The Girls of Venomania: Tales of the Harem

Lukana Octo

   Horses clopped down the cobblestone street, pulling carriages and leaving clouds of dust and

snow behind them. The sound of bells could be heard up and down the street as doors opened and closed

to welcome new customers. It was yet another busy afternoon for the shopkeepers and every store on the

corner was filled to bursting with customers. It was always like this during the winter season, and one

of the busiest shops on the street had to be the tailor's.

The door jingled yet again as a new customer walked in. A young lady with strawberry pink hair emerged

from the back to find an older lady carrying a light blue dress.

"Good evening madam, and how might I be of assistance to you today?" the young lady asked, smiling at

her.  

The older woman looked up at her wordlessly and handed the garment to her.

"I need you to mend this dress for me." She requested quietly.

The tailor examined the dress, turning it over and over and feeling the cloth, to find the tear until

she found a rip in the side of the skirt.

"All right, and by when do you need it to be mended?" she asked.

"T-tomorrow. I will be back by tomorrow to pick it up." The old woman stuttered.

"Ok, I will have it ready for you by tomorrow." She said, folding the dress up.

"Yes, thank you Miss…?" The old woman looked up questioningly at the young lady.

"Luka. My name's Luka."

"Ah, yes, Miss Luka." said the old woman as she left.

After the door jingled shut, Luka turned the wooden placard around so that the words "CLOSED" painted

in red showed out the shop window. She turned around sighing to herself.

"So much work, and so little time." She tied her hair up into a bun and grabbed the blue dress

as she walked to the back room. She stood there, her tired sapphire eyes scanning the room. It was

filled with shelf upon shelf of her clients' clothing. She usually has an organized system of sorting

the clothes, but this time there were so many that there wasn't any room for all of them.

"Looks like I won't be getting any sleep tonight." She mumbled to herself as she took an armful

of clothes and sat at her sewing machine.

Sunlight trickled in through the tiny window onto her sleeping head. She shot up with a gasp and looked

down at the garment she'd been mending.

"Oh dear, I fell asleep! "

"Luka?" a small voice called to her from the door.

She turned around and saw a girl with hair as pink as her own standing at the door.

"Oh it's you Kimi."

The girl smiled at her name.

"Good morning. You were up working all last night again, weren't you?"

"Ahh. Good morning...Yes I was. It's the only way to get all of this done." She looked at the

other piles of clothing lying about.

"Luka, I told you not to tell the other employees to go on holiday, then you'd be swamped like

you are now." Kimi scolded her.

"Kimi, I swear, sometimes you're worse than Mother."  Luka groaned, rolling her eyes.

Kimi pouted. She was only fifteen, but she acted like she was much older than that. Luka sometimes

wondered if she really was meant to be her older sister.

"Fine then, at least let me help you." Kimi said, scooting up to the nearest sewing machine and taking

a garment.

She looked at her little sister and sighed, exasperated. She always got her way no matter what.

"Whatever. I'm going to the store to buy more thread ok?" she said, climbing off of the stool.

"Mm ok. Make sure you eat something before you go. You've been skipping your meals lately and I don't

want you to collapse." Kimi mumbled.

"Ok Mother." Luka replied sarcastically as she headed out.  She grabbed some toast and jam

before leaving the shop.

It was still early in the morning, but it was already bustling. Luka laced up her boots and buttoned

her coat before heading out in the snow. Her boots softly crunch through the ice as she headed to the

local convenience store. She smiled and waved at the people who stopped to greet her.

She stood in line with her items, ready to purchase, when she overheard two old ladies talking in front

of her.

"I heard that the Duke is coming down here for the holiday." Said one to the other.

"Really? Why now after all these years?" asked the other.

"Who knows? I heard that he's looking for a bride."

A bride? Why would a notorious playboy want a bride? Especially now of all times? Perhaps he was

thinking of an heir? Who knows, none of it concerned her. All she knew is that she'll be busier than

ever with all of the dresses she would have to tailor for the young ladies hoping to catch his eye.

She walked home with her purchases, dodging the crowds of people with this thought in her mind.

   Later that day, her sister had forced her to join her and her mother for dinner. Luka sat quietly,

stirring her soup and occasionally taking a sip before setting the spoon back into the bowl.

"So, guess what I heard today?" her mother asked the girls. Without waiting for a reply, she went on,

"I heard that the Duke himself is coming down for the holiday. And guess what else?" she paused briefly

before continuing, "I heard that he's looking for a bride." At this, she turned to Luka. Luka rolled

her eyes.

"This would be a perfect opportunity!" she exclaimed.

"I'm not interested Mother." She stated plainly.

"Not interested? Not interested in being a rich Duchess?" she asked incredulously.

"Exactly. I'm especially not interested in marrying an arrogant playboy."

"You haven't even met the man!"

"I don't need to meet him to know what he's like." She said, finishing her soup. "Look Mother, I don't

have time for this. I've got work to do." She wiped her mouth and headed back to the sewing machines.