Page 59 of A Yulean Sister’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped

“What do you think?” she asked.

She stood in front of the mirror, taking a close inventory of herself. Her eye was uncharacteristically sharp, as if looking for each and every flaw.

“It looks good,” I tell her.

She huffs, as if I said something offensive. “Thanks.”

“I said it was good,” I said in confusion. “Is that not… acceptable?”

Sage shrugs. “Good is just… good I guess.”

What a confusing woman.

“Isn’t good… good?”

She turned quickly. “Good is fine,” she snapped. “But I want to look more than good. A chocolate chip cookie is good, but a piece of cake is delectable.”

I sort of understood what she meant, but, “Isn’t that subjective? I’m sure some people prefer cookies to cake.”

“Then those people are objectively wrong,” she said.

I took a breath, figuring I’d try again. “Though it isn’t as… ornately decorated or brightly colored as the rest of your wardrobe, it… fits you well. And looks… pretty.”

She looked at me for a moment. Was that incorrect too? It felt impossible to say the right thing to her sometimes.

I wasn’t sure what her expression was, until her cheeks began to pink.

“T-that’s better,” she stuttered. “I’ll get this one.” Before I could say anything more, she bustled behind the changing curtain and out of my eyesight.

Apparently I did say the right thing.

After many more try-ons, and more compliments that never used the word ‘good’, we were finally back on track. My arms doubled in fullness, with two more bags added to my load.

We’d made it pretty far, the library just up ahead now. Only a few more yards and we’d be there. I hoped Bramwell found something of use. Two of us were definitely better than one in this situation, but I knew either way he was competent.

“Oh my moons!” Sage’s voice said as she began wandering off again. I tried to grab her, but with the bags, it was no use.

“Where are you going?” I asked, being led again towards a shop to the side.

The Gardening Can, the sign read above the shop.

“A gardening shop?” I asked aloud.

She opened the door, and the fresh scent hit instantly. Soil and plants had an earthy smell I wasn’t used to. Yerev was full of deserts, and I normally had the salty ocean air to keep me company nowadays. But it was nice, in its own way.

I had thought Sage was excited to see the dresses, but that was nothing compared to the way her eyes gleamed when she saw these plants.

She walked through the aisles carefully, eyeing each and every one, making comments as she went.

“These ciannas are growing really well.”

“The Dragon’s Flax is such a pretty white. They must have a lot of bark in here to give good aeration.”

“The yaisys need more water, and probably a larger pot.”

Her knowledge of each one was interesting to me. The memory of helping her move plants around the manor felt like a distant moment with everything happening, but it only happened a short time ago.

Then I caught a glance at one I recognized. It was the golden ones with the blue center I’d seen in the front of the manor.