Chapter Five: Gluttony and Abstinence

Almas swept into a bow, grabbing Serenity's hand in his a kissing it. "It is an honor to meet you. So much prettier than they say, you are stunning."

"Thank you," the beauty boasted.

Raye tapped a foot in irritation right next to the couple. Endymion had to hold in his snicker along with Serena. "If you two are done congratulating one another for your looks, I'll be leaving this lot with you."

Endymion didn't see where Raye disappeared; he was too focused on the giggling blonde at his side. Serena had curled into him deeply to hide her face. When she pulled back, a little more settled, the pink hue of her face was hard to ignore. Neither was the twinkle in her eyes. Her lips parted in a small and adorable gap, showing a small slip of teeth and tongue. Endymion didn't understand; the two men with them were fawning all over Serenity while Serena was a far more incredible beauty. Her sweetness outweighed any other deficits, but Endymion couldn't think of a single one that Serena possessed.

Serena was perfect.

Why did he think coming here was a good idea? It was his mother that suggested it, and Beryl that desired it. But in the end, Endymion had no pull to the Luna company. And yet, he would forever be thankful he came because he met Serena.

This was the last task, and their fates would soon be decided. Of course, Endymion would do his best, so he could stay by Serena's side to the end. But he had made his decision, and he hoped Serena would agree to continue to be his friend in the future.

Serenity stepped aside, and Almas followed like a puppy. He was tethered to Serenity's hand as his leash, the five of them stepping into the final room. There was no guessing what this area made; glittering fabrics and dainty lace passed as they went deeper. The last test was within the section Endymion detested the most about the Luna company, their clothing.

It was all rich and refined, which meant Endymion only saw it in passing. Beryl spoke in length about it and how she wished to wear nothing else even while his mother made beautiful clothing as well. Beryl had no interest in wearing what his mother made. And he knew for a fact that her family had never been a patron to his family. He supposed that would make it awkward if they had as there would be expectations on both sides as far as money.

More than clothes, a table of small bottles and jars sat to the side opposite the racks. Endymion could smell it before he could see it and knew what it was; he'd smelled it on Beryl a few times. Luna also made powders and perfumes, and it looked as though their entire line was on the table beside them.

"For your final task…."

"Will you be modeling for us? I feel that would be a disadvantage given your form would make anything look fine."

Almas was laying it on thick, causing Serena to burst into another fit of giggles. When Almas glared back at her, Endymion grimaced darkly, causing the coward to turn around quickly. Silas wasn't much better, running his hands over the fabrics of more than one dress with deep admiration on his face. "Did you design these yourself?"

Serenity smiled, full of gloating. "I did. You like them?"

"I do," Silas answered huskily, but it was oddly placed towards the items and not the woman.

"Good. Then perhaps you will find my new line just as pleasant." Serenity gestured, and they all turned, finding suits and fine casual wear for men.

Endymion groaned internally, and some slipped out, catching Serena's attention. She patted his arm gently and offered him a comforting smile. But that smile was quickly shrinking as Serenity took Serena away. "The ladies' dressing area is this way. Take your time, gentlemen!"

Left with Silas and Almas, Endymion slowly followed them as they strode over to the offered clothing. Almas stripped off his coat while Silas his slacks. The two already had on clothing that was on the same level as the ones before them. Endymion was the only one dressed shabbily in comparison. He looked over the clothing, debating how much he truly wanted to change himself when Silas appeared in his sights.

"You going to wear anything?"

Endymion still wasn't sure, fingering a coat that he could never hope to afford.

"You should change out of everything. Even your shirt," Almas laughed behind Endymion.

Silas shrugged, "He's not wrong. If they want us to look the part…."

"The only reason I'm here is for employment. I don't need to look like them."

"You mean rich?" Almas jeered. It gave Endymion no satisfaction that Almas was right, and the man continued, knowing he was. "If you want to get Serenity's eye…."

"I don't," Endymion answered easily.

"Oh, I see," Almas started in, pulling his selected jacket on tight, "you have another lady in mind already? Perhaps the poor Serena? I'll admit, she's a beauty. But Serenity is far better."

"I disagree," Endymion growled without thought because he wasn't here for Serena; he was here for Beryl…wasn't he?

"Next in line to the throne? Even I have to side with Almas on this one," Silas added.

Endymion stepped away from the pair and grabbed a random suit off the rack, "Tis a good thing no one asked for your thoughts."

"There's no need to be so salty; it's a good thing. After all, you want the job, not the girl?" Silas asked.

Endymion had his slacks switched and was working on buttoning up his new shirt. "That's what I want. The job, because I had a girl already. She's waiting for me to get this job, and then we can get married."

"I had no idea you were that poor, Endymion," Almas said as if shocked, "you can't even afford marriage?"

Growling, Endymion ignored the rest and got dressed. It wasn't that he was too poor to marry; he was too poor to marry Beryl. She wasn't used to the life Endymion would offer her. Unless something changed, his wife would have to work for them to survive. So it was understandable that Beryl wanted him to seek better employment.

Dressed, Endymion strolled the racks, looking at the fine clothing for women. It was what Beryl dreamed about, walking around in nothing but Luna clothing. But, even with the job here, Endymion was sure he could never afford it; he had his family to care for too. Beryl would understand, wouldn't she? She would be happy in clothing made by his mother instead of Luna's faceless seamstress. Wouldn't she?

"See anything you like?"

Serenity was back, watching him as Endymion turned through the clothes. "It's all beautiful."

"But not for you?" There was a lift to Serenity's question that told him she didn't mean it as a joke.

"It…it would be nice, but no. My mother…she's a seamstress."

"I know."

Endymion looked up at the woman, a firm and friendly smile on her face that he didn't understand.

"I love it all!" Almas shouted as he walked over to them. He had changed all he had on before to wear a white suit with a lavender lining. He looked ridiculous. "You have an eye for style, Serenity."

He bowed again while Serenity outright laughed at him. "Thank you. But I'm not…."

"What is the cost of the men's clothing like? I want a few pieces myself?" Silas was laying it on now but still only changed his slacks. They didn't go well with his coat at all. He had picked out a pair based on the cost instead of whether it went with his clothes.

Serenity looked the two men up and down as they circled. "The two of you," Endymion waited for Serenity to gloat and speak of how handsome they looked in her clothing, "are awfully gluttonous, aren't you?"

Endymion was the only one to laugh with the company princess. But he only choked on it when he looked up, Serena standing on a dais at the end of the room. No one else had caught her yet, two other women pushing her up to stand before the small circle of mirrors and look at herself. Of all the dresses in the room, the one Serena wore was the prettiest. But that had more to do with the woman wearing it, her rose gold curls falling down her bare back. Moreover, the gown was a dewy pink that made her pale skin stand out painfully. The lace along the edges added to the delicacy of the dress, and Serena moved as if she feared ripping it.

They hadn't changed anything about her, save for her dress. So although different, Endymion found her just as stunning as before. Something about her being gone, even though short, Endymion felt the absence of her now that she had returned.

His only friend in this journey, Endymion had missed his companion. It was why he found himself standing at her side, looking up as she carefully spun, without remembering leaving the others. "What do you think?"

There was sadness on her face that he didn't understand. He tried to smile back at her to remove it, but with Serena not smiling, he struggled too. "You look…"

Endymion stopped, the words refusing to leave his mouth. Serena looked gorgeous, but she had since he first met her. Telling her now in a borrowed gown would cheapen it. There was no explaining it; the last thing Endymion wanted to do was make Serena feel anything other than exceptional, just the way she was. Because she was, and anything else was a lie.

However, his hesitation had hurt Serena more, a tear slipping down her cheek at his callousness. He jumped up on the platform next to her and brushed it away. It was so fast it would be hard to say the tear existed. Now, Serena looked up at him as he towered over; her mouth opened a small amount. It was enough to feel the soft, hot breaths that passed hurriedly on Endymion's lips. The few times he had been close to Beryl, it hadn't felt like this. His palms were sweating, and his chest was shaking. He felt electrified. This was…

Guilt. He was being unfaithful to Beryl, acting this way. His body was reacting to his misbehavior, so he took a step back, off the dais, and back to Serena's side below her. "You look beautiful, Serena."

"She sure does!" Serenity had found him again, stepping up on the dais as he had earlier and grabbing Serena's shoulders. "A beautiful bride."

"Is that a wedding dress?" Silas asked, joining.

As much as Endymion despised it, he had no reason or means to stop the others from looking upon Serena now. Almas took a moment, looking Serena over that had Endymion imagining plucking Almas' eyes out. "Forgive me, but, as pretty as it is, it doesn't quite..fit."

"You mean I don't fit a bride?" Serena asked.

Almas shook his head, "no, dear, I mean the dress doesn't fit Luna. Who made this? Not someone from here?"

Serenity played with Serena's curls as she spoke, "you have a keen eye, Almas. It's not by Luna. It's by a woman in town."

Endymion's breath caught in his throat, looking closer at the pink fabric and thin lace. Years visiting his mother at work, he knew the more delicate materials, and he knew that what Serena wore now were pink chiffon and expensive lace.

Almas huffed, "leave it to a commoner to pick a lesser gown."

Endymion boiled under the surface while Serena ran her hands down the silk, a small smile on her face. "It's beautiful, no matter who made it. I think it's the nicest dress here," She quickly turned back to Serenity, "no offense."

"None taken."

Almas turned to him suddenly, a look on his face that was far from friendly. "And you here, Endymion, you managed to pick a suit that fits you well. The working man. It's as if the two of you are the perfect pair—both practicing abstinence from money."

"You take enough for all of us," Endymion replied, feeling nothing towards the man.

"Gentlemen!" Serenity cried, breaking up the already dead fight, "focus on your task, please. You're to test out the clothing for me and tell me what you think?" Almas and Silas gave glowing standards, but Serenity was focused on Endymion, who was silent. "Endymion?"

All eyes were on him, and he took a deep breath, "It's all…very nice."

"That's it?" Serenity cried, sounding close to tears.

Almas comforted her quickly, "He's a commoner who has no class."

"It's all lovely, but who can afford it?" Serena added, gaining Serenity's attention. "the little girls of this town all dream of wearing your beautiful gowns, wishing they could afford to look like a princess of Luna. But their family's can barely afford the bread on their tables, let alone a dress for a function they'll never attend."

"You want them to lose profit?" Silas moaned.

Serena just smiled in return, "you can't lose the profit you never had."

Endymion didn't like this. He didn't like the words coming out of Serena's mouth because they mirrored his thoughts. He didn't like how she shined in his mother's dress. And most of all, he didn't like how his heart pounded in his chest even harder when she looked his way. So when Serena's smile dropped, his heart fell with it. What had he done to upset her?

"I thank you for your time, gentlemen. You have been a great help today."

Serenity was wrapping things up, and time had come to find out their futures. "The position then? Which of us will you employ?"

She was frowning, looking over the three men on the floor while keeping close to Serena. Serenity glanced at the blonde beside her once to confirm her decision, then swept back to the men. "None of you."