Chapter 1: Perfume Merchant
The trees ran as fast as they could, the wind, a trailer that followed them earnestly. A carriage pulled by four horses ran through the forest, where even the tiniest insect knew to give way. Inside this dark, polished carriage sat a man. Judging from his attire, he was a member of the high class, an elite.
His honey-kissed brown hair danced along with other gullible things in the carriage, from the heavy air that managed to penetrate through the partly opened window. His eyebrows furrowed, as if being disturbed from his short nap. He tapped the carriage side, closer to the coachman.
The coachman got the message quickly and slowed the speed at which the carriage was once traveling. Having been roused, he pushed the partly opened carriage window to the side, enough for him to see the world passing by.
"Where are we now?" He asked loudly, enough for the coachman to hear.
"Eastern Briggs." The servant replied his master.
"Make a stop at the town to get some supplies, it will be hours before we reach another town," he brought out his pocket watch. "Unless you're not tired."
"I_ I will make a stop at the center of the town, master. We will see whatever we need conveniently." The coachman quickly said.
The master hummed in response, his gaze returning to the sight outside. In time, the carriage halted at the bustling heart of the town. The coachman descended from his seat and walked to his master's open window. "Is there anything you would like, master?"
His master waved his hand, dismissing him, but before he could move from where he stood, he said, "Thirty minutes."
The coachman bowed, walking in haste to fill his stomach before the journey resumed. His master, on the other hand, closed the opened window, deciding to take a nap before the carriage would start moving on uneven grounds.
Far from where the carriage stood gracefully, a maiden who had seen the it stop at her town continued to stare. Having seen the coachman step aside, she gathered her goods in a fancy basket and walked towards the carriage.
The man in the carriage continued to nap until a knock on the window disturbed him. He ignored it, but when the knock came for the eighth time, his eyes narrowed before going to see who had dared disturb him. His movement stopped halfway when he saw the one behind the knock, but her attention was taken by his coachman, who arrived in time.
"How may I help you, miss?" Came the words of his coachman.
"I was hoping your master would like to buy one of my products. They are perfumes with good quality, having no substitute except for the original." She sugarcoated her goods.
"I see. Right now, my master is tired and would like to take a nap. I will let him know of your perfumes before we leave." The coachman replied.
The maiden, who had heard the carriage window open, moved her eyes from the servant back to the carriage. "Please do well to patronize me before you leave. My shop is just over there at that corner." She pointed with a smile.
She couldn't see the master's face but just a side of it. Regardless, she didn't pry, as her only motive was to sell her goods. On the other hand, the man had seen the merchant's face and had stopped moving midway because of her appearance. The sunlight dancing across her face accentuated her features, making her look as though she stepped out of a painting. A painting he was ready to pay fortunes for.
The red-haired young woman picked up one of the perfumes she sold and was about to hand it to his coachman when he suddenly said, "Here, hand it to me."
The woman was surprised but at the same time pleased that her goods would be sold. She handed it over to the master, but eager to sell, she missed out on something.
The master in the carriage was taken aback by her appearance, which wasn't only just for show but also reflected in her angelic voice. Having taken the perfume directly from her with an ulterior motive, his suspicion that beauty resided in other parts of her was confirmed when his hand made contact with hers.
"Thank you very much, I will take my leave as to not disturb you further." She bowed, about to walk away she looked over to the coachman, handing out one of her products to him before taking her leave"
The master's eyes followed the woman who he had just met, and he watched her mix with the people around, offering her smiles and greetings as she walked to her shop.
"Master, we have just fifteen minutes left. Shall we proceed?" The coachman asked. Being that the merchant had taken up most of their time, he doubted he would be able to finish in time.
With his eyes still fixed on the merchant, the master answered. "Another thirty minutes."
A warm smile spread across the coachman's face as he bowed and quickly went to fill his stomach before the ride. The savory aromas of roasting meats and freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mingling with the murmur of haggling merchants and the clanging of pots.
Meanwhile, his master's eyes remained fixed on the perfume merchant. As the perfume's fragrance wafted up, memories of her came flooding back, even as his gaze remained locked on her. The scent was unmistakable – the same one that had caught his attention when she first arrived, the one that was uniquely hers.
As their brief stay in the town reached it's end, they prepared to get back on the road. Still quite taken by the young woman's appearance, the master called out to his coachman, who obediently walked to the window, which remained open since the merchant's visit.
"Buy all the perfume she has, without negotiating." He instructed.
Without question, his attendant bowed and then hurried to the merchant's shop, weaving past vendors and shoppers in the bustling market. Upon arrival, the master, seated in the carriage, watched as his servant talked with the merchant. Her eyes briefly found his, and he knew his message had been received when she offered her beautiful smile along with a bow.
A short while later, his servant returned with the woman he admired, carrying an assortment of perfume bottles and packages. She bowed once again, thanking him.
"Tell me, what is your name?" He asked, despite his earlier hesitation.
The merchant's smile deepened, and her eyes sparkled with warmth. "Theresa." Her voice was melodious, and he found himself wanting to hear more.
"Where do you live?" He asked, his curiosity piqued.
Her smile didn't falter, and she replied, "Lower part of the town. In case you need more, here's my information." She handed him a paper, which he took, his fingers brushing against hers.
As he looked at the paper, he couldn't help but notice the elegant handwriting and the faint scent of perfume that clung to it. He felt a sense of intrigue wash over him, and he looked up to meet Theresa's gaze. Her eyes seemed to hold a hint of mischief, and he wondered what lay beneath her polished demeanor.
She offered one last bow before taking her leave, and the master watched her retreating figure. With his aim accomplished, he reluctantly looked away. "Let us proceed." He said to his coachman.