Chương 57: Book 2 Chapter 9 - Dresses and Dance Lessons

With her family safe for the time being, and the city tribunal behind her, Kiara thought about what her future might hold. If Baron Norshod truly intended to seek retribution in some way for the events that transpired during her tribunal, then she needed to be prepared. The only way she could get stronger, apart from waiting for her next tier upgrade, was to improve her sword-fighting and close-range combat abilities.

To that end, she was determined to focus even more heavily on the instruction she was receiving at Handel's Sword Academy. In the meantime, the city tribunal had shown her how important it was to build connections with the nobility and merchant class. Having friends in high places offered protection for her house and her family beyond what she could provide on her own. Attending the Marsant Ball was the perfect way to deepen and strengthen the connections that Dustin had already started making.

The next week passed without incident. If the baron had truly been trying to send a message by announcing his new tier 4 retainer, he didn't seem very intent on following it up quite yet. Maybe he was waiting for the ball? Or maybe she and Dustin were reading too much into his actions, it was hard to tell. Kiara found herself growing more and more excited for the ball as the week wore on. By Friday, she was antsy enough that she found it hard to focus in her sword class.

Rather than staying late to continue practicing her forms, she left the sword academy to head straight home. Dustin was having a custom seamstress and tailor brought to the estate to lay out options for what they would wear to the ball. The suits and gowns were already made, and slight size adjustments would be made after they were purchased. Kiara had made plenty of her own clothes growing up, or rather, she had helped her mom do it, so she had some experience with the timetables involved.

She thought they were cutting it pretty close, doing it the day before the ball. She had mentioned that to Dustin, but he had assured her that the people coming in were professionals, and knew what they were doing. They didn't technically need new clothes for the ball, Kiara had a few gowns already from earlier outfitting trips when they first arrived in Easton.

She even had a few gowns that she hadn't worn yet, as she rarely needed to dress up, having skipped all of the previous party invitations they had received. However, Dustin insisted, as this was her first time attending one of these in person. He wanted them to present a certain image, and he would be buying a new suit as well. She found them already waiting when she arrived. An empty wagon was in the courtyard, and when she entered the house, she was pulled into Dustin's office off the main entrance.

The room wasn't meant to be an office, and was rather large, but was conveniently located near the entrance, and so Dustin used it as such. At any rate, the room was now covered in the finest suits and gowns that Kiara had ever seen. More suits and gowns than she would have thought possible, given there was only a single wagon outside. A large wagon, to be sure, but she still couldn't imagine how the clothes all fit in it. They must pack down pretty well.

The tailor was a tall woman, dressed in a fine suit of her own. Her easy smile and natural aptitude for talking contrasted perfectly with the seamstress's no-nonsense scowl. Or maybe that was just how his face looked, she wasn't sure. The seamstress was actually a… seamster? A man, quite short, with the tallest hat Kiara had ever seen. When he removed it, she saw that he was completely bald, and he was owning it. He didn't have any stubble, or wisps of hair trying to compensate for their fallen comrades.

Rather, his head was shiny enough that it rivaled an expensive mirror. More than once, the sunlight coming in through the window reflected off it and blinded her momentarily, causing her to shield her eyes. The tailor took quick measurements as soon as Kiara entered, then guided her around the room, showing her the different options. Meanwhile, the measurements were passed to the seamster, who followed after them, gathering up the gowns that she hadn't shown an interest in.

Dustin watched from a couch, giving her space to feel out the options on her own.

"This one is marvelous," the tailor said, showing her a shimmery silver gown with white highlights.

"I've sold several just like it in the past few weeks, the style is very popular right now." Kiara admired the gown for a moment, but ultimately didn't like how restrictive it looked. She wanted to be able to move easily.

"Mmm, it looks like it would be a bit tight…" she hinted. The seamster piped up, sounding bored, his words short and to the point, "Easily fixable, my lady." She glanced at him.

"It not only needs to fit me, but I need to be able to move in it. I don't want to feel limited."

"Move, my lady?" the seamster queried, his face an ever unbroken mask of boredom bordering on contempt. She nodded emphatically.

"I need the freedom of movement to engage in a full sword fight if necessary." Dustin laughed. The tailor's jaw hung open at the suggestion. The seamster smiled. It was only for a moment, before he resumed his usual bored scowl, but an eager glint remained in his eye.

"A worthy challenge," he said simply, the corners of his mouth still fighting ever so slightly against gravity.

"Pick any gown you wish, Lady Yountal, and I'll make sure you can riposte to your heart's content." Stolen novel; please report.

"Not that gown though," Dustin said from the sidelines, gesturing at the silver one the tailor had been showing her.

"We want something unique, something no one else will be wearing."

"Ah," the tailor said with a knowing smile.

"Right this way then, if you please." She led Kiara to three gorgeous gowns that had been laid out on one of the couches. Kiara noticed the seamster efficiently disposing of a number of gowns that had been out until now, ones that others had apparently already purchased and would not be unique at the Marsants' ball. The first gown was full length and midnight black, with shimmering silver dots. It was form-fitting and sleek, with very few frills. It reminded Kiara of the night sky itself.

Very appropriate for a starry night themed ball. The second was low cut, a deep blue, the color of the sky at dusk. It had full length sleeves with frilly cuffs. Kiara immediately wrote that one off. It was a gorgeous dress, but it didn't fit her style very well. The third was a rich red color, which didn't necessarily fit the theme of the ball, but would definitely stand out. Kiara wasn't sure she wanted to stand out, but the dress did look incredible. The fabric was soft, and would likely be comfortable.

The tailor, noticing her eyeing the two dresses, spoke up.

"Would you like to try them on, my lady? Everything here has been pre-sized to approximate your figure. We will only need to make some final, minute adjustments after the purchase." The seamster cleared his throat from behind them, and the tailor quickly added, "Oh yes! And of course we will adjust them to meet your… movement requirements as well." Kiara smiled and nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, I'll try them on!" Both dresses fit wonderfully, and were incredibly comfortable. Buying two dresses felt irresponsible.

She already owned more than one dress that she had yet to wear. Besides, she didn't want the seamster to have his focus split between two dresses and fail to deliver on the quality she was hoping for. With that in mind, she chose the midnight black dress. The seamster narrowed his eyes at her.

"The lack of folds and frills will make this a challenge indeed. You could not have chosen a more difficult dress for me to adjust in the ways you would like."

"Oh," she replied, feeling a bit guilty.

"I can pick a different one then…"

"You mistake me, my lady," the seamster interrupted her, the glint returning to his eye.

"I was not complaining. I accept your challenge. I relish the opportunity." The tailor glanced back and forth between the two of them, her usual knack for chatter hidden behind her shock. She had never seen the seamster act this way. Dustin, who seemed to be enjoying himself, approached from the side.

"I'll take a three piece suit, color matched to Lady Yountal's dress, with silver cuff links to match the stars on the gown. You already have my measurements." The tailor bowed, appreciative of the cognitive reset that Dustin's comment brought to the conversation.

"Consider it done, Mr Savage. We'll return the tailored pieces by tonight." She glanced at the seamster, then amended her timeline, "Tomorrow at the latest." * Once the wagon had pulled out of the courtyard with all of the fancy clothes, Kiara had a sudden realization. She was going to a ball, and she didn't know how to dance. She grabbed Dustin's arm and pulled him back to his office, ignoring his questions and complaints until they were back inside with the door shut.

"Teach me how to dance," she demanded as politely as she could. Dustin just stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"You don't know how to dance?"

"I've never had a need to learn until now!" she defended herself.

"Not much dancing happens on a farm, you know." He sobered up a bit, but the smile remained.

"Okay, let's go through the basics." He gently held her right hand with his left, then placed her left hand on his shoulder. His right hand moved to her waist and he stepped closer. Her heartbeat sped up just a bit. She wasn't very interested in any kind of romantic relationship right now, but she couldn't help it if her body responded that way to a handsome man pulling her in close. It didn't hurt that he smelled nice as well, which she only realized once they were close together.

She ignored it and focused on the dancing lesson he was giving.

"This is the most basic form of paired dancing that you'll see at the ball," he explained.

"There may be some group dances or line dances as well, but you can sit those ones out. If someone approaches you for a group or line dance, you can decline politely by simply telling them you don't know the steps. They won't be offended.

"For paired dancing though, it will be good if you know the basics. I'll lead," he continued, "and you follow." He began humming a simple tune, something that sounded oddly familiar. She wondered if the live band at her tribunal had played it. As he hummed, he began slowly stepping. First, he stepped towards her, then to the side, then away from her. He guided her using both hands, helping her intuit what her next movement should be in order to match his. Pretty soon, she realized how simple the basic steps were.

He smiled and began adding some flair. First, the basic steps began happening in a non-linear way, taking them slowly around the room to the beat of the song. Eventually, he pulled her right hand in a tight circle, guiding her to spin with the hand on her waist. He was teaching her with his hands, since he was too busy humming to explain the movements with words. It took her a brief second to realize what the intent was, but then it felt natural to follow through with the spin.

After they had done a few laps around the room, he stopped humming.

"You're a natural!" he said as they stopped moving. She blushed at the praise.

"You're a good teacher! And… it's really not too difficult, once you get the hang of it." He nodded with a proud look on his face.

"I am a good teacher, aren't I?" She shook her head in exasperation.

"You're so full of yourself." He laughed it off.

"It's easy when I have this much going for me." She gave him a deadpan glare.

"I'm kidding! Just kidding," he amended with a smirk.

"Okay," he continued, "are you ready for your next lesson?"

"There's more?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. He nodded.

"The most important part." He stepped back in, pulling her close again.

"It's time for a crash course in the hidden language of dance, as well as the hidden language of politics."