The Serpent's Enigma

15 | The Empress' Ensemble

Descending from the stairs of the summer palace, she met her husband and Junior who were waiting at the front.

"Wow!" Junior squealed, palms coming up to rest upon his cherubic cheeks.

"So, do you like it?" Gigi straightened her skirt, nervously adjusting her cloche hat. Her dress was still taking the basic shape of an Angletonian summer frock, but with the use of Prajan patterned fabric and appliques, giving a unique twist to its overall impression.

"This looks more like... you," Cal remarked.

"Oh, I promised something for Junior so that we would match." Reaching into her purse, she took out a tiny bowtie made of the same batik pattern as her dress and attached it to Junior's collar.

Witnessing it, Cal cleared his throat. "A little something for me, perhaps?"

"Oh, um..." Gigi flushed, not expecting him to show equal interest. Rummaging through her purse again, she came up with a patterned silk scarf. "I only have this." His gaze was warm on her as she wrapped it around his neck, tucking it into his jacket. "Now don't worry because the fabric is very breathable, you won't feel hot."

"Now we all match!" Junior exclaimed.

Gigi could feel the stares directed at them for their unusual style of clothes. To see the Emperor wearing a batik scarf during a national event was a rare occurrence, but she kept her composure and presented herself with pride. Her purpose was, after all, to show the versatility of Prajan garments.

And she wasn't denied entry at the gates.

Considering it as a success, she did the same as they attended several more events, including the Regatta. This time she wore a slinky dress that matched the Prajan silhouette, and patterned silk wrapped around her shoulders like a shawl. She even took the liberty to wear a pair of Prajan mule flats; if she was to spend the entire day at the riverside she wouldn't want to get her shoes stuck in the mud.

Unexpectedly to Gigi, as she was retreating to her seat to join her husband in the middle of the race, she crossed paths with a group of three young ladies.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty." The three of them curtsied to her in unison.

"Good afternoon, ladies." Gigi nodded in acknowledgement, giving them a polite smile as she kept aiming to reach her destination.

"Enjoying the boat race?" The curly woman in the group followed up to her right side, while the dark blonde and brunette joined her at the left; Gigi was flanked by three people. "May I introduce myself? I am Zeila, and these are my friends Joséfina and Evelyn."

"Yes." Her hand brushed through her hair. In most social situations, her husband would always be by her side leading the conversations. This time she was alone. "Nice to meet you all; it's a beautiful race."

"Not as good as the ones in Praja, I'm sure," said Evelyn, the dark blonde in the sailor hat.

"We don't do boat races in Praja," Gigi answered, cursing her inability to form a more adequate response.

"Really? So what did you do to celebrate summer?" asked the brunette named Joséfina, whose entire wardrobe was awfully pink.

"We'll have theatrical performances, harvest parties, and puppet shows. Though we don't do it for the summer; it's always sunny throughout the year, except for the rainy season."

"I thought the rainy season was the only season in Angletonia," Zeila laughed gaily.

"And the fabric you are wearing, are they also from your home country?"

Gigi nodded. "They are."

"May I feel it?" Joséfina extended her hands to touch the material of Gigi's shawl.

"Of course," Gigi replied, not knowing what else to say.

"What about your gloves? I've never seen this pattern before," asked Evelyn, looking at the lacy gloves that Gigi was wearing.

"I don't know what they're called, but they are pretty." Joséfina stroked the smooth material of Gigi's shawl.

"Thank you. Prajan lace does have a distinct pattern. My handmaidens knitted them for me," Gigi said with pride.

"Handmaidens?" Zeila repeated. "Did the palace not offer you clothes from royal tailors?"

"They did, but since the appliqué are very delicate it takes people who are familiar with the materials to put it together."

"Where can we get one?" Evelyn inquired. "I don't see any in stores."

"Come to the palace, I can show you my entire collection." Gigi beamed.

Fortunately, Junior barged in before they could ambush Gigi with any more questions.

"Father has been looking for you. He needs you by his side for the luncheon." Blinking innocently, he swiftly dragged Gigi away by the hand after bidding the women goodbye. "You're welcome," he added with a grin once they were away.

The three young women stood to watch them leave.

"Did you see that?" Evelyn raised her brows. "The Empress is wearing flat shoes to a formal luncheon."

"I know, right?" Joséfina glanced down at her own pointy heels. "What are we wearing? We look like idiots."

.·。.·゜·༺♥༻ ·゜·。.