Meeting New Friends
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The Dye making Workshop of Sir Flambent Bruno,
Town of Crimsonton
Kingdom of Velicia,
Dawn of Morning,
The Tenth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
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Amelia noticed that Sir Flambent's work shop was open and she could collect the required dyes therefrom before heading to the Boutique.
"Good morning", she chirped, earning a mellow response from the elderly man.
"Hello, Miss Amelia. What a pleasure seeing you today. Are you here to receive the dyes for Lady Hildeth?" Sir Flambent asked, drying the sweat off his brows. It seemed like he had been busy meshing pulps into coloured juice that he could season into appropriate dyes.
"Yes, indeed. But I'm sorry, am I interrupting your work, Sir Flambent?" she asked, approaching the large stone counter, where he was placing bottles of the colour.
"No, no, my dear. Of course, not. I have the ones that Lady Hildeth had ordered though, so you can take them with you right away", the elderly man smiled.
"Thank you", Amelia called, as the man walked back to an edge of the workshop to collect the bottles for her.
"I have a favour to ask you though", he heaved as he placed them on the counter.
"Yes", the damsel of long brown hair perked up.
"I have a niece who arrived in town this week. She wishes to move into this part of the province. So I wrote to Lady Hildeth, requesting if she could have a job here and the Ladyship gave me an affirmative response. I thought you would make fast friends with her, my dear girl. So I was waiting for your visit, hoping you could take her to the Boutique and give her a good first day", he said, with a smile that deepened the lines at the sides of his eyes.
"Oh, of course, Sir Flambent. I would be honoured. Shall I wait until she comes?" Amelia asked, returning the smile.
"Yes, please, if you wouldn't mind?" he asked. "She should be all ready. I shall call her hither", the man said, before walking away into the closed end of the workshop. Behind, his residential cottage was built, giving him a convenient access to the work place.
In a few moments, the man returned with a quiet girl behind him. She had, long dark blue hair, reaching down to her waist and bangs swept to a side of her forehead. There were mild constellations of freckles painted over her nose and she was slender in shape.
"Hello", the damsel smiled at Amelia clasping hands behind her.
"Hello, there", the maiden of long brown hair responded, waving. "I'm Amelia, but you can call me Mel", she extended a hand.
"I'm Nixie. You can call me Nix", the girl nodded, taking her hand and giving it a gentle shake.
"That's such a precious name", Amelia giggled.
"Thank you", was the shy response.
"Alright, let's head to the Boutique then. I am certain you will love it there", the damsel of brown hair and dark eyes assured, as she took the bottles of dye.
Nixie collected a share of the burden and smiled, giving Amelia a nod. "I look forward to it, although I am quite nervous. I hope everyone is kind?"
"Well', the damsel thought about it long and hard. "Since you look lovely, I bet they'll all be very nice to you", she chuckled.
The vermillion haired maiden's eyes went wide open and she turned to Amelia with a sad expression, saying, "So they judge people based on appearance?"
"That's one way to put it. But it's justified, since they are all in the fashion industry. Looks are predominant and that is the first qualification one must possess", she shrugged.
"But you do look so pretty; why would they not like you?" Nixie asked.
There was a laugh in response. "Thank you, dear, that's quite flattering. But I don't fit in the standards described for a woman of society. So I guess this is how it is. Anyways, the Lady of the Boutique does not particularly like me and so none of the women there are very fond of making my acquaintance", Amelia shrugged.
"If she doesn't like you, why did she give you the job?" the damsel asked.
"My mother was her favourite model. She looked absolutely stunning too. And Lady Hildeth was kind enough to advance debts to keep her in employment. But after she passed away, I have been filling the roll in, but not as a model. To the drop in standards has been grating on her ladyship's nerves every day since", the damsel of auburn hair said.
"That's quite sad. I hope things change", Nixie said.
"I hope so too", Amelia responded, remembering a new concern. "There's something more that you need to know", she began.
"About the people working there?" her companion asked, looking over.
"Yes. There is a man of senior posting, named Sir Grendin. He is known for holding women by something they are guilty of and exacting favours out of them in a form of black mail. Always stay clear of him, he is bad news", Amelia said. As the words left her mouth, goose bumps appeared over her arms, in response to her fears.
"Ah dear that sounds terrible. Has he ever affected you?" Nixie asked, concern dripping in her soft voice.
There was a slow nod from the damsel of chestnut hair, before she looked over and said, "He once saw me at the Florist's and threatened to tell Lady Hildeth. And now, he hasn't told her, but he follows me about at nights and it fills me with so much fear every time. And now, my little brother comes along to escort me back home."
There was a gasp from Nixie, before she asked, "Does he victimise a lot of girls like that?"
"Yes. But all the other girls have each other. So if there's someone singled out and alone, they make an easy target in his eyes", Amelia said. "So always stay close with me, alright?"
"Right", the damsel nodded.
~