#Chapter 53 Sisterly Schemes

*** Bianca walks alone through the narrow street. She moves quickly, weaving through alleys and side roads most nobles wouldn’t think to use. Her hood shields her face from view. This part of town doesn’t get much sunlight, even in the middle of the day. Now, with evening creeping in, it’s nearly deserted. It feels like a different world from the marble corridors of the palace. There are no guards here, no court whispers, just transactions. She stops at a small door with an iron handle. There’s no name above the frame, no indication that it’s a shop at all. She knocks once, then twice more in quick succession. The door opens immediately. Inside, the shop is dim and warm. The air smells like dried herbs and scorched metal. A man stands behind the counter. His expression doesn’t change when she sees Bianca. He already knows why she’s come. Bianca reaches into her cloak and withdraws a sealed envelope. She places it on the counter. The man accepts it without counting. He t