“Money,” she simply stated, looking into my eyes. It was going to be my next question, and Madeleine preempted it easily. “Chérie, I want to buy a hut in the Darkmire Swamp. I want to live off the land, and drain poor, cute adventuring boys... but that’s just me. I’ll need significant capital to do that, and even more to make the Ordo-Inquisitis look the other way.”

  She said it so plainly, and, for once, it didn’t involve me. I looked down at my cup and smelled the strange dark water. It was tea, but it wasn’t something I normally drank.

  “Elderflower Brew. If you work with me, I’ll make sure to keep this in supply for you. It helps rejuvenate your mind after a stressful day,” Madeleine offered. I looked at her.

  “Look, chair-ee.” That made Madeleine visibly scrunch up her face even as her lips lapped at the offered tea. “I might not know the price of some blood carrots, but I understand what’s going on. I ain’t no two— I’m not uneducated. You see me as a supplier, and you’re a dealer. You’re offering me an opportunity to use your contacts, and you see my ability to produce for you as worth much more than 45 gold.”

  Her eyes watched me, but she kept drinking. I got it right.

  “So, what’s the deal? Why are blood carrots bad? Since, if they were this profitable, Pa would be selling them right away. And if you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. I’ll return the 45 gold to you and you can take your profit, and I’ll go back home and just farm normal carrots. It might be slower, but it won’t get me involved in this.”

  She finished her tea, then leaned in. Her lips were too close to mine, and she smelled... gross. My hand rose and pushed her away. “I’m not interested, thank you.” I shot her down.

  She only smiled, unbothered. “Nor am I. I prefer agneaux... not sheep, chérie.” She shifted her body, one leg atop the other as she continued to watch.

  So I got up. “Thank you for the tea, chair-ee. But you’re wasting my time. I only got so much time before the grocer closes, and the field ain’t gonna be—”

  “You create a blight, an area of stillness. For living folk, it is unnerving—but my clientele, they prefer it. And if a supplier is nearby? Some of the noblesse might even be tempted to set up their salons and soirées here.” She let the thought linger. “And you are right, chérie. I do want you as my sole supplier—or at least, I am your preferred courtier in such matters. After all, I need only know the people. You must make the product.”

  I hummed at that information. “Why are the Vampire Counts bad?”

  “Vampires?” Her eyes gleamed. “They enslave whole provinces, drink à leur plaisir, and host the most decadent balls until dawn. Ah, the music is to die for, the gowns, the spectacle?” She gave a blasé shrug. “But since you want to know—Black Market goods, chérie, they always demand a sacrifice.”

  Sacrifice. A farmer gives something to their land. Blood, in my case.

  “I see. I don’t mind selling to you, Madeleine, but my only rule is this—you either buy all my stock, or I find someone else.” Her eyes watched mine, and then her lips became a wicked smile. Her eyes showed a mixture of joy and amusement.

  Her hand shot out, but I looked at it. “Chérie, if you ever get to the point you make more produce than I can move, I’d join your operation.”

  “Shake on that, then.” Her smile turned into shock.

  “You heard me.” I continued. Madeleine’s flirting was something she was hoping to lean on, but... she didn’t interest me in that way. “The way I see it, I can sell solely to you until you can’t handle my stock. And when you can’t, you’ll work for me, and I’ll make sure to pay you more than you’ll get.”

  “That’s a big if.”

  “I’ll shake on my end that I’ll only sell to you.”

  She hesitated and appraised me again. “I, Madeleine La Croix, swear on Grandmother Willow, that if this—”

  “Ashley Hart.” That made her frown. I knew what she was trying to do.

  “...” She watched me still, but decided to bet against me. “I, Madeleine La Croix, swear on Grandmother Willow, that if Ashley Hart can produce more than I can move, I will be her servant in her operation.

  “I, Ashley Hart, swear on... Ma’s grave, that until that point, I will only sell to Madeleine La Croix.”

  We both smiled at each other, and Madeleine moved to the back. She brought a bottle of wine. “To a good partnership, then...”

  Madeleine gave me some more carrot seeds—they weren’t that expensive to a merchant, and she saw it as a good way to move a worthless product into something useful. The 50 silver pieces a seed pouch was nothing to her, and to me, sitting at a whopping 145 gold, I could easily get more.

  I smiled to myself as I walked outside, and immediately heard that radiant Symphony. That ruined my happy smile, but I broke out of it completely when I heard the wolf whistle.

  “Ms. Hart, a moment of your time,” a familiar voice rang out. I turned my head to see Adrian leaning against the wall, watching the entranceway.

  “I don’t have time for this right now, Add—”

  “That’s Inquisitor Skye, ma’am. I must insist,” he cut me off. I glared down at him and approached.

  My ragged slippers hit the cobblestone until I was a step away from Adrian. He was no taller than Madeleine, but he carried himself differently. His face still looked like the boy I knew, but underneath the inquisitor’s cap, it seemed far more stern and uncaring.

  “What do you want, Add—”

  “Inquisitor Skye,” he corrected again. “Ms. Hart, while we do have history together, we’re in public.”

  I glared at his eyes, but he didn’t back down. He didn’t stop leaning against the wall, which made him look even shorter than he usually is. So I said nothing. Curiously, he didn’t seem to be looking at me.

  “What book did you buy?” He broke the silence.

  “Oh, uh...” I stuttered, trying to think on my feet.

  “I’d recommend Fenwick’s Almanac for Soil-Tenders, though they do sell that in the market. Leave, Ms. Hart.” He finished, not giving me a chance to respond. I glared at him, but he raised his hand and... waved me off.

  He still watched the store. I stared at him curiously, but then moved away. I had to purchase other things for my farm, Addy—inquisitor or not.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  The common hoe was easy, and I could acquire a sickle and everything good for working the earth. However, I was tired of looking like a ragged peasant. I owed the guild a lot of money, but I deserved at least some good clothes.

  I took a deep breath and entered Bellamine’s Tailor.

  “Hello! Welcome to... Ashy?” that bitch began. I took a breath to compose myself and smiled. “I can’t believe it’s really you!”

  She got to her feet as she rushed toward me. She was only slightly shorter than me, but far prettier. Her blue eyes sparkled like stars, and her long blonde hair was combed and clean. And her clothes were worst of all—actually tailored, with intricate designs and patterns made of blue fabric.

  My stomach knotted, but I kept my face still and happy. “I want to buy some new clothes. I have money. How much?”

  Melissa pushed that aside. “Ashy—”

  “Ms. Hart.” I instantly corrected it.

  “Okay, Ms. Hart—I just wanted to—”

  “Look, Ms. Bellamine,” calling her that felt like I was insulting her mother. “I don’t want to be your friend. Can you please just sell me some clothes.”

  “...I’m sorry, okay? I was mea—”

  “Ms. Bellamine! Clothes.” I calmly stated, trying not to burst into anger. I didn’t want her apology or friendship. Not now, at least.

  “...Okay, Ms. Hart.” She used [Inspect] on me. “I can make a [Farm Girl] outfit, and a farmer’s one, for... 10 gold.”

  I didn’t know if that was the right price, but a part of me expected it was too low. “I don’t want a discount, Ms. Bellamine.”

  “...What is your problem, Ashley?”

  I kept smiling, but I didn’t respond. She sighed. “20 gold, and Mom made you a new dress before she got sick. But I imagine you don’t want that either, right?”

  I looked at her, and the package that was set aside. I took out 40 gold from what I had earned and placed it in her hand. “I’ll take both.”

  She eyed me curiously, then my rags. Her mouth twisted, and her teeth bit her lip. She instead shook her head and spun a measuring tape against my body.

  She was a [Tailor], not even a [Weaver], let alone a [Master Weaver] like her mom. But she still made me work clothes. I took the package from her and left. She tried to talk again.

  “Ashley, really—Jasmine and I were...”

  “Horrible. I hope another shop opens up soon, Melissa,” I spat. I didn’t turn around, but I could see the hurt on her face.

  I... don’t hate it.

  I equipped my new clothes, and I was just glad I didn’t look like a ragged street urchin. I left Mrs. Bellamine’s gift in the bag for now, and with my new equipment, I returned home.

  Back at the farm, I stared at my dirty, decayed farmland. Madeleine would buy any crops I produced, but I could only sell to her right now. My field was...

  I needed to make a plan. I returned to my study and pulled out the Mortis Agrariae. I dipped my quill into ink and began to write.

  First thing’s first. Ma always said, make a plan. Pa said, follow through.

  FACTS

  Pa’s farm is 30 acres.

  20 acres is farmland.

  5 is “pastureland,” if I can get the grass growing again.

  3 is a woodlot.

  2 is home.

  20 acres of farmland is 871,200 square feet.

  1 standard-size crop is 100 square feet. Bigger crops are rectangular, or bigger squares.

  Carrots are 100 square feet.

  I quickly plotted an inference right there.

  INFERENCE

  At maximum utility, I can farm 8,712 carrots.

  My eyes glanced over that number, and I spun the quill in my hand. That is a lot of money. With one full harvest, I’d be out of debt right away. But there is no way Madeleine would be able to push that much product—outside of [Vendor], which is a massive loss.

  That’s also ignoring the actual reality. I looked at my frail body, and the stew in the pot, and then the clock. I didn’t even have to calculate the feasibility of what I was suggesting.

  FACTS

  I am incapable of maximum utility at the moment.

  This was a disappointing revelation, but then I remembered I’m a Level 2 [Acolyte]. I glanced up.

  I already knew [Veil], so I skipped that one.

  I frowned. Not useful at the moment. I guess I can use it to know how many animals I’d need to make my field fertile after I decompose something... next.

  That one was useful. Even the profit margin on a poor blood carrot was immense, but...

  Wait.

  FACTS

  Vendor price is 70 silver. Can can fetch 5 gold from clients; my cut is 3. Common, rare, and epic should sell for more.

  INFERENCES

  Focusing on quality instead of quantity will solve the labor side of my problem. Distribution will still be a bottleneck.

  Next ability.

  Useless. I looked at my next ability.

  ...that piqued my interest. I didn’t even know that was a thing. [Farm Girl] was a much simpler trade, and nothing was gated like that before...

  I sighed. None of this helped me right now. I guess, really, what I had to do was create better-quality crops.

  Okay, that was something I could do. But for now, I wanted to sleep.