17 'Then more for me'

It was the beginning of summer when one of my noble friends thought it would be a nice to kick-off the change of the season with a banquet at their chateau just a few towns away from the city. It's a charming little town where only the rich could afford.

Since Vlona's on the other side of the Capital, and I was just seventeen then, I had to convince Quinn to let me stay there for a week without escort. He's known most of my friends, but he's stricter than my father. He said it's essential to only surround myself with people who'd help me grow, and that it took only one rotten crop to spoil the rest of the good crop.

Remembering it now made me nod my head in agreement when back then I would roll my eyes every time my uncle told me one his philosophies. And with much talking over some things, he allowed me to leave with one condition.

I will ride on my own carriage and my own carriage only. The coachman served as his eyes and ears, as well as my security. I agreed. At least I won't have a servant from my house following me around everywhere and report everything I did to my uncle.

Then the day came. I double checked my luggage and Ingrid made sure that I had everything that I needed. I bade them farewell after a tight hug then I was off. At the capital, I met with some of our friends, and we convoyed all the way to Anera.

The way there was a mixture of love and hate. Love, because there wasn't a lot of bumps and holes on the road. Hate, because the status of living in the towns we passed by were…sad. Since nobles pass through these towns to get to Anera, shouldn't it be livelier? Business, lodging, a few shops, maybe?

"You're thinking about putting up a business here, aren't you?" I made a face and pulled my head back when Rose flicked my forehead. "You're zoning out again with those furrowed brows. Ingrid won't be happy with that, you know."

"I don't remember you being in the same circle as, what do you call them again, spoiled rich kids who doesn't have a jerah on their names?" I snickered, crossing my arms as I waited for my dear friend Rosaline Fairisle's answer. When the only reply I got was a huffed air, I continued, "How much did Quinn bribe you this time to come with me? If I recall correctly, I told him no escorts aside from the coachman, which will be staying in his own quarters the whole time."

"I'm not an escort. Can't a friend come along? I was invited too, just so you know."

"An invitation you swiftly decline, remember?" I waved my hand. If anyone knew how Rosaline felt about these kinds of parties, it's me. I've known Rose for quite some time now since her father worked with my father before and now with Quinn. One could say we're childhood friends. "You hate, correction, loathe, mingling with these kinds of people. So, tell me, how much was it and would you consider staying in the house I rented if I topped uncle's offer?"

"A considerable amount for me to invest in another trading ship that would deliver cotton overseas. Of course, with the Montcroixs as a partner investor." I laughed. I surely can't top that one. Most of my businesses and connections were in Reka since Quinn wouldn't let me deal with people outside the kingdom.

Defeated, I just shook my head lightly and reverted my attention to the rundown houses and the second town we passed through.

***** 

By the time we arrived, it was midafternoon. The sun's still up high in the sky and we were sweating buckets despite the abundance of trees around that we had to stop by the small house I rented before anything else. Our poor coachman also excused himself after escorting us to the entrance of the house where four attendants of the chateau. Luckily for us, the owner of the house was a patron at my salon, and she insisted that I should make myself at home and that there would be attendants at the ready when we arrive to assist us in whatever we needed so it didn't take us long to feel refreshed.

"What time are we leaving for the party, Miss Isa?" Fred, the coachman, asked me. He just came from the back garden with two wooden buckets of water for the horse at the stable—which to my suprise, was well-stocked.

"Sunset? It's a dinner banquet but we ought to be early."

"Or she won't be able to bag a new business partner if we're on time." Rose popped out from behind Fred wearing a cotton robe, her hair still dripping wet. She walked closer to the dining table and popped two bit-sized slices of fresh, juicy summer float. By then, the coachman had already excused himself. "Quinn told me to stop you from being overly friendly with... well you know it."

"Hmm..." I nodded, my mouth full of the fruit to be able to answer properly. "I'll remember that," I said, but never really meant it. 

And so, sunset came, and I thanked our attendants for helping us get ready. It only took us ten minutes or so to reach Eliza Redge's chataeu, daughter of Count Redge, a prominent figure in the royal palace.

Just like Rose, despite wanting to stay in Vlona, with the influence of Eliza's father, I thought her banquet would be good for business, that's why I agreed to come. After all, bearing the Montcroix name is enough for people to crowd around me as well.

I'd say it was a win-win situation for the both of us.

A party hosted by the daughter of one of the queen's closest aides and attended by the heir to the Montcroix jewelry empire held at a place where only the rich and powerful lives—Eliza would have a banquet she could brag for years to come, and I would come home with a bagful of potential investors and business partners.

I mentally clapped and rejoiced. This night would be the night of all nights.

And it really did—for me and for him.

***** 

Of course, the Enchantress of Vlona wouldn't be considered an enchantress if she's less than... well, enchanting. What else would it be?

I placed my best foot forward, practiced my smiles, and made sure I shook hands firmly. I also kept my eyes peeled and my ears open to even the lamest of jokes and remarks to giggle at or agree. You see, the reason why most women scorn me was because most that fell into my traps are men.

They're simple. I play the innocent, clueless, damsel in distress and they come rushing to my side like the legendary knight-in-shining-armor; only that their armors aren't shiny, and they're not close to being knights. But they don't need to know that.

As someone who leads trends, of course, my night at this gathering wouldn't be complete without setting a new one.

I wore an evening dress that was black at the bottom, cinching my waist with its wide waistband and two chains of silver and sparkling crystal hanging on the left side of my waist, one short, and one long. My lace top had long, flowy, see-trough sleeves with ruffles at the end, and a slightly ruffled lace collar that went half-way up my neck. The thick band of black crystal-studded choker sure made a statement but the most eye-catching of all was the diamond-shape cut on the back of my dress, that started between my shoulder blades and ended just above the small of my back where it meets with the skirts band and outlined with the same black crystals as my choker.

From the front, the dress looked classy, like the person wearing it has nothing aside from ethics and good morals in mind, but the moment she turns, there it was, her bare back; a glimpse of what normally someone wouldn't see in a lady unless they're intimately close. It's being seductive without breaking the codes of modesty—those were the selling points I'm trying to get out here. 

Sure, the gents are happy, and the ladies bore a whole on my back with their deathly stares, but I know, those stares aren't pure hate. Most were jealous stares, or maybe I-wish-I-have-her-body-and-her-dress stare; all were but a small price to pay if it leads them to my boutique.

I smiled wider at the thought. Honestly, all these years spent trying to prove to Quinn I have what it took to follow in their footsteps made me so business-minded that everything I do or everything I came up with, I did because they're profitable, until...

"You're finally alone," a soft yet masculine voice took my attention while I was taking in some fresh air at one of Eliza's small gardens just outside the opened balconies of her chateau's charming ballroom.

"I'm not anymore," I said, shrugging my shoulder. 

It was dark out and the light only illuminated part of his face but his eyes... they were green with flecks of brown-gold that reminded me of the comforts of the forests when the leaves starts to fall—my favorite season.

He chuckled, "May I seat here?" he cocked his head to the empty seat beside me since he's got his hands full with the wine glasses. "And would you like a drink?"

"If I don't?" Ingrid always told me not to take any drinks from both a stranger and a friend. She said that's because we don't know where the evil likes to play.

"Then more for me," he smirked and drank half of the first glass before sitting down.

Our conversation started with basic pleasantries then we started asking questions about why we're here then there was a topic on who-knows-who, where we challenged each other on how many prominent and influential people we knew. Then as the night deepened, we started talking more about ourselves, where we grew up, what animal we loved the most and what vegetable we hated to eat. What dreams, goals, current struggles—I was smiling all the time. It was such a simple conversation, devoid of any plotting and calculated answers.

I have never talked this deeply and this personal to a man before—much more to a man who I didn't saw profitable.

"Oh, where are my manners," he said, quickly standing up and taking off his coat. "The nights here at Anera can be cold despite the deathly morning heat." he flicked his coat first before putting it on me. The warmth of his body combined with his perfume that smelled like a mixture of citrus and floral, brushed my nostrils when he leaned closer.

"Thank you," I said, but realizing one crucial thing, I looked up to him and said, "We've talked much about our dreams and whatnot, but you forgot to tell me your name."

"Oh," he placed his palm on his forehead and closed his eyes, maybe to recuperate from the embarrassment. "Terence Fritzmeyen, my lady," he jokingly said the last part and held out his hand.

I let out a short laugh and placed a hand on his, "Isadora Montcroix, Mister? Sir? Do you have a title I should be calling you—" my smile slowly vanished, as my jaw dropped when I felt Terence's lips on the back of hand. 

"It's nice to be able to talk to you like this, Lady Montcroix," he said in almost a whisper, his lashes fluttering as he looked up to me before kissing my hand the second time, lightly squeezing it before he let it go.