Chapter 15 - What to Wear, What to Feel
Neia sat at her desk, chin propped on one hand, trying to concentrate on her notes. The sunlight filtering through the office windows felt warmer than usual, and her thoughts kept drifting to the festival. She hadn’t been to one in years, and certainly not one in a city like Korth. What did people even wear to these things? She glanced down at her work clothes and sighed. Definitely not these.
After a moment’s hesitation, she turned in her seat. “Tessa,” she said softly, “do you know any good places to shop for dresses in town?”
Across the room, Tessa Kaldrith lit up like someone had just handed her a bouquet of compliments. She whipped around, her eyes wide with delight. “Do I ever,” she said. “You have absolutely asked the right person.”
What followed was an enthusiastic spiral of boutique recommendations, color palettes, and the importance of cut versus comfort. “My mamma and I go window shopping every weekend,” Tessa added proudly, “for research purposes, obviously. And because fashion is practically an art form.”
Neia smiled, already feeling the gentle tug of Tessa’s excitement. “It’s been a while since I bought anything new,” she admitted. “I’ve been invited to the festival by some new friends.”
Tessa leaned forward like a cat drawn to gossip. “New friends? Do tell.”
Neia hesitated. “The owner of Inkwyrm & Co., Devon. And a man named Gideon. His brother, Caelan, too.”
Tessa blinked, then gave a little gasp. “You know the Thorne brothers?”
“Not really,” Neia replied with a small laugh. “I don’t know know them. Not yet, anyway. Do you?”
“Of course I do,” Tessa said, waving her hand like it was common knowledge. “Their family is well respected in Korth. Daran Thorne was a legend in the Defenders Guild, and now Caelan and Gideon are carrying on the legacy. Everyone knows them. Caelan is especially popular. You should see how the girls talk about him. Quite the eligible bachelor, and all mothers in Korth would definitely approve, even my dear mamma.”
Neia raised a brow. “And Gideon?”
Tessa wrinkled her nose affectionately. “Handsome, definitely. But he’s a bit serious. No charm like Caelan’s, but that’s probably part of the appeal, right?”
Neia didn’t answer, but her smile widened just a little as she turned back to her desk.
Tessa saw it and gasped. “Oh? What have we here?” she said in a sing-song voice, leaning in again. “Don’t tell me our visiting scholar has a soft spot for the younger Thorne?”
“I do not,” Neia said quickly, her voice higher than usual. “I barely know him.”
“Mmhm,” Tessa replied, clearly unconvinced. “But you want to.”
Neia busied herself with her notes, ears pink. “I asked about dresses, Tessa, not to be interrogated.”
“Just making sure you’re shopping with the right intentions,” Tessa whispered with a wink.
From the far side of the room, a quiet voice cut through the chatter. “Ladies,” came Asa’s familiar tone, gentle but firm. “Some of us are trying to work.”
Tessa straightened immediately, trying not to laugh. Neia cleared her throat and ducked her head.
Asa walked past with a cup of tea in hand and a bemused smile on his face. “Back to it, you two. The plants aren’t going to catalogue themselves.”
After work, Neia wandered through the softly glowing streets of Korth with Tessa’s list of boutique names folded neatly in her pocket. She peeked into the windows of several shops, admiring the displays but never quite feeling drawn in. It wasn’t until she stepped into Atelier Marquesa, with its delicate golden lettering and perfume of dried lilac and silk, that something in her stirred.
There, nestled on a dress form by the window, was a soft yellow gown that seemed to hum with this feeling of warmth. The fabric was light and airy, with delicate stitching at the waist and a flowing skirt that caught the light like early morning sun. She touched the hem and smiled quietly to herself. It felt like hope.
As she stood in the changing room, smoothing the dress over her hips, she thought about how long it had been since she bought something just because it was beautiful. For so many years, coin had meant rations, healing supplies, and gear sharp enough to survive with. But lately, she had started to feel something different. Safer, maybe. More human. She could allow herself this. A little softness. A quiet kind of joy. A small reward for everything she had endured and everything she was still learning to hope for.
She made up her mind and brought the dress to the counter, heart light with the thrill of imagining herself wearing it beneath the festival lights. For the first time in a long while, she felt genuinely excited for something that was just for her. Tomorrow was the big day, and though her nerves fluttered like birds in her chest, Neia found herself truly looking forward to it.