Walking down each corridor of the palace, I noticed a same recurring theme, over and over again. Those same monarchal, empty halls I saw while promenading to the Great Hall.
But soon, we passed by the courtyard which was cloister styled with a gushing water fountain and rows of well-cared-for roses. These roses initially seemed normal but then I came to an abrupt realization. The same cloy and syrupy scent from Mrs. Harsbarry's garden. But who knew? It could've been either my imprudent senses going astray or just mere irony on my part.

When we came across the balcony, I took my chances and looked out to the rest of the kingdom afar. The clouds sulkily moved across the sky and birds either lingered near the balcony or amongst the clouds, flapping their wings freely.

Therefore, after climbing sets of stairs and floors, we were taken into the Dressmaker's Quarters. Seamstresses were seated on stools around the wooden tables, sorting out fabric into baskets while shelves of cloth occupied about every wall and unused looms sat in a corner.

Dressmaker Noni appeared to be combing wool when we came in but as we made our entrance, she and a couple of seamstresses got up. "Oh hello, Brigette. Who is this?" She asked with a welcoming smile.

Brigette brought us forward to introduce us. "Your Majesty sent Lady Sofia and Lady Liselotte on the request ballgowns be made for them."

Dressmaker Noni looked at us with pure interest as soon as we were introduced. "For the cotillion ball tonight, I suppose?"

Brigette nodded, "Yes."

"No problem, I just finished off the last dress anyways."

Brigette spoke no more and proceeded to break away towards the exit, which caused Sofia to directly turn towards her. "You're not going to stay for a bit?"

Brigette shyly shook her head. "N-no, I'm afraid I can't. I have other tasks to attend to..."

"I understand. Thank you for going through the trouble to bring us here." Sofia sensibly said, nodding.

"O-of course..."

As soon as she left, Sofia turned to Dressmaker Noni and gently said, "She appears to be quite... unexpressed."

"Oh no dear, she's just shy, don't worry." Dressmaker Noni replied with a kind smile. "Anyways, I welcome you both to Fealettia. Hopefully, you're enjoying our realms?"

"Yes, very much so," Sofia said.

"Good, I'm glad." She told us, waving for us to follow her into a much ampler sized room, with manikins displaying heterogeneous dresses, each one with a story behind them. However, Dressmaker Noni walked past them in favor of a bookstall which displayed leather-covered books.

"This is the sketchbook of different ballgowns for your age group." She told us, pointing towards the book in the second row before leaving us to skim through it. As I did, I didn't expect such detail and color to be added to these sketches. Every single one was done with proficient and artful skill, having the unseemliest of elements outlined.

A couple minutes passed by when Sofia called Noni over and pointed to one particular sketch. This one featured a rose pink shaded dress, which was off shouldered with leg-of-mutton typed sleeves, a square neckline, and gold gems embed in the bodice and skirt. I was hardly surprised by the fact this particular dress appealed to her, looking at Sofia's rather genteel, soft-hued style of dressing.

Dressmaker Noni took out a parcel of parchment, scribbling something rapidly. "Now, all I need is your measurements and then, you may leave everything else to me."

Dressmaker Noni then turned to me, "Same for you Liselotte. Once I'm finished with your sister, I'll get to you."

I nodded as a response before proceeding to skim through the sketches, each one having its own unique theme. Yet every ballgown I came across hardly appealed to me. The first one I saw was of a wine velvet shade, with white laced sleeves, copious gold embellishments, and a pearl necklace. The next thirteen sketches I didn't like either. It either had to do with the color, design, or both.

Briefly, I turned around to check on how Dressmaker Noni was doing with measuring Sofia. Then, I went right back to the sketchbook. At this point, I seriously doubted I'd find anything. But when I turned the page, I found one design that looked bearable enough. A dark purple dress with a sweetheart neckline and subtly puffed sleeves, black lace and gold embellishments on the bodice.

Just when I was about to speak, I heard Dressmaker Noni chime behind me. "Picked what you wanted?"

Not even bothering with a verbal answer, I bobbed my head curtly.

"Ah, it appears to me that you have a certain preference towards dark colors." She remarked, looking down at the dress I choose to wear.

Looking down at my own brocaded dress, I realized she wasn't wrong. Subconsciously, I always wore dark or neutral shades. It's what I always preferred to wear. Therefore, nobody, not even Calix, could change that. "Oh puz-leaze, some chemises are white." I snappily remarked.

"I'm afraid undergarments don't count silly." She wittingly replied.

"It's true, you rarely wear anything soft-hued." Sofia chimed in.

I shrugged my shoulders, not bothering to protest any further. I just wanted to get this entire day over with. "Can we just get the measurements over with?"

"Of course, follow me."

I followed her and stood on a platform in the very center of the room before she came back with the tape measure. "Now, whatever you do, don't move a muscle. Unless you want a dress that's too small." She warned.

Well, this is going to be fun now, isn't it?

"I'll try," I muttered under my breath as Dressmaker Noni measured me by the shoulders. Meanwhile, I tried to entertain myself by staring into space or contemplating something better than this. But it only made me think of everyone back home. Mama, Papa, Mrs. Harsbarry, Gavril...

Right at this moment, in this time of day, what would they be doing? Would Papa be searching frantically all over the village for Sofia and me? Would Mama miss me? Or would she still pick me out as the selfish, plucky girl that refused to 'grow up' like she had recently done?

My mind, minute by minute, clouded up with an imminent uprising of precariousness. Was I feeling guilt, regret, and sadness? Or was I perhaps feeling a combination of all three? As much as it might be difficult to believe, I didn't know.

"Liselotte, would you stand up a little straighter? I want to make sure the skirt and sleeves of your ballgown fit your lofty self." Dressmaker Noni explained.

"Um, sure..."

I attempted the tedious task of standing straight while also attempting not to tense up too much. Standing in such a position was no easy feat. Heck, I couldn't even sit still when I was six during Sunday communions. It got to the point where Calix would have to hold me in his lap for the entirety of the communion. Fortunately, he stopped doing that once I turned ten.

"Say, you're not much of a conversationalist are you?" Dressmaker Noni remarked.

I remained silent.

"I guess not. You remind me of my niece Olyvia."

"Wait, your niece? How old is she?"

"She's 15 years. She comes off a bit snappy at times but she also has a tender, compassionate side." She answered.

I listened as she talked about her niece and brother. Yet somehow, it left me wondering how she came to be a dressmaker.

"Noni, How did you come to being a dressmaker?" As soon as I asked, she suddenly turned serious.

"I grew up as a Wood Elf in one of the minor Eastern Kingdoms, Galicia with my parents and older brother. I initially started off with weaving on the looms for the nobles. My mother would always tell me how much of a natural I was." She said with a nostalgic smile.

She added in an opposing tone, "But as soon as I came of age, my parents wished to marry me off because that was customary... for daughter's of the family to marry at a young age."

"But I was determined to never do so and eventually, they gave in, ceasing all talks of marriage."

"Why didn't you wish to marry?" I slowly interrupted. Noni put down the measuring tape with an eerie silence.

"There was a man I loved. We were both close in age, we knew each other since we were children. I always saw him as my best friend. Somebody I could always confide in, somebody I respected and adored with every fiber of my being. I genuinely thought we had a connection as he'd always told me he loved me."

"But a year later, I found out he lied and got married to some other women. I was heartbroken. Never in my life have I felt more betrayed, foolish, and not to mention... humiliated."

Straightaway, I regretted ever asking. I should have known better by the way she approached that part of her life where her parents wanted to marry her off. I've should have known.

"I apologize... I shouldn't have asked."

However, Dressmaker Noni vigorously brushed off my apology. "Don't be. What's in the past is in the past." She resumed everything she was doing and went on like nothing ever happened. Which baffled yet amazed me.

"But three years later, my father passed away whilst two years later, my mother joined. I was of twenty-one years, unmarried and I realized making ends meet as a single woman was difficult. So I left Galicia with the help of a good friend and settled in Fealettia. From there, I sustained a job as a seamstress for the next three years until one day, I was offered the opportunity from the Queen's ambassador himself to become the next royal dressmaker."

"And the rest is history." She concluded.

"I see. What a story. Clearly, he didn't deserve you then."

Noni chuckled a little at my remark, "Why I thank you, dear. But I was nowhere as fascinating nor lovely as you or your sister when I was in my prime."

"What's so fascinating about us?" I sharply asked.

"My philosophy is that everybody has something about them which makes them fascinating. No matter how much of a bore they or other might think."

That doesn't quite answer my question though.

"Are you serious?"

Dressmaker Noni hummed a more yes, doing her last measurements in silence.

"Ok, you're free to go." I eagerly stepped off the platform as fast as the wind, nearly tumbling on the floor.

Finally, freedom!

"Woah! Careful so you don't sprain your ankle!"

I scowled with a murmur. "Even that would be better than going to a ball with crowds of people..."

Dressmaker Noni placed a hand on her hip, smirking amusedly, "What did you say?"

Deciding to play along, I gave a coy smirk, "Oh nothing." I replied, leaving the room.