Ten Gold Coins

When Aylin noticed that Iris wasn't moving, she turned to face her, "What's wrong?"

Iris remained frozen, unable to look away. She didn't speak but kept staring at Aylin's tattoo. "Do you believe in fate?" Iris questioned, Her voice sounded calm despite what her expression was suggesting otherwise.

"I do… I guess?" Aylin replied.

"Well, that's good because it's a very interesting thing." Iris smiled, regaining herself before helping her out of the dress.

Immediately they stepped into the room, Rhea stood up. "All done?" She asked, smiling.

"All done," Aylin confirmed, nodding.

"Great! Come, let's go." Rhea said, pulling Aylin out of the room.

"Uhh… Where are we going? And what about–"

"I'm going to give you a tour of the market." Rhea interrupted, lacing her arm around Aylin's arm.

Aylin glanced back to see Karl following closely behind them as soon as they stepped out.

"You never seem to surprise me, Aylin," Rhea stated and Aylin stared at her; eyebrows raised.

"The clothes you told Iris to make, I would have never thought you like such clothing. I was surprised, especially when you mentioned men's clothing." Grinning, Rhea answered Aylin's silent question.

"Oh, that… Well, just like your grandmother said, I came from Ethere and that's the type of clothing the women wear." The lies flowed seamlessly from Aylin's lips like it was her second nature. while Rhea, who didn't know much about Ethere's culture nodded in response. Actually, not many people knew much about Ethere, which was how it got the name —mysterious city.

Rhea's gaze flitted toward Aylin "As expected, you people are different." She commented and Aylin gave her a tight smile in response.

You have no idea how different…

Walking down the wide sidewalk past stores selling all kinds of merchandise, Aylin was mesmerized by their wares. She tried to take a look around and caught the eyes of some men and women staring at her like she was some Alien.

"Is that Lady Rhea?" One woman asked her friend.

"Yes, I didn't know she was back."

"And who is that besides her."

"I don't know, I've never seen her before."

"Neither have I."

"Take a look at her hair, I've never seen anyone with two hair colors."

"And her face, she looks too beautiful."

"Do you think she's a witch?" Another asked and they all gasped.

"A witch?! But what would Lady Rhea do with a witch? Is she friends with a witch?"

They all gagged together and Aylin frowned slightly.

What the hell? What was wrong with these women?

"Ignore them," Rhea said as she continued walking. "They mean nothing. Just a bunch of brainless mannequins."

Aylin nodded her head but she couldn't help but feel annoyed by what she heard. They sure liked to call anyone who looked different a witch.

Seeing Aylin's frown, Rhea spoke up, "I'm not sure if you've heard but girls go missing and are later found dead in a forest with their hearts pulled out. People have been speculating that this was a witch's doing causing the hatred for witches to increase. So–"

"So because I look different, I'm a witch and since they think that I'm a witch, they will automatically hate me." Aylin finished Rhea's words, shaking her at how idiotic that was.

Like f*ck! It wasn't her fault that she was this beautiful or that her hair color was different. And if it made them think that she was a witch, then so be it. They could think whatever they h*ll they wanted to as long as they didn't say it to her face.

In her world, people praised her beauty and complimented her hair color, but here, they thought that she was a f*cking witch?! Seriously?!

Bunch of Oddballs.

Contrasting to her thoughts, Aylin smiled at Rhea and continued, "It's alright, I understand. I'm not the least concerned about what they think, I'm more concerned about the death of the girls. What do you think about it?" Aylin asked, wanting to know what Rhea thought about it.

"What do I think?" Rhea tilted her head. "I think it's not the work of witches but someone else and whoever they are, they are looking for something or maybe… someone."

"How are you so sure?" Aylin raised a brow making Rhea smile.

"You asked for what I thought and that's what I think."

Aylin stared at Rhea for some time before nodding.

…

After walking through countless different storefronts and stores, the girls found a stall, which was selling delicious desserts, and were immediately drawn to the sweet and juicy treats.

They stepped in front of the stall and called out to the stall owner who had his back on them.

He immediately spun around and then saw two beautiful ladies who were nobles judging from the cloth they wore. An overly broad smile formed on his lips as his eyes sparkled in joy. He quickly set down his tray on the table beside him and stood to greet the two girls, bowing respectfully as he approached them.

"What can I do for you Miladies?"

"What else?" Rhea, who was in front, sneered and pointed toward several cakes, cookies, and sweets. "Pack everything I pointed at, ten each."

Aylin's eyes widened and turned to look at Rhea, "Isn't that too much Rhea? We can't eat all those!"

"If we can't then well… We will keep it and eat it some other time," Rhea said nonchalantly, causing Aylin to shake her head.

While the seller whose eyes shone with happiness on seeing the amount of dessert the lady wanted to buy hurriedly packed all of them. "Here, Milady–"

"How much?" Rhea cut him off as she took out a couple of coins while Aylin collected the desserts.

"Ten gold coins, Milady." He smiled and Rhea paused.

Turning to him, she repeated, "Ten gold coins?"

"Yes, Milady!"

Rhea laughed, "Wow! So a cookie costs one silver coin huh?"

"Uhh. Yes, Milady. Any problem?"

"There are many. What do you think? That I'm a fool?"

He shook his head vigorously "No, no, no! Of course not Milady! I would never think that of you!"

"Really? Then why do you think that I would buy something from you with such a large amount of money?"

Aylin watched as the seller's eyes darted around nervously, looking everywhere except at Rhea's piercing gaze. "Because, because…"

"Because I'm a noble?"

"N-no, no, no," The seller stammered nervously.

"No, what? I'm right, aren't I? You thought that I wouldn't question why it was so expensive because I can afford it?"

The seller nodded rapidly, afraid that she would take offense if he lied to her.

"That was a dumb mistake on your part and an awful judgment call. Not everyone's the same. I might have a lot of money, but that doesn't mean that I would waste it—" She leaned forward and placed her hands on the table— "You know... I'm amazed at how greedy you are. Ten gold coins? Really?"

"M–Milady, please forgive me. I–I" The seller stuttered nervously, clearly intimidated by Rhea's tone of voice.

"You want ten gold coins right? No worries, you will get it if you can deliver the same thing we bought to the duke's mansion every single day."

"T-the du-duke's mansion?" The seller stammered, his eyes bulging out of their sockets.

"Hmm."

"A-are you... You b-by chance Lady Rhea? The duke's sister?" He questioned, his nervousness replaced by shock.

"Yes, I am. You have a problem with that?"

"No..No! M–My Lady, I was just surprised!" He bowed, "B-but about that... I don't think–"

"You don't think you can do it?" Rhea laughed, shaking her head, "Look, I didn't ask you, I'm ordering you. And if I don't see you at the mansion tomorrow... Trust me, you will be sorry. So just be a good boy and do as you're told ok?" She said before taking out five silver coins and dropping them on the table.

"And here you go. Five silver coins."

"Oh, thank you, Lady Rhea, Milady!" He bowed repeatedly as he grabbed the money. "I'll bring them by tomorrow morning."

Rhea nodded before they walked away from the stall.

After walking a few steps, Aylin spoke up, "Is that one of your hobbies? Enjoying others' discomfort?"

Rhea nodded with a grin, "But I only do it to those who deserve it."

"I see.." Aylin trailed off before speaking again. "He was very scared when you mentioned 'The duke's mansion'."

"Well, it wasn't the mansion that made him terrified," Rhea said as she placed a cake in her mouth.

"Let me guess, it was 'the duke' right?"

"Hmm, my brother has quite a unique reputation."

Aylin raised her brows, "Unique reputation?"

"Yes, people fear him. That's why I asked him to deliver the desserts to the mansion. I'm teaching him a lesson not to be greedy," Rhea replied as she ate.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do people fear him?" Aylin questioned.

Rhea turned to her, "I don't know, we didn't live together, remember?"

Aylin nodded and stopped asking questions though she was still curious. Basically, anything about him made her curious and since he was mysterious, it wasn't making it easy to know more about him.

It was noon and the streets were bustling with the sounds of carriages and people going back and forth.

They walked down the sidewalk, pausing a few times to take a look at the shops, Aylin had no problem stopping to ogle at anything that caught her attention and Rhea simply followed suit, enjoying the view.

After another ten minutes or so, they came upon a crowd gathered around something or better still, someone. As they neared, Aylin heard the crowd whispering amongst themselves about how a certain cloaked woman was brave to stand against a woman called Lady Cora.

"You can see that she's pregnant, milady, please have mercy and forgive her." Aylin heard a smooth voice that belonged to the woman in a black cloak.

"Forgive her? Why should I? I have no reason to. She made a mistake and has to be punished for it. And who are you to question my authority?"

"What authority do you have to punish a citizen just because of a mistake which can be overlooked? As far as I know, you're simply a countess daughter."

"What?! How dare you insult my father?"

"I didn't insult anyone, please don't twist my words Milady."

"You-" Cora raised her hands to slap the cloaked woman but before she could hit her, the woman held her hand.

"Let me go! I said Let me go!" She screamed and the woman abruptly let her go, causing her to stumble backward, almost falling.

"How dare you push me."

"You asked me to let you go and I did, it's not my fault that you're not strong enough to hold your ground."

"I'm going to kill you!" Cora declared as a large spear made of fire materialized in her hand before throwing it.

The woman waved her hand and a transparent glass-like shield appeared in front of her which not only stopped the spear but also turned into nothingness. People gasped, clearly shocked by the scene in front of them.

"So you're a witch huh? No wonder you've been blabbing your mouth." Cora scoffed, staring at the white-haired woman who stood in front of her.

Cora was happy that she would finally make the foolish woman pay for insulting her.

"Guards! Arrest her!" She ordered, her face full of mockery. "Witches aren't allowed to roam free, you should at least know that, but instead you're poking your nose into other people's business and busy running your mouth. I will make sure to teach you a lesson, you stinking witch."

"Wait!" Aylin's voice boomed and everyone turned to look at her. "What proof do you have to call her a witch?"