"Althea." I sit up almost perking my ears from hearing my father's call, turning to see him standing by the door as he motion for me to come to him.
I immediately hop off the couch and dash my way, as he crouch to catch me and carry me up effortlessly.
"The dress and shoe maker stop by." he said as I nodded and he lead the way, father took us to the drawing room and met two noble looking ladies with their assistants, curtsying as they caught a sight us with purple aura surrounding them.
"Greetings your grace, my lady, I'm Soilla Esthel, the owner and dress maker of Forema, and this is Gizelle Esthel, my younger sister, as the shoe maker, we're here with my people as requested." Miss Soilla, the lady with striking orange hair tied in low bun and light blue eyes wearing a simple ruffled white shirt and burgundy skirt spoke, introducing Miss Gizelle, a freckled lady with red hair tied in a low bun too with brown deep blue eyes, wearing a same exact clothes while the rest of the people are wearing the exact clothing but with black aprons, signaling they're workers from the Forema.
I remember it as a clothing business that has a remarkable designs and their reputation went up to the roof right after the famous Marchioness Calista Melba from house of Rowan, purchased a red dress she wore for the announcement of the crown princess candidates with her niece that she adopted as her daughter Lady Talia who has a cream dress for that occasion, that was all over the newspaper produced by mana and a moving photograph of them walking at the banquet was captured and published all over the country.
There was no ladies in the in high nobility since the Empress and Grand Duchess seats are empty due to unforeseen events and both father and the emperor didn't seem to have any plan of filling the seats with new ladies, I exist as the only daughter of grand duchy but considered an unfortunate child with speech disability no matter how high I am in the ranking of nobility, so that leaves the 4 Duchesses and the Marchionesses as the highest lady in society, making her one of the most important female figure in the empire that leads the ladies of the nobility.
I remember a dispute happening before when Malina, a distant relative of the duke was announced as a replacement for me as the future crown princess due to my situation, the nobles and aristocrats all disagree and the empire decided to hold a selection instead, requiring the ladies with same age as the crown prince and 5 years younger, to join the long selection process, which ended up a mess when the crown prince announce that no one fits the position as the crown princess from the candidates, which ended up with a bad rumors that the crown prince is after my brother, whom he always follow around and good friends with, it was so bad and amusing the Emperor and father couldn't stop the wild mouths of people and declared anyone who paints the crown prince and the Grand Duke's heir apparent that way will be beheaded without a question, and that made the people shut up.
"What's in that little head of yours that made you giggle like that? Huh?" I squirmed blushing, didn't realize I was laughing at the memory of my innocent flustered older brother who got caught with false rumors about the crown prince.
I shook my head while my father chuckled and stroke my hair, I kiss his left cheek instead making his ears turn red while I heard gasps which startled me as I turn to see the people watching us in awe, causing me to blush harder, my dad clear his throat which made the people stiffen and get back to work.
I was put down when Miss Soilla asked for me to be measured while my father grab the catalogue and scanning the white file.
"For a 5 years old, my lady is taller than her peers of same age don't you think?" Miss Soilla mentions as I hummed sheepishly, not used to having other people in the mansion, I was so used on Wendy or Kiera adjusting a store bought clothing my father would take home for me before, this is the first time he actually invited a seamstress and shoe maker for me.
"You think so? But she seem so small and fragile." My father spoke which visibly startle the poor lady, who has a sparkle in her eyes.
"Your grace! I've been working with the other daughters of Viscounts, my lady is surely about a palm taller than the peers her age, Viscount Anellio's daughter is 8 as of this date but my lady here is only 5 and just as tall as Anellio's little lady." Miss Soilla spoke confidently while father has a doubt on his face.
"She only reaches my waist, she's too small." father stated the obvious as I look at the floor and fumbling the edges of my long sleeves.
"But your Grace is one of the tallest man in the empire along his majesty, of course my lady will look small to your sight. I have lots of design in mind right now that can make my lady shine brightly the most, we can't let her beauty be raze by unflattering clothes." Miss Soilla reasoned with amuse tone and unfazed by my father, she's great at talking to her patron.
"Is that so? Right now, we'll purchase a piece of everything in this catalogue, adjust it to my child's stature and make a suitable clothing one for this week's banquet and one for the next month's trade and Crown Prince's birthday. I'll transfer the payment right away." my father ordered without hesitation, making the people's aura around turn into an intense purple, it's respect and admiration.
I only let my father spend his everlasting fortune, after all, I figured it out how much he'd buy everything for me even before, coming how with wagon full of stuffs he would bought on the way.
I used to see my father as someone who neglect me and only give me material things I don't need, but as I grow old I understand that there was nothing he could do for me to explore outside, it's his way of protecting me.
"Your grace, if you don't mind, I can tailor a clothing for you that will match my lady's outfit for the occasions that I have in mind." Miss Soilla suggested hopefully while my father blink and cleared his throat.
"Colorful clothing is not to my taste." he said while I giggle at the thought of my father wearing pastel clothing, so used at him wearing dark colors.
"Of course, I can create my lady's clothing to match your clothing and add a color of her choice." Miss Soilla spoke as my father sighed and nod making the woman brighten in excitement.
"Here my lady, this is a separate catalog for the fabrics we have in my inventory." Miss Soilla showed me a file with various samples of small pieces of fabrics.
I look at it intently, skimming each of pieces with my hand but what caught my sight is the softest fabric in I've ever touch.
"Did the lady likes the touch of the fabric? It's mousseline de soie (chiffon), it's a light and soft fabric made out of pure silk from the south, it's great for incoming summer, instead of layers of other heavy fabrics, it's lighter than cotton, I haven't showed this to other patrons of mine, my lady, we can add an embroidery on it or jewels if you'd like." Miss Soilla introduced.
Yes, this fabric, it was first worn by the Marchioness this season, that means father was prioritize by Forema, I have lots of clothing made out of this fabric soon after it became a trend in the empire for being light and also the most expensive fabric to use.
"Is it that good?" Father ask as the miss nodded "Yes, your grace, I brought along my first one here as a sample for my lady's size." Miss Soilla came prepare and show off a white chiffon ball gown, it's a plain slate yet looks so soft in the eye as I stare at it in awe.
"What do you think my lady?" she asked as I nodded sheepishly and looking at the intricate stitching, it looks so beautiful.
I reach out for the gold thread and hold it up against the cream white soft fabric making the seamstress' eyes shine with excitement and aura turning red.
"My lady has a good eye with colors, this will look good for the Crown Prince's birthday." she said as I smile at the simple compliment from a soon to be renowned designer of the empire.
"How about for the banquet and trading day?" she asked as I pick the lilac and white color for the fabric to be use for the trading day with black ribbon, and a white for this week's banquet for my brother.
The shoe maker Gizelle guide me on the shoe catalog and what shoe designs she has in mind to pair for the events dresses, even that my father asked for every designs altered to my size.
It was a long day, while choosing for accessories, father just accompany me on choosing, in reality he's no help at all when all he say is get it all on my size.
But it was fun seeing my father spend a day with me, for the first time.