>>5978031As it turns out, Costella Fanucci is not just a merchant’s daughter, but a shrewd saleswoman herself. You can’t help but wonder—privately, internally—if the boost in mental acuity which accompanied her transformation into a feminine ‘paragon’ is partly responsible, too. Her enthusiasm and allure can’t be understated in its effect, as she bounds up and down the section of the market you’ve staked out. Her ‘marketing strategy’ pays off, too: after the first couple days fail to meet her expectations, she helps your companions to construct and paint a sign depicting a pixie, holding a folded-over leaf like a platter full of merchandise, and starts referring to your stall as “The Old Maple Hill Fairy Market” with “All-Natural Elven Products”, which is all… SORT of accurate, and certainly garners more attention.
“When the animals are raised by elves, their milk and eggs just taste better,” one patron says.
“Is that so?” you ask, loathe to contradict them. “Well, I try to keep them happy and healthy…”
“This wool is so much softer than human-raised sheep!”
“Haha, yeah…”
“It’s, like, all about PERCEPTION,” Costella says sagely, arms crossed beneath her chest and a proud expression on her face. “You’re, like, the ULTIMATE quality-assurance mascot, Tips! Especially for people that know you helped cure the pox!”
“Hm,” you reply, a little morally ambivalent about the whole thing.
But these ARE quality products, after all… And the animals ARE happy and healthy… And it supports the Old Maple Hill community…
(And your image as a savvy businessman, maybe?)
Soon enough, the fateful day approaches. Wearing your new Testa-designed attire, you and Costella each kiss Izirina goodbye, promising to return soon.
“…Right,” Izzy says.
You exchange a look with Costella, whose own expression mirrors your own.
“Say, Izzy, we’ve been thinking…” you begin.
“Like, would you like to maybe take some kind of trip with me and Ez, when we’re done with this?”
“A trip?” Izzy asks, perking up a little bit. “To where?”
