A Muse For A Hat

Evelina had already realized that fortune was not on her side. When had it all come to this, then? Well, she could easily trace it back to the moment when she accepted her duty. From there came bandits, thirst, hunger, rejection, shame, and a failed criminal.

What more?

Ah yes, random people pounding at her door!

"Evie!" the voice chirped, like she gave her permission to be this friendly with her.

Evelina grumbled, kicking away her blanket like a child forced to join the midnight prayer. Just when Nelle had finally given them a break from all those meetings and getting-to-know-yourself exercises, there went the others thinking that they could disturb her long-awaited sleep.

She had not slept for days!

"We brought you a hat so you'll want to go to the market with us!" Freeda cried. And bat's shriek, she did not know how much she's beginning to hate the girl's cheerfulness. Evelina had already rejected them yesterday, telling them that she does not like sunlight on her- which is a fact. Yet here they were again. "I actually made it for you. I did try to make it your style! Isn't teal perfect for your hair? I noticed that the mask you wore earlier was teal and it really suited your hair."

"Do you think she's really there? What if she got mad at us?" asked a trembling voice. It came as a whisper but, unfortunately for them and for her, the vampiress could still hear them. Listening to Sybil talk as if she was still frightened of her, Evelina could not figure out how the child could still tolerate her presence.

Sybil, after all, had a hand to tell her mother to kick Evelina out. But she did not.

"No," Freeda whispered back."I mean, she could get mad. We know how thin her temper is, right?"

"It's like the ice on the pond?"

These are times she wished that she inherited some characteristics of her father. If she did, she would be able to ignore them, let them talk behind her back. But she could not. Do they really have to talk about her in front of her door?

She stared at the ceiling before sighing to herself. Evelina pushed herself up the bed and combed her strawberry blonde hair. She picked a blouse that's clean but dark and a skirt to match it. But then, she hesitated.

Teal.

Freeda did say that she made a hat for her, did she not?

But the same Freeda was now talking to Sybil about goblins having the same temper as the vampiress and- What did she have inside her room for sewing up babbling mouths?

Nothing?

Ah, well then.

Satisfied with her look, she went and opened her door.

"...that's why wolves also have the worst temper ever. Do you think she's one?"

"Shall I assure you that I'm not?" Evelina asked.

She watched them stiffened at the sound of her voice. They whirled around to face her, their eyes wide. "Evie!" Freeda gasped.

Her eyes narrowed at the nickname. Had she turned soft that everyone thought they may call her whatever they like? Evelina was about to scold her when her gaze flew towards the thing was holding. Was that the hat they were talking about?

Unlike the one Freeda brought the other day, the headwear had two steeples and a veil clear enough to see the sewed design of pretty teal swirls inside. At the edges were stones of purple and grey, the veil only bringing out their shimmer. It looked ravishing. "What the damning bat is that?"

"This?" the girl raised the headdress. "Oh, it's a butterfly hennin. I saw a mistress wearing something quite like it and I thought that it looked good. Although I did not find anything like this in some fashion stores yet, I did a little tinkering of my own."

"And you think I would wear that? In a day like this?"

Freeda frowned, her expression glooming. "Oh, do you not like this? Of course, I could make you another one but it would take me a while."

Looking at her fallen mood made Evelina feel like something was squeezing her insides. Pushing the ache away, she turned to the direction of the stairs. "If they told you to get close to me, you do not have to make an effort in faking it. I, too, am having a hard time. By the by, why are we going to the marketplace?"

She heard pairs of footsteps, the girls trying their best to keep up with her. "It's not much faking, see. I really am wondering if you wanted to wander with us. My aunt rented a building to start a fashion shop, so we could start there."

"A fashion shop? Are you going to sell hats like that?" Evelina asked, again eyeing the lovely headdress.

To which Freeda only shrugged, giving her a sheepish grin. "Well… I do not know yet. I mean, it's not my shop. I do want to help her with it. Do you really not want the hat? I admit that I did not think of you as I was making it since it had been a project of mine for a month. But I did find you as a muse. I hope that's not strange to hear."

Evelina did not answer, continuing her steps as they exited the inn. She turned to the direction of the market. It had been weeks since she started staying there and with how many times West had asked her to go accompany him, she knew that she could go there even with her eyes closed.

The brightness of the sun tickled her skin and she immediately regretted not accepting Freeda's creation. She glanced back at them and changed her mind. They were already flushed on each other's company, and she doubted that the headwear would truly protect her energy from being drained by the sun.

A muse? There was no denying that she was attractive, she had known it since. But Evelina had not been asked by anyone to be their muse. And as much as she wanted to continue being rude to them, something inside her felt soft.

She really hated it.

"...hold on, I'll ask her," she heard Freeda's voice. Next thing, she was already tapping the vampiress' shoulder while wearing another warm smile. "Sybil heard from Nelle that West was going to be performing in the market, too. Do you want to come and check it out?"

Performing? Had he forgotten to tell her such a thing?

"Who with?"

"He invited Royce earlier," Sybil finally joined in, her shy facade being replaced by an excited girl. "I asked Nelle what that was about and she told me that they'll be doing a street performance! Can you believe it? My brother was invited to act on a street performance!"

Freeda giggled. "Do you want to act on a street performance, too?"

"Er…" the youngest of them blushed. "No! I mean… not yet. But I'd like too… someday. If I'm already great at it. Or if I'm not shivering when I got to see the people watching me."

"But you were good, have I not told you the last time?" Both turned to her, surprised. Evelina raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Nothing," they said, pleased.

It did not seem like nothing to her… but alright.

The conversation continued with Freeda teasing Sybil with compliments and Evelina shaking her head most times. They took a turn from talents to designing to books, Royce's name coming up a few more times since he was the one who taught his sister how to read.

"We're here!" Freeda said, pointing to a two-storey nook. There was an absence of colors on the building as looking at it did not feel like looking at a fashion house. It was just… a house. But it did not pull down Freeda's spirits as the girl cheerfully led them to the front door. "It's not yet done but-"

She stopped and growled, staring ahead of them.

In front of them, not too far away, was a boy in glasses, his eyes searching frantically on his surroundings. He kept on scoffing to himself, running a hand on his blonde hair to express his frustration.

Ah yes, the great deserter.