Beautiful Scar

Six

Scarlet was growing nauseated from the effect of her glove just now. It was a wonder she could withstood it for more than half an hour. 

Once she dismissed the training session, she turned to a corner and made a sprint to the seamstress tower. She did not bother knocking and just barged into the room.

“Why hello there, Captain!” Brie gave a bright smile that always annoyed Scarlet.

Scarlet managed to glare at her before covering her mouth and headed straight to a washbasin, grabbed an empty pail and threw up there. Brie’s servant boy who was turning eight watched with concerns at Scarlet’s predicament. He stood on a stool and patted Scarlet’s back.

Once Scarlet emptied out her system, she slumped against the wall. The little boy fanned her. She could feel herself fevering up.

“Geez, wh-what did you put inside this thing?” She panted as she pulled out her gloves that was already stowed in her pockets.

“Woops, looks like this fabric was not good enough”, Brie took the gloves and examined. She did not seem fazed at Scarlet’s condition. Though, she made a comment, “Can’t you do something about that stench of yours?” She even proceeded to pinch her nose.

Scarlet who was suddenly drained from the poison effect merely raised her brow at Brie, who was now ignoring her. With slight annoyance and soreness, she grabbed the pail and slowly went out and emptied out into a drain and washed off the stains by a nearby waterpipe.

Once done, she settled back inside Brie’s room, while observing Brie’s handiwork. Sketches and designs of dresses, royal and military uniforms decorated the walls. Textiles and fabrics of all kinds were drabbled here and there, some still in rolls. She noted previous dresses and military uniform jackets and dresses tailored-specifically for Scarlet and Fina as well. There were few replicas of the dresses on those wooden mannequins, human-sized dressing dolls, Scarlet would often put as.

Brie was an unusual lady, just as much Scarlet was unique as well. She had a penchant for combining tools and inventions to be fitted into clothing. Lance was the one who noticed this talent and drafted her as one of the royal seamstresses. Of course, it did not go well without some costs. She was a smart woman and demanded an amount of gold to be provided for her to start-up her own emporium.

Her eyes wandered, noting other details which made her sigh at the mess of this room, not that her chamber or study room was any tidier. Pin needles of various colours were visible in some corners of the cushions, sewing needles, scissors and small blades all over the available tables, leather chairs.

“What a hazardous place”, she uttered.

Brie only snorted as she pinned a soft-blue piece of cloth onto her doll. “You know I’ve designed a little something for you and the Princess, as a birthday gift to her. And you, well I just had some extra fabrics left. You two were always a package anyway”.

Scarlet laughed at the last part. “Brie, the highly-acclaimed royal seamstress sounded jealous”.

“Oh nonsense!” Brie finished the last thread and pulled up the dress from the doll and turned to Scarlet. “See, we’re all a match!”

And Scarlet looked at the dress in Brie’s hands, with few other dresses still in those wooden mannequins. Including the one with Brie, there were four set of dresses. Each designed was distinctive and intricate, with ornate headpieces to complement these dresses. However, what all these dresses had in common was the jewel decorated at the center of the chest of the dress and the streaking purple fabrics that appeared in different sections of the dress, coordinated with the main colour of the dresses.

In Brie’s was a simple flowing gown in soft blue satin cloth with soft purple ribbons flowing from the waist below, paired with white arm’s length gloves and topped with a gold-plate band on the head.

“Well, that suits you”, Scarlet gave a knowing grin, as usual, impressed by her works. And the simplicity of the dress that hid the true colour of this fashion lady.

“Try to guess which one is whose”, Brie was excited. She pulled up three mannequins.

“Well, this is definitely for the oldest one among us”, Scarlet said as she felt the fabric in her hand, silky, smooth, soft and comforting. Brie nodded approvingly. The dress was long-sleeved with purple frills as the motifs and belted with purple velvety outer corset that accentuate the figure so slightly, paired with short dark grey hand gloves and topped with a small black fascinator and a thin veil. It displayed maturity and elegance.

“Oh, this one has no headpiece, Fina obviously”, Scarlet said, as she took in the full rich purple-coloured gown with small beads of jewels sewn across the sleeves up to the chest area, complementing the jewel centerpiece.

Scarlet didn’t need to guess further and looked at the dress designed for her. Unlike other dresses before, this dress covered up to the neckline, long sleeves and was deep red with dark purple streaking fabric peeking through the slit of the dress that began at the hipline all the way to the end. The headpiece was a big dark rose and feather fascinator with a thicker veil.

She could imagine herself and the other of Fina’s Ladies’ companions wearing these dresses. They would look stunning. Despites Brie’s lack of success in designing combative and stealth military uniforms, her dresses were always so grandeur. And she loved the way Brie always tailored the dresses befitting to her taste. They always made her feel powerful. While clothing was not the be end and end all of Scarlet’s profession, she enjoyed adorning such clothing from time to time.

“Well, is this where you spent your military golds?” Scarlet teased.

“Excuse me, these dresses are so much expensive than the military uniforms. And you all are going to pay for these dresses anyway”. She huffed along.

“Anyhow you better make sure your apprentice boy here study hard, so he can help you design functional and fashionable military uniforms”.

Brie dramatically gasped and held the servant boy protectively, “Oh no you don’t. You are not going to make Philip into a soldier. He’s going to be a scholar and a master tailor!”

“If you make proper uniform, then I’ll consider”. Scarlet stood up intending to leave when Brie suddenly stopped her.

“Speaking of that! Can you get me some of these fabrics while you go on your upcoming expedition?” She started to write down something on a piece of paper. “You’ll be going to the Rise Continent, right?”

Before Scarlet got to reply, Brie handed her the paper. Scarlet looked at the list. She looked annoyed.

“Please! I’ll pay you upfront. I’ll even design dresses for you three for free next time…” she grinned, knowing that perked Scarlet up.

Scarlet relented but with one condition, “Fine, but also make the uniform for my men, as well from these materials. For free”, she smiled with her teeth showing.

Before letting Brie finished, Scarlet left and shut the door.

“Get some more books from the library, Philip”, Brie turned to the boy instead and patted his head. “We need to practice more on this”, she held out the poison-fused gloves for both to see. The failure now but not for long.

****

The five remaining suitors convened in the common room and contemplated the events that just happened. The day has yet to end and one man was already down.

“What do you think will happen to that Ronald?” Zuber asked to no one in particular. It did not sit well with them that Scarlet could get these men imprisoned – royal or not, local or foreign. “Is she even allowed to do that?” that this Kingdom bestowed her that much authority. 

“Well as a nation of this Kingdom, I am aware how strong the military power is – they are after all one of the big forces of the royalty”, said Jackel, “I’m envious honestly to see that young lady having such power…” what could a mere son of a small lord can do?

Dylan was growing irritated for the conversation was going nowhere. Neville sat there still pensive.

“Look, they all have weaknesses. No matter how strong this Kingdom is, or their army or their lady captain is. They are not perfect, just now even”, Dylan started which raised brows from Zuber and Jackel.

Even James and Neville’s ears perked up as well.

“Think about it, she could’ve been crushed. She could not beat the man with her strength, but the army has advance weaponry. That gloves of hers are dangerous. I’m not surprised if all her clothes are disruptive to make up for her lack of build”.

 “Now that you mention it…” James started to speak as well, “It may be advanced, but I think that technology just now was developing. I noticed her face looked sickened a bit after the glove activated the poison fumes, almost like there was a side-effect to the wearer also. And was it me or that she seemed to rush the training after that?”

Dylan did not notice that. He was surprised at this information, but it comforted him a further bit, only to be diffused by Neville’s comment.

“True but the fact remains that she managed to outwit Ronald within less than a minute, and that she managed to beat all of us and her own men in that poisoned state of hers”, that Captain Scarlet was too terrifying, thought Neville. He did not comment aloud. But he wondered what kind of training, or torture actually, does that young lady had to endure to become who she was now.

And he was not the only one in the room thinking like that.

“And hence, that’s why I think we should focus on being on good terms with her”, Neville concluded.

Dylan did not bother to hide his dislike on that idea and the other men looked wary as well. Was there no other alternative for them to build a repertoire without involving Scarlet?

Sensing the reluctance, Neville merely sighed. “Look, I’m just suggesting. If any of you have better idea you want to share, I’ll gladly listen to them”, and he stood up and left the room first.

Zuber and Jackel also left eventually, saying things of going to observe the market or visiting a nearby village and such. All dispersing to do their own ‘Leisure’ activities.

Dylan was still lying on the couch, already feeling irritated to be involved in this.

What was Mother even thinking?

He merely obeyed her because it gave him room to be away from her clutches on him. And he thought he could fool around here a bit. Then, a thought hit him. Maybe he could!

He could just go to a tavern or some inn and get some cheap drinks, maybe get entertained by some fine ladies if he was feeling flirtatious. That improved his mood for a while. He rose from his seat and noticed James was still around, opening some books and skimming them.

“What are you up to there?” Dylan asked.

“Hm?” James glanced up from his reading. “Oh, thought I find some recipes to do some cooking today”.