41. Helen now needs a silent place to concentrate and complete her new literary work. But Ferrea's palace is at this moment all noisy with the wedding preparations.
Except, maybe, for...
40. A defiant challenge lies ahead for Helen: defeat Rebecca.
On her behalf: she has a melody that she thinks will be catchy for the wedding attendants. And the knowledge supplied by Alonso will be useful for her too.
But this is not enough: she will need something more.
39. "Well... We better get prepared and don't get emotional... I see you in the ceremony" Rebecca says hastily before leaving the garden. "Good luck".
"Yeah, sure," Helen says, entertained, going in the opposite direction. "Good luck to you, too".
38. Helen wouldn't admit this out loud, but what Rebecca just said was, for her, such a beautiful and deep quote.
37. "Why not?" inquires Rebecca. "After all, we are not enemies, but rivals: the enemies want to kill each other, but the rivals love the same thing (in our case the arts, poetry and music) and can admire each other mutually".
36. "If I am honest, this is a virtue I always admire in you: your bravery and your self-confidence" Rebecca admits.
"Are you serious, Rebecca? A nice compliment to me, from you?" says Helen, surprised.
35. "Well said!" Rebecca exclaims. "Our competition will be more epic, intense and fiercer this way".
32. Helen considers carefully the bet.
Certainly, Rebecca can be a snob, but she is not a liar: if she loses their competition, the pedant bard will allow Helen to shave her head.
But... shaving Rebecca bald is worth the risk of being shorn as a sheep?
31. "...but what about our manes?" Rebecca proposes at last.
"Wait... What?" Helen stutters, surprised.
"It's easy: the one who collects more money in tips will shave the loser's head. Have we a deal?