Chapter 13: New Skin, Old Habits
The silence in the salon was heavy, but it was a good kind of silence.
I stared at the stranger in the mirror. Seraphina had worked a miracle. My skin, once rough and ingrained with dirt, was now fair and smooth. My hair, which had been a matted mess, was now a rich, glossy brunette, styled back to reveal my forehead.
But the most striking change was my eyes. Without the haze of alcohol and exhaustion, they shone a deep, piercing crimson. They looked dangerous, yet regal.
"Is that… really us?" Celera whispered.
I looked at my siblings.
Finn looked like a completely different child. His hair was cut short and neat, giving him the look of a young scholar or a squire. He stood taller, his shoulders back.
Elera looked like a little princess. Her hair was braided with a silk ribbon Seraphina had gifted her. She spun around, her face glowing with a radiance that had been hidden by poverty for too long.
"We look amazing," I said, a rare smile touching my lips.
I settled the bill. The total came to a staggering 8 gold and 50 silver coins. It was an exorbitant price, but looking at the mirror, it was worth every copper. Seraphina handed me my change—1 gold and 50 silver.
"Come back soon," she said, her blue eyes lingering on mine for a second longer than necessary.
"I will," I promised.
Next, we headed to a tailor shop down the street called The Velvet Thread. Unlike before, the shopkeeper didn't try to kick us out. Seeing our groomed appearance, he bowed low.
"Welcome, young master, young miss. How may I serve you?"
He led us to a rack of vibrant fabrics and intricate designs. Silk, velvet, imported cotton—it was overwhelming.
Old habits die hard. Without thinking, Elera and I spoke at the exact same time:
"Which of these are the cheapest?"
The tailor blinked, confused. A noble asking for the cheapest? He cleared his throat.
"Ah, well, the 'budget' line would be these simple suits. They are merely… 50 silver each."
50 silver. That used to be a fortune to us. Now, it was the "budget" option.
"We'll take them," I said.
We changed right there in the shop.
I stepped out wearing a charcoal-grey frock coat with silver buttons, fitted trousers, and polished black boots. The dark color made my crimson eyes pop even more.
Finn wore a navy-blue vest over a crisp white shirt, looking sharp and energetic.
Elera wore a sky-blue dress with white lace trimmings that matched the ribbon in her hair. She looked adorable.
The walk back to our neighborhood was surreal.
As we crossed from the Royal Street back into the common district, the atmosphere changed. People stopped what they were doing to stare.
"Look at those nobles," a woman whispered. "What are they doing in this dump?"
"Is that… wait, is that the drunkard's brother?" another man squinted, looking at Finn.
They didn't recognize me at all. They looked at us with a mix of envy, confusion, and awe. We weren't just walking; we were gliding. The new boots clicked rhythmically on the cobblestones, a sound of authority.
When we finally reached our shack, I ushered my siblings inside. The warm air from the repaired heater greeted us.
"Take a rest," I told them, loosening my collar. "It's been a long morning."
"Are we going to cook again?" Finn asked, looking at his fancy clothes, worried about getting them dirty.
I shook my head.
"No cooking tonight. Rest up. In a few hours, we are going to a restaurant."
Finn and Elera cheered, jumping onto the bed—careful not to wrinkle their new outfits. I sat by the window, watching the sun begin to set, knowing that tomorrow, my real battle at Lucas's company would begin.