.

I wasn’t upset or anything, that’s just the way it was.

While the employee was lowering her head, I found myself looking up. Milize was tall for a woman. Easily a head taller than Eris, and only slightly shorter than Sanson. Both her hair and eyes seemed unnaturally golden and immaculately well maintained. At first glance she seemed to just be wearing a simple skirt and blouse, but that’s what she was going for. Her clothes were clearly of the highest quality, yet they made no attempt to stand out. She didn’t want to look flashy. And with her proportions, if she wanted to stand out, no one would be able to look away. She might be keeping her assets hidden, but you can’t fool my fourth sense. She might give Eris some competition.

Needless to say, she was a perfect beauty. It’s easy to see how someone that attractive would be given special treatment if they came from some bigshot family.

Despite what you might be thinking, it’s not like I’m attracted to her. I’m not some simple undead that falls in love with every attractive person I see. Honestly, I don’t even find her desirable. My previous observations were based on objective facts, not personal feelings. As an undead my sex drive is nonexistent anyway. The way I understand it, the only reason I can recognize Eris's glory is because she’s been praying to me, even if she doesn’t realize I’m the one she’s praying to. Since I can’t give out any divine blessings, all I can give is my love.

Why won’t she just accept it already?

Hmm? What were we talking about?

Oh, yeah. If anything, this woman having such an amazing figure only annoyed me. I wasn’t jealous or anything. It just seemed unfair that some people had all the luck. If I was that tall I’d already have the entire world in the palm of my hand.

“No, Janis, there’s no need to go that far. I don’t like abusing my authority. Treat me the same as anyone else.”

The princess-like woman responded to the employee as if they were old friends. Based on the look of awe on the employee’s face, she was just as surprised as I was.

“Ah, yes, of course. The Saint of Valieris would never do something like that!”

“Please, I don’t deserve a name like that. Just call me Anelace.”

“Someone like me could never refer to you like that!”

“Someone like you? Please, don’t view yourself so poorly. We are all the children of the gods, and before them, we are all equals.”

I could feel my skin start to burn as a holy aura was radiating from this Anelace.

“Lady Milize. . .”

The employee was still staring like she just met a celebrity. I knew she must be important after I saw how tall she was, but it must go even beyond that.

“Now, allow me to apologize for that digression.” She turned to address me. “My name is Anelace Milize. I’ve lived most of my life in this city. I take it you’re not from here?”

“Yeah. I just got here recently. How could you tell?” I had thought I was blending in perfectly.

“If someone such as yourself was a regular in this district I certainly would have remembered you.”

Makes sense. I can’t imagine a place as expensive as this catered to that many people, so it’s not unrealistic for a regular customer to notice someone new. Especially when you consider how radiant I was. She might have been slightly taller and had slightly better proportions, but I was still the most exquisite person to ever grace this establishment. I was unforgettable.

“And you’ve been speaking Theran this whole time.”

Oh, yeah. I kind of forgot about the whole language thing. Despite already meeting those people from the desert I just kind of assumed everyone spoke the same language.

“So you don’t want me shopping here? Because I’m from somewhere else?”

We’d gone slightly off track, but this all started after she didn’t want me to get my measurements taken.

“What? Oh, no. My apologies, I didn’t mean that at all. Almost everyone in Valieris can speak Theran, don’t worry about that. No, no, it’s the opposite. Someone as beautiful as yourself deserves, no, requires the finest clothing that money can buy. Such finery is wasted on my humble form, but for you to not be in this city’s finest threads is an absolute travesty.”

“I see you’ve got a good eye for people.”

“But of course. And these eyes are exactly why you don’t need to be measured. I can already tell that you are the perfect size to fit a dress that I had prepared.”

“Ignoring your ability to get my sizes from a look, a skill in which I’d be interested in learning, I can’t imagine that any dress you’ve had made after hitting puberty would fit me at all. Yes, I’ll admit it. Does that make you happy? I’m not tall enough to wear anything made for you!”

“Excuse me, but I don’t believe height is the primary issue. We could always shorten the fabric, but when you take into account the-”

“Leave it at that, thanks.” I stopped the employee before she could inflict any more damage on me.

“I would never dare suggest such a thing! No clothes designed for someone as hideous as myself would ever suit you. This was a dress that I had prepared to the specifications of a goddess. I’ve patiently waited for the day I met someone who could fill it out. Others have been close, but after seeing you, I knew you were the one.”

“I see. That makes sense.”

‘What part of any of this makes any sense? Listen, Miss, this lady is definitely bad news.’

What was the bird talking about? It’s only natural that something like this would happen. If anything, it’s surprising that there haven’t been more people enthralled by my divine beauty.

“Then please, come back to my manor with me. The dress is waiting there.”

“Sure, why not?”

“And Janis, as an apology for poaching a customer, please have my seamstress prepare a new autumn dress for me. Make sure that the motif matches the goddess of the harvest.”

“Of course, Lady Milize.”

‘You clearly aren’t interested in listening to me, but let me get this on the record now. I don’t know who this woman is, but nothing good will come from this.’

“Hold on just a minute!” I can’t believe the bird thought so little of me. Even I could tell something was terribly off. “You looked like a person I could trust, but if you plan on wearing an outfit dedicated to that follower stealing harlot I don’t think your fashion sense can be trusted.”

“Ah, I’m. . . I’m having that dress prepared in order to burn it myself.”

“Oh, I hadn’t considered that. Sorry for saying that stuff about you having bad taste. You’re more reasonable than I thought. Buying an expensive dress just to burn it? That’s awesome! Stick it to her! Alright, let’s get going! Go go go!”

‘There’s no hope for you. Just promise that you won’t let her anywhere near your sister.’

The bird was such a worrier. Listen, if you aren’t willing to follow a stranger to their home, you’ll never get the nice things they promised to give you. That’s just simple math. And besides, I couldn’t place why, but I had the feeling that this lady would get along great with my little sister.