Woot! Finally done! For those on team Drell, he's officially back in the story. Sorry this took so fucking long. I also rewrote chapter one, so make sure and go read that again! It's essentially the same, but mistakes have been fixed, and I fleshed it out a little more.
I also wanted to say, thank you so much to everyone who comments. Any time I'm starting to doubt myself, to doubt whether or not I'm doing well, whether or not people enjoy this, I go and reread all of the comments. I love you guys.
Enjoy!
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The day after the sudden reappearance of Drell, I received some very exciting news.
"A dressmaker will be coming this afternoon to take your measurements," Anthony told me at breakfast. I perked up, all sleepy residue gone at once. "He will also be bringing some dresses I think should suit you better and fitting them to you, so you'll have some clothing more to your liking in the meantime."
I bounced in my seat, eyes wide with excitement. While I still wasn't a fan of dresses, anything would be better than these pastel, shapeless horrors. "Thank you so much!"
He chuckled, before giving me a stern look. "You will be good. No swearing, no glaring, and be nice. Promise me."
"Yes, yes, I'll be good," I responded, nodding absently, mind already stuck on this afternoon, impatient for it to come. One of his hands snagged my chin, tugging my face around so that my eyes met his.
"I'm serious Alanna. This is a highly respected dressmaker, the best I could find, just for you. You. Will. Be. Good." His fingers squeezed my chin for emphasis, eyes hard.
I nodded again, trembling slightly at the command in his voice. While it normally made my hackles rise, that bossiness made my body purr. "I promise," I told him solemnly. "I'll be good. And again, thank you." My face flushed, overwhelmed by this generous act.
His eyes searched my face for a moment as if to determine how serious I was being, before finally releasing me. "Good girl."
The compliment momentarily made me beam with pride, before the expression was replaced with a scowl. No. I wouldn't be proud of that. I'm not developing feelings. I'm not.
I was having a bit of trouble convincing myself.
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The afternoon couldn't come soon enough for my liking. I spent the morning wandering aimlessly around the garden, basking in the warmth and sunlight. A small portion of time was spent sitting next to the fish pond, looking up at the statue of Knowledge and wondering what she was like. Anthony was busy during lunch, so I ate out there as well, convincing Kata to sit and talk with me a bit. I was starting to go a bit stir crazy in this house, and I think she saw that.
Finally, finally, the butler came to tell me that the dressmaker was waiting for me in the sitting room. When he turned to go back into the house, I caught Kata peering after him longingly, and I smothered a grin. Putting it from my mind for the moment, I followed him into the house, head already dancing with ideas of what the new clothing would look like.
The first thing I noticed when we entered the sitting room was that all of the furniture was pushed up against the walls. After that I noticed the dresses and fabric strewn across said furniture. Finally, my eyes were drawn to the famed dressmaker.
He wasn't what I expected him to be. I mean, I'm not entirely sure what I expected, but this wasn't it. He was fairly short for a guy, probably 5'5, give or take an inch. Though still half a foot taller than me, which was irksome, especially considering the disdainful look on his well tanned face. His features, underneath slicked back blonde hair, reminded me of a weasel.
He made my skin crawl, but I quickly remembered my promise to Anthony and pasted on a pleasant smile. Cold, brown eyes narrowed as they swept up and down my frame, before a scowl twisted his lips down, as if he'd seen something that disgusted him.
"Your owner hasn't taught you how to properly greet your betters?" He snapped, voice equally as unpleasant as his appearance. My smile became more forced.
"I apologize, I haven't been a slave very long," I responded, voice tight, trembling hands gripping my skirts hard.
He made a dismissive noise and gestured for me to stand in the center of the room, before commanding me to strip to my underclothes. My eyes widened as it occurred to me for the first time that I wore none. In fact, I hadn't worn underwear since the orc had cut my thong off. I didn't even have shoes.
The man must have seen the bright blush across my cheeks and guessed at the reason, for he laughed, the sound grating my nerves.
"Strip anyways. I assure you, you won't be the first woman I've seen in a state of undress."
With hands that trembled, my promise to Anthony clear in my head alongside my desperate desire for more flattering clothing, I slowly pulled the dress up and over my head. It was clutched to my chest, as if to protect myself from his gaze, but he quickly snatched it from my hands and tossed it aside.
He circled around me, eyes tracing the curves that had finally started to fill back in, the smallness of my waist in comparison, the delicate slope of my shoulders. I was reminded of how small, how delicate, how physically helpless I am compared to most people. It made me want to hunch over protectively, but I forced myself to stand straight, not wanting to show that his disdainful gaze was affecting me.
The moment finally ended and he turned away, allowing me to breath a sigh of relief. He returned with a cord, quickly taking measurements of my arms and legs, as well as my bust and waist and hips, making me blush. His touch was clinical, however unwelcome, and he attempted nothing untoward.