“Good afternoon, Sir and Miss, and welcome to our boutique. Might I inquire what you are interested in?” the shopkeeper of the Sandum’s Attire for the Lady asked Liana and Narder as they entered.

“The same to you. Thank you for welcoming us. We are looking for a dress for the young Miss. She is to attend a birthday party of the Sanonbourgh capitalist,” Narder began. Stopping for a moment. Before continuing, though with slower speech and a slight worry appearing on his face.

“Though we are looking for something on the more reasonable side. If you catch my meaning. We inquired at Alar’s but they weren’t very accomodating,” he continued.

At the mention of Alar’s Liana grabbed the hem of her fathers shirt. The memory of them being shouted out of the shop for being apparently too poor still fresh in her mind.

“Ahh yes, I think this should be doable. Do you want to take measurements first, for a more individualized outfit or would you rather have a look for yourselves? We carry an assortment of factory-produced goods and linen as well.”

“Which has also given us the opportunity to carry less common colors, though they tend to be more expensive,” the shopkeeper said.

“We would like to see what you have available first. Do you also do refitting,” Nardar asked.

“Yes, though obviously there is a minor fee involved with that,” and with that, the merchant lead the two through his small shop, showing them several different fits of dress, in various different colors.

Ranging from deep yellows with an almost improper fit, showing too much skin, to light whites and deep blacks.

Though one color stood out to Liana.

A blue that just looked like vastness, indefinitely deep, salty, and pleasant. Instead of the simpler styles of dress, it was layered manyfold. Looking as though the waves were breaking on the wearer.

Liana had never seen the ocean for she had never left her growing township but she had heard stories of pirates and of brave soldiers holding of the beasts roaming in the ocean.

She wanted it.

It showed by the gleam in her eyes. How her timid fingers caressed the linen.

“This is the one I like the most, pa,” she said.

“Yeah,” he returned snorting followed by him turning to the vendor. “How much would it be for this piece with a better fit?”

“Hmm, do you have a trading skill? We can figure it out that way,” and a slightly worried expression huffed over his face.

The usage of trading skills had been somewhat outlawed by the dukedom of Haarsburg which didn’t obstruct merchants at all. The miraculous creation of experience, when used with another trading skill, was a boon for anyone with a merchant class.

The issue, higher leveled skills could generate wealth, destabilizing an economy. It used to be benefitial to the people when people bartered. The newer government structures however opposed the generation of wealth, when anyone else besides them indulged in it.

“I am afraid not,” Nardar answered.

“Hmm, one pound and eight pence, seems to be a price we are both happy with,” the merchant answered after his eyes briefly glowed with the trademark sign of an appraisal-adjacent skill.

“That still is a fairly large price don’t you think. I bet this piece has been standing here,” Nardar began haggling.

After some extended discussion which the merchant seemingly enjoyed the settled on a price.

“Eighteen shillings and 6 pence it is. A pleasure doing business with you,” and they both shook hands. The stating of the price elicited a small gasp from Liana. That was a few el, the currency of the rich. It seemed like her father was in a good mood today.

She knew that her mother earned about one shilling per day at her job, this sort of wealth was quite foreign to her as someone that had a weekly allowance of 2 pence.

Having arrainged most of the details for pickup at a later date and after the measurements were done they left. Though Liana still had a slightly worried look on her face.

“Isn’t that really expensive, pa? I thought you would only buy me something equivalent to the work I have done,” she asked.

“See Liana, I have. You have been fullfilling the work of my last apprentice for about a year half time. I paid him eight shilling per month with housing. It is a less than fair method of payment in favour of me, not you,” he now grinned.

Which earned him some sort of punishment as far as Liana’s was concerned and she promptly followed through. Hitting her father lightly on his behind.

“So you wanna go to the keepers next? Find out what that mysterious trait of yours does,” Nardar teased his daughter.