Jonata spun around in her chiffon dress, as layers of fabric melted into a kaleidoscope of colors that came to life underneath the atelier’s golden lights.

I unpicked the stitches of the hem of a garment I worked on, humming a tune to myself, but I could see her twirling around like a dancer, thrilled with the dress she wore.

Two dresses for two balls, as Jonata would have it. The first one she’d made for her own ‘Autumn Ball’. The theme was a night near the ocean, so her dress had to be elaborate, made as though it was dipped in the night and embroidered with threads spun from the light of the stars.

Her other dress was for the actual Autumn Ball, a wine-colored dress layered in shimmering fabrics, each dyed a hue lighter, so that its ombre of reds would remind the guests of turning leaves—as Jonata claimed.

Despite their intricacy, each dress was a simple pattern, and the main bulk of my work lay in the hand-stitched embroidery across the bodice. Jonata had diligently sought the gold and coral threads I’d needed for each ball gown, so I didn’t worry about the threads or fabrics. The last of the dresses was complete, having spent the earlier part of the day hemming the underskirts, leaving me with enough time to finish the bodice’s lining, all while sipping a cup of lukewarm tea and listening to the birds chirp their songs in the chilly wind.

Jonata seemed very happy with the dresses, despite her ludicrous dream of a midnight ocean Ball. It, if I’m being honest, had garnered the interest of many of the Noble Gods in the northern part of the district, most of whom were keen on courting Jonata. She was an attractive female, with blond curls flowing to her hips, sun-kissed skin, and ocean-colored eyes.

I’d seen why she wanted her dress to be the center of attention. But I asked her not to invite me (or at least, not to expect me to show up). I risked unwanted attention if I did that—I’d lose Sleep over it. But Jonata was a disillusioned female, and I should’ve known it the moment she rested the letter on my table.

She could auction the dress to the museum, that’s what I told her, but I wanted to remain anonymous. Even if she was bribed by the lords and the Noble Gods (and I knew they would bribe her, because, in truth, she was very easy to bribe), I told her to swear my identity a secret. If she’d listen was another thing.

Her ball would have floating lanterns glittering in the night sky as the celestials sampled wines and breads and talked about the latest gossip circulating the city streets. That’s how she described her ball. Then, she’d go around and make acquaintances with those of the Writers’ Guild because she wanted to win the affection of prominent Scribes from her district. Her grand dream was that she’d slip into their conversations and mention some of the independent articles she’d written for the paper, claiming that they were on par with those from the main Gazette. Perhaps her idea would work, but Jonata knew there was a price to be paid for any of her articles to be featured in any of the more lucrative papers.

She had a dream; I respected it. But her idea was a bit too ambitious. Scribes rarely attended balls, leaving such frivolous activities to the Copyists and Listers.

“Izzy,” she called, and I dropped the needle and focused my attention on her. “When can I get the dresses?” Her eyes squinted in the corners, allowing the wrinkles to spread across her face.

“Which one?”

“The one for my ball.”

“It’s over there.” I pointed to the midnight-blue taffeta dress, its diamond-encrusted hemline, a sparkling bodice with partially finished quilting, and skirts that glistened like the constellations in the sky.

Her feet quickly picked up pace as she scurried to the other end of the atelier, grabbing the dress off the hanger, never minding the long train that dragged across the hardwood floor, long and heavy enough to need five males to carry it—just the way Jonata wanted. Her fingers curled into the fabric, pressing it against her skin as the taffeta crushed beneath her weight.

I was almost prompted to stand up, to smooth the fabric out, a flicker of power sparking from my gloved fingertips, as though commanded to loosen from the reins that held it tight.

But I restrained myself, reminding myself that outbursts of eidan weren’t welcome. “Jonata, don’t crush it,” I said, and she spun around, a frown pulled on her face like it was drawn on with red paint.

With immediacy, I recalled how many nights I’d spent on the dress, and did I mention how the bodice was made of silk velvet? Yet sitting there, the velvet sparkled like an ocean underneath the moonlight.

Like Haddina, Jonata could never afford to pay me, but I was always intrigued by her mind, so I found myself sketching out her ideas and working on samples to show her.

Jonata held the dress away from her body, staring at it with admiration, wondering at its delicate stitches. She was always one to stare at a dress as one would a work of art.

“Excellent craftsmanship,” she said, engrossed in the flecks of diamonds scattered across the dress. “I would certainly stand out from the crowd.”

“You certainly would—right after you pay.”

Jonata paused for a second, glancing up, but not to look at me. Rather, her eyes were pinned to the wall, as though she was calculating her payment—or an excuse.

“Jonata?” I called.

“How much?”

“Thirty gold coins.”

She sighed, then pulled out a coin purse from her pocket. “I have twenty gold coins and a few silvers.”

“Ten silver coins are equivalent to one gold coin, so that should be enough.”

“I don’t have ten silver coins.”

I picked up the dress beside my foot. “Then, how much do you have?”

“Two.”

“I can take this until you come up with another eight.”

Jonata nodded slightly, contemplating whether she should make up another excuse. I outstretched my hand to take the coin, but Jonata was hesitant, as usual. At least, unlike Haddina, she paid.

Jonata counted the coins carefully, putting each piece on the cutting table. Exasperated by her reluctance, I put the dress to the side and got up, noticing that I still had pattern pieces scattered on the table.

Dyi, Laila’s sister, should soon be stopping by to take her measurements. She was always late to get her dresses made, so I’d done the smart thing and cut the patterns out.

However, knowing Dyi, she would want to make drastic changes to her dress sketches, and I’d been mentally prepared to argue with her over the dress and price.

I pulled each coin off the table as Jonata counted.

“What’s this?” she asked, glancing at the patterns on the table.

“Another client.”

“Is her dress prettier than mine?”

“I haven’t decided what her dress would look like.”

“Izzy, what if she shows up to my ball looking more spectacular than me?”

“I would never do that to you, and besides, this client isn’t going to your ball—”

“But she is going to the Autumn Ball, right? And if she is going, then someone else might wear a gown flashier than mine.”

“You don’t pay enough to get a completely flashy gown. We had already agreed that your Autumn Ball gown didn’t need to be too flashy since you were doing your own ball.”

Jonata pursed her lips. “Izzy, I have a change of heart. I want to be the best-looking gal at the ball.”

I pulled in a breath and slowly let it out with the frustration pinned to my chest. “You know that would cost extra.”

“How much extra?”

“You can’t even afford to give me all the gold pieces for this gown. How would you afford to pay for another, flashier dress?”

Jonata ran her fingers through her hair, batting her eyes. “You aren’t married, are you?”

“I will not sleep with you.” I was too stunned. Had she really suggested that I was in such a desperate place in my love life that I would forgo pay—for her?

Jonata squared her shoulders. “It worked with the guards.”

“Well, it won’t work with me—what?” What did she mean by that? “What guards?”

“How else did you think I got an invitation?”

“I was told that everyone was invited.”

Jonata laughed. “You know that’s not true. Only the wealthiest are invited to such a grand affair. I did not get an invitation. But you know Haddina. She did.” Jonata threw her hands up in the air. “For the love of all things pure, I cannot figure out how Haddina got an invitation to the ball. She is neither rich nor pretty.”

I furrowed my brows, confused. “Haddina’s father owns land.”

“He’s in debt, I tell you. He went into debt nearly three years ago, gambling away all his money. They scratched his name off the list.” Jonata vigorously scratched off an imaginary name written in the air. “He’s not noble anymore. Haddina claims that her father secured for her a wealthy suitor, but I think she’s lying.”

“What makes you think that?”

Jonata giggled. “Well, she showed me this ring she claimed she received. It’s real, alright, but—” Jonata leaned in closer to me, “her father stole it.”

I swallowed, almost tempted to push the hood of my cloak back in anguish. Had I been so engrossed in work that I didn’t notice the stories being woven around me? How would I explain my lack of interest to myself?

“Are you confident that it was stolen?”

Jonata nodded, then pulled out a thick wad of paper from her purse. She handed it to me. The headline read, big and bold: ‘STOLEN JEWEL FROM CHURAN TEMPLE’.

I cursed under my breath. “I take it that this has been plastered everywhere.”

“And right before the Ball too.”

“But … but—” Haddina would get in trouble, and now that Haddina revealed this to me, it meant that if she got caught, I’d be the first name she calls. I glanced at Jonata. “Who else knows about this—about Haddina?”

“Everyone.” Jonata chucked her shoulders. “She’s been going around town telling everyone she’s getting married to the EzeNyera. It’s how everyone forgives her debt and allows her to roam free on credit she will never pay back.” Jonata turned to face me. “Did she do that to you?”

“Perhaps we should continue this conversation for another time, but tell you what.” I gathered the skirts on the table. “I will make you a brand-new dress, free of charge.”

The expression on Jonata’s face dropped first, then lit up like a Winter Solstice night when the food was coming out. “You would do that for me?”

“Promise not to tell anyone. And if anyone asks about Haddina and me, tell them you don’t know.”

“Do I still have to pay for the blue dress?”

“I’ll take whatever you can give right now.”

Jonata nodded in excitement, handing me all the coins she had. “I won’t forget this, Izzy.”

A smile spread across my face. “I won’t forget this either.”