Elica walked with him back to the house as he guided her towards the side door as he had promised. She glanced back before they entered, the bright gardens now starkly framed by the approaching heavy clouds.

The door led into another hallway, barren save for the door at its end. Upon entering the far door, Elica found themselves back in the hallway she had grown slightly familiar with, her own door just the next one down.

“I'll see you at dinner,” he said, releasing her hand once they reached her door. “Feel free to go out and get some fresh air whenever you feel like it.”

“Thank you, I will,” she said, grabbing her door’s handle. “With how close I am, you'll likely find me out there quite often if you need me,” she informed him with a smile.

“I'll keep that in mind. I'll see you at dinner then.”

“I guess I'll see you then,” she replied, watching him turn and proceed down the hall, curious as to where his chamber was. She watched until he disappeared into the great hall, apparently he isn't in this hall, she thought as she turned the handle and entered.

“Hello my lady, I trust you enjoyed your time?”

Elica froze, caught off guard by Krista being back in her room. “Oh, hello… Why are you here again,” she stammered.

“We need to get you dressed for dinner.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that. So, were you able to find anything that would fit me?”

“Well, as I suspected, we were unable to find any old clothes that would fit you. Don't fret though, we were able to find this,” she proudly announced, walking over the the bed and rubbing some pieces of fabric that Elica hadn't noticed before.

“What is it,” she questioned, walking up next to the maid.

“It's just some lengths of silk the seamstresses had that they weren't planning on using.”

“Silk huh,” she repeated, running her hand across the smooth, white fabric. “I've never worn silk before.”

“Well, if I may be so rude my lady, there is no learning curve,” she said, giggling to herself.”

“I suppose your right,” Elica said with a slight laugh. “On a side note though, when it's just the two of us, you don't need to call me so formally.”

“Then what would you have me call you?”

“Elica is fine. It'll take me some time to get use to the whole ‘lady’ nonsense.”

“Very well, if that would please you Ms Elica.”

“It would, thank you,” she replied, figuring that's the best she could hope for. “So, how am I wearing this?”

“We’ll, first I'll need you to undress,-” she said, pointing accusingly at Elica's outfit, “-then all I need to do is fit it to you.”

“If you say so,” she said, eyeing the silk suspiciously as she began to undress, unsure as to how she would wear it. “There, now what?”

“Well, first we’ll use this to cover your bottom,” Krista said with a smile, lifting the larger of the two pieces of fabric.

Its simple white colour came off as something too bland for the household’s standards, but she submitted. The maid quickly wrapped the cloth around her waist, forming a long skirt, her nimble fingers firmly folding and tucking the fabric so it sat securely against Elica’s waist.

“Now lift your arms,” Krista instructed, retrieving the remaining piece of silk, its colour the same white as the first.

Elica did as she was told, allowing the girl to wrap the cloth firmly around her bosom before knotting it tightly in place between her shoulder blades.

“Is that it,” Elica asked, looking down at her body now being hugged by the simple white silk. “It looks rather bland don’t you think.”

“Why of course it does, that's where this comes in,” the maid boasted, holding up a long length of fabric she had retrieved from the wall.

“What's that,” Elica questioned, gazing at the brilliant teal cloth, its simple, golden embroidery imparting an air of exquisite elegance to the fabric.

“I’m not quite sure what it’s called myself, Miss Elica,” she began, wrapping the simpler end around Elica’s waist. “The late lady saw a similar fashion while visiting some far off islands and obsessed over it ever since, always trying to copy it.”

“Interesting,” Elica remarked, curiously watching as Krista pleated the far more decorative end of the cloth that remained; the sound of the pearls hanging from its end clinking together accompanying Krista as she folded.

“Now we take this, wrap it once more, and bring it up over the shoulder,” she explained as she did the procedures. “Do you like it,” she asked as she stooped down once more.

“It’s beautiful,” Elica exclaimed, looking herself over and admiring the fabric’s beauty, while ignoring Krista as she finished the skirt. “I’m not even sure I should be allowed to wear something like this,” she said quietly, now delicately examining the pearls that hung from the end, securely wrapped in delicate gold bands.

“I’m glad that you like it, you certainly share similar tastes as the late lady.” the maid said, standing back up after completing her task. “If you would like, A small portion that hangs over the shoulder can be pulled over your arm. If you like to see it, there’s no sense in hiding it all behind your back after all,” she said, pulling a length down from Elica’s shoulder to demonstrate, placing the end in Elica’s hand. “Just hold this end whenever your hand is free.”

“Got it,” Elica answered, gazing at the cloth now draping freely from her arm.

“Now then Miss Elica,-” the maid said in a more commanding voice as she stepped back from her handiwork, “-we’ve got some etiquette to go over to prepare you for dinner, are you ready?”

Of course we do, Elica thought to herself, her mood quickly reversing its direction. “I guess we should get started then,” she said, forcing a smile.