It was already dusk when the final request was completed. Knowing Lady Verina wouldn't be available for small queries anymore, and that even important matters could be discussed with her at most once a week, too many had decided to stay in line and wait for the witch's consult.
Slightly worn out by the continuous use of magic, Verina finally stood up. Kara was on the wooden floor, counting.
Despite having made clear that no payment was required for normal requests -and for special ones, just the price of the materials used-, many over the course of the months had taken the habit of gifting the Sorceress small tokens of their appreciation. It was mostly food or trinkets, homemade items and jewels; nothing of particular value, but particularly useful for a lone woman in the woods. That day, after refusing a live chicken -"Where do I even put that, in a castle?!"- and the promise of a new bookshelf -for a house that was soon to be abandoned-, the final loot amounted to: a tray of cookies, a few vegetables, salted pork meat, a clearly-fake jade hairpin from Shendu, and a pretty, tailormade turquoise dress, done with the body measurements already taken in the past. As she offered to pay, encountering strenuous resistance from the seamstress, Kara intervened commissioning a similar dress for herself, in light pink, to be paid generously from the Crown; the lady left convinced and grateful, admiring the two young and regal women.
In the meantime, rumors about the peculiar closeness of witch and princess, and the possible reasons for the latter's sudden appearance in such a small village had been going rampant. Even those who had returned home after the initial encounter, and those who hadn't halted their routine or business for her, heard of Lady Verina's particular way of addressing and interacting with the King's daughter, and combined with the previous, unfounded -and correct- rumors about her sexuality...
While none of that unstoppable gossip had any malice, as they loved their witch and could only be happy for her, a strange feeling pervaded the village, as whispers and giggles traveled all around the central square.
Jill, informed of the rumors by his wife, reached the stage as soon as the witch finished vanishing away all her gifts for futuree, more careful disposal. «Lady Verina, are you tired?»
«Yes, I am. But I don't feel like using a potion for that...»
«Good, good... May I ask you something?»
«Sure, what it is?»
«Is the Princess... you know... I mean...»
Kara, overhearing, went closer to Verina, clinging onto her arm «Am I what?»
Jill started to seem visibly uncomfortable, as he tried to muster up his courage «I was wondering if the two of you were...» long pause «...a couple?»
Verina, fearing what kind of answer the young girl would give, said the first thing that came to her mind «Not yet.»
While the assertive tone was enough to make Jill fear that he had been too impudent, Kara had a brilliant smile, from cheek to cheek; Verina's uses of the 'yet' word were perceived as certainty by her.
«You could say, Alderman Jill...» said the princess, wrapping her arms around Verina's right «that we are 'dating'!»
As darkness descended upon Tardeburgo, the two important guests decided to eat at a local tavern. The few households whose lights could be seen from their windows, the calm little sounds of dinner, the fresh air and the night sky... painted a placid picture that touched Kara unexpectedly. Accustomed to other places, and other types of people, seeing the daily life of a common settlement felt refreshing, almost enviable. Remembering the witch's promise to travel the world, she started to tear up, imagining how many common and rare sights had yet to see thanks to her.
