Seducing the Conqueror

014: Enticed by the Witch

"FINALLY, you are here!" a lady exclaimed as LJ entered Cafè de Jardin, Rosè's coffee shop.

She's wearing a pink shirt, a long brown skirt, and a white apron. Her pale skin compliments her curly auburn hair that was tucked in place with a pink plastic headband and an elastic hair band.

"I've been waiting for you in ages!"

LJ placed the two boxes of oranges at the counter and gave her the note.

“The boss wanted these to be traded with bottles of wine,” he said.

Rosè read the note and counted the oranges. LJ looked around the coffee shop.

The interior of the cafe is very cozy. Jazz music is playing in the background while the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the whole place. Men on their thirties and fifties either read their newspapers quietly, or calmly discuss business over black coffee. But majority of Cafè de Jardin's customers are noble ladies in their frilly glittery dresses that happily chitchat over a cup of tea and enjoy their three-tiered tray of scones, tea sandwiches and sweets.

None of these fine ladies could hold a candle to the girl I met on the street, LJ thought when he remembered her mystery girl. She may be wearing riding pants and shows a bit of skin. But I can vouch that she is more elegant than anyone else in this room.

"A busboy from Laugh Tale notified me of your arrival --- and that was an hour ago! What have you been doing all this time?"

LJ was back to reality when Rosè started slashing out on him. She frowns as she finishes examining the oranges before she orders him to move the boxes to the kitchen. Luckily, he managed to replace all of the stolen oranges with those bought from the market so Rosè didn’t find fault on the goods.

As they entered the kitchen, three pastry chefs are buzzing around --- kneading, baking and decorating breads, cakes and cookies all at the same time. It was terribly hot inside but the mouth-watering fragrance of freshly baked bread can make someone want to stay there for a whole day.

"The liquors are in here."

LJ followed Rosè on the next room. It was more like a passage down to the cellar. There are dim lights fixed on the wall of the cellar and the temperature there was maintained to the ideal level for storing wines.

"That box is for Laugh Tale," she said.

He picked up the boxes of wines at the corner of the room. It was a lot lighter than he expected it to be.

"Thank you, Miss," LJ said courteously. He was about to leave when Rosè held his shoulder.

"Look, kid," Rosè said. Her expression toned down and anyone could clearly see she is a bit worried about something. "I know it is a bit confusing down here. The city is nothing like what the country folks were telling you. You will be pushed around many times and you will do things that you never imagined you would do to survive here. Just grit your teeth and hang in there, okay?"

LJ didn't get what she was talking about but he just nodded in response. She is not a lot older than him but she talks like LJ was her nephew.

"You really remind me of my husband when he was young," Rosè said softly as her lips curled into a bitter smile.

Rosè cleared her throat and patted his shoulder again as she flashed a smile. "If you need anything or you have something you want to know about Belmoure, you are free to ask me."

LJ knew this is his chance to extract some intel about the rebels, but he didn’t made haste. I still have time, he thought. He put down the boxes of wine and faced Rosè.

"Actually, I would like to know what kind of place Laugh Tale [1] really is. I just accidentally got tangled with that place for some reason.”

“What do you mean accidentally got tangled?” Rosè asked.

“I was supposed to go to a restobar called Raftel. But when I met the old man in Twenty Street B, he dragged me to Laugh Tale. Maybe he misheard what I said."

Rosè's face filled again with worry.

"He is not mistaken. Laugh Tale and Raftel are one and the same place --- but also are different with each other," she said.

“I’m a bit confused,” LJ admitted.

Rosè sighed. She leaned against the cellars doors and crossed her arms.

“Tell me --- why are you looking for Raftel?” Rosè’s gazes are deep. The word Raftel doesn’t usually comes out from the lips of ordinary people. This word always been associated with the words danger and war.

LJ thought for an excuse. In Rosè’s eyes, this looked like he is hesitating to tell her his reason so she relaxed, sighed, then, smiled.

“I’m telling you what you wanted to know so you should also do the same. I’m a businesswoman, you know? I believe in fair trading.”

LJ sighed. “I came from a far town. I made trouble there for some officials so the old folks helped me escape our town. They knew I am not usually a troublemaker. I just can’t help going against those mighty soldiers so they told me to look for a restobar called Raftel. They said if I really wanted to change something, I should join that place.”

"Laugh Tale is certainly the place you’ve been looking for,” Rosè confirmed. “Laugh Tale is known for two names: Laugh Tale and Raftel. Laugh Tale is an ordinary restobar who hires country bumpkins like you. Most of the young people who look for a job in the city were recruited to that place.”

“On the other hand, Laugh Tale becomes Raftel when your role becomes more than an errand boy. Raftel is like a training ground for kids like you --- reckless, a problem-child, and especially those who want to play hero."

I think my intel is correct. Raftel is a secret base for new recruits of the rebels, LJ concluded.

"What's your name, kid?" Rosè asked.

"LJ."

"Do you have siblings, LJ? Or any love ones back in the country?" she asked.

"I did have a younger sister --- not until the Conqueror invaded our town," LJ lied. He do have a younger sister but she is alive and well --- and living inside the palace walls.

"I see. So, you are here for revenge." Rosè took a deep breath. "Anyways, I can’t tell you if what you are about to do is right or wrong. But always remember this: those that are alive will always be the victors.”

Rosè picked up the boxes of wine and handed it to LJ.

“If you don’t have any other question, you should get going now. I’m sure the boss is already waiting for the kids’ water.”

Rosè pushed LJ up to the staircase but he remembered something he also wanted to ask.

“Actually, I still have one last question --- do you know a girl with an emerald hair and hazel eyes?”

Rosè’s eyes blinked several times. “How did you know about her?”

“I met her in the streets a while ago. I haven’t thanked her for her help so I wanted to meet her again. Do you know where she lives?”

LJ isn’t lying when he said he wanted to thank the mystery girl. But his real agenda is just to meet her again, with or without reason.

Rosè sighed. This kid is in trouble. He has been enticed by the witch!

Rosè shook her head and hands.

“You are not the first person who got interested in the Eternal Witch. Every man falls for her the moment they laid eyes on her, like some curse has been cast on them. So, I won’t be surprised if you do, too. She is no ordinary woman after all,” Rosè said with a hidden meaning. “Don’t go looking for her, kid. She will just bring trouble for you.”

LJ wanted to ask more about her but Rosè started to push him out again.

Who is she? Why does Rosè said she was trouble?

More and more questions have filled LJ’s mind. But one thing is for sure --- he won’t stop until he finds his Emerald girl.

[1] Raftel and Laugh Tale is a term I got from One Piece Stampede movie. Since I really loved the movie, I used the term for the name of the restobar.