D 2 (Edited Version)

The leaves of the trees that surround the road dances together with the wind, the shadow that it casts follows its steps as if it wants to create a shadow play in the middle of the day. You can hear the playful chatter of the people inside of every shop you pass by. Their juicy gossips echoing from the shops to the alleyways separating each shop. The clattering of dishes inside the restaurants reverberates together with the heart felt talks of couples sitting on their tables. Everything might look normal and peaceful, but when you look at the shop owner’s faces— you can see sadness in their eyes despite their happy faces.

                This can only mean one thing: even though they have customers, it’s not enough to keep their shops open; thus, they might close down or worse, get bankrupt.

                It breaks my heart seeing this things. It pains me to see that even though everyone is having fun, there’s still a side of their brain thinking that someday, all of the things they have and experienced, might disappear.

                However, despite the customer’s happy conversations and the owner’s trying their hardest to push their worries to the back of their minds and hiding the worried look on their faces, no one can’t stop their heads from turning to the store window and stare at the two people taking a stroll. Nothing seems strange to them as they are dressed like a common noble people, they are dressed in simple yet elegant clothing and can be seen having a great conversation under the early afternoon sun. A man and a woman— assumed to be a married couple by the onlookers— strolled their way across the towns and streets of the Fortess dukedom. Looking at every store, having a little comment and resuming on their stroll, and they will repeat it again.

                Really, nothing is suspicious about this two, except that there’s no apparent crest in their clothing or anything that will reveal their nobility status and what family they belong to; no carriage seems to be following them and no maids or servants either. For a noble- looking couple, it is strange.

                The other nobles couldn’t care less, as they see the two as ‘some stranger’ strolling at the streets of the dukedom, but this is another case to the owners of the store. Being an owner means knowing your customers: remembering their names, status, financial capabilities, likes, dislikes and everything else that indicate more income to them. The appearance of these two people— intrigued them as they have never seem these two before. With no way to identify them, the owners just deduced that they could be a completely new couple, nobles from another dukedom who just wanted to have their honeymoon in Fortess dukedom or just a really complete strangers who came upon riches and climbed up their status.

                No matter, for them: they are new sources of income. They must attract these two strangers.

                Upon the light chatter of the two strangers walking down the streets, they can’t help but feel unnerved and uncomfortable, especially the woman. You see, the cousin of the duchess had a very bright idea— and it means being in this clothes and walking down the streets of her own dukedom.

                “Seriously Drew, when we get home, I will give you a piece of my mind.” I said in an aggressive voice whilst maintaining my smile and the aura of a light atmosphere around me. But instead of being threatened, he just gave a light chuckle. ‘The audacity of this man. Being my cousin doesn’t mean he can do this to me so abruptly.’ I thought as I reminiscence from the time me told me this:

                “Who said you’re going as a duchess?” I raised a brow as he said this to me and immediately got up and straightened his clothes as I sat still in my chair, baffled at his actions yet being curious about his plan. I don’t know what to think at first, my mind still occupied by the worries and problems that I have to face, I slowly sat up from my chair and followed him outside to where the carriage is situated which is prepared by Yuri. Still clueless, I inquired him again.

                “Drew, what are you really planning?” but I got no answer from him. Instead of opening his mouth and providing me the answer that I needed, he instead, opened the carriage door and held out his other hand for me to grab, as a support upon entering the vehicle. When he entered, he emitted a light chuckle that made me question more and a little unnerved. Really not knowing or not having a single clue about things really throws me off. I won’t be able to plan ahead because of this. Trying to come up with answers, my mind started to overthink.

                ‘Could it be a secret tour? Like, a tour but in the hidden streets of the dukedom where I can still see everything? But that won’t suffice to his statement. What does he mean by that? Is he implying that I won’t go as the duchess of this dukedom? Am I going as a what? A maid, a servant?’ I didn’t realized that I’m wearing a frown in my face as I overthink. I didn’t even noticed Yuri going in too and Nikos driving the carriage off unto an address Drew gave. I didn’t even hear the address. At this point, my mind is toasted, at its limit and cannot think more. I can’t help but hold my forehead and release a deep sigh.

                “Come on, don’t be so stressed dear cousin. Lighten up a bit. Trust me, this one will be easy. All we need to do is go to my shop and prepare somethings and tomorrow, we will begin our tour.” Drew said with a light laugh, hoping that it will lighten me up a bit. As he was sitting beside me, he also patter my right shoulder and resumed to staring outside the window and appreciating the road scenery. I didn’t lighten up though, I just sulked more.

                “But, why do I need to come too? If it’s something that you must do, can’t you just go by yourself? Why do I need to come too?” I questioned again. “If you have left me in the estate, I could’ve read more of the documents and reports to further expound my knowledge and find a solution for the problems of the dukedom.” At this point, I’m crossing my arms and huffed at him. He didn’t seem to mind my tantrum though, he just laughed at it and said, “Oh my, dear cousin. Still looking cute when having her tantrums, just like the old days.” And continued staring outside again.

                The rest of the ride became silent after that. My anger was cooling down and I can feel exhaustion inside me even though all I did all day was read documents and papers. I felt my shoulders relaxing, slumping down as I relaxed on my seat. I leaned my head on the carriage window and stared outside, admiring the lines of shops, with occasional trees and people passing by. The scenery was made more peaceful by the orange-y hues casted upon the buildings and the streets by the early sunset. No one bothered looking at our carriage as it is not a marked one. It looks just like one of those for-rent carriages so, in the eyes of the citizens, this is a normal carriage rented by anonymous people.

                At that moment, for the first time in the few weeks that I’m in this world, I felt at peace and calm. I can feel my back comfortably laying at the seat, my breathe in a slow and relaxing pace as my hands lay flat at my lap. For the first time in forever, I felt my mind getting cleared up. As if a thick fog was hovering in the entirety of my brain, making me unable to retain and comprehend information, making me unable to think clearly and fast. It felt like that fog was being cleared up, being lifted up and making me see well. Making me think better. For the first time, I felt at ease.

                With the long ride coming to stop at a pastry shop, the tranquility that I have was cut as Drew ushered me into the shop.

                “Crème De La Crème” I read the sign of the pastry shop. From just the outside, it gives you the feeling of a comfortable place to stop by and have a snack. It also gives you the feeling of being back as a child and tasting the sweet treats. “I know this is not your first time in here as you also helped into the architectural aspects of it but, you haven’t seen it in its complete form. So, I welcome you in my shop Frielle. Welcome ‘La Crème’ Pastry Shop. Where the top selling pastries are made and sold.” Drew said proudly as he ushered me further inside the shop. This place make me feel nostalgia and wonder all together.

                The outside was constructed in a way that perfectly showcases the pastries. With a double glass door in the middle, the inside was visible enough for the passing by customers to see. Two big glass windows were situated on the either side of the glass doors where pastries were lined up in a neat and inviting way, all covered in glass domes to prevent them from spoiling fast and to preserve their structure. It is also a way to keep it clean and prevent customers inside to touch or try them. That would be unethical. The inside of the shop was spacious, with shelves upon shelves of various pastries were line up in a way that occupies the space inside the shop, but still giving the customers an aisle to traverse and see each kind. Upon the walls were different kinds of boxes, wrappers and cards that’s used to wrap the bought pastries up. There’s a wide selection of colors for each box and it comes with an elegant ribbon to tie it up. Cards were lined according to their contents like: greeting cards, get-well-soon cards, birthday cards and many more. The ambience was made calm and soothing by the brown paint and the dark varnish that is used for the woods.

                Further inside the shop lies the counter where customers give their order to be wrapped up. The counter has also a display glass where the most expensive and high end pastries where presented. Ranging from Opera Chocolate cakes, Black Forest cake, Baked Alaska seated atop a cold container to keep the ice cream inside intact and to prevent it from melting, and may more. The shop continues to run smoothly even though the owner and the duchess were at their presence. And there’s not much of a customer that time since it’s nearing night time.

                My admiration of the shop was cut short as Drew dragged me further inside the shop, into his office. The staff and the customers, upon noticing me, immediately bowed down and paid me greetings, although I wasn’t able to return the greetings because of how fast Drew was dragging me. Only Yuri followed inside as Nikos was left to tend to the carriage. Although, I know he would love to come with too.

                ‘Poor Nikos.’ I thought to myself and heaved a shallow sigh as we entered his office.

                Unlike the shop, his office was a bit smaller but still in the color palette of brown. In the middle were is desk and on the left side of that was a tray full of letters and documents. On the right side of the room were bookshelves partially filled with books, mostly recipe books. Behind the desk was a window, with curtains draped on it, not allowing the outsiders to see inside. Although I would bet that the other side of that window is just a small clearing surrounded by a few trees.

                Feeling the impatience once again, I asked Drew as he closed the door. “Okay, that’s it! Tell me what’s going on inside your brain this instance.” I demanded to him, crossing my left arm and pointing my right arm at him. He just showed me a sheepish smile and proceeded to open the window, still with drapes dropped down and sat at his chair. “Okay, I will tell you now. Why don’t you have a seat?” Drew inquired. But I was too stubborn to even sit, so I demanded an answer again.

                “Fine, fine, calm down. Geez, when did you became so stubborn and impatient?” Drew raised both his hands in the air, portraying that he surrenders.

                “Look, you said it yourself, you can’t go around as the duchess as it will only worsen the citizen’s picture of you. Not only do they hate you, even though they still showed respect a while ago, there’s no guaranteed that they will not spread rumors about the ‘duchess being worse than her grandfather’ if they saw you strolling around freely on the streets of the dukedom. Besides, who knows if it’s safe for you out there? I’ve heard that there’s a rebellion being formed and that assassination is a high possibility.”

                “Then why am I still alive even though I was outside a moment ago?”

                “I don’t know. But! I know a way for you to survey the dukedom without arising suspicion, being branded as ‘worse than her grandfather’ and no assassination attempts happening.”

                “Gah, spill.”

                And that has lead us into this situation. Both Drew and I dressed in a simple yet elegant noble clothing, strolling around the streets of the dukedom while taking notes of literally everything as we feel thousands of eyes stare at us. It’s really a good thing that Drew has a way with disguises— even though it is a mystery on how he acquired such skill. For him, he was wearing a simple light green tail coat with a black and white striped corset and a white shirt underneath it. He also wore a black fitted pants and brown boots. In his neck were a necklace with a lavender pendant. He wore a black slicked back hair wig but retained his eye color.

                I wore a simple white baby doll dress with daisy flowers as design. It is a flowy fabric and reaches unto my feet, covering my light blue flat shoes. The sleeves of the dress were puff in form and with daisy flowers around it too. My neck was adorned with a simple gold necklace with a name as a pendant: ‘omorfos’. Because I will be immediately recognized by my eye color and hair, I also needed to wear a long and wavy platinum blonde wig and a tinted shades. It is best to hide things that will blow our covers up lest we want this to go to waste. It would be a bad ending for me if I were to be eaten alive by the hatred of the people.

                “Try to calm down Frielle. We’re almost done anyways, and Nikos is waiting by the 4^th alleyway with our carriage. With the Intel that we have, we can go home and plan more. Okay?” Drew said to me reassuringly. I just nodded, still with a smile plastered at my face.

                ‘I don’t know if I should be grateful that I have sim by my side. Who knows what would happen to me in this world if not for him caring for me during those weeks.’ I told myself as we neared a café where a man in his late 40s stands outside.

                He seems to be the owner of the café given by his uniform with the logo of the café in it. As we neared him, Drew’s left hand grabs my right arm a little tightly as the man welcomed us with a warm smile. “Welcome, hi, welcome to my café. I presume you two are new in this place? Pleased to meet you. Why don’t you try our coffee? Perfect for an afternoon date eh? What do you say?” the man said in an enthusiastic voice. As he said his monologue, he also slightly pushed us inside the café, allowing us to get a waft of the coffee brewing.

                The inside is indeed a beauty to see. There’s also a plenty of customers around, enjoying their coffee alone, with a date or with a group of friends. I was about to decline to the offer of the man but Drew interrupted me. “Why don’t we try it first? I’m sure they also have a great selection of tea, isn’t that right?” Drew turned to the owner, as the man’s face brightened up.

                “Yes, of course, we also have a great selection of tea! Tell me, what flavor or what kind of blend do you like milady and I am sure to prepare it for you.” The man enthusiastically said. I can already see a shining aura around him due to his enthusiasm. But it is understandable… in the line of business, you have to always be enthusiastic, inviting and warm to your potential customer. He seated as beside the glass window where the streets can be viewed as some carriages and people walk by. He took our orders: Drew wanting a black coffee and me having a chamomile tea.

                 We were patiently waiting for our orders when the bell rang and a person came in. Everyone was in a total shock and gasps upon laying sight at the new comer. My back was facing the door so I have to turn around to see what’s going on. I too, cannot help but gasp. Everyone, including me and Drew, immediately got up to their seat and bowed down. What a turn of events. Once he accepted our greeting, everyone sat again but this time, with whispers and murmurs.               

                I mean, who would’ve thought that the Crown Prince would visit this place.

                ‘But, why is he here though?’