Chapter Text
A bell outside strikes, startling me from my thoughts. One hour until the announcement. Maybe if I'm fast, I can swing by the marketplace. Some pumpkin bread would be nice…maybe I can get some for Portia, too.
I grab my things and head out of the shop, locking it up behind myself.
The walk to the market takes a while, since I have to push my way through people headed towards the town square. There's about half an hour left by the time I reach the baker. And even then, it looks like I'll have to wait to purchase anything; the baker seems to be engrossed in a conversation with someone sitting on a nearby stool. The stranger laughs at a joke, tossing her head back slightly and making her long, dark teal curls fly out of her face.
"Oh! (y/n), great timing!" The baker smiles at me and waves me over. "There's a loaf of pumpkin bread here with your name on it. Let me wrap it up for you."
"Thank you." I smile and take a seat while I wait. The stranger nearby looks at me idly, her green eyes curious.
"The market is busy today, isn't it?" the stranger remarks. She has a light accent that I can't place. "You would think there was something going on…but I'm not aware of any holidays in the near future."
I look over at her. Did she know something about the announcement? No, that was ridiculous.
"I don't think there's anything happening soon." I look around us for a moment. She's right, it is busier than usual.
"How strange. Perhaps it's the spirit of this time of year? Not that I would know." The stranger takes a sip of her tea, then sits up a little straighter. "Oh, but I haven't even introduced myself! How rude."
She turns to face me, tucking some hair behind her ear and smiling.
"I'm Morgan. Morgan Drakos. It's a pleasure to meet you…(y/n), right?"
"That's right."
Morgan nods a little, looking me over. "Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but…are you the same (y/n) that people around here call a magician?"
Does everyone in the city know who I am? Morgan seems to recognize my bemused expression and smiles again, chuckling softly. "Sailors like me love listening to the local gossip whenever we're in port. I'm sorry if I alarmed you at all, I certainly didn't mean it."
"Right. Well…yes, that's me."
"I thought so. I'm glad to meet a fellow magician! It's not a common occurrence." She shifts a little, looking at the passersby. "...Really though, what has gotten into the city recently? It's buzzing…and tense."
> "Maybe it's because of the Masquerade."
> "Maybe it's because of the Count."
> "Maybe it's because of the Masquerade."
Morgan looks at me, her eyebrows raised. "Oh? Why would that be? I didn't think there would be one this year."
"Well…this is usually when plans for it would have started, back when it was happening. It was such a big event… People probably remember the excitement."
"Ahh. Yes, that would make sense. Still, after what happened at the last one, one would think the excitement would have dulled by now."
> "Maybe it's because of the Count."
Morgan winces slightly. "That would do it, all right. It's approaching the anniversary of his death, isn't it… No wonder there's tension."
"Speaking of which… Of the last Masquerade, and the count, I mean… Was the culprit ever found?" Morgan's voice had lowered a little. "It's been three years, and word on the street says there's not been an arrest."
I can't quite look at her as she speaks. Nadia didn't explicitly say I needed to keep my assignment a secret, but it doesn't feel like something to tell everyone, either. "There hasn't been. There is a suspect, though…"
"Really? That's news to me… Who?"
"A former palace physician. There's wanted posters for him everywhere. His name is Julian Devorak."
Morgan chokes on her tea, her eyes going wide. "What? Ah…that is to say, why only one suspect? Surely the count had plenty of enemies…"
That's what Portia said, too. Does Morgan know him? Or is she just surprised that there's only one suspect? It's difficult to tell. "Yes, but apparently the evidence only points to one person."
"That's…strange. I'd be interested to see what that evidence is. Unfortunately, I'm not in the city enough to hear all the details about things; let alone all the actual facts, instead of rumors alone." Morgan frowns, looking into her cup.
"I'm sure a lot of people want to know the facts, too. The countess probably does." I wonder if I can get any information about Julian from her. I'm about to ask about him when the baker returns with some freshly packaged pumpkin bread.
"Sorry about the wait! It needed to cool a little before it was safe to wrap." He slides the package over to me. At the same moment, Morgan stands up, pushing her cup aside. She bows slightly to the baker, then to me.
"Thank you for the chat, (y/n). It was pleasant. Hopefully, we can meet again soon." She smiles and winks, then looks at the baker. "Thank you for the bread and tea. I think this ought to cover everything. Have a lovely day."
She sets down a few coins. It looks like too much for just a bit of bread and tea. She gives me one last smile and disappears into the crowd.
I pay for my own bread and stand up as well. It's nearly time for the announcement. If I'm quick, I'll make it to town square on time.
Still, I can't help but wonder if Morgan could have provided more information about Julian to me. She seems insistent that he isn't guilty…and though she says she doesn't know much about the case, I'm not entirely sure I believe that.
My train of thought is soon interrupted as I reach the town square, just as Portia is beginning to make the announcement.
(From here, the prologue continues as normal)