190 New Clothes
Arad stared at Roberta after they finished signing the papers. "When Can we expect the jewelry?" She stared at him with a smile.
Arad shoved his hand in his pocket with a smile. "Right now. I thought the girls might want to change something after getting the new clothes." Arad pulled the jewelry and laid it on the table.
Gerald stared at the jewels, "Don't tell me you always walk with them on you. Why did you even buy so much?"
Arad stared at him. "It's for the girls to change from. I still haven't paid the smith. But since you're paying upfront, that can be arranged."
Roberta approached the table and stared at the jewels so closely that she almost kissed them.
"I will make sure to report each sale with details. I will do my best to put them on auction." She looked at Arad. "I'm sure this would profitable for you."
Arad stared at her, "The smith owns them." He could feel her gaze scanning his body. Last time she was able to tell when he lied. He needs to be careful.
SWOSH! Roberta swiped the jewelry into a pouch and handed it to her father for protection. "Excuse me. I mean, it will be profitable for everyone. The smith who created them, you as the middleman, and us, the sellers. I will even make sure the buyer gets a satisfying deal."
Her words held a strange confidence that caused Arad to step back. The stare on her face, the way her lips widened, and her eyes fixated on Arad's eyes. She was thinking of something, and Arad found her attitude scary.
[Calm down. You're getting nervous.] Mom warned Arad as she sensed his breathing gets disturbed. His draconic brain felt danger from Roberta's glare. It wasn't a physical threat to him, but something that he cannot understand.
It wasn't power but dedication. Those who dedicated their lives to one thing, a single skill exhibit an aura of power in their field. Arad could sense that Roberta was out of his league when it comes to deals.
^If she's a better merchant than me. She can scam me. I need to be on high alert.^ Those aren't Arad's clear thoughts, but his brain's reaction to the situation he is in.
Ba-dump! Roberta felt a cold sweat dripping across her back as her knees started shaking. Arad's glare pierced her chest like a cold steel blade. ^Did I offend him,^
The two were locked in a staring contest. This is the point where most adventures who tried striking deals with dragons die. A red dragon would have already pounced at Roberta, but Arad didn't. Someone needs to break the ice before a disaster could happen.
"YO!" Jack wrapped his arm around Arad's neck. "A whole ninety gold coins? It's amazing!" He snatched the written deal paper from the table and gave it a read.
"Say, Arad. Can I have some of the money to buy or rent a house in the city?" Jack looked at Arad's face with a smile.
"Yeah, I can't have you and Lydia staying in the inn for a long time," Arad replied, calming down.
Roberta took a deep breath, hearing her heart pounding like a drum. She looked at Jack. ^Who is he? Doesn't he fear death?^ She looked around, and everyone else was smiling and inspecting the clothes as if nothing happened. ^Was it my imagination?^
"Roberta, look at this," Gerald called her, carrying some clothes that Merida showed him. "I'm sure we can sell those in the next city."
Arad turned around and approached the clothes lined behind him. He picked the ones he liked and headed to the changing room.
Roberta found herself alone, staring at her talking father with fog in the back of her head. She took a second deep breath and looked at Merida. "Excuse me, but can I have some water?"
"Sure," Merida got her some, and she calmed down.
Arad walked out of the changing room after a while. He wore a suit-like set of a black coat, white undershirt, and black leather pants. They were so tight on his upper body that it seemed uncomfortable.
"Isn't it a bit small?" Aella approached Arad.
"No, it's perfect," Mira instinctively replied.
"Aella is right." Lyla approached Arad and looked closely at his chest. "The buttons are about to pop off. Merida, do you have anything a bit larger?"
"I could make it larger in a few minutes," Merida walked to the desk and pulled some needles. "Take them off, and I will start working."
Clothes were handmade most of the time. You won't find a wide variety even in the most expensive shops. People usually resort to secondhand, or modification on the spot to get their clothes fitted.
A seamstress is one of the most valuable jobs someone can have. And Merida is skilled with her hands.
After a while, everyone got their clothes.
Aella got a mint green dress with frilled edges and exposed shoulders and upper back, and opal white stilettos.
Lydia got a shoulderless white dress with a small jacket. She didn't want the bandages covering her from ankles to the neck exposed, so she added a scarf and black stilettos.
Mira picked a simple golden brown dress with strangers of white frills that she liked. But, she was picky about her shoes. She absolutely hated heels. "I can't move with them," She growled as she picked a Ballet flat shoes.
Lyla a dress similar to her daughter's so they would look alike. She once heard that it's a custom for families to look a bit similar at parties. Giving her daughter the best shot at looking like a noble lady was her priority.
Merida picked a sky blue frilled dress with multiple lilac patterns along the hips and the back.
Jack walked with a set similar to Arad's but in the opposite colors. White Jacket and pants and a black inner shirt. He looked at Arad with a smile. "You look larger in that."
Arad smiled, "And you look more skinny. Are you sure you won't need something a bit more baggy?"
Jack lifted his hand and pulled a small knife from his wrist. "I can still hide weapons. Don't worry."
***
The party's night came before anyone could realize it. Arad and everyone found themselves riding a carriage headed toward Esmeray's mansion.
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