Lucy was snacking on some fruity desserts. The day was cool and she enjoyed lounging in her garden. Soon, a maid entered and curtsied.
"My lady, she has arrived." the maid said and stepped aside to let in a woman grandly dressed. The woman who looked to be in her mid thirties paused to make a childish curtsey, before taking a seat before Lucy in a relaxed manner. She sprawled on the seat as though lying down, dangling her legs from the arm of the chair and swinging playfully.
"You have been having fun, I'd assume." Lucy said and the woman smiled sweetly.
"I heard you sent my brother on another errand. Does that mean he returned?" the woman asked.
"Yes, briefly." Lucy said.
"And he did not come to see me? Maybe I should string him up and use his skin to make one of my famous shoes." the woman said in a huff. Anyone in the capital would recognise this woman swinging her legs like a child before Lucy; she was the legendary Madame D'huile.
"You behaving like a child; amusing. Especially when you insist to be called as though married before." Lucy said leisurely.
"When I am called Madame D'huile, I sound more like those women who design great dresses from the north. Every good craft needs a stage name. By the way, why did you want to see me?" Madame D'huile asked.
"Those from Other-side should have already crossed over. I have received news of the Lantanier clan coming to join the fray. The gathering of the ancients, there is no better time. You always wanted that wool factory in Xent, right?" Lucy asked.
"I can take it now? I really can? You always were so stiff about me looking that way. Can I?" Madame D'huile's eyes shined as she complained and talked excitedly at the same time.
"When you take the factory, they would have no choice but to go to sea. I have already made things ready for them. It would be a very profitable business. I want them in Hunmok sea." Lucy said.
"You are always planning some scheme. What is in that sea any way? Wait, is that not where the Bloom Thraile isle has been looking? You have something up your sleeves again. I don't care, beauty is all that matters. I will take the wool factory." Madame D'huile said childishly as she propped herself in a careless manner and took a piece of Lucy's fruity dessert.
"Yes, beauty..." Lucy said as though considering the subject.
"While you are at it, there is a pond in the Marjiont Valley head's courtyard. It's a secret passage to a spring. There is a Quarter bloom seed resting on my night stand, I might as well put it to use. That time to grow...." Lucy started to instruct her, before dropping into a thoughtful mumbling.
"What are you even saying? I can't hear you... Wait.. A spring? Is it a hot water spring? Is it good for the skin?" Madame D'huile started mumbling through her mouth, filled with desserts, then going off into an excited rant.
"Leave the spring as is, but plant the seed; what will happen will depend on fate." Lucy said and Madame D'huile pouted.
"Be good, I will soon take a lot of beautiful things from across the lands. If you do well, I'll give you one." Lucy said, almost as though she was coursing the grown woman and Madame D'huile yielded with a nod.