The Perfect Kingdom

Chapter 6

"Why are we packing armour and weapons for you as well, and even a second set of armour for Shane?" Jessica asked Gwen, as they placed said items into drawstring bags.

"Shane likes to be prepared. I'm not allowed to have weapons and armour, but we still bring them in case of an emergency and I need to fight. We have two horses, one for Shane and one for carrying supplies. All this additional equipment will be carried by the second. Shane's weapon for official duties isn't his sword. He carries a huge halberd to look imposing, but he also likes to have a sword for speed, so his sword and shield will also be carried along for him to swap if he needs it."

"You two seem ready for war," Jessica good-naturedly teased.

"We are," Gwen seriously replied. "We're at war with the king and the whole system. If he discovers what we've been doing, he'll kill us. Even Shawn won't be spared."

The two ladies stood in silence for a moment before snapping back into action. Gwen guided Jessica into packing all their weapons so that they were concealed but easily reached, then did the same for clothes. Shane gave them his room's key for them to pack his things. Jessica opened the cupboard and bent over with laughter once she saw that all his clothing was black.

"He's weird," Gwen simply remarked, causing Jessica to laugh even harder. "In all honesty, it's his own way of rebelling against the crowd of nobles. They like colour, opulence, all that sort of things, so he wears the most nondescript colour and the simplest clothes. He still manages to look even better than them though."

Once done with his items, they gathered everything in Gwen's room and then spent the rest of the day going through a map to mentally prepare themselves.

"Let's get the shoes first. We can start wearing them immediately as a test," Gwen suggested. Jessica agreed.

They entered the shop and found the shoemaker delicately stitching another workpiece. The shelves displayed four pairs of black shoes that Jessica instinctively knew was for them. The cloth shoes she used to wear were nothing compared to the pristine footwear in front of her. The pair for dinner were basic flats, while the walking shoes were more all-encompassing with a thicker sole. However, they still looked unexceptional and would pass off as simple shoes fit for a maid. She could see similar differences between the pairs meant for her and Gwen and it was a sure sign of a bespoke item.

"Miss Wolfe and Miss Ami," the shoemaker greeted, pausing his work. He waved towards the shelf. "Your shoes."

"They're beautiful," Jessica complimented.

"Thank you. Please, try them on. I may still be able to make slight changes."

The girls reached for the dinner flats first and slipped them on. Jessica stood up and they simply felt right: the arch was perfectly aligned to her foot and the amount of cushioning on the heel was just the right amount to give her adequate support without upsetting her balance. She felt as if she could stand for hours. She walked around the shop once and felt the supple leather bend easily. It was perfect. She looked at Gwen, who smiled back.

Next, they tried on the walking shoes. They were snug and her feet felt cocooned in soft fabric. She stepped forward and found the sole rounded to her steps, making them feel effortless.

"How...?" she whispered.

"I saw how you walk around the shop. That's all I needed," the shoemaker replied. "Mr Jackson is a loyal customer. Top-notch service is my way of thanking him for his patronage."

"Shane is the kind of person who will stubbornly stick to one shop if he finds it good," Gwen elaborated.

"The shoes are perfect. Thank you," Jessica graciously said.