. . 忠诚 . .

Quzhuo taught me something…Wait a moment, there seems to be something… Is it a small bug or a loose thread? Let me take a look for you… …Is this what Quzhuo taught you? Mmm. Then I'll go ask him. If you go ask him now, he'll certainly admit it.

Cursed was the day that this matter had been laid onto her shoulders. Hua Yongqi becoming an envoy was a thought that brought ridiculing laughter to all who knew her. To herself, even, yet there she was, awkward and almost as if purposefully, breaking rules and bringing shame to her brothers. The crown prince must have suffered from temporary daftness to send her like this, and yet now, in this court, she was left to fend for herself. Panic overtook her whenever she had to speak, her lack of knowledge stunted her every move.

The duke's words felt like a safety net thrown at a drowning person and Yongqi carefully bowed, her hands woven in front of her in a sign of respect and gratitude. "Thank you, Lord, for your understanding and magnanimity." It seemed that while her position had been a hopeless one, at least, the crown prince had sent her to a man who would help her in her task as much as he could, even with how shameful she'd been behaving. The wave of gratitude was overwhelming.

As Ruan Bingtian left the room, she stayed in her respectful position for a bit longer and sighed partially with relief and partially with worry as to how badly she had already ruined the perception of her family with the coarse behaviour and many missteps. Finally, as a servant moved to show her to her quarters, she followed him and realised she'd been shaking. She hoped it was not too noticeable.

The evening had been spent by her in her chambers as she wrote down her experiences and pointed out all the mistakes she'd made. A short letter she then requested to be sent out to her brothers as an update. After that, she bathed and, finally calmer, she went to sleep. When she awoke the next day, she chose to discard her armour and crest and instead wore a delicate robe, one that removed any martial connotations from the woman. Hopefully, like this, she would be less offensive to her host and to the people of the country.

The truth was, he had come here for some political topics, but Míyuǎn also used his visit as an excuse to avoid attempting to murder the eldest princess, who was so spoiled that she kept breaking more than one law, having almost brought death to his daughter and the Duke's only heir. Shielded by their father because she strongly resembled their late mother, the Queen, who had been the king's great love amidst his two consorts and a few concubines. His father was a wise ruler, except for his too many hesitations to act, and this one daughter of his. Huìshān's gardens were a nice place to hide, and he could also slip in without anyone noticing. After all, he also spent quite a few childhood summers here, under the protective eye of the late Duke of Wén’ān.

“You there,” he called out. Míyuǎn's tall figure sat cross-legged on the ground in front of some woodwork very likely left by his best friend. He knew little Chénhé wished for his own shadow theatre; naturally, his father would insist on making it himself rather than just purchasing one. There had been a few figures cut out of simple paper, far from the professional pieces one would see in the palace or even on the street. Very likely, they were only intended to test the construct. Míyuǎn thought he could add something more fun, like a dragon. Who would have thought this would be so difficult? He was excellent at painting, but had never tried to cut out something as delicate.

“You look like somebody good at cutting out paper figures! Come and help me, I want to surprise the little lord with a dragon. Here, I already painted one, and naturally, we need two, so he can have a best friend. I paint the second while you cut.” He kept puffing strands of hair from his face as he had only put some of it up with a simple hairpin. He seemed very invested in the whole act, indicating that he must have spent time with children often. “Ah! Of course, not for free.” He leaned over and picked up a pouch of candied fruits, offering it to her with a lazy smile. “Here, I shopped these from the markets. Those are the best you can find. Be my craftsperson in crime.”

The way she spoke was always very direct yet polite, showing her wisdom and education. To a man raised to throw his life away without thought, thus with no waste of time on things such as the finer arts or the deeper knowledge, she was admirable, even impressive. Yet, he understood her meaning well, to be unwed at such an age was hard, and it would only get harder. Men preferred women who were young and - most of all - polite and silent. It made sense, of course, no one wishes for discord in the homestead. The meanders of marital life and the planning of such were never truly up for consideration to one such as himself, thus with no interest came no knowledge of courting, of choice, of liaisons. "You must think me strange for asking." He lightly chuckled. "Yet, you entertain me with an honest answer. Thank you."

He chose not to speak of her beauty, perhaps he was not the best judge. Art had its rules of composition, perhaps that too had its rules among society, even though to him, her face was striking, and Shulan herself always stood out among the crowd.

His train of thought was mercilessly cut when she pushed him inside a building, his eyes widening at how little it took for her to pull his guard down and allow her to do so. It seemed she was like a force of nature, unwilling to stop, which truly became confirmed even more so as she left him in the hands of the young tailor apprentice and left without as much as turning around. Had she done so, she'd have seen the lost and almost panicked look on his face that disappeared as soon as it showed, only to be replaced by his mask of apologetic cheerfulness as he turned to the young man. "Forgive my wife, she is like a whirlwind."

The young man knew better than to respond, instead he simply nodded and asked Jianyu to follow him. Measurements, although awkward, as his height made certain places slightly unreachable, took shorter than expected and were only slightly awkward as there were a few misunderstandings related to some of the measures that needed taking but Jianyu, knowing that Shulan would have been angry should she return and they were still not done, ended up allowing the other man to do his job. Now, he had to wait for her, and thus, he stood right at the entrance of the shop, like a hawk, trying to stalk its prey. "Where are you?" He asked under his nose, as if his calling would suddenly summon her.

Shūlán made a few purchases, enjoying the night stroll and bragging about a husband that was hers only in this small bubble of the night. Why not enjoy those moments? She was never unaware of the fleeting nature of her life. Besides, she could already guess that her own men would later throw her some glances. She had given orders not to disturb her if there was no urgency, and it seemed Master Niú was not seeking her out at this moment.

Once she finally made it to the shop she was looking for, she had to do some cute begging as they were about to close, but was given a few minutes. Her own income was still somewhat limited, but she still found a guān she liked. The hair crown was made of a nice silver shade with a flower pattern that was somewhat scholarly. “I will take this one,” she decided, giving the elderly woman a smile, who took her coin and sent her off with the words of being safe. As if the night could ever pose any fear for one like her.

“If you look like this, you will scare the passengers. You look like the secret guard of His Majesty himself,” she chuckled. The woman took his hand and led him over to a building with a shop that was already closed, and allowed them to sit down. “Remember, when I left your kingdom the last time, we also sat like that, and I shared my steamed buns with you before you walked me back to the inn.”

Shūlán leaned in: “This will go better with the new garments, but you are handsome enough to showcase it effortlessly anyway.” Fingers skillfully undid the band of his hair before adjusting the guān around the tied-up hair. “A handsome gentleman! It suits you perfectly. In return, I shall not complain about any treat you choose.” She gave him a bright smile. “Just because we do what we do doesn't mean we cannot look like the handsome couple going to the tea houses.”

Life should be enjoyed, and while she held no desire to live like the wealthy officials, she couldn't see why the other classes were to miss out on the beauty, be it garments or accessories, as long as they did not pretend to be who they weren't. “We also should live well, don't you think?"

When he appeared soundlessly beside her, she shivered; she was usually the one to sneak up on others, not the other way around. As he moved his hands, pulling a number of straps taut, she paid close attention. Even taking notice of how many buckles there were, swearing she would have a checklist when it was time for her to do it herself. Her brows furrowed when he grabbed her hands, though she did little to fight the ones that were leading hers.

Although she was rather short in stature, with a small leap, she managed to hoist herself up without any issue. There was a moment of confidence she bathed in for a second, as she sat there feeling accomplished that she had done something right for once. “Uh, sure–”

“Wèi!” The word fell out like a helpless little yelp, as she felt his arms clamping down against hers and their hands overlapping. Her eyes widened as she turned back to meet his face. Right there. Shocked by their sudden closeness and the space between their noses, she resumed facing forward immediately. “Wú lǐ!” she mumbled under cursed breath. “Aren't you embarrassed if someone sees us like this? None of your soldiers will come for my hand now.” It was a very genuine grumble of hers. Who would consider them to be only a master and disciple with this entanglement?

This man.. How could one be so hot and cold! Kind, caring and subtly warm one second, and then saying something that made her want to reach out and smack him across the face again. ‘Just in case,’ she thought to herself in a singsongy voice, while tutting at his instruction aloud. All of a sudden this, then all of a sudden that. Her head was spinning from just recollecting what few moments they shared thus far.

“Like this?” she asked, turning her head back halfway to ensure he heard her. There was a short release of the tension of the rein, allowing the horse to relax and walk forward. Gently, maybe a little too much so, she would pull slightly in the direction she wanted the animal to follow. It seemed to work, though she awaited some rewarding validation before celebrating too soon. He was probably going to complain about how slowly they were moving. “Eh, Jiāngjūn Shīfù a.. How do I make her go faster?” Face turned toward him again, this time she lingered there with patience for his guidance. Something told her it might be exciting to ride as freely as her new companion was capable.

Even if he had not been there, she was beginning to think she was quite in her element, like she was meant to know these techniques. “So, when are you going to teach me those, uh, secret commands, huh?” A poised smile, as she grew a little greedy in her asking. There was something of the experience he had not entirely spoiled and it was seeing the world from several feet higher, moving faster than her short little legs could extend ahead of her. Certainly, a good jiānghú wanderer would have a fancy steed with them as they traversed all that dirt and pebble in the road, right?

Time wore on and she only grew more comfortable, not even minding that he had placed himself quite intentionally. In fact, with every jostle en route, she could not help that she would frequently end up leaning her back into his chest and remain for a few breaths. As soon as she noticed it each time, she would tighten her shoulders, straighten her back and pull herself slightly forward again. Except when one particular tough stretch of terrain that forced her into his arms quite literally, as she fought her core to restore balance.

“I bet you're quite popular with ladies in the capital, aren't you? Big famous general. You must have a fiancée waiting for you already! A fancy lady who wears beautiful dress robes and probably has the looks to pull it off, hm?” A smirk then a chuckle, as she continued poking fun. “Shì bùshì a? Listen here. I would not want to become the target of a noble lady. She would be far richer than me and could probably hire an assassin. In any case, I'll train more to fend off a potential killer!” Her brows raised suggestively, again turning to face him, before leaning ahead again to laugh. “If you don't have a fiancée.. Eh, hold on! — I'm only bringing these things up because you persist that I'm not ready to discuss anything else, so what else would I naturally bring up? I already publicly confessed that I think you are handsome to your entire company! How embarrassing for me. You ought to entertain me at least a little while we're riding into town.”

“A soldier is a poor choice of husband. You're better off with a shop owner or another merchant. Maybe a teacher or a county scholar where you can live together and there's no worry about being a widow early.” His voice wasn't practical but more on the serious side. Many of those serving right under him decided not to have families for those very reasons. The Western Front was complicated. “Well, at least choose one from the Eastern or Capital troops. Those do not live too badly.”

Zhìwěi didn't interrupt but let her try it. As he was sitting right behind her to take control in a moment of emergency, he was more comfortable letting her experiment rather than riding side by side. “The level of pull on the reins indicates how slow or fast she's to move. For now, do take it slow. We have time. You will have plenty of chances going forward where you will be one with the wind.”

Zhìwěi held back to let her have the experience and grow comfortable. His grandfather taught him how to ride like this when he was six. “I will pretend I am obviously aware of what you talk about,” he casually joked. Being on horseback was always a good feeling, like it was simply meant to be just like this. One also couldn't underestimate the emotional support a horse offered, especially far from home, and the feeling of safety that came with not being all alone.

The Grand General had many thoughts, but matters of a lady were not necessarily among them. He was raised to lead armies and be a political asset, not so much a husband. His parents further aided the issue by ensuring there was no daughter-in-law in the household aside from that stick his brother chose, who couldn't even endure a glare from a servant without breaking into tears. It was hard sometimes to fully grasp Jǐngyán's thoughts and what was going on in her mind, going from studying to complaining about her honor a moment later.

“Is it that you'd rather have me as a husband than a mentor? Do you want to go to battle side by side? You might find yourself disappointed. A lot of the time, it's me traveling from garrison to garrison and to our military settlements to oversee and consult with those serving under me. I don't like the capital. If I can avoid it, I do. We have a second family seat close to the Western border. It's by no means as comfortable and impressive as the ancestral home or the capital manor, but I prefer living there. We have high grasslands there and a smaller forest. The villagers mostly sell goods from all over. Lots of wild horses too.”

He wasn't sure why he was presenting it like he had to convince a parent that having their daughter live far from the capital wasn't so bad. Zhìwěi really thought it was a good place: "Of course, it is very close to a proper city."

She nodded, listening calmly to the man's words. Still kind and collected, it would seem. Some things will never change, no matter how circumstances may vary. It may as well be so, at least, from the shock that first hit her, now she felt more at ease, more settled in, almost as if she'd been through this exact situation a hundred times before. "Your words are wise, and we dare not contest them. It would be foolish to act when there are such well-suited hosts to take care of it. Once more, forgive the overstep." She raised her hand and smiled politely, feeling the tension drift away. "I leave this matter in your capable hands, knowing that justice will be served with the best proceedings."

The captain said nothing further, instead, she nodded politely once more and waited for Yunfei to get on his horse and him with his entourage to lead them forward. She entertained for a short moment the idea of moving a little into the front to match the man's horse, but... would that have been wise? She doubted it. Instead, after what was a clear breach of the regulations and the ever-tight diplomatic connections, she knew to hang her head low in leniency and allow herself and the troupe to be the recipients of the man's hospitality.

She could hear whispers of her people behind her as they seemed to have not fully grasped what had happened, but with a sharp gesture of her arm, she silenced them quickly and mercilessly. Should any of them make even the tiniest remark or dare to try and gossip or question her accepting the hospitality offer, she'd make sure he was assigned to horse-cleaning duty for the next half a year. This would not have been the first time she did it, and for repeat offenders, she'd designate them as groomers of her personal mount, a punishment of the highest level.

As silence fell, she motioned for her people to follow her, and she pushed her horse to start slowly following the leading group. There would perhaps be time to speak later, for now, she needed to make sure no further transgressions took place. She cleared her throat and spoke. "We wish not to cause you more difficulties. Simple lodgings are our preference," She paused and turned around, shooting a mildly annoyed look at her men, resulting in them avoiding meeting her eyes, "lest we fall prey to idleness."

Maybe in moments like that, he missed the silence of the forge where the heat was the only bother. He never thought that blacksmithing would have been a path he would go down so long ago, but Yúnfēi never regretted that he had chosen the survival of his family above attempting to stay within the path once picked by the very man who ended the life they knew with a simple choice. As much as humans might hate to admit it, they have gotten used to change quickly. Was it not only a year since the Duke of Ānpíng had offered the position as aide? Yet, it felt like almost an eternity. What remained of more than eight years of doing this hard labor were the scars on his hands and the taxes he counted monthly once Chéng paid the rent for the forge he now used on their small property. The extra income, paired with what he was receiving now as a salary, would be enough to rebuild Yúnhuá's dowry.

“There will be no reason to worry. How could we not properly welcome guests? Yet, the county is a small one, so it will not compare to the larger cities' establishments.” It was telling her that she did not have to worry about being too uncomfortable with too many luxuries. Very likely, they would empty out an inn and invite the lady and her closest men to reside in the estate of the magistrate. Otherwise, Yúnfēi permitted the silence to linger until the road changed and a smaller town soon appeared on the horizon.

The magistrate was a short man who hoped his official robes would make him look more prestigious. He bowed far too many times when the group arrived, and Yúnfēi slipped off his horse. “Ah, you must be Aide Mou! We have been waiting, yes, yes. We hope His Lordship is faring well?” Yúnfēi gave a slight nod. “Very well. He will appreciate your assistance in the matter of the bandits.” He put emphasis on the matter, but the thought of receiving praise from the new noble was enough to make him enthusiastic. Countryside folk did everything to make a connection at any level in the capital.

“Of course, we already sent our guards out. And I have rooms prepared for the young lady; the western courtyard belongs to my daughter and is empty since she married away. We also have room for five men; the rest shall be hosted at our cost right around the inn. My men will show the way. You and your men, naturally, will also be given rooms there.” He kept bowing toward Yúnfēi before looking over to the woman. He was only given the information that she was a young noble from a military family of an ally; there was no need to place her identity out there.

The magistrate happily wanted to impress the duke, but he also happily enjoyed that he outranked a man like Yúnfēi, who forced him to act under the name of his master. “I shall leave the lady under your care then,” he replied and offered a bow to him before turning around. “Please rest well. I will personally take some of my best men to oversee the capture of the bandits.”

The moment Emperor Yǒnglè dismissed everyone, it was not difficult to tell that the invitation for Ānfù Zhǎng Gōngzhǔ to come and walk with him had another purpose than just viewing recent constructions of a new bureau he was establishing. “Older Sister is indeed not easy to trick, knowing this brother has come to discuss an important matter regarding the Celebration of Alliance Hunts we hold this autumn.” Héng dared to use simpler terms around this half-sister, at least when in private. Maybe this was his selfish flaw every ruler had when trying to remain connected to humanity.

“The last one could not be held due to Imperial Father’s mourning period; thus, this one is extraordinarily important to showcase Dà Yǒng further flourishes.” More so, the loss of so many princes left no weak spots. “Invitations to allies have been sent out; naturally, one can already know whose acceptance to expect. Encouragement has been made to deem it a celebration, and we humbly welcome it to be shared by princesses and princes of all ranks.” Its intention would be easily read by their allies.

His steps slowed when they arrived at the new library building, which was grander than the old one, a future place for study for all those of the Inner Palace. “Ānfù Zhǎng Gōngzhǔ has been a widow for a long time, yet remains a grand beauty and holds still much of her youth. One would not know why she would not choose a second-rank prince with a good temperament as a husband. This brother will arrange everything else, regardless of who it is. One must think of it as a simple expansion of one's household.” Most realms would send young princesses, hoping one could fill a vacant empress spot, but it was also no secret how this Elder Princess was a widow with quite a bit of power. When does a princess not remarry if she is still young enough? An outsider of lower rank that was easily controlled by the Elder Princess was largely preferred to another vicious snake from the old families.

It was also a test. Emperor Yǒnglè desired to see Shīqiáo’s decision and judgment of character. “The court has voiced its concern for this sister’s loneliness. This brother cannot avoid it for much longer.”

As they sauntered the path shoulder to shoulder, some distant memory surfaced for the elder of them—a vision of a similar walk, just years prior. The Elder Princess Ānfù had always done her part in planting seeds in many plots. After all, she understood best just how fragile survival was for some. If she made herself appear useful or at least likable, then there was usually less reason to disregard her. This did not, however, mean that every person she approached was affectionate with her. Thankfully, Héng'er (as she had long addressed him) seemed to be.

A low ‘mm’ broke away from her, as he began his speech about others' concern for her marital status. None of what he shared seemed to catch her by surprise and defiance was not an organic reaction to be had by her. There was always the awareness that she would need to take another husband and secure herself within a household outside of this more extravagant one. She had taken the excuse of mourning her late husband for three years but now it was three years past that.. The once-prolific rumors of how her former spouse passed were now taken halfheartedly.

“This jiějiě of yours will not make it difficult for you. When have I ever? If you can barely avoid it, how would I? The hunt may be an opportunity to seek out the right candidate.” Perhaps taking away the formal ways of addressing one another was a way for her to pursue a remaining closeness with Láng Héng. “I will discuss it with the Empress Dowagers and make note of anyone to pay attention to.” There was no mystery behind the princess's type—scholarly, humble, and a nice face helped. A small giggle. “With my reputation, I almost think these men will only cower if I set my sights on them. Anyone who would seek my hand is far too ambitious for my liking!” History would validate the story.

Láng Shīqiáo's hands were never sullied with the bloodshed that a violent death provoked. When intentions of a rebellion were found, she lay patiently waiting in the bedroom she shared with the little snake—that husband of hers. When he finally arrived home, she gave him two choices. Drink the bestowed poison then, or await the handling of his entire family line by her Emperor-Brother. In the end, he selflessly bowed out and left a chance of survival for the rest of his kin. The princess would have thought him admirable, if she had not been so sickened by his betrayal. It was good they never shared any real romance. It made her decision easier.

Again, his words were absorbed with her best effort. — ‘Best effort’ being the key term.

A light exhale of relief came about, as she watched him resume a position that lacked threat, prompting her to also lower her stance. Not a single moment was given to celebration of her improvement. She should not have expected it from him, especially after they had just discerned how different he was from her first shīfù, who showed at least some modicum of satisfaction with her progress from time to time. This one was so difficult to impress..

“You really are quite keen on offering ways to get rid of me.” It was interesting, to say the least, since he had recruited her for her presence in the case to begin with. There was the feeling that he was having some version of buyer's remorse. Somehow, the more he pushed for the idea of something else, the more she sunk into the idea of staying. Her fingers drummed along her chin for a moment. “You say you do not insist on deterring me, yet I feel it is entirely your intention.” Her brow perked at him before she smiled to herself and returned her attention to her own blade. Compared to when she held his for a moment earlier at the market, hers felt pleasantly weightless.

“In the end, there is never any use overstaying one's welcome, though your soldiers have convinced me they are quite warmed up to me. Even if you aren't.” Even his dear cousin seemed quite compassionate, didn't he? The entire experience had become an unspoken trial of sorts—one long event to see if she would last long enough to find some sense of belonging. While she did not find much of it with him yet, the rest of the bunch seemed keen to say otherwise. Thus far, she found herself fairly content by what she had been immersed in.

And then, for once, there was a quiet that settled between them. Nothing but the crackle of a nearby fire and the occasional whistle from the wind picking up. Without prompting, she moved into the empty space ahead and practiced a routine of movements with her blade. It was a mix of what she knew, what she observed of the deputy and the general, and what she had just learned from him. No words were offered for exchange nor even small glances. All she gave was her focus to her limbs and breath.

Perhaps there was more she wanted to prove to herself than even him.

· · ·

The natural light that filled the room just before the sun rose above the horizon was enough to awaken Jǐngyán and prompt her to freshen up at the basin beside her bed. Not seeing or hearing any significant movement from the other side of the room, she did her best to soundlessly move through the room, carving a path to the outdoors.

Casual greetings were exchanged, as she made way toward where her new equine companion. “Hǎo mǎ,” she cooed at it, wary even as she approached the animal meant to be called hers with gentleness in her hands. “What name shall we give you, huh? Everyone else said horses aren't worth naming but I disagree. You understand me, don't you?” A slight shuffle in the gravel behind did not cause too much of a stir with her, though her curiosity was easily shaken. It seemed to startle the horse a little more, so she cooed kind words again.

Taking a step back, it did not seem all that complicated to pull herself up to the saddle.. Though, something made her pause and decide to await instruction instead. Could it be that she learned to retain a shred of patience?

Zhìwěi left long before his new roommate rose. His nights were always on the shorter side, but the grand general of the Western Army was long since used to it. Resting was always difficult; many tasks and thoughts remained on his mind most of the time, but the early morning was also a good moment for workouts and practice. He liked to leave the small fisher settlement to give in to his thoughts and focus on his body. Breathing exercises felt much better than sleep.

There was nothing he had said to support her claims that he wanted her gone because she was a woman who knew no war and would not understand why one who went to the battlefield wished for as many people as possible never to experience it. Jùnlǐng was a complicated kingdom. They did not seek war, and one could say peace had reigned for more than a decade, but their borders always remained uneasy. A traditional war was not the only kind of confrontation that required armies to move. Bandits grew bolder, and attempts at quiet rebellions also continued.

“Your first rule is always to check your equipment. Even if you're in a rush, ensure the saddle is properly strapped and the girth sits properly. Your horse also senses your mood. Remain calm and always grip properly when you get up. Don't pick up the habit of the youths who do it leisurely. If you want to go to battle, you have to make it a habit, but don't slack off, even if in a rush. The minute you spend on it is worth your safety.”

The tall man stepped by her side, giving the animal a slight pat before leaning in to ensure the saddle was properly adjusted. “I'll show you how to saddle it and how to take care of everything when we're done. War steeds have more stamina, but the right care is important to keep them in this shape.”

Once he was satisfied with it, Zhìwěi reached for the young woman's hand, standing right behind her. “Your first instinct wasn't wrong. Hold it tight, move your leg up to get a hold first before pulling up your weight. Once on top, get comfortable first. I'll make sure she won't go astray.” With that, he let her act on her own, moving in front of the steed to keep her head in place, rubbing over it. “If you feel comfortable enough, we can ride to the village today to pick up some additional orders for you.”

He flashed an almost playful smile. Once she was on horseback, he walked around and pulled himself up right behind her, his arms reaching around to adjust the reins in her hand. “Let's start with simple movement. You do the pulling; I'll keep my hand on the edge just in case. There are also some secret commands taught to our war steeds in case of injury or being unable to control the reins.”

“Ah! First name is alright! My staff calls me Miss Yě teasingly because I told them I prefer going by my first name, but they all insisted that would be impolite, considering I am their boss.” She did not mind chatting a little ahead, always outgoing even with strangers she met at the staircase of her own apartment complex. While she owned quite an impressively sized business for a woman her age, it was not one of those you really got rich from. The place here was fairly affordable despite the sometimes questionable neighbors. “Most of the people who live here are pretty okay. Hope my little warning did not scare you too much.” She smiled before tilting her head like an owl. “Oh, a coffee expert! I always feel everyone here is more of a tea enjoyer.” She lifted her wrist to check an old-style watch. “I have half an hour.”