The whispers of the Archive

7: Black Roses

After arriving back at their rented room, Eva immediately checked on the roses. With the daylight pouring in through the dusty window, the dyed flowers could now be properly admired, and they were truly something worth admiring.

The pure white petals had fully saturated with the squid ink, transforming the flowers into breathtaking black roses. Furthermore, the petals were still firm thanks to the perpetual cold in their rented room. So the mysterious looking black roses lay juxtaposed in the old splintered wine barrel.

"Eva, this..." Charlotte was momentarily speechless at the sight of the black flowers. She gently swiped her finger across one pitch black petal and was surprised to find no ink residue on her digit.

These black roses were Eva's first successful application of the knowledge she acquired in the library. If she could succeed in this, that meant her future was bright. A prideful smile swept across her lips. Realising that time was of the essence, Eva sprang into action. She took a barrel down to the well and refilled it with fresh water. She carefully placed the five bunches of roses inside and secured straps to the barrel allowing her to carry it on her back.

"Do you want to come sell them with me?" Eva asked  seeing that Charlotte was lingering by the door.

Charlotte glanced at the barrel strapped to Eva's back and then down at her fine green dress. She frowned slightly, struggling to make a decision.

She eventually shook her head, "No."

Eva brushed away her disappointment. She knew that Charlotte would find the act of selling flowers beneath her. He sister's pride was forged of steel after all, but so was Eva's, hence why she always asked.

After changing back into her brother's clothes, Eva flitted down the stairs with the barrel strapped to her back and a cloth over the top to conceal the flowers from thieving hands. She arrived at the bustling Main Street and was greeted by the large crowds and farmers stalls. She looked around for a good spot to put down her barrel.

"Evan?" An excited voice called from across the street.

Eva saw Tess waving at her from a stall selling potatoes. Despite the plain linen dress she was wearing today, her midnight hair and striking eyes didn't require any dressing up to announce to all who saw her that she was beautiful.

"Hello, Miss Fifer," Eva waved back, relieved to have an excuse to delay the work of selling flowers.

The wicker basket in Tess's arm was holding a few potatoes and a cut of meat wrapped in a coarse cloth. Noticing the barrel on Eva's back, Tess smiled and ask, "What are you selling?"

Eva unloaded the barrel and pushed aside the cloth to give Tess a glimpse inside, "What do you think?"

Tess stared into the barrel, her face switching from wonderment to disbelief in a flurry.

"Black roses?" she asked, as if not quite trusting her eyes.

Eva nodded triumphantly, "Yes, black roses."

Her confidence about selling the flowers had tripled seeing Tess's reaction. However, glancing back at the busy street, a knot of worry formed in her chest, "I just don't know where to sell them."

Tess's eyes were still glued to the roses, "How much are you selling them for?"

Eva already thought about this, she was going to price her roses so that she could almost double her profit but still make the flowers affordable.

"Five shills per bunch," she said.

Tess shook her head, "No, it should be ten shills."

Before Eva could disagree Tess continued, "You shouldn't try to keep the price low to accommodate the masses. You have a special product here, however, not many people will purchase black roses when the etiquette surrounding such flowers hasn't been established. Only people with enough interest will purchase them, and you should set the price for those individuals, not your average commoner."