It was morning.
Outside the city, Lilith and the master walked along a country path. They were going to see a noble family. But the master's eyes were wide. He looked around as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He looked at his own house.
A small wooden house. A vegetable garden. A chicken coop. He walked on autopilot. Disbelieving.
"Lilith," he said. "I think I don't have more property than these people."
"Don't look at them like that," she replied. "It's a test."
They approached the door. Through the window, a woman in simple clothes was seen sitting. Her children played on the floor, rolling wooden blocks across the planks.
The master knocked on the door.
The woman came out. She dried her hands on her apron. Her eyes ran over them from head to toe.
"Good morning," said the master, bowing his head. "I am Eugenio Dromanoc. I wanted to offer you a perfume sample. No obligation. You just have to try it."
"Perfumes?"
She closed the door behind her. Crossed her arms.
"Well, I won't commit."
The master opened the suitcase. He took out a bottle.
"This is Forest Flowers."
He handed it to her. The woman took it. Unstopped it. Poured a drop on her wrist. Brought her skin to her nose.
"It's good."
"This one is Daisy," said the master, offering another.
She smelled it. It was between sweet and bitter. She frowned.
"I didn't like it. What other do you have?"
"This citrus one."
The woman tried it. She closed her eyes for a moment. Then opened them.
"It could be for my children. It's very soft."
"Indeed."
The master put the bottles away. Closed the suitcase.
"And which one did you like?"
"I liked them all," said the woman, shrugging. "But I have no money. I'm sorry."
"Oh. Well."
His tone dropped. The woman went inside. Closed the door.
The master stood in front of the door. The suitcase hung from his hand, heavy.
Lilith started moving. She stepped away from the threshold.
"Hey," he said. "Where are you going?"
"Let's go to the next house. That's what we said, isn't it?"
"B-but what if they reject us again? And with less grace?"
"Master," Lilith stopped. "This isn't about selling your perfumes. It's about making you known. If we go through all the houses, they'll get to know you by force."
"That's very aggressive. It should be voluntary."
"It's not aggressive. They'll just see you very often where they move."
"I don't want to."
Lilith clenched her teeth. Her jaw tightened.
"If you don't want to, I'll speak next time."
She reached out her hand. For him to give her the suitcase.
He gave it to her.
---
They went to the next house.
This one looked better. It was narrow, but made of carved stone. The windows had lace curtains. A pot with red flowers hung from the wall.
It was right in the city. The noise of the market was left behind.
Lilith knocked on the door.
A maid opened. Her uniform was gray, impeccable. The white apron without a stain.
"Hello," said Lilith, smiling. "I am Lilith. We wanted to offer an aroma experience from the perfumer Eugenio Dromanoc."
"To me?" the maid blinked. "Wouldn't it be for the lady?"
Lilith just kept smiling.
"I'll go tell her."
She closed the door. Two minutes passed. Lilith looked at the master. He looked at the ground.
The door opened again.
"Come in. The lady is waiting."
---
Inside, the floor was carpeted. The walls loaded with decorations: mirrors, landscape paintings, small vases with dried flowers. The interior was cozy, warm. An unlit fireplace at the back.
In the living room, there was a woman just freshly groomed. She was drying her hair with a towel. She let it fall over her shoulders. It was still damp.
"How lucky you came," she said, smiling. "You're going to liven up my afternoon."
"I hope so," said Lilith.
The woman left the towel on the back of a chair.
"What did you bring? Are you perfumers?"
"Yes," Lilith replied. "We bring you several samples."
She sat down. Opened the suitcase. Took out the one she had decorated yesterday. The one with the beaded cap.
"This is the Coronation Perfume."
She handed it over. It was a red bottle. The beads on the cap formed a flower. The woman took it. Removed the stopper. Smelled it.
"Roses... citrus..." she said, closing her eyes. "It could be good for my son."
"Where does it come from?" asked the woman.
"From the very fields of Aldric."
"Are they difficult to make?"
"Not for you."
A smile escaped the woman. She leaned forward.
"What else do you have?"
"This one," Lilith took out another bottle. "Field Blossom. It's for use in the home."
"And this one?" the woman pointed to a third.
"This one is special."
She showed the citrus bottle. Placed it on the table.
"Not just perfume. It's a lotion. For the hair. It moisturizes it. Makes it shine."
The master swallowed. The woman stared at the lotion. Ran a finger over the bottle.
"Hmm," she said. "Let me ask someone."
She went up to the second floor. Her footsteps were heard on the stairs. Wood creaked. Low voices.
She returned with another woman.
"This is my daughter," she said.
The daughter greeted with a smile. She had the same dark hair, the same light eyes. They sat together on the sofa.
"Look," said the mother, taking the first bottle. "This is Forest Blossom."
The daughter smelled it.
"It's delicious!"
"Yes," said the mother, laughing. "But this one is better for your dry hair."
She laughed. Turned to Lilith.
"Sorry about that."
The daughter took the lotion. Turned it in her hands.
"Do you have more of these?" she asked.
"Yes," Lilith replied. "We have many products. Moisturizing creams. Face masks. Even a white lily elixir that slims the waist."
"Incredible!" the daughter leaned in. "Can we see them?"
"Unfortunately we didn't bring them here. But we can schedule another appointment."
"We could bring my friends," said the daughter, looking at her mother.
The mother nodded. She took the Coronation Perfume and the lotion.
"I'll keep these."
Lilith nodded. They made the payment. Coins on the table. Packages wrapped in cloth. The goodbyes were warm, smiles on both sides.
They left.
The door closed.
---
Outside, Lilith stretched happily. Arms up. Her back cracked.
But the master was tense.
It showed in his voice.
"Why?" he said.
She turned around. Confused.
"Why did you offer them all those things? I'm a perfumer. Not a... whatever makes those things."
"Come on," said Lilith, lowering her arms. "You can't limit yourself to perfumes. If I had told you I would offer all that, you would have said no."
"But I've never made a soap! Or those elixirs you talk about? Does that even exist?"
"Don't worry. You can learn that. For example, in the library."
"The library!"
The master covered his mouth. He walked in circles. His steps were quick, short.
"Do you know how expensive the entrance there is?"
Lilith almost shouted back. But she restrained herself. She took a deep breath. Clenched her fists.
"I-it's more expensive not to know," she said, her voice contained. "Ugh."
The master stopped walking. He looked at her.
"This... you're going to have to help me."