Octavia was not exaggerating when she said that her workplace was around the corner. In fact, it was right across from a small park she passed by earlier.
Having cheered up a bit since their earlier conversation, she stepped in front of Raiva and bowed politely, gesturing at a facade with big, expensively clear windows and a reddish stone wall surrounding them.
"The Boutique Jardin de Fleurs, madam," she announced, in the same tone she had the first day they met. "And my apologies, but in front of and inside the boutique, I must maintain proper etiquette."
Raiva had to adapt to the professional distance between them quickly.
"Of course, miss," she nodded in a neutral manner. "I look forward to your guidance on the matter."
The two entered through the ornate white front door, and Raiva was greeted by a strangely cool air and the gentle scent of lavender and black tea.
"Welcome back, miss Octavia," a young, blond woman greeted after walking hurriedly towards the entrance, though without an overt hint of rush. "And welcome, dear customer, to the Boutique Jardin de Fleurs."
The young woman, no older than 18 or 19, bowed in the same way that Octavia did, though the movement looked less flowing and ingrained, indicating her to be a newer hire in Raiva's mind.
"Thank you, Louise," Octavia replied, gesturing for Raiva to have a seat on a lavish blue velvet sofa. "This is madam Raiva, she is a new Saffron rank patron. Would you prepare refreshments and have Tanya join us with order sheets and sample booklets from spring through autumn?"
"Of course, miss," she replied, without hesitation. She bowed in Raiva's direction, excusing herself. "Madam Raiva."
She waited a moment until Louise disappeared behind a curtain and Octavia took a seat on a velvet puff to her left, at an appropriate distance of course.
"Saffron rank, miss Octavia?" she asked Octavia in a lowered voice.
In an equally dampened voice she responded, "Yes, madam. Only patrons that place large orders like yours hold that rank, though as a rule they place one regularly. As the head seamstress, however, I am allowed a bit of leeway in elevating patron ranks."
"What does it mean exactly?"
"It means that your orders take priority, should you place a time sensitive order, such as an event or urgent replacement garment. Additionally, it guarantees service repairs where you only pay for the hours of the employees, and not the materials used."
"But why-"
"I am not doing it for free," Octavia interrupted gently in a whisper. "In return I have a favor to ask. The favor won't cost you a thing, other than time and attendance."
She looked at Raiva, breaking the professional facade for a moment.
"Please?" she asked, her voice sweet, though there was something unmistakably devious in her eyes.
/Why do I feel like I just walked into a trap?
She opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted by the arrival of Louise, returning with tea and little delicate biscuit looking treats for the new high rank patron.
"I hope the tea is to your taste, madam Raiva. It is white oolong, with vanilla macrons to match the delicate flavor. Please let me know, should you wish for anything else," she introduced the refreshments in a calm, unrushed manner, and bowed after arranging three sets of them on the low oval table in front of them.
"Thank you, miss Louise," Raiva smiled at her.
Excusing herself once again with a bow, she went to the back again, passing another woman as she went past the curtains.
The woman was older than Louise by a good margin, possibly around 50, with lines at her eyes and the creases of her mouth. Her hair was mostly silvery-gray, with a few streaks of blond mixed in. She halted a few feet before reached table and curtsied, with one hand holding her skirt, while the other was holding a staggering amount of folders, booklets and papers.
"I am Tanya, madam Raiva, the manager of this Jardin de Fleurs. I am overjoyed to greet a new Saffron Patron."
/It's too late to back out now, isn't it?
"Thank you, madam Tanya."
Taking her cue, she carefully arranged the contents in her arms on the table, only holding onto what Raiva assumed was the order sheet.
For a moment she was taken back to her younger days, when she was a lady's maid and accompanied her lady to boutiques with terrifying frequency.
/It's so weird to be sitting in this seat instead of the little chair in the corner, waiting with the other lady's maids for hours through wardrobe changes and measurements and rounds and rounds of tea and cookies.
The next three or so hours were filled with endless discussion of budgets and styles and time frames and flipping through booklet after folder after booklet.
Exhausted by the conversation, thankfully led mostly by Octavia and Tanya, after the latter realized Raiva's deference to her opinion on several topics, Raiva was staring blankly into her tea, her fourth one now, when Tanya excused herself in high spirits and went to finalize the paperwork for signing.
She slumped back, and looked at Octavia with her eyebrows raised.
"Please tell me your favor is nothing like this," she whispered. "I think I might die at this rate."
Octavia was holding back laughter at the sight.
"I don't think I've ever seen any lady so defeated by shopping," she whispered back, keeping an eye on the impending arrival spot for Tanya.
"This isn't shopping, Octavia! This is talking in numbers and hypotheticals, and I've genuinely forgotten how much I've ordered and I'm beginning to regret not letting Shelly do it and build that damn annex."
"Annex?" Octavia replied, both entertained and confused.
Before either could say another word, Tanya's heels could be heard clacking softly, and Raiva straightened up in her seat.
"Do you think you'll have cashmere this winter? I noticed it wasn't in the autumn catalogue," Raiva asked in her normal tone.
"Yes, madam, due to it's scarcity, we often keep all cashmere and merino for winter, though I'm afraid we still tend to run out quickly due to it's equally high popularity," Octavia replied in her professional tone. "I personally suggest you order any garment using it by the time of the Light Festival, although we make sure to reserve some of our stock for repairs and Saffron orders."
Tanya turned the corner, and smiled in a satisfied manner.
Taking seat again, she placed the document in front of Raiva, announcing, "The contract madam. It is only necessary as a formality for orders of this magnitude, due to the upfront materials reserved and used, as well as the number of seamstresses who will be exclusively assigned to your order. I humbly ask for your understanding in this matter.
/Do people normally mind signing contracts?
She was not expecting an apology for something as ordinary as a contract.
/Though I can think of at least a handful of nobles who would probably consider it an insult. The Lady Urlington, for one.
She once again remembered her former employer with a bitter taste in her mouth.
"Please do not worry, madam Tanya. I understand completely. If I may have a moment?" she dismissed the notion and began reading through the document. Thankfully Tanya had summed it up in six pages, a feat considering all the details and logistics involved.
/46 sets, 12 jackets… Shoes, matching… 'All overtime payments necessary to fulfill the order in a timely manner shall be covered equally by the two parties'?
"I'd like this part altered," she said to Tanya, pointing at the relevant paragraph.
Shifting a little in her chair, she replied, "I apologize, madam, but it is financially-"
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, madam, but the part to be altered is the entire paragraph, not the division of cost. I would like the contract to state that no overtime is to be worked on account of the order, though a bonus of two gold will be rewarded directly to each of the seamstresses assigned to the order, in the event of timely fulfillment. 'Timely' meaning ready for delivery by sundown on the day prior to withdrawal of payment, and delivery before noon on the the day itself."
Tanya looked somewhat surprised at the specificity and wording of the request, but nodded in acknowledgment, noting the changes on the document.
"Any other changes, madam?" she asked carefully after Raiva flipped the papers back upon finishing reading the last page.
"No, thank you. Everything else seems to be in order," she replied with a gentle smile, as she scribbled her signature. "Do you have a spare piece of paper?"
"Of course, madam."
"Thank you. This," she jotted down the pertinent information. "Is where a order confirmation and following invoice is to be sent to, with a copies to be delivered with the order itself to my residence. My lawyer will ensure that proper payment is provided and ready for withdrawal or transfer, based on your preference, at this branch."
She pointed at the relevant parts as she spoke, finally handing all documents back to Tanya, who was simultaneously surprised and pleased.
"Wonderful. Thank you, madam."
She stood up and curtsied in farewell.
After she left, and Raiva finished her tea, breathing a bit easier now, Octavia broke the silence.
"Well shit," she whispered with a blank expression. "I also don't think I've ever seen any lady discuss contracts and payments so intently. No overtime and gold bonuses? I'm afraid you may have started a war among the girls."
Raiva chuckled.
"Good luck. Just remember that I did try to pay for lunch."