Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Six - Forewarned is Foreworn

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Six - Forewarned is Foreworn

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Six - Forewarned is Foreworn

Rosaline claimed to be the greatest expert in the matter of talonware in all of the Nesting Kingdom and beyond. A claim that Amaryllis seemed to grudgingly agree to. The elder sister was, according to Amaryllis, really fond of dragging people to stores to gawk at things.

We got back into our carriage and were soon riding along through a section of the city filled with shops and little boutiques. This is the retail district, Rosaline said as she leaned over Awen to stick her face in the carriages window. Its where you can buy the best stuff.

I hadnt been all that excited for the ball thing before today, but Rosalines enthusiasm about it was getting to me. Now I was kind of looking forward to it. Whats a harpy ball like? I asked as the carriage rolled off the main market street and onto a back road where there was plenty more room to park.

Parking something pulled by horses was a bit trickier than parking a modern car with a transmission that could reverse and wheels that could turn a whole lot.

That depends on the kind of ball, Rosaline said.

There are sorts? I asked.

Amaryllis huffed and opened the door next to her to jump out. Of course there are sorts of balls. Each with slightly different etiquettes.

Some, Rosaline added. Are a lot more fun than others. It really depends on their purpose. The seasonal balls held every year tend to be a bit less formal. Especially the Winter Ball over the solstice. Some, like the Ball of the Golden Peak, which is led by the military, are very stiff and boring. But I have to attend anyway because we sell ships to them every year.

Okay, I said. And what about the one were going to?

Rosaline waited until we were all gathered at the back of the carriage before she went on. This one will be a bit boring. Its a political ball. Lots of hobnobbing and talking and making sure others know youre bigger and better than they are.

That does sound a bit boring, I said.

Rosaline gestured down the street and looked both ways before she ran across the street with the rest of us in tow. Yup! she said as she landed on the sidewalk opposite. Did you want more of an itinerary for it?

I guess that couldnt hurt, I said.

She nodded along. Different sorts of parties have different ways of doing things, and theres always some variation depending on the host. In this case though itll probably start with everyone being welcomed in, then gathering in the main hall. Someone will give a boring speech, usually the host. Then a guest of honour will give another boring speech. And then its more, but shorter, speeches by a bunch of people.

Thats a lot of speeches, I said.

It is, Amaryllis agreed.

Awen nodded along. That, ah, sounds a lot like some of the balls back home. But not the ones with Uncle. He... made sure there werent any speeches.

Howd he manage that? Rosaline asked. I dont think anyone except for the Goose Prince could get people to skip the speeches.

Awen shrugged a little. Hes... important enough that people kind of need to let him speak if he wants to, she said. The harpies nodded as if that made sense. And when its his turn, he just tells one of his stories. One of the long ones. Her face warmed a bit. One of the very gr-graphic ones.

Rosealin tapped her chin. So he ruins the speech part by being so scandalous that they... what, just cancelled them when hes around?

Awen nodded. Thats it, yes.

No, Amaryllis cut in. You are most certainly not allowed to try the same tactic. I swear Ill tell Clem and she will find a way to get Gen-Gen to tan your hide if you do it.

Rosaline cackled with mischievous glee. Oh, Id never, she said. But Im sure I can convince someone to make a spectacle of themselves one of these days.

Now that I looked, it seemed as if it was only the young that went without something on their head. The richer someones clothes, the more elaborate and colourful the headwear, which made its own sort of sense.

Is there a nice hat shop around here? I asked.

The best! Rosaline claimed with unusual seriousness.

She led us along through the crowds until we reached a big store. The shop took up enough room for three others, with wide glass windows at the front split by statuesque columns, each one with rows of wooden heads with beautiful headpieces on them. From pointy wizard caps to pretty floral bonnets.

Whoa, I said as I took in the imposing sign above the entrance. The words Hat Emporium stood tall and proud before a wooden backdrop.

This is the place for hats and such, Roasaline said.

We were announced by the jingle of a bell above the door, loud chimes calling out across the open floor of the hat shop, telling the world that we had arrived. Not that the people within paid us all that much attention. There were nice hats to look at and try on, after all.

So many, I said as I took in all the pretty hats.

Skipping over to a display of bowler hats, I picked one off the rack and tried to try it on.

Unfortunately, I ran into a pair of big problems; big bunny-eared shaped problems.

I heard Amaryllis snort from behind me a moment before she carefully removed the bowler hat from my hands and placed it atop her own head. I think were going to need to ask someone that works here for some assistance, she said.

Do you think they make hats for buns here? I asked.

Certainly. Lets leave my sister and Awen to tease each other and find some help, shall we?

A glance over my shoulder showed a grinning Rosaline placing a bonnet atop Awens head. The little flowers on it matched her blonde hair and rosy cheeks.

Amaryllis pulled me along to the front of the store where a young harpy girl was standing behind a counter with the happy smile all retail workers wore when before a client. Hello. May I assist you? she asked while glancing up at my head. Are you looking for the exotic heads section?

Exotic heads? I asked.

She nodded, then gestured towards a far corner. For our clients with... unique cranial features. You can also have any normal headwear modified for a small custom tailoring fee.

That sounds nice, I said. Well go check that out!

Of all the things I expected from growing a pair of cute bunny ears atop my head, having to pay a premium for a nice hat to compliment them was not one of them. The hats in the corner for exotic heads were a bit older looking, some of them clearly made for heads that were much bigger or shaped way different than what Id come to expect.

Amaryllis found a pair of bonnets that had holes in them for bun ears, but they were too small to fit my head.

I sighed. This is annoying, I said as I pulled a straw hat from off a nearby mannequin. I guess Ill just need to buy a normal hat and pay for someone to tailor a pair of holes into it. Saying so, I poked my fingers where I expected the holes would need to be.

I didnt expect my fingers to break through the straw.

...Oops.

Ding! For repeating a Special Action a sufficient number of times you have unlocked the class skill: Mad Millinery!

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