EᔕᔕᕼI
~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
Esshi and Ainhara look around the
shop. Thankfully, it is just them.
'One less thing to worry about...' Esshi
sighs as she looks at Ainhara, the
concern in her eyes is clear.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"Shh!" Lyn waves her hand and stops
them from bowing. "Please don't
bow. And don't call me Your Grace,
either." Bree and Michael stand straight.
"Please, I just want to temporarily
escape and enjoy the day."

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"Of course, your secret is safe with
us, Your High- I mean... Nyl..."
Michael says and they nod.
"It's a honour to have you here.
You and your handmaidens."
Bree says, eyes shining.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"The honour is ours!" Esshi says.
"If you would be so kind to-"
"Not inform anyone? We won't."
Michael promises them with a
reassuring smile. "But I will say
that we are glad to see that you
are well, my lady."

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"Thank you." Lyn sighs. "Ainhara."
Her handmaid digs into the basket
and brings out some gold coins
and a few gems. "Here. Please
accept this. Also know that I will
send a few gifts your way for
keeping my secret."
"You are far too kind, Nyl."
Bree teases.

EᔕᔕᕼI
~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"Oh yes! They're of the finest quality."
"Well, I would love to get that one!"
She points to a small A5 notebook
with watercolour swirls.
"Good taste!" Bree claps as Michael
pulls a stool, stands on it and pulls
the book from the bookshelf, handing
to Lyn who stares at it. She strokes
the book and opens it to stroke to
fine paper.
"Beautiful!"

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"That ring," Michael stares at it and
Lyn tenses, as did Ainhara and Esshi.
'How we forget about the ring!'
Esshi mentally facepalms. It is of
white-gold, the white lily of Aurelinaea
with the monogram of the Royal family.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
Lyn was granted it when she was
coronated, and always left it on, so
much so that it was like second
nature.
"Q-Quee-"

EᔕᔕᕼI
~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"Just browsing," Nyl says, softening
her voice. "Do you have any Puhan
notepads by any chance? They make
the best notepads. Oh, and some
ink-sticks? The smaller ones."

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
Michael chuckles, "You and my wife
would get along well, Nyl. You're in
luck! A new shipment came in from
Puhan today!" Michael smiles. "They're
on the upper levels."

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
Her handmaids can tell she is smiling
under her veil. With shining eyes, Nyl
skips up the steps and admires the books.
Esshi and Ainhara follow behind her.
"Honey!" The three women turn to see
a slender shadow of a woman from the
far corner of the room. " I've taken the
Puhan inventory. Just the Luciuscemi
carvings to do! Oh." She turns head to
face Lyn, Esshi and Ainhara.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
When she walks out of the shadows,
she smiles. She was in a long beige
dress, her hair in a low ponytail and
simple brown shoes. "Hello!"
"I was just talking about you, Bree."
His wife raises a brow. "Oh really?"
"He says that you too are a lover
of Puhan's ink-sticks and notepads."
Nyl beams.

EᔕᔕᕼI
~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
The bookshop is alot bigger than
one would assume. High beige
walls, large rounded windows,
Staircases that lead to the upper
levels but most of all, books -
paperback, hardback, leather-
bound all resting comfortably
in the tall polished bookcases.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
All are in order, some alphabetised,
some colour-order.  They can even
see quills, inkpots, canvases, pencils,
letters and stamps all neatly in place.
The shop owner, a curly, black-haired,
strong man in a white shirt, brown
trousers and shoes, standing on a
stool, dusting away the cobwebs.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
When he hears the bell ringing, he
turns and spots Esshi and Ainhara
standing there. Smiling, he hops
down and walks to them.
"Welcome to my bookshop, ladies!"
he beams. "My name's Michael.
And your names?"

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"I'm Hara," says Ainhara calmly
before gesturing to Esshi and Lyn.
"This is Shia and Nyl."
"Nice to meet you all," he greets
them and kisses their hands gently.
"Is there anything that you're
looking for in particular?"

ᗩIᑎᕼᗩᖇᗩ ᑕOᑎT.
~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
When Lyn looks up, she can see
several banners; the proud white
Lily of Aurelinaea on a gold field
and a white mask and brown
lute on a crimson field, decorate
the buildings. They drape over
windows, off the high bridges,
roofs and posts.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"Ah yes, today is the Song of the
Canals!" Ainhara turns to them.
"So, My Lady, where do you want
to go first? A walk around the
harbour? A ride on the canals?
A trip to the museums?"

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"Hmmm..." Lyn's eyes fall
upon a small bookshop.
"I'd like to browse the book-
shop first."
"Do you not have enough
books, My Lady?"

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
"Ah-ah!" Lyn tsked. "One can
never have enough books!"
Esshi giggles again as Ainhara
rolls her eyes as her mistress
raises a hand, her finger pointing
at the sky. "To the bookstore!"

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
Lyn skips over like a little girl.
"Honestly," Ainhara chuckles.
"At least she's smiling, Ainhara."
"True," Ainhara could not disagree
with her friend. To see the young
queen so carefree, dressed so plainly,
and above all happy and relaxed,
is a relief to them both. Smiling
under their veils, she and Esshi to
follow behind their young queen.