Late afternoon was Brey Foster's favorite time of day.
The light was dim, without the glaring sunlight of daytime or the pitch-black darkness of night.
The hazy twilight was the most comfortable.
Women were much the same.
Women wrapped up from head to toe were a letdown, while wearing nothing at all was too blunt and lacked allure.
Only thin veils were just right.
Second floor of the tavern.
Several dancers swayed in their veils, their graceful figures and fair, delicate skin showing through just enough to make it hard for anyone watching to look away.
"Dennis."
Brey turned to the young man seated nearby and smiled.
"The veils those dancers are wearing are products of the Lapp Textile Factory. The quality may not match that of skilled weavers, but they're cheap and can be produced in large quantities. I'm sure they'll sell well in the Kingdom of Sac, too."
"Mm."
Dennis was a noble from the Kingdom of Sac, accompanying Princess Duna on her visit to the Kingdom of Gondo.
He had shown great interest in the newly established textile factory.
"I've heard..."
Dennis pursed his lips, a faint blush rising on his face.
"Many of these designs came from Madam Annie. She even tried them on herself."
"Haha..." Brey laughed at that.
"Exactly!"
"It was thanks to Madam Annie's promotion that the factory's clothes were accepted by the nobility so quickly."
"Of course, I suspect you're not really interested in the textile factory, Dennis. You're interested in Madam Annie, aren't you?"
Dennis hurriedly picked up his drink.
"No, no."
"What's there to be embarrassed about?" Brey shook his head.
"My friend, what's wrong with liking beautiful women? Even the gods can't stop men and women from getting together."
"However..."
His brows drew together.
"Madam Annie is different from