"A clothing shop? Serafina, I thought we're looking for maps. Shouldn't we go to a library or a bookstore instead?"
Jonah asked wonderingly.
I smiled at his confusion.
"Jeanine Caramille is the head of the merchant association in Seraphold. Not many know it, but she owns the most business in all of Damai. She uses aliases and puppet figures to run her other businesses to fool her competitors, hence the secret."
I went on as Jonah was slightly gaping at the reveal.
Jeanine's shop did look very modest in comparison to the other grand stores she neighbored with.
"If we need something to be found in the city, Miss Caramille can definitely find it for us. She's also a reliable informant given her extensive connections."
Before I came to the forged land, I used to exchange letters with Jeanine. We were quite close actually.
She would often provide me with ingredients and materials for my magic research.
The woman managed to procure all kinds of things I required from her, even if she had to scour the highest of mountains or the deepest of the oceans to get it.
In return, I would help her with her trade using my capacity as the daughter of the Zeref Household, such as introducing her to some nobles that would benefit her business or giving her forecast of the political situation across the empire.
All done in secret, of course.
But all those histories were nothing now. Since we never had met in this version of Dunia.
That being said, I knew of her enough to make her do as I asked although I was now a stranger to her.
Jonah and I walked into the shop and found ourselves in a quaint room filled with rows of fabric bolts of various colors and mannequins displaying dresses in all sorts of designs.
A graying middle-aged woman draped in plain white blouse and dark skirt calmly walked to us.
While maintaining a smile welcoming a patron, her sharp yellow eyes were studying Jonah and I as she made her approach.
Jeanine often complained about her declining eyesight, but that look of a hunting hawk never escaped her aging face.
The woman made a graceful curtsy once she threw a careful gaze across my black and white gown.
She must had been wondering why my dress had the Zeref color pattern but had the House's symbol skewed.
"Does my lady find anything she likes? If not, then please, enlighten this servant. Jeanine Caramille will make sure to provide my lady with anything she requires and more."
I ignored her curtsy and walked to the dressed mannequin right by Jeanine's side, examining its embroidered silk nonchalantly.
This woman was good at reading expressions. I would gain the higher ground if she could not read my intention through my face.
"Maybe you can provide me with what I need, Miss Caramille. Or maybe not. I'm not sure. You see, I've put myself in a complicated situation and my needs aren't quite similar to the ladies you usually attend."
"If my lady would tell me her story, then this servant may think of something that might help."
She said politely, still maintaining her curtsy.
"My father wants me to get married to this awful and hideous man, you see. The man is not the problem, since a noble daughter would be lucky if her fiancée isn't a bedridden 80-year-old. More than blessed if he's below 60. Almost unthinkable if below 30. Mythical if he's handsome. Even less if he's kind. And only in her dreams for him to be both."
Jeanine was sounding a silent chuckle under her breath.
She had once told me my mother was living the dream of many noble girls.
It took me a while to figure out what she really meant.
I continued.
"It's the marriage itself, you see. I don't want to marry and be caged in my husband's manor like a prized Phirdaus bird. I want to see the world."
"Young ladies such as milady often crave for an adventure. I've met quite a number of those girls over the years. They were left very satisfied with the matters I helped them with."
"So I heard, Miss Caramille. So I heard. But I haven't actually begun my adventure. I don't know where to begin. I just barely escaped my father's manor with some money and my personal guard. As we speak, my father's inconspicuous hired men are looking all over for me in the city."
Jeanine's polite smile turned into one of mischief. She straightened herself and stared directly to me.
"I see that you're not actually looking for dresses. Come with me. We shall continue this upstairs with a nice pot of tea and certainly behind a closed door."
The woman swiftly went to lock the front door of the shop, put on the closed sign, and strode to the stairs behind the counter at the back of the room.
As she instructed, Jonah and I followed her.
The shepherd stared at me confusedly. Most likely wondering the lies I told the shopkeeper.
It was something I learned upon meeting the woman for the first time.
Jeanine Caramille loved intrigue.
The reason we were well acquainted was because I disguised myself to meet her for the first time.
I went to her since I learned of a rumor that she was the one who truly ran the Merchant Street and all of Damai's trading business.
The woman loved more the idea of working together in secret with one of the heirs of the Zeref Household rather than the benefits she would receive upon the cooperation.
After hearing I was a runaway maiden who wished to go on an adventure, she would be open to hear my request.
The fact that she did not mind not knowing my name yet was another intrigue that she loved. The more mystery I had with me the more agreeable Jeanine would become.
She said it was like having a story of a book jumped into life. An experience she welcomed with open arms in the midst of her boring life maneuvering against the wiles and guises of sly merchants across the empire.
We all then made it to her study on the shop's second floor. The room had a good view of the entire plaza.
Jeanine gestured me to sit at a cushioned chair in front of her black wooden desk while she picked up a tea set from a table in the corner.
She even had one of those fancy thermos container which keeps the heat of hot water inside. The woman had always been ready to entertain a guest.
I sat myself on the chair while Jonah stood beside me, keeping up appearance as my guard.
We watched Jeanine set two chipped clay cups on the table, one for me and one for her, and poured the tea in.
Sherefin-made. Zeraphine style mugs.
The woman must had wanted to know to which family I belonged to, like the first time we met.
Well, I would not comment on them this time. It would only make her more confused if I told her I recognized the set. Since I did not actually exist in this universe of Damai.
Once she sat herself on the identical chair across me on the other side of the desk, Jeanine spoke up.
"So, how can I be of help?"
I did not waste time to sound my first request.
"I need you to procure maps for me, Miss Caramille. If I wish to go on an adventure, I need to know where I'm going."
Jeanine raised her eyebrows.
"What sort of maps do you need?"
"The map of the continent. Detailed maps of every city and towns. Topographic maps of remote regions in the empire and beyond. Every stronghold, fortress and castle designs existed. Every kind of map you can find in the city. Everything in Damai, if possible."
Jeanine raised her eyebrows even further.
"That's a lot of places you'll be adventuring to. And it'll cost something if you want those classified designs as well."
I reached for one of the gold coins in my pouch and tossed it on the table.
"I will need those maps by tomorrow afternoon. You think you can procure them by then?"
Jeanine studied the coin lying in front of her.
As an excellent merchant, she knew what the coin worth.
"For the regional maps, I can have them ready tomorrow. But those building designs, whatever I can lay my hands on, will take at least three more days."
"I will give you one more coin to have them all ready by tomorrow."
"Three more coins."
"Two. And I want you to package them inside sturdy trunks for convenience."
"Done."
Jeanine might be eager to help a lady with an intrigue. But she was still not innocent enough to ignore profit.
With the bargain settled, Jeanine formed a smile and took a sip of her cup.
She studiously eyed Jonah and me once more.
She must had figured out that I was not a noble lady trying to run away from an arranged marriage. Especially after hearing my request just now.
Then again, realizing I was lying to her and hiding another secret was also another intrigue, which she loved. Which I knew she was going to love.
"Are you sure this handsome man knows how to use those spears on his back? I have a map of the Great Awan Mountain. If you do end up there, you would want someone who knows how to kill a monster or a thousand by your side."
I chuckled at her enquiry.
"Oh Jonah surely knows how to use his spears, Miss Caramille. I've seen him kill a monster and a thousand with it. But I could kill them myself if I wanted to. I'm a mage, you see."
Jeanine mischievous smile returned.
"I thought so. You had that air I often saw on mages. I could tell you're strong. Very strong."
"You flatter me, Miss Caramille. But I hope you would not go around and tell everyone about me."
I said as I sipped my tea.
"Don't you worry about that, sweetie. It is no longer rare for mages to walk in the city these days. Anyway, is that why you're travelling with this terribly handsome young man? To disguise yourself as a helpless noble lady escorted by her knight?"
"Oh Jonah does more than being a mere disguise, Miss Caramille. You see, he also knows very well how to keep me warm and entertained during one of those chilly and lonely nights."
Just by seeing Jeanine's wide smirk I knew how red Jonah's face must had been.
Now that I had intrigued her even more, I tossed another coin on the table.
"Now I would like you to answer some questions for me, Miss Caramille."
"What do you want to know?"
She replied while eyeing the second golden medallion.
"For starters, tell me what happened to the invaded cities on the eastern border."