They visited a number of shops selling a wide variety of trinkets, from wood carvings to gorgeously woven rattan handbags. Despite the trinkets’ questionable practical utility—especially all the star-shaped pottery—the sheer breadth of scope of the items was impressive.
“Oh, these are souvenir souvenir stores. I can see myself putting these things on a shelf somewhere and forgetting all about them in a week.”
“The rattan handbag seemed practical,” Melody said.
“Would you use it?”
“No, I already have a bag.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. They get you with things that seem useful at first, then you use them for a while and realize what you already had is better. Everything we see is window dressing, Melody. Forever window dressing.”
“Speaking from experience?”
“The worst souvenirs are the ones you buy from places like these. Trust me.”
Painful memories came rushing back. Her days as a high schooler, going on field trips, spitefully buying things against her friends’ warnings, enduring the confused expressions on the giftees’ faces. Once the magic of the trip faded, she always found herself asking the same question: “Why did I buy this?”
She had no doubt those items were still collecting dust with her family even now. They were impossible to throw out. Anna felt the call of the void. Perhaps one day she’d look back on those days fondly, but for now, her high school days remained fresh and the scars tender.
While Anna was off in her own world, a shop caught Melody’s attention. She stopped in front of it. Ornaments and baubles dressed this window. Anna’s otome senses tingled.
“Welcome,” an employee, a quiet and modest woman, said. “Please, have a look around. Take all the time you need.”
“I will, thank you,” Melody replied.
Quiet lady. Antique store. Is this what I think it is? The heroine had stopped at a store like this in the game. Anna glanced between the woman and Melody. The latter’s eyes were fixed on something at the far end of the shop, a selection of hand-stitched dolls, in front of which sat it. A ring with an azure gemstone.
The heroine Anna knew fell for that ring immediately. At first the attraction seemed to stem from the azure stone, which matched her eyes, but in truth, the ring reminded her of her late mother’s eyes. It was like staring into the same gentle pools from her memories.
She’d still be grieving right around now, Anna recalled. Her mother passes, then a man calling himself her father shows up and takes her from everything she’s ever known. She’s in a precarious state at this point in the story.
In fact, the heroine triggered this event by running away from home. Anna appreciated her pain, but Melody was not her.
So then what about that ring is she stuck on? Either way, first thing’s first.
“Something catch your eye?” Anna said.
It was Christopher’s line. It would trigger a number of choices. Four, to be precise. “No. Nothing,” was the first. The second, “That azure ring.” The third, “That red ring.” Lastly, “That yellow ring.” If you aimed to romance the prince, you had to pick the first option. The heroine would then leave the store in a flushed hurry, but the prince would notice. He’d buy the azure ring anyway and later present it to the heroine as a gift, prompting her to open up to him about her mother and earning the player a hefty affection boost.
Picking any other option would simply lead to him purchasing the ring without hearing the heroine’s story. No affection boost.
Which choice is Melody gonna pick?
She pointed toward the ring. “That azure…”
Ack! Wrong one! You’re not gonna boost my affection that way, Melody!
Granted, it really couldn’t get much higher, but it was the principle of the matter. As an otome gamer, Anna could not abide sub-optimal routing.
“That azure-eyed doll,” Melody finished.
“Hm? Doll?”
Not a ring. A doll.
Anna followed the trajectory of Melody’s finger. She was pointing past the rings at the dolls behind them. She indicated a cute little thing with chestnut hair and, of course, azure stones for eyes. It was a simple thing made of fabric and stuffed with cotton, and it just so happened to use the exact same shade of stone as the ring.
“Ah, yes,” the employee said. “Well-made isn’t it? I’m quite proud of it.”
“It’s your handiwork? It’s adorable, and the stitching is very professional,” Melody said. “I do quite like it.”
“Why, thank you. It’s for sale, you know. Would you like to take her home with you?”
“Yes, I think I would. How much is it?”
“Stop!” Anna blurted.
“Anna? Is something the matter?”
She didn’t know how they got here, but this wasn’t in the script. Anna had to get them back on track, and letting Melody pay for herself would only mess up the event more.
“I’ll buy it.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize you wanted it too.”
“I don’t. I mean I’ll buy it for you, Melody. As a gift.”
Melody raised her eyebrows. “No, Anna, you can’t do that! I won’t let you.”
“I want to give you something to commemorate our date. Can’t I?”
“I don’t know…”
Anna had insisted on paying for everything all day, as it happened, and Melody was willing to let most of it slide, but this was another matter. This was a completely personal purchase. She didn’t feel right letting someone else foot that bill.
But refusing might cause offense, Melody considered.
The employee stepped in with the perfect solution. “Why not do an exchange?”
“An exchange?” the girls said.
“If you’ll direct your attention a little to the side, you’ll see there’s another cute doll just next door.”
Next to the azure-eyed doll sat another azure-eyed doll, but with silver hair instead of soft brown. Side by side, they almost looked like sisters.
“Oh, she is cute,” Anna said.
“They’re like a mother and daughter,” Melody said.
“Mother and daughter? I was thinking sisters.”
They cocked their heads at each other. Strange that they had such different impressions. Regardless, the shopkeeper’s suggestion was a good one. This way, Anna could fulfill her own criteria, though without the affection boost on account of Melody choosing a more direct path. Sad.
“I like this idea,” Anna said. “What about you, Melody? Am I allowed to buy you this cute little brunette?”
“Are you sure? You didn’t want a doll until now.”
Anna grinned impishly. “Minds change, and right now, what I really want is to match with you.”
“Oh, okay. If you insist. And you’ll have this silver-haired cutie here.”
“Perfect. Thank you, Melody!”
“And thank you, Anna.”
The girls smiled at one another, and the good cheer spread to the shopkeeper. “Thank you for your patronage.”
Now this was business acumen.
Clutching their dolls, Anna and Melody left the store. The latter gazed softly at her new gift. Such a lovely shade of blue. Just like my mother’s eyes. To her, a doll in her mother’s likeness was far more striking than some mere ring. She knew she had to have it from the second she laid eyes on it. She looked at the one she’d gotten Anna. And that one’s just like me.
That she’d seen a mother and daughter in them was not a flight of fancy. It was a strange feeling, seeing her new maid friend carry her. Not a bad feeling. Just strange.
“I’m going to take good care of her, Anna.”
“As will I.”
For a moment, they lit up the market with their smiles. It was quite a sight.
Silver hair and blue eyes, Anna thought. Just like the heroine. Crazy, finding this at the same store where she buys the ring. An Easter egg, maybe?
Knowing nothing of Selena herself, Anna was, as ever, totally oblivious to the truth.