Sitting in the carriage, the Countess was humming to herself as she looked out the window. Shuffling in my seat due to nervousness, she eventually sighed and dragged me onto her lap, rhythmically petting my head. Looking up at her, she had a gentle smile on her face, her gaze filled with warmth. Snuggling into her, she continued to hum.
I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of her rubbing my head and listening to her happy hum. Eventually, she shook my shoulders, pointing outside.
Looking out the window, I saw a beautiful town on the top of a small hill. The buildings were clean and simple, with cobblestone foundations and white plastered walls, topped by an elegant sloped roof made from a dark wood. The people walking around the cobbled streets were smiling, laughing, as they went about their business. Many would wave to the carriage, smiles on their faces as they did so.
The Countess returned their waves, causing many people too blush. The carriage eventually stopped, and the door opened, one of the guards bowing slightly as he offered his hand to help the Countess out. Taking it, she smiled at him before placing a coin in his hand, telling him to go enjoy himself, since we would be awhile.
Looking at the building in front of us, it looked like the others, the only difference being the sign depicting a spool of thread, runes cresting over it.
Reading it, I said "An-Angel's Thre...Thread? Angel's Thread?"
Ruffling my ears, the Countess praised me. "Good job, Kat! Yes, this is Angel's Thread, a store run throughout the Empire. This branch is managed by a good friend of mine."
Saying so, she pushed open the door. Dozens of mannequins were scattered in the room, displaying different dresses and suits. The walls displayed spools of different cloths, each a different color or pattern. There were a few women inside, inspecting the various dresses, whispering among themselves.
In the back of the room was what looked like a small cafe, as there were a couple of tables, each with a teapot and plates set up. A few men sat at the tables, throwing bored glances at the women.
The Countess, with me still in her arms, walked towards the back, drawing the attention of the people in the room. The ladies gasped, while the men shot up from their seats, quickly bowing. Waving her free hand and walking into the back, I could hear the frenzied whispers coming from behind us.
The back room was quite large. with various tables, looms, and sewing machines scattered about. Half finished clothes were scattered about, and I could hear someone mumbling to themselves further back. Sighing, the Countess strode towards the back. What greeted us was a large woman, or rather, a large Arachne.
Eight long, gleaming legs, all connected to a deep purple spider body. Where the head should have been, a human torso sprouted, showing a half naked woman with huge breasts. Her face was beautiful, with two large crimson eyes, full, plump lips, and a dainty nose. Her hair was raven black, trailing down onto her spider half.
Looking up, her eyes widened, before she scurried forward, wrapping the Countess into a hug, burying my face between her bountiful breasts.
"Oh, my beautiful, beautiful Ria! You finally decided to visit! Have you finally decided to embrace the fairer sides of being a woman? I have so many great ideas, from regal gowns to a seductress' dress!"
Chuckling, the Countess pulled back, allowing me to breath again. "Actually, I'm here to get clothes for my little ones. This is Julie's daughter, Katherine. You remember Julie Zara, right?"
The Arachne leaned forward, peering at my face. I couldn't see earlier, but she had three smaller eyes above each of her eyebrows. Each one was fully crimson, and all of them narrowed. "Hmm... yes... passable, I guess.
I can definitely see Julie in her. Same meek gaze, same amber eyes..."
Sighing, she pulled away, before pouting. "Why won't you wear something other than those priestess robes, hmm? I could make you so irresistible that the Marquess couldn't look away from you!"
"Trust me, it takes very little to make myself irresistible for her. I just show some skin and she's all over me." The Countess replied dryly.
Shaking her head, she gestured around the room, before pointing at me. "I need a special dress for her. Her maid dress. Black dress, hmm... lets go with a red apron, to compliment her hair. Nothing fancy, just make it a normal maid dress, but switch the white with red.
Make it from Growth Cloth too. Is that possible?"
Sighing, the Arachne gave the Countess a dry look. "Really, you are asking the woman who made countless ball gowns for the Empress and her daughters, if a maid dress is possible? Yes, Ria, it's boringly possible. However, are you really going to splurge on this? I hate to be , but she is but a servant. Why bother using the good stuff?"
The Countess laughed, placing her hand on the Arachne's shoulder. "Violet, dear, if there is something Chordeva and I have in abundance, it's money. We have more than enough to last dozens of generations. Besides, Jahi likes the girl, and they're tied together for life anyways. I'd rather just have to get her one dress than dozens."
Violet blushed, looking at the hand on her shoulder. "Well... if it's what you want, Ria..."
Shaking her head, the Countess continued. "I also want you to make a matching set of night wear, one black, one red. Both from Growth Cloth. Finally, you remember the clothes you made for Chordeva? Make the same thing, black pants, purple shirt, and a black cloak, with a purple inseam. If I remember correctly...
Chordeva's cost what, fifty? So this'll come out to about two hundred, yea?"
Violet nodded, pulling out a pad and writing everything down. As she did so, I looked up at the Countess, asking "What's Growth Cloth?"
Ruffling my ears, she replied. "It's a cloth that's been woven from magic thread. It grows with the user, is extremely durable, and cleans easy. Expensive, but considering this outfit will always fit you, it's worth the cost. Besides, if I didn't do this know, Jahi would do it herself eventually."
The Countess pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes. "You know what Violet, I'll take you up on that offer. I want a corset and lingerie."
Silence descended in the room, and I swear I saw steam coming off of Violet's head. She dropped her pad, her hands twitching. Gently placing me down onto a chair, she quickly stripped down to just the chemise she was wearing, folding the robe and handing it to me. Violet slowly inched forward, pulling out a measuring tape, drooling slightly.
The Countess turned around, saying "Get the measuring over with. Oh, and if you try something I'll break your arms."
Violet stiffened, before moving forward again, gently wrapping the measuring tape around the Countess. She looked like she was struggling to no reach out and cling to the Countess, if the twitching muscles and her pulling back weren't my imagination.
Finishing, Violet turned around, a thin stream of blood leaking from her nose. The cloth binding holding her breasts in place didn't hide her very erect nipple, and the cloth covering where I assumed her groin was located was a darker shade than the rest of the material. She picked her notepad up and scribbled down the measurements.
The Countess walked over, winking at me and taking her robe back. She leaned down and whispered "It's so fun teasing people. You best hope Jahi didn't inherit that from me."
I nodded, hoping for the same. She already seemed quite... intense. If she was a tease on top of that? Lord help me.
After dressing herself, she picked me up again, walking towards the door to leave. "Violet, dear, I'll pay via banknote. Oh, and I'll trust your judgment on my personal order. Just mail the finished clothe's to the castle, will you?"
Violet turned rather quickly, stuttering. "Ah.. wa-wait! I... I'll need you to... uhm...
try it on! Yes, I'll need you to try on the lin-lingerie before I let you show the Marquess!"
Chuckling, the Countess turned back towards Violet, laughing harder when she saw Violet was having another nosebleed. "And when should I come to model... I mean try it on, to make sure it fits?"
"A week! No, three days! I will have it done in three days! I won't sleep!"
Nodding, the Countess just walked out the door, walking back through the store. Looking at her, I asked "How do you and Miss Violet know each other?"
"Ah, she went to the Royal Academy, same as Chordeva and I. She had quite the crush on me, going as far as to lay traps in my dorm to tie me up. Sadly for her, Chordeva and I had already been betrothed, so we dormed together. Chordeva found it amusing, though. She actually liked the idea of tying me up. Poor Violet walked in on someone else enjoying her hard work.
Ha, I miss those days."
Stepping outside, the Countess looked up at the sky, pursing her lips. "Shall we visit more stores, Kat?"