Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Masked Ball - Part 1

6 Days Until the Masked Ball

The article had everyone in Fontaine buzzing with excitement. Vision holders scrambled to fill out their forms, while the city's shops were overrun by people searching for the perfect dress and mask. Masks were in especially high demand, with many choosing to buy simple bases to decorate at home, ensuring their outfits would be as unique as possible.

Clorinde, Navia, and Furina found themselves in Poisson, discussing their plans for the ball. "I say we take a look at our own closets first," Clorinde suggested. "If we're pretending to be each other, it might be fun to see if there's anything in the other's wardrobe that catches our eye."

"That's true," Furina agreed, nodding thoughtfully. "It would be better than buying something new. It fits with the whole role-playing idea."

"Alright then, I suggest we split up into our respective pairs," Navia said, adding, "The others said they were swapping outfits too, right?"

"Yeah, though I think Chiori mentioned she doesn't have time to pick up an outfit herself. She just gave us her size," Clorinde replied.

"Honestly, I think we should focus on the masks. They're in much higher demand, and if we cut it too close, we might end up with dresses but no masks," Furina added.

With that, they boarded a boat heading for the Court de Fontaine. Charlotte joined them for the shopping trip, pleased that her article had generated so much joy and excitement. As they wandered through the bustling shops, the group shared their thoughts on the event.

As they entered a shop, Charlotte spoke up first, "I'm so glad we're swapping dresses because the event already has a decent price, and wearing a dress that isn't yours feels like wearing a new dress anyway."

"Yeah, I saw people buying the most extravagant dresses," Furina added. "To the point where they're too extra even for most opera performances."

Clorinde, meanwhile, was eyeing a small dress that clearly wasn't her size. "Say, Charlotte, could you take a picture of this dress for me?" she asked.

"Of course," Charlotte replied, quickly snapping a photo and printing it for Clorinde. "Here you go."

"Thank you," Clorinde said with a smile. She then asked the shopkeeper to reserve the dress under her name so she could come back for it later. Turning back to her friends, she announced, "I've already found my mask, so I'll take my leave now. There's something I really want to do."

The rest of the group nodded, understanding that each of them had their own tasks to handle. They continued browsing, still focused on finding their own masks and perhaps a nice accessory to tie their outfits together.

Clorinde, with the picture in hand, made her way to the Fortress of Meropide. It was time to talk to Sigewinne—she owed her an apology.

As Clorinde took the elevator ride down to the fortress, a strange sense of familiarity mixed with distance washed over her. The Fortress of Meropide held so many memories, both good and bad, and she had experienced so much in such a short amount of time. She had met some truly amazing people down here, and now it was time to ask for forgiveness from one of them.

She knew the way to the infirmary all too well, hoping it wouldn't be too busy. To her luck, it was empty, apart from the little doctor, Sigewinne, who was diligently cleaning all the surfaces, making sure everything was ready and spotless for her next patients.

"Hey, Sigewinne, do you have a moment?" Clorinde asked, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation, hoping not to be a bother.

"Miss Clorinde, are you alright? Do you need medical attention?" Sigewinne asked, her concern immediate upon seeing Clorinde in the fortress.