Astraea

"Are you sure this is the place?" Briony asked Brylee when their car stopped in front of a luxurious boutique.

Brylee gave her a side-eye. "Are you doubting my hunting skills, Briony? Have you forgotten that I've been in this profession three years ahead of you?"

Briony pouted her lips. "I was just asking, alright? So, choleric. Did Uncle Lorcan pass the virus onto you?" Briony retorted back.

"Shh...Come on. Let's do this before Uncle Lorcan passed his virus onto you as well." Brylee said as soon as she parked the car.

"Welcome to Miliani, how may I help you?" A girl wearing a black A-line knee-length dress approached and greeted them with a smile. Her auburn hair is arranged neatly in a bun. She has light makeup on her face. A floral scarf tied around her neck and a black stiletto on her feet.

Her voice and smile are very pleasing to a customer's eyes and ears. Brylee and Briony assume that the girl is the sales assistant.

"Can you show us your latest collection, please," Briony said nobly.

"It's my pleasure, Ma'am. This way please." The sales assistant then leads them to a cabinet with rows of formal dresses in different neutral colors.

"Uhm...these are all gorgeous but we are looking for casual or cocktail dresses unless we could wear these gowns on a daily basis." Brylee politely joked with the sales assistant.

"Oh..." The sales assistant chuckled. "If that is so, this way please." Then she walked towards the other cabinet with rows of short dresses in the same tone of color.

While Brylee is looking at each dress, Briony looks around.

Briony wears a dress but not on a daily basis. She is rather spontaneous when it comes to her fashion style.

On the other hand, Brylee wears dresses daily except when she is on a hunt.

The boutique is painted white and baby pink. It looks chic and elegant. Aside from dresses, there were also men's suits hanging in a separate cabinet.

Miliani is a famous luxury boutique that hosts its own signature mix of clothing and accessories for various occasions of the year.

Its owner personally designs all the clothes in the boutique. They also accept custom-made dresses and suits.

"I love the designs of these dresses. I am sure your designer puts a lot of effort and inspiration in making these designs."

Briony heard Brylee say to the sales assistant. She looked behind her shoulder and saw her sister holding two dresses in both her hands while the sales assistant held three dresses for her.

"I wonder if I can get a chance to meet her," Brylee doesn't look desperately pleading but her voice says so.

"I am sure Miss Lydia would be delighted."

The sales assistant said, making Briony rejoice internally. But it was too early to rejoice.

"But as much as she wanted to meet everyone, she can only accommodate those who wanted to commission her for custom-made clothes." The sales assistant politely said not wanting to disappoint a customer.

"Then I wanted to commission her to make me a dress." But Brylee is not a person that easily loses hope.

Briony started to walk back to her sister. She knows that they will soon meet the famous designer.

The sales assistant's smile doesn't falter. "If that's the case, then I shall schedule you for an appointment." She said then she took out a small notebook and a pen from her pocket.

Brylee's face dropped.

After seeing the girl coincidentally at their Uncle's house, finding her identity and her address is so effortless. But why does it become hard to meet her?

When they saw a pretty girl running while crying out of their Uncle's house. Brylee grew curious, especially after seeing their Uncle's grumpy mood afterward.

And no matter how much she tried to stay away from her Uncle's business, she can't help it. Her curious cat inside of her got control of her.

Fortunately, she found another nose to keep her company in sticking around with their Uncle's business and that is in the identity of her sister, Briony.

They used their hunting experience to find out the identity of that mysterious pretty girl.

And within just a week, they found out her identity. It was not that hard to find after all.

Her name is Lydia Hale. She was an orphan with her talent for fashion, worked her way up in the fashion industry without getting any help or any connection.

Despite her success and popularity, the girl remained humble and kind. She does a lot of charity work in various orphanages. She doesn't live a luxurious life like the usual successful and popular person does. Instead, she lived just above her boutique where she has her shop as well.

Even though her name and boutique are popular, Lydia rarely shows herself in the public. She doesn't like taking too much attention. She still preferred a simple and private life away from the prying eyes of the public.

Seven years ago, she was still living in a small apartment even though she is already earning a living as a fashion designer.

She was on her way home in the middle of the night after staying up late in the shop that she was then renting out. She didn't notice the time while trying to finish up an evening gown that she was commissioned to make.

She was caught up in between Lorcan and a runaway criminal. She was held hostage but fortunately, Lorcan was able to save her and caught the criminal.

That incident traumatized Lydia, but Lorcan stayed with her. Though cold and aloof, he kept her company until Lydia thought that they were friends, or maybe more than that.

Brylee and Briony also thought that maybe it was more than friends. Because knowing their Uncle, he never let any woman get close to him or get attached to him.

It actually surprised them to find out that there is a certain Lydia that exists in his life.

What surprised them more is that, aside from them, Lydia is the only girl allowed in their Uncle's pad. And their Uncle is the only man allowed upstairs to her boutique.

And what made Brylee and Briony think that what their Uncle and Lydia had was more than just friends is the fact that she saw her running out of their Uncle's house heartbroken.

Their Uncle must've said something to make Lydia heartbroken. And she wouldn't be in that state if she doesn't have any romantic affections towards their Uncle Lorcan.

And Brylee and Briony refused to believe that they were just assuming things.

That is why one week after they saw Lydia at their Uncle's pad, they decided to meet her again. But it seems like it would take them another week to meet her.

"Next week?!" Brylee and Briony said at once.

"Poor Miss Lydia rarely sleeps and rests just to finish them all before the charity event. But I assure you that she'll have window hours to meet some next week who wants to commission her." The sales assistant added.

In the end, Brylee and Briony left the boutique with a defeated face. Well, at least they didn't leave empty-handed because Brylee totally fell in love with Lydia's designs that she bought five dresses at once.

"Well, I guess we have to wait for another week then," Brylee said while getting inside her car.

Briony looked at her then she glanced at the paper bags that she piled at the back seat. "But why do I have a feeling that you will take your chances and would spend the whole week at Miliani? Because the way I see it in your eyes, you literally wanted to live there."

Brylee laughed awkwardly because Briony was right. Miliani is heaven for girls like her who love dresses. In fact, if it is possible, she wanted to commission Lydia to fill her closet. She is now dreaming of a closet as big as Miliani's filled with dresses.

How come she only met Lydia now?!

Brylee's thought was cut when they heard her phone ringing that is connected via Bluetooth in her car.

"Oh, shit!" Brylee cursed when she saw the caller ID.

Briony widened her eyes at her. "Brylee, watch your mouth!"

Despite her feminine character, Brylee cursed sometimes usually during a hunt but it was nothing compared to Bell's cursing.

But as much as possible, the two of them try to avoid cursing in front of their younger sisters. But now that they will be working as a team, it would be impossible.

Brylee glared at Briony then she answered the call.

"Hello," Brylee said enthusiastically.

"Hey, Bell!" Then it was Briony.

"Are you two done with other people's business? Because if that is so, maybe we should start on our own?" They heard Bell's cold voice. Her voice would make anyone stumble on their feet.

"Coming!" Brylee and Briony cried at once.