Clothing for Pigs, Dragons and Princesses
A little after ordering, our food arrives. Scarlet got something called chocolate chip pancakes, Rayla got Strawberry pancakes and I got eggs and bacon put in the shape of a smiling face.
Taking a deep sniff at her food first, Scarlet chews a bit on it before saying, “Yeah, you can’t have this. There is a little bit of cinnamon in this, I don’t think it will affect me but for you it would be too much.”
“That’s okay, I have my own food. Look, they even made it into a happy face!”
“That’s cute. How does it taste?”
“Hmm…Okay? It’s nothing special but it’s fine.”
Manya looks at ane with an exasperated expression, “So this place actively offends Dragons, half the food is poisonous and the food they have that is edible is just mediocre. You sure are a brave one, Rayla…”
“I’m sorry, next time I’ll vet the place better.”
“Sigh It’s fine. I probably would have made the same mistake. I shouldn’t have ordered the chocolate chip one either because I forgot you can’t eat it.”
“Eh, it’s fine…”
“Let’s pay and leave here. Get some snacks on the way and then get her clothes enchanted.”
“Sounds good.”
“But what about the food? Should we really waste it?”
Scarlet brushes through my hair and answers, “It’s fine, it’s not us that are wasting the food, it's the chefs that created it in the first place.”
Scarlet then quickly pays for our food and we leave unsatisfied.
Letting out a huge sigh, Scarlet asks me, “Do you crave any specific food, Rose?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’ll just eat whatever.”
“Isn’t there anything you want right now?”
“Hmm…I…Can I bite your shoulder while we walk? People don’t stare at me right now so maybe now is a good time…”
She smiles, “Of course you can. Also stop thinking about other people when you want something. You’re a princess, just say what you want and you will get it.”
“Then…Can I ask you something unreasonable?”
“Of course.”
“You never break a promise right?”
“Almost never. There is an exception. I do break promises when I was lied to during the promise or if I can save more lives by breaking it than by keeping it.”
“Then…Can you promise me that you won’t abandon me? No matter what happens?”
She gives me a lick on the cheek, “Yes. I promise you Rose, I’ll never abandon you no matter what happens. Even if you make it your life's goal to kill me I’ll still not abandon you.”
Feeling tears flow down my face I whisper, “Thank you…” before biting into her shoulder.
“Don’t thank me, Rose. I would have done the same without the promise.”
After some walking around we get a snack called ‘Corn Dog’ after they thoroughly explain to us that just like in a hot dog there is no dogmeat in it. As we keep going, we come upon what looks like a street full of boutiques and expensive clothing stores.
“Are we going window shopping again, ane?”
“Nope, this time we’re actually customers, haha.”
“Should we still try to act high class?”
“Nah, it’s fine. You two are actually high class so there is no need to act like it anymore, haha.”
“What does acting high class even mean?” Scarlet asks, confused.
“Mostly just acting entitled and thinking of workers as beneath you.”
“That seems like pretty low class behavior to me…”
“No manya, Scarlet is right. We did sometimes see nobles and rich people and they all acted like that. To them we were nothing but dirt. One of the nobles in Berk even hired assassins to kill us.”
“Excuse me!? What happened!?”
“Uhm, essentially we met this racist guy in the capital of Berk. He was making weird remarks towards ane and then he approached me with his hand on his weapon so I pinned him down and put my dagger to his throat. Turns out he is the son of some noble and because he felt embarrassed about all this the father tried to kill us so we had to leave Berk.”
Scales growing on her face, she asks, “Who? Who dared to try and lay a hand on my sister?”
“It doesn’t really matter…I wasn’t even your sister back then.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It was before I reincarnated, so you and I were just strangers anyways…”
“I disagree!”
“What?”
“I don’t care. Even if neither of us knew then you were still going to be my sister. Even if you died a completely different person and retained your memories as you reincarnated in my sister I wouldn’t care. It would still be your life and if you were bullied in your last life then I still would see it as harming my precious sister. So tell me, who was it?”
“Uhm…I don’t know the father’s name but the son’s name is Dalan Goldheart.”
“Goldheart…Goldheart…Isn’t that a ducal family?”
“Yes, they’re the richest nobles in Berk,” Rayla answers “They have connections to both the merchants and the criminal underground.”
“I see…I’ll enjoy their downfall.” Scarlet scoffs with a creepy smile right before we enter into the most expensive looking boutique in the street.
Inside are some workers dressed in suits and what look like a group of three young noble women.
One of the staff members quickly approaches us and says, “Welcome to Starlight. How may we help you today?”
“I’d like two identical sets of clothing to be enchanted for shapeshifting.”
“I see. And your price range?”
“None.”
“Excuse me?”
“I have more money than you can turn into clothes even if you worked your entire life to spend it all.”
“I-Is that so? May I ask for your name? Unfortunately I do not recognize you.”
“My name is Scarlet Resplandor, Crown Princess of the Blaze empire.”
There is a small moment where the staff member seems shocked but he instantly goes back to a professional smile, “I see, please follow me to our VIP room, your Highness. What kind of tea would you like?”
“Hmm something sweet would be good. Neither my little sister nor my cousin are well acquainted with complex tea flavors.”
“How about a peach and dodongo blend then?”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
“We will prepare that tea to your satisfaction. Please take a seat, our designer will be here for you shortly.”
We then sit down on a comfy couch in a secluded room in the back. The table in front of us is decked with some expensive looking snacks, all of them having their ingredients listed on a small paper in front of them.
“Hmm…Looks like we’ll have to ask for some more variety. You can’t eat most of these Rayla.”
“It’s fine, we didn’t come here for a snack anyways.”
“No, it’s not fine. I’ll ask them to prepare things for you as well,” Taking a little bell that was lying on the table, Scarlet rings it and three staff members appear.
“I’d like you to change the snacks to an assortment of food edible for both Dragons and Fox-Beastfolk.”
“Yes of course, your Highness!”
“See, it’s that easy. You don’t need to feel like you’re just an add on.”
Ane gives her a warm smile, “Thanks Scarlet, I appreciate it.”
“No need to thank me, we’re family after all and you deserve to be treated as such.”
“Uhm manya?”
“Yeah?”
“Why are we here?”
“To have your clothes enchanted of course.”
“But this is a boutique for women, right?”
“Yeah, so?”
“Are they going to make guys' clothes for me?”
“Of course not, we’re getting you a dress for this form and something classy and cute for your draconic form.”
“B-but I’m still male in this form…”
Rayla lets out a small chuckle and interjects, “At that age all kids look the same. As long as we give you some bloomers no one will know even if they flip your skirt. If you grow your hair out a little, no one would even suspect you of being a boy.”
“I…I can’t do that.”
She cogs her head, “Why not?”
“My hair doesn’t grow longer than this…I have never cut it before and it always stays at that length…”
“Hmm…Your hair color changed recently though, right? So maybe it will grow now. And even if it doesn't, there are plenty of girls with short hair too, especially at that age.”
“But I’m not a girl in this form…It’s my male form after all. Is that even allowed for me to wear dresses?”
Hearing this, Scarlet boops my nose, “Of course it is. What kind of princess is not allowed to wear dresses?”
“A cursed one…?”
“Nope, a cursed princess needs a dress even more.”
“Why?”
“So that you can feel pretty for once.”
—-------------------------------------------------
A little earlier in the designer’s office.
“Miss Kǒngquè it’s an emergency!” A worker screams as he runs into her office, interrupting the designer’s work.
“What is it this time? Did Quentin spill tea on someone again?”
“No, we have a surprise visit from a princess!”
“Tsk And I assume she expects to be served right away without an appointment?”
“Yes, I assume so too.”
“Those damn entitled cretins. Do they not respect my time!?”
“I- I don’t thi-”
“Of course they don’t! It was a rhetorical question, James.”
“Sh-Should I kick them out?”
“Of course not, don’t be stupid. Just get me the catalog.”
“Which one?”
“The one with the dresses from last season that didn’t sell.”
“A-are you sure about this Miss? What if she gets offended?”
“Puh! Don’t be ridiculous James. Noble women are nothing but swine fighting over who wears the most expensive pearls. It’s just about comparing what costs more, they have no eye for craftsmanship. The only reason they’re not wearing rags is because they’re cheap. If they found a pile of rags worth hundreds of gold they’d all want to wear it.”
“I’ll get the catalog then!”
—-----------------------------------------------------
Hearing the noises of heels on wood slowly approaching, a woman with green bird-like eyes, gray feathers instead of hair and a stern yet beautiful face comes into view. She is wearing a tight blue foreign looking dress with a green leaf-like feather pattern sewn into it. Some of the black feathers on her head stand up straight and are decorated with artificial flowers while her eyes have colorful makeup surrounding them that peaks through behind her glasses.
“Greetings your Highness, mine lowly self is named Kǒngquè but you may call me any nickname to make it easier to pronounce. What does her Highness need my skills for?”
“I’d like to have two sets of clothing enchanted so they function for shapeshifting.”
“May mine lowly self take a look at them?”
“Yes, here they are.”
Looking at my clothes, the woman seems impressed, “Hmm…Are these performers clothes? They look well made as well as well worn. The design is quite intelligent, focusing on functionality without disregarding style. They seem like men’s clothes though, I only deal in women’s clothing, your Highness.”
“That’s fine, we want you to enchant these clothes to fit my little sister both in this form and her draconic form. We’re looking for a classy and functional design for everyday wear. Preferably something that will make her look very feminine.”
“If that’s what your Highness wants, why do you want me to enchant these used performer clothes? I can easily create a new dress that fits her and enchant that.”
“Because she’s cursed. Anytime she falls asleep she transforms into an adult man.”
“Surely you jest your Highness.”
“I don’t.”
She looks at both me and Scarlet, “Then is this curse the reason that her Highness looks so sickly and weak?”
“Indirectly, yes.”
“May I ask why she is cursed?”
“No.”
“Understood,” Miss Kǒngquè then hands me a catalog that I’m too weak to lift so Scarlet helps me hold it.
“Uhm, Miss Kongque?”
“Yes, your Highness?”
“I don’t think I’m knowledgeable enough to make a decision like this. Could you help me with that?”
“Of course, is there anything your Highness is looking for in specific? Perhaps something fitting to specific jewelry or something for a specific event?”
“I…If possible could you make something that makes me look pretty?”
She seems perplexed, “Excuse me? I’m not sure I understand, your Highness.”
“I know it’s probably very hard to do but even if it’s just once, I want to hear a stranger say to me that I’m pretty without them needing to lie.”
“But-But your Highness, surely you hear that all the time.”
“No…Usually people stare at me with disgust. Please Miss Kongque, I’d like people to look at me with kind faces.”
Looking at me with a serious expression, she kneels down and asks, “Does it matter if the dress is not of a high prized material?”
“No, I’d rather not have my sister spend too much on me.”
Quickly taking the catalog back she answers, “In that case I will create something that makes your Highness beauty shine so much even a blind man will be able to tell you you’re pretty.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Now if I may, please let me measure you.”
With the help of both Scarlet and Rayla I get my measurements done and Miss Kǒngquè says, “I will draw up some designs. You can pick up the finished clothes in two weeks.”
“So, I can’t use these clothes for the next two weeks?”
“Is that a problem, your Highness?”
“Yes…I don’t own any other clothes besides a set of formal wear.”
“Excuse me? Why does her Highness only own two used sets of performers' clothes?”
“Isn’t it normal to only have two sets of clothes?”
“No, not at all. Especially not for a noble such as yourself!” she looks at Scarlet and asks, “Is her Highness being mistreated at court?”
“No, she has never even seen a palace from the inside or from the outside for that matter… Let’s just say her egg was stolen and we didn’t know she was alive until now.”
“I see…”
“I’ve been to Uli’s mansion before. That’s basically like a small castle.”
Petting my head Scarlet answers, “Yes, a very very small castle.”
“Hmm…If her Highness only turns into an adult when falling asleep, would a set of men’s sleeping wear and a ready made dress for her current form suffice until then?”
“Just the sleeping wear will be fine as long as it’s lined with some warm material . If she falls asleep in small clothes they’ll rip and hurt her and it’s not like she can move much right now anyways…”
“Understood. Quentin! Go to Taylor’s and get me a pair of a human’s large pajamas with fur lining.”
“Yes! I’m on my way.”
“Please feel free to enjoy your snacks until Quentin gets back. I will begin work on the magic formula and the clothing designs now.”
With that, Miss Kǒngquè leaves us behind as we wait for the pajamas.