Burning With A Shade Of Red

The lady was still immersed in slowly scrutinizing the cape meticulously running her fingers over it. The cape had small silver flowers embroidered all over it. The ends were delicately pleated and a layer of net was pinned on the piece about to be stitched together. The large room had quite a few wardrobes lined up side by side. A small transparent sphere was resting on the sewing with two buttons on it. A virtual screen was levitating just beside the machine which was showing a 3d design outline of the cape along with the complementary gown.

Xixi took in the essence of the vintage room equipped with high end fabrics, thread rolls and machines. Everything was neatly arranged. An automatic machine was waxing the thin silk threads in the left corner. She felt as if she had travelled back to the 1800's in another dimension due to the presence of such technologies that were yet to be discovered till now in the earth.

Riwansa entered gracefully receiving no response from Cordellia. She went up to Cordellia and gave her shoulder a firm shake. "Oh, hey, the gown is almost ready. Is she here?" Cordellia stretched her limbs and cracked her knuckles in an unladylike manner vastly contradictory to her previous elegance.

"Yeah, she is here, and I can assure you she is the perfect candidate to wear the gown." Riwansa winked at Cordellia who simply shrugged. Riwansa turned her head only to find out Xixi still standing at the doorstep deeply staring at the set of digital landscapes hung over wall.

"They are my unique collections. Marvellous?" Cordellia came up to Xixi. "Are they designed with imagination mixed with real landscape?" Xixi asked with a curious glint in her eyes. Cordellia's was astonished. "How do you ….." She muttered under her breathe. These were all special images created with an automated matrix machine almost no one knew of. She received it from her grandfather who was gifted with the machine by the oldest elite family of the five lands. Even Riwansa wasn't aware of it despite knowing her for years and belonging from a royal family.

"Cordellia, her identity is a bit special, let's not waste time over it now." Riwansa sighed inwardly thinking about just how many people she had to explain the whole matter to, which she herself was confused about.

Cordellia gave the innocent looking Xixi one last judgemental look before collecting the silver satin gown from the dress form.

The gown took her breathe away for a moment. She carefully took it from Cordellia's extended hands. It had three layers of net and one last fluffy layer of black velvet. The satin inner-lining was seamed flawlessly. Xixi traced the puffed sleeves softly. She herself had minored in fashion designing and therefore she could realize just how delicately it had been made.

"Go try it out." Cordellia was extremely satisfied by Xixi's reaction. Xixi looked at Riwansa as if asking for her permission. Riwansa slightly nodded at her. "The changing room is over there. Don't hesitate to let me know if anything needs to be adjusted." Cordellia pointed at the right side of the room.

Xixi entered the changing room and let the opaque curtains down which immediately took the shape of a rigid door. She took off the initial knee length dress she was wearing and slipped into the gown. She examined herself in the full body mirror. The off-shoulder gown made her shoulders look petite. The sweetheart neckline showed off her prominent collarbones and womanly curves. The black leather corset placed in the midriff, immaculately contoured her slender waistline. She cupped her face and stared back at her reflection distracted by the way her appearance changed and giggled happily before slipping out of the gown and changing back. She tapped on the small button by the door.

The rigidity melted away and it re-transformed into curtains. She stepped out holding the gown. "All good? Anything that needs to be fixed?" Cordellia, who was chatting with Riwansa asked raising her brows at her. "Nope, it fitted just fine. By the way, miss you are a really awesome designer and seamstress. Just like a fairy." Cordellia laughed out amusedly. People did compliment her work, but never in such a direct way.

Xixi wondered whether she said the wrong thing or not. "Of course, don't keep any doubt on that missy, I am the best seamstress in this continent." Cordellia said proudly as she took the gown to wrap it up with the cape in a brown package. Xixi took it gingerly and walked out with Riwansa. "Just a dress and you are so impressed, huh? You never complimented me though." Riwansa gave her a side eye. "Aye, are you jealous beauty? Don't worry, no one else can replace you in my heart, my darling." Xixi acted out a scene from an opera exaggeratingly. "Ew, so cringy." Riwansa said before both of them burst out in laughter.

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Ziran's ears turned into a deep shade of red as he stared at the digital screen, which was showing a beautiful girl, slowly stepping out of a dress clumsily while her long ebony curls laid on her naked shoulders gracefully. Before the scene could change into something not so suitable for eyes, he switched off the hidden camera and got up from his seat.

He had been doubting the royal seamstress to be more than what eyes meet. Just yesterday he installed a bug drone inside her tailoring hall's changing room which was the most mysterious one, often kept locked. He decided to take a look into the room, never expecting to witness such a scene.

The second prince, was a restrained man. He treated women just in the same way he would treat men. Some fairies have also tried to seduce him with their naked bodies expecting to gain a foothold in the kingdom. He never spared them one glance, and later on he stopped interacting with women in general except for when necessary.