The dress draped over the dressmaker's dummy was made of glossy pink fabric, with white and pink flowers embroidered from the right shoulder down to the hem.
Gloria gently ran her hand along the shoulder of the dress, her cheeks blushing the same shade of pink as the fabric.
"This embroidery, while it may not have the boldness of a large bloom, has a charm that keeps anyone who sees it from turning away. If I wear this dress, it will surely catch the attention of the crown prince."
The saint was not the kind of striking beauty that Gloria was, but the dress didn't possess the kind of beauty that would draw people's attention immediately. However, it did have what A-ko described as the "more you chew, the more it tastes, like dried squid" effect.
Glancing at the owner, who was happily bowing in appreciation, Gloria lightly traced the embroidered flowers on the shoulder.
"...!"
"My lady! What happened?!"
Kate, the first to notice the change in Gloria as she suddenly withdrew her hand, rushed to her side.
"My finger…" Gloria murmured, showing her right index finger to Kate.
A small bead of blood had swelled up on the pad of her finger.
Looking back at the shoulder of the dress, Gloria noticed the tip of a silver needle barely peeking out from between the embroidery threads.
All eyes in the room focused on the needle, and the owner, realizing that there had been a lapse in the dress's inspection, turned pale and immediately bowed deeply, apologizing.
"I am so sorry...! I truly apologize!"
The owner dropped to her hands and knees in apology, and one by one, the other seamstresses followed suit.
"My lady, please cover the wound here. I will call for a doctor immediately!"
A clean white cloth pressed tightly against the wound, almost more painful than the needle itself, and Gloria tilted her head.
"There's no need to make such a fuss," she murmured.
"You must see a doctor! If the needle was rusted, there's a chance it could cause numbness or even difficulty breathing—there could be serious consequences!"
For once, Kyla spoke in a strong tone, pressing the cloth against Gloria's finger and then passing it on to the others. She shot an urgent glance at the seamstress who had been holding the cloth.
"You all better not think you'll get away with this!"
Kate shouted at the seamstresses and the owner, before spinning around and leaving the room in haste.
What had been a cheerful fitting session turned into a tense, chaotic scene as everyone scrambled to make things right. Gloria, left behind in the now uncomfortable room, gave a troubled smile.