The future princess nodded, a radiant smile on her face.
It had only taken me three days of nonstop sewing.The gown ended up being much simpler than I had envisioned.No beaded decals.No intricately crocheted lace.Only smooth, flowing lines of pleating that crisscrossed the bodice, a delicate jeweled sash tied at the waist, and a satin skirt cut on the bias cascading down to the floor with an impressive train.
“It reminds me of the dress I wore to the opera last winter,” Narcissa said, smoothing her hands over the skirt.
“Precisely.”I raised my brows meaningfully.“That was when you and Crown Prince Bennett confessed your feelings for each other, no?”
“It was,” Narcissa said with a wistful smile.She turned around and took my hands.“Thank you, Giselle.It’s perfect.”
I released a sigh of relief.My shoulders suddenly felt lighter; it was as if I could breathe again.This wedding dress assignment was finally finished.I felt like whooping and running through a field of wildflowers to celebrate.
“I’ll make sure you’re paid shortly, so you’ll have enough to reopen your shop soon,” Narcissa said.
I already had enough for a new shop ever since I received my payment for the Witch Committee assignment, but that hadn’t been touched.
“No need.I’m apprenticing,” I said.“At Jeraldine’s Dress Emporium.”
Narcissa raised her brows.“Apprenticing?But you’re so talented already.”
“There’s always more to learn.”
Most every witch child ended up apprenticing with an older witch with a similar skillset, though Ma had insisted on sequestering us in the family home, claiming there was nothing she, Pa, and Grandma couldn’t teach us.I never had the opportunity to seek out a mentor, so asking for Jeraldine’s guidance had been equally exciting and nerve-wracking.But the charmwitch had been generous, accepting me as an employee without hesitation last month.I’d made friends with a few of her seamstresses too, humans and witches alike.
At the end of each day, when the shop closed, Jeraldine would show me how the ledgers worked, how she kept track of fabric stock, her suppliers, and so on and so forth.Numbers had never been my strength, but under Jeraldine’s guidance, I felt that one day, I would be as capable as she was.Moreover, she had promised that once I was ready, she’d allow me to take over her branch at Blanche de Clare.
I could hardly wait for the day when Edmund and Mr.de Clare saw the girl they had rejected take what she wanted after all.
“Any updates with Prilla Lewis and The Crown?”I asked Narcissa.
The investigation into the organization was still ongoing.Most recently, the Royal Guard had uncovered a false sewage plate within palace grounds, equipped with a rope and pulley system leading straight into Witch Village.Apparently, this secret tunnel had been built under Sir Sylvester’s orders without the notice of palace staff nor the witches in the village.It explained how Prilla had managed to infiltrate so easily.
“They’re all being detained and questioned,” Narcissa said.“We’re cracking down on the other members...but some of them do have valid points regarding witch businesses.”She looked at me hesitantly, as if worried I wouldn’t agree.
“I know,” I said with a sigh.“There should be better regulations around witch businesses, especially those that directly compete with human ones.”
“As for Sir Archibald and Sylvester, Bennett put in a petition to demote them, but King Maximus is hesitating.They’ve been with him since he took the throne.”
I tamped down the injustice I felt at this.Even with solid proof of wrongdoing, those old councilmen still held their power.
Narcissa shot me a sympathetic look.“Olderea has a long way to go.”A steely expression came into her eyes, reminding me of Maddox.“But when it comes our turn, Bennett and I will do our best.”
I smiled.“I know you will.”
***
IWALKED SLOWLY BACKto Jeraldine’s Dress Emporium, breathing in the late autumn air.Sadly, there wouldn’t be any wildflowers to celebrate in this season, so I skipped through piles of orange leaves on the paved ground, relishing the crunch of them under my boots.Ever since my unfortunate run-in with the hired assassin, I’d felt uneasy stepping outside alone, but now, I felt lighter than I had in months.
My joyous gait halted when I spotted two familiar figures standing before Jeraldine’s shop.Ma and Christabella were bundled up in their autumnal best, looking extremely out of place amongst the fashionable buildings of Delibera.Ma was looking warily around her, narrowing her eyes at every pedestrian who had the misfortune of passing her by.Christabella’s face was tilted up to the burnished golden leaves on the trees along the road, no doubt admiring them.
My palms grew sweaty.Jeraldine still had friends in the village, so there was no doubt word got around that I had become her apprentice.Ma must’ve caught wind of it and came up to visit me.
My first instinct was to turn back and run, but I forced myself not to, even as the blood rushed to my face and my heart began to race.I had been wanting to speak to them, but I never mustered up the courage to go back down to Witch Village on my own.I hadn’t expected them to come up here instead.
At the sound of my footsteps, Ma locked her gaze on me.The meeting was inevitable now.
I approached slowly, my legs feeling leaden, until I finally stopped before them.“Ma.Chrissy,” I said, clearing my throat.“How’s the village?”
“So you still care about the village?”Ma set her hands on her hips.“Didn’t you leave with that human?”
