Aunt Elle swept into the sitting room with her usual effortless poise—only to halt mid-step at the sight of her daughter.
Her eyes widened. One perfectly manicured hand flew to her forehead like she was bracing for a migraine.
“Eri. Hertel.” Her voice was calm—too calm—but ced with unmistakable horror. “What in the world happened to your dress?”
Eri, still streaked with dirt and looking entirely unbothered, blinked innocently. “There was an emergency in Bug Haven. My presence was urgently required.”
Aunt Elle closed her eyes, as though summoning divine patience from the heavens. “You are not marching outside looking like you’ve crawled out of a compost heap. Go upstairs. Change. Now.”
With a single, elegant flick of her wrist, she pointed toward the door—the kind of gesture that brooked absolutely no argument.
“But Mommy—my colony needs me!” Eri cried, clutching her muddied skirt like a heroine in a tragic py. “Miss Raki just started molting and everything’s in disarray! I’m most needed there right now!”
“No buts,” Aunt Elle said sharply, already summoning a maid with a single gnce. “Cherry, escort Lady Entomologist here to her chambers. And make sure she doesn’t sneak into the insectarium again.”
“Yes, madam. Let’s go, young miss,” Cherry said, gently but firmly taking Eri by the arm—as though this sort of insect-reted fashion emergency was now part of her job description.
“But what about my lovelies?” Eri wailed as she was ushered out, heels dragging.
Aunt Elle pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh. “Fine. I’ll ask Charley to check on them. But you have five minutes. Now go—Nia and Cece are waiting.”
Hang in there, Charley, I thought, sending him a quiet mental salute. If anyone can survive an insect uprising, it’s you.
“Hurry it up, Eri,” Cece added without missing a beat, still sipping her tea like a seasoned general waiting for her troops to fall in line.
Eri grumbled something unintelligible as she disappeared down the hall, her muddy hem trailing behind like the cloak of a disgraced heroine.
“That girl…” Aunt Elle muttered, shaking her head. “One day, she’ll give me gray hairs.”
It was almost impressive, really—how only Eri could reduce Aunt Elle’s polished composure to a sigh and a headache.
With a quick breath, Aunt Elle straightened her posture and turned back to us, all warmth and command. “Alright, girls! We’ll be visiting three designers today. I’ve booked appointments with Diana, Atelier Evandelle, and Rosewaltz & Co.—the best of the best. I’m confident we’ll find the perfect pieces for each of you.”
These weren’t just any boutiques. The women behind them were fashion icons—visionaries whose designs graced both the royal court and the rising salons of Hertel County. Their presence alone had turned the region into an unexpected fashion capital.
“Diana is especially excited,” Aunt Elle continued, her eyes sparkling. “She’s already sketched several concepts just for you. We’re even pnning a version of the summer gown I wore recently—but with younger silhouettes and more pyful motifs.”
Clearly, she was thrilled by the opportunity to serve as fairy godmother to our fashion destinies.
She went on to describe each designer’s signature touch—Diana’s hand-embroidered florals, Evandelle’s sleek and noble modernity, Rosewaltz’s dreamy jewelries adorned with precious gems that glimmer with vibrant colors..
As I listened, a quiet thrill bloomed in my chest. I wasn’t as fashion-forward as Cece or as fmboyant as Eri, but there was something undeniably exciting about it all. The promise of soft fabrics, beautiful colors, and walking into a room wearing something made just for me. It felt like magic. Like maybe, for once, I could step into that world of sparkle and silk and belong there, too.
Just then, Eri reappeared—miraculously clean, dressed in a pale periwinkle day gown and only mildly annoyed.
“Alright,” Aunt Elle said, sweeping her hands together. “Now that we’re all decent… let the Rosendale Walk begin.”
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