"That was wonderful," replied Celine as they left the store after the woman finished her demonstration and they paid for the tents, beds, as well as some provisions and condiments they did not have.
Overall, they spent over five gold coins on this.
But it was well worth it for the road ahead.
Or at least that's how Celine saw it.
Miyanna couldn't help but whisper the sum they paid over and over as she watched the ground, "Five gold and five pieces of fucking silver."
"Oh, come on, Miyanna, the weight of the coin pouch barely changed," giggled Celine as they walked with two bags that were given to them, for free, to be able to carry everything they bought.
"Celine, are you… No, sorry. But do you know how much you can leave off that sum of money we just left at the store?" muttered Miyanna.
"Weeks?" Celine guessed.
"Half a year at a decent inn, with at least a meal a day. In the past, I would have killed for only the possibility of getting hold of that type of money. And we… we left all that in the first store we entered," Miyanna gave up.
Celine couldn't hold back her smile as she looked at Miyanna worrying about their finances.
"Oh, you sweet thing," she said towards Miyanna, "We haven't even started yet."
"Celine, please. When I told you I had some coins, but not much, I meant I had two silver coins. Have some mercy," Miyanna sighed.
"Leave the sadness, sister. We are getting clothes now, and then we'll grab our husband a gift, okay? Stop worrying about the gold as if it will kill you," replied Celine, trying to comfort her, "I have money too, but no matter how we spend it, I don't think we will run out of gold by the end of the journey."
"Fucking Noble Bloods…" Miyanna muttered.
"Careful now," Celine gasped sarcastically, "You are getting married to one. And you know what that makes you from tomorrow onward?"
"What?" Miyanna replied, playing her game.
It's not like she didn't know. She just wanted to hear Celine say it. It felt good when she thought about it.
"A Noble Blood," Celine grinned.
"Hehe," giggled Miyanna with a smile so pure as if she were a child.
About two hours and another gold coin later, as the evening drew closer, Miyanna finally managed to convince Celine that more than eight pairs of each type of clothing would only be wasteful.
Not as if it wasn't already. At least they got capes now.
But, with still at least two hours of sun left, they began thinking about Blanc's gift.
"So no bow or sword will work, right?" Miyanna asked.
"No," Celine shook her head, "He has a bow that his family gave him and a sword from my father at our betrothal ceremony."
"What do you think, then? I would like to give him something useful," Miyanna said.
"While I agree, there is really nothing we would be able to give him that would be useful enough," Celine sighed, "I think jewelry will work."
"But that's so… unimpressive," Miyanna muttered before sighing too, "This is more difficult than I thought."
"I say first, let's go and see if there's anything that we like," said Celine as they walked towards the jewelry store.
As they entered, an older man was behind the counter, working on something.
"Good evening," said Celine, as the last two attempts to let Miyanna talk failed.
"What do you need? If you don't plan on buying, leave. I'm busy," muttered the old man.
As Celine pulled her hand on Miyanna's shoulder, stopping her from cursing the man, she spoke again, "Oh no, we are here to buy. But we wanted to take a look first."
The man turned her head towards the two before scoffing, "If you two are buying, then I'm the High Monarch. Show me you can afford it, then we can talk,"
As the man finished his sentence, Celine was already in front of him as she placed the heavy coin purse on the counter and opened it, revealing that they, in fact, could probably afford everything in that store.
"While I do like proving something to foolish people, I will not have you disrespect the former High Monarch in his Empire," Celine said as her eyes moved from the old man to the upper floor of the store in quick succession.
The old man, despite his age, jumped to his feet before bowing deeply, "I apologize, miss, for both the disrespect and for doubting you. Many village girls just come in to stare at the jewels."
"Show us your wares," Celine said, ignoring the man's words.
"At once," the old man nodded, "May I ask who-"
"You may not," Celine replied, her eyes sending daggers towards the old man.
The grace and danger with which she walked now that she was angry was something that Miyanna had never witnessed before.
It sent shivers down her spine.
The pressure Celine excluded was palpable to Miyanna's own sense of smell, as if the air was heavy.
She placed her hand on Celine's shoulder and shook her head as Celine turned towards her, which calmed her down slightly.
Though it was her right to get angry, it was also to be expected.
They were, after all, dressed like common women. Nothing special.
Why was Celine so emotional?
"What's wrong?" Miyanna asked in a whisper as the old man turned to pull out boxes full of jewels.
"There are men on the upper floor listening in on the conversation. I made sure they would not be foolish enough to try something," Celine replied.
While Blanc had better hearing than she did, Celine certainly had better hearing than commoners ever would.
"By showing them that you have a fuckload of gold on you?" Miyanna asked.
"By showing them that I'm not afraid and that I can afford to show it," Celine explained.
"Damn," muttered Miyanna, taken aback by Celine's taunting.
Miyanna found herself agreeing, though.
Such a taunt would surely make many who had bad intentions question themselves.
"Here they are," said the old man, opening box after box full of gems, necklaces, rings, ceremonial knives, goblets, and painted glass.
"I want that golden goblet, that wedding band with four empty sockets, and put inside two of the sockets a sapphire and a topaz. How fast can you do it, and how much is it?" asked Celine.
"Celine?" muttered Miyanna.
Though saddened that she did not get to choose something herself, Miyanna was more confused about the situation.
Why weren't they leaving, then?
What about her gift for Blanc?
What about Celine's own plans?