Denise?

Under the hot sun, people still dressed in sun hats and put out stalls of their commodities, shouting at every buyer and claiming how authentic and fresh their products were. Some even resorted to pulling their customers by the hands of their clothes and calling them to buy. That was how desperate they were to put food on the table.

Lily shuffled through the familiar atmosphere of the crowded market. She had moved away from Elena and Sabrina, who were shielded from the sun with an umbrella held by their servants. It had been a long time since she came out, and she wanted to feel the sun on her skin. She wanted to feel free.

The trio was on their way to the tailor's shop so that Sabrina could try on her wedding dress one last time before the big day tomorrow.

"Doesn't the scorch of the sun prick your skin?" Sabrina asked innocently when she noticed Lily outside the canopy.

"That's what makes it even better," Lily smiled.

Sabrina had forgotten that Lily was human. Vampires couldn't walk under the sun lest their skin burn. But even at that, the sun was hot and looked too hot even for normal humans.

"But–"

"Let her be if that's what she wants..." Elena softly interrupted Sabrina and Lily couldn't be more grateful.

The fine dresses that were displayed on hangers outside a shop signified that they had gotten to their destination.

"My princess," A female apprentice bowed when Sabrina got to the entrance of the shop.

On hearing his worker welcome Sabrina, Jerome, the head tailor and owner of the shop, quickly left what he was doing and ran to attend to Sabrina.

"Princess Sabrina," He beamed and bowed, turning to give Elena an inquisitive look, he bowed to her nonetheless.

"Princess Elena of Arendell," Sabrina answered his unasked question and Jerome gasped and bowed deeper.

"It's okay," Elena chuckled softly.

"I see you didn't come with carriages," Jerome noted as he looked and saw no entourage.

"I didn't want to gather attention as I did last time," Sabrina sighed when she recalled how people of the lower class fell to her knees and worshiped her. It was all for some silver coins, so she threw a pouch of coins for them, and they all swarmed it like hungry lions. She felt absolutely bad to see that.

"I see," Jerome bobbed his head. "This way," he said, gesturing with his hand and leading them further into the shop.

He didn't recognize Lily because she didn't look expensive. That was the reason he bowed to Elena despite not knowing her identity. He thought of Lily as one of the servants.

They got to the fitting room and a beautiful ivory-colored gown was worn on a mannequin.

The gown had a tight bodice and a big skirt flowed down in the shape of a bell. The hands of the gown had ruffles at the end of its hem. The skirt was layered in tulle to help plump it and was later covered in fine smooth ivory silk.

Fine diamonds were sewn around the neckline and were scattered randomly over the skirt, giving it a sparkly touch.

Lily had never seen a gown this beautiful. She wanted to run her hands through the dress and feel the fabrics used, but then it would be weird, so she stayed put. She wondered if she'd ever be privileged to wear fine dresses like this.

"Your gown is so pretty," Elena complimented, making Sabrina giggle.

"What do you think Lily?" Sabrina turned and looked at Lily with hopeful eyes.

"I think it's very gorgeous," Lily said sincerely.

"Thank goodness!" Sabrina exclaimed with a face full of smiles. "I can't wait for mama to see the dress. I told her a local tailor would equally make a fabulous dress, and she doubted me." Sabrina said proudly.

"It's a good thing you did right there. You've just given opportunities now to this unknown tailor," Said Elena with a look of admiration on her face. It was very rare for a princess to do such.

Youngsters these days would rather a famous tailor and one who was considered the best to sew their wedding gowns.

"I'll forever be indebted to you, my princess," Jerome bowed deeply. Months ago he was an unknown tailor that sewed for the locals, but now women of the high society brought their fabrics from far and wide after hearing he was the one tailoring princess Sabrina's wedding gown.

"A princess is meant to look after her people, I just carried out my duties." Sabrina smiled.

"Go and try on the dress," Elena urged.

"I'll leave you to try the dress," Jerome said respectfully and left the fitting room with his workers.

Once Jerome left, the servants helped Sabrina change into the wedding gown.

"Don't you think the waist is a little bit loose?" Sabrina asked Elena worriedly. Just like every other maiden, Sabrina wanted a very tiny waist as well even though the waist was already tiny.

"I think it's perfect," Elena convinced.

"You think so?" Sabrina still had her doubts.

"Of course."

"What do you think Lily? Do you think it's okay?" Sabrina asked but got no answer.

"Lily?" She called scanning the room with her eyes but couldn't find Lily.

"Where is Lily?"

***

The fitting room was quite busy with servants moving around trying to fit Sabrina into the dress.

Lily had been standing in one spot for a while and got tired of doing nothing. Her presence wasn't needed, so she went out of the shop for some fresh air.

She stood in front of the shop as she looked around the marketplace with a smile on her face, remembering the good old days when she and Simon would pick herbs from the forest and come to the market to sell. As a child, running around the market with other kids was her favorite thing to do.

She sighed happily when a gush of wind flew past her, ruffling the few strands of hair that escaped one braid she packed her hair into.

While she was looking around, she noticed an old woman dressed in a long black cloak with a hood covering her face. Before she could recognize who it was, the person had already mingled with the crowd making it hard for her to see her face.

Lily walked into the crowd and chased after the old woman. The old woman suddenly turned and Lily got a clear look at her face.

Her face molded into a frown and her forehead creased together when she recognized the woman.

"Denise?"