"-I brought some dresses for you to try on." The old lady said brightly and the younger girl with her opened one of the huge suitcases pulling out a light yellow dress with full tight sleeves. It looks pretty but Mal had a bad feeling about it.
The young girl gave her the dress and Mal just kept staring at it.
"-young miss are you not going to try it?" the old lady asked and Mal took the dress smiling at them awkwardly and went to change it.
A few minutes and Mal didn't come out yet, so Ayana called for her:
"-M…your highness do you need help?
-not exactly." Mal got out walking with her arms pointed at each side like brunches, the zip of the dress didn't reach the half and she was breathing with difficulty since the chest area was too small.
Ayana and the young lady looked at each other before they exploded in laughter but the old woman glared at them and they stopped immediately.
"-you can laugh as much as you want after relieving me from that cage…I can't breathe." Ayana hurried up and zipped down the zipper of the dress and Mal could feel air inside her lungs again, but her arm were killing her since the sleeves were too tight.
"-back up, shoulders straight and look front." The old woman fixed Mal's posture with a ruler making her more uncomfortable.
"-that's your usual measurements, your rib cage is wider so is your chest; your arms are muscular than usual…oh my goodness, dear what happened to your face?
-I fall.
-you should be careful your wedding is next week.
-Madame Bellini don't you think she should change the dress before she faint." Ayana asked innocently and the other girl added:
"-she is right mamma, add to that the dress color made her look sick and is not defining well her body shape.
-she is your mom!" everyone was looking confused at her while Ayana was shaking her head.
"-of course she is but honestly Madame Bellini you look like her older sister…you didn't age at all.
-thanks young miss, but you changed a lot since you were young. Your hair is more curly and dark, your eyes are green than their usual light blue and your light skin tone is now fair olive.
-Mamma please, you know puberty and we didn't see her since she was seven, how could you still remember all this details…anyway, I brought a dress I am sure you are going to like.
-yes please Miss Bellini.
-please call me Brielle young miss."
Brielle moved to the large suitcase and brought a light cream strapless dress, heart shaped showing her collar bones and a little bit revealing at the chest area. She pushed her to change and once she showed up every one gasped.
"-Dio mio, you look perfect! Good job Brielle.
-Grazie, as mamma said you have a light olive skin tone so cream will make your skin glowing; adding bronze, silver flowers and dark embroidered leaves give spring vibes to your look and popping more your eyes color. But honestly you made the dress more pretty when you were it.
-your highness you are stunning, and your prominent shoulders and collar bone makes you look like a goddess." Ayana was admiring her friend with doe eyes while Mal saw faking her smile and covering her shoulder with her palm.
"-young miss didn't you like the dress." Brielle felt down but Mal just shook her head and explained:
"-the problem is not in the dress, the problem is me." She moved her hand and the two ladies stared at the scar on her shoulder.
"-you mean because of such a stupid thing you are not going to wear that fabulous dress." Brielle said annoyed raising her eyebrows barely seen under her bang.
-well…it's a bit revealing and people…
-that's bullshit your highness! You are the most stunning woman I have ever saw. Yet you still care about what others think because of a stupid imperfection that makes you look perfect.
-Brielle! Your language.
-Per favor Mamma! Till when we will keep caring about people's opinion and start living our lives, that stupid rule that princesses and ladies shouldn't have a scar is stupid and made me sick.
-she is right, her highness look the most gorgeous woman in the world that no man would take his eyes of her." Ayana added and the black haired girl smiled at her with agreement.
"-I guess I don't have a choice except showing off the dress.
-girls nowadays" Madame Bellini affirmed smiling and they all started to laugh but suddenly they heard a door knock.
"-can I get in?" it was Kieran, Mal was taken by surprise and she ran to the bed pulling the sheets and covering herself while yelling:
"-I am not wearing my clothes.
-but you are wearing a dress.
-I am not!" The scared girl tried to warn Ayana with her eyes and Kieran was already inside looking down.
"-sorry…I…" he was looking at Mal's feet and he saw the dress behind the sheet.
He looked up fixing his gaze with hers and walked with steady steps to her and said:
"-you know, a princess should never lie…and now take it off.
-what?" he pulled her hand making her flinch, Brielle was about to interfere but her mom stopped her, shaking her head.
"-you know well I hate repeating myself but I will let it go this time…take down the sheet.
-let me change first.
-you are wearing a dress already and I want to see it.
-who said I want to show it to you." He smirked and pulled furiously the white sheet that slipped between her fingers.
He was dazed looking at her up and down before he laughed wryly:
"-what is this?
-well she look graceful and pretty in that dress sir." Brielle answered him and he just glared at her before he scoffed turning back at Mal:
"-pretty? You mean slutty because she look ANYTHING than a respectful woman; from a royal family who is going to be a gracious queen in a week. Have you got any shame? You'd better not think about wearing such a thing during the marriage…and a quick advice no one like a woman with that scar on your right shoulder…so do everyone a favor and hide it, It's disgusted to see…Madame Bellini." The old woman nodded at him before he finished:
"-you heard me so I am expecting better work.
-as you demand your highness." He smirked at the poor girl leaving her knocked out and hurt however she smiled bitterly.
He left the room and Howin who was standing outside raised his head to get lost in Mal's look. He walked to her and said with his eyes full of admiration:
"-I have no word to describe how stunning you look…I am envying him." He heard the angry prince calling for him:
"-I should go, see you princess." Howin bowed before leaving and then coked his head from the door frame:
"-you should keep the dress."
Ayana affirmed: "-she is.
-I am going to fix it since the scar thing will cause you a lot of trouble.
-then I wear it." The three looked at each other but Madame Bellini's face lost his colors and declined:
"-no way! Don't get me in trouble Brielle especially with the prince.
-No wonder she slapped him that morning, but if you think that I am going to let him do as he want you are wrong mamma.
-how are you going to fix?
-leave it to me…But now we have more dresses to try on." She winked at her mom and the girls were excited except for Mal.