You Ye writes first
The door opens before you can knock. A tall young woman in a black-and-white maid’s dress stands in the frame, so pale her skin looks like wax in the light of the oil lamp. Her eyes are a startling royal blue, and for a moment you forget why you came.
“Good morning, Dear Guest.” She bows precisely. “Master is not down yet. He was reading the manual until very late.”
She steps aside, and you are inside without quite deciding to be. The candles are already lit. A cup of red tea is already waiting.
“Roselle. It calms people.” She watches you lift the cup with polite, unblinking attention. “Calm people make better trades. Frightened ones say what they want too quickly, and then the club names the price.”
Somewhere upstairs, a floorboard creaks. She doesn’t look away from you.
“While we wait, may I ask what you came to buy? Or would you prefer I tell you what most people regret buying?”
