WHY MUST BEAUTY FIT INTO STANDARDS?
~
The Fashion Boutique of Hildeth and co.,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Early hours of the morning,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
~
Amelia mustered what little strength she had to lift the box up in her arms and pushed her way into the Boutique.
The bustle indoors mastered even the raging hurricanes of the north, like no soul was allowed even a daring moment of rest.
Usually, the place was a large, calm and beautiful environment, with sun kissed and smooth floors of timber and large windows spanning the walls, allowing those inside to watch the lovely ferns and trees that leaned close to the building. Mannequins dressed in exquisite garments that were personally designed by the dress makers would stand about in elegant fashion.
The damsels would be walking about, attending to customers, whilst the seamstresses would be quietly carrying on the business of using their skill in bringing to life the art of Hildeth and her ladies: Gowns and Suits meant for high society.
But that day differed from the general peaceful stance of the boutique.
Laces and fabrics and gloves and beads were flying around as tailors and designers hurried about the place weaving their art upon a single piece to finesse. The dress they were laying efforts to stood in the centre of the hall, on an elevated ring of ground. It was donned upon a slender mannequin that was tailored to the shape of some woman that was a prominent customer to their Boutique.
Amelia could not tell which Lady's it was though. The name would have been sowed on to the mannequin. But regardless, it was evident that the order was of high importance. It was clear that some principal client had asked of them to prepare a very significant request at tight notice and it was demanding the attention of all the professionals and fashionistas that their establishment boasted.
Amelia wondered what the grand deal of hustle was about, as she moved over to place the box upon the large oak table by a side. There, the damsel quickly began unloading the metal trimmings and setting them in order.
Lady Hildeth was about, barking commands for everyone to follow. Her stress was contagiously spreading across the chambers of the boutique, igniting every diligent worker to drop their careful attention to detail and making them fumble more.
"Lia!" the proprietress called, irritation thick in her voice.
The word went down Amelia's spine like a chilling spike of ice that could freeze her to death. "Y-yes, m'lady?" she quivered, fear gripping her senses.
The woman she worked for was known for her ruthless ways of extracting work from the young ladies that were committed to her employment, to her non-existent mercy.
"How tardy of you! Don't you know that you should be in for work by dawn on a busy day as this?" the shrill of her voice felt like being held at the sharp end of a dagger's blade.
"I-I'm sorry, m'lady", the damsel said, knowing that offering excuses when the woman was in the pangs of deadly wrath would only cause more tension and punishment.
"What were you up to? Chatting away with the men of the streets? Dreaming of prince charming saving you from your miseries?" the Lady's sharp voice cut through the room where even the sound of fabric and snipping blades was stilled to make way.
Amelia stood there in silence, head bowed, hoping her anger would be soothed. The maiden knew that Lady Hildeth would not fire her in a moment of rage (even though she was a woman capable of the act) for the sole reason that her adoptive parents had owed her a debt and the surviving damsel was the object of repayment.
But the boiling contempt that the woman had developed against the girl could lead to denying her the fringe benefits she would otherwise be entitled to. And the Lunadynn household of two was desperately in need of those perquisites.
Lady Hildeth went on, stacking the insults that her mind could retrieve upon the sight of Amelia. But the young damsel receiving the lash of bitter and personally offending words from the propreitress knew that there was a specific streak of indignation inspired by a reason in the woman's heart:
Before Amelia was employed, her adoptive mother had been working at the Hildeth Boutique. Her designation hasn't been a designer or a sales woman, but as a model that donned the beautiful makes of the Boutique and lured the interest of every woman of the Kingdom.
Jasper's mother had been a very elegant and comely woman that could exact praise even from the jealous. She was the embodiment of all the standards of beauty that the Kingdom of Velicia's feminine high society acknowledged. Thus, employing her had been like a constant asset to the Boutique.
However, after her sorrowful demise, Amelia had stepped up to be employed in her stead, for the sake of repaying the lofty debt their parents had obtained. Unfortunate for Lady Hildeth, the young damsel of chestnut hair was no where near the standards that her adoptive mother stood.
She was pleasant to the eyes with plump lips, long lashes and rosy cheeks, but she was short and voluptuous. And the women of high society were blind to the basic beauty that she was, merely because she did not possess a stringent waistline.
~