Page 58 of Pawns of Fate
“She’s being modest. Yesterday she made a cinnamon bread that melted in my mouth. It was delicious!”
“Cinnamon bread?” Kreystallia tilted her head with curiosity. “I would love to know how to make cinnamon bread.”
“I’d be happy to show you. Especially if you would teach me how to make this soup.” Ava blew on a spoonful, then popped it in her mouth.
“I’d be delighted,” Kreystallia proclaimed.
From there, the conversation remained pleasant. Rose enjoyed the meal, even when Camillus and Kreystallia exchanged a few tender looks that reminded her exactly how far away she was from Nicholas.
She’d been especially surprised to watch Camillus dote on his infant son, Monawter. Despite his usual air of haughty indifference, Rose could tell he loved his little family. It made her painfully aware of a hole growing in her heart, a hole shaped like Nicholas.
“Would you like to hold him?” Camillus interrupted her thoughts and held Monawter out toward Rose.
She nodded her head enthusiastically, then clutched the child to her chest.
Monawter looked up at her with adorable brown eyes and the tiniest smile. As she had when she’d seen the baby toys in the house’s sitting room, Rose was charmed in an unexpected way.
“Oh, Rose, you’ll be such a good mother! Look, the baby already likes you!” Ava’s words were filled with warmth.
Rose smiled back at Ava despite the strange feelings flooding her chest. She hadn’t thought much about motherhood until the day Nicholas proposed that he’d impregnate her so that she wouldn’t have to come here. She’d been so focused on letting Nicholas down gently—and then the strange shadow she’d seen—that she hadn’t given it a thought since.
She’d turned Nicholas down that day. When they were reunited, though… She certainly wouldn’t. The thought of a little child with his blue eyes and her pink hair pleasantly melted her heart.
The baby began to cry, so Rose reluctantly returned him to his father. Camillus took him to the nursery, leaving the four women around the table.
“I wanted to talk with both of you about my jewelry,” Kreystallia declared nervously.
“Camillus mentioned you had a business idea,” Rose replied, trying to rein her thoughts back to the present moment.
Kreystallia wrung her hands. “I would like to set up a shop in Onanish Town. I want my business to grow beyond the Ojoh clan.”
“Why not the Imperial City, then? It is far larger than Onanish Town,” Ava asked.
“It is? I’ve never been.” She shook her head, then smiled. “This is why I wanted to talk with you. I want to sell my jewelry to other princesses. I mean, noble ladies. But Albionish nobles do things so differently. I’m the head elder’s daughter, but that doesn’t mean a thing north of this desert. I don’t know where to begin.” Kreystallia threw her hands up. “I would appreciate any information or guidance you could offer me.”
Rose thought for a moment about how to reply. Kreystallia’s designs would undoubtedly appeal to other aristocrats, but the jewelry would need to be introduced correctly. She’d have to be presented as an up-and-coming designer. If she debuted as an artist from the Ojoh clan, the biased nobles would never give her a chance.
“Rose and I could share some of your pieces with our friends! Once they see us wearing your jewelry, they are sure to wantsome for themselves,” Ava chimed in.
Rose wondered exactly what friends Ava was talking about. The Sharps were a powerful family, but that didn’t guarantee Ava and Rose any popularity, especially not when it came to setting fashion trends. She racked her brain. Ms. Peridot came to mind. She might not be an aristocrat, but she was a competent businesswoman with influence in the fashion world.
“Ava is right. It only takes a few of the right people to start a trend. We know a dressmaker who might be interested in working with you.”
“Would you talk to her for me?”
“Absolutely!” Ava replied.
“It will have to be after we return to Onanish, though,” Rose added.
Kreystallia thought for a minute. “I already mentioned that my father is the head elder. I’ll talk to him about how soon you two can go home. He wants my sister back anyway.”
“Is your sister the one they sent to Onanish?” Ava asked and sipped a little wine.
“Yes. Her name is Pescinnia. She’s my younger sister. They would have sent me, but I had just given birth.”
“Do you miss her?”
“Yes. I wish I’d been brave enough to go with her. Like you were, Lady Rose. Everyone in the city has heard about how you stood by your sister’s side. You are a great lady!”
