Tale of Two Queens

[045] dressing fate

"Not this one." Helaena shook her head at the baby blue dress presented to her as she pursed her lips. "I want something that speaks...power." She looked to the dress maker as he nodded.

The interesting choice of words to describe a dress was surprising for the dressmaker as he looked at the rack of baby blues and pastel green dresses. The only reason he was hired was to create dresses for the princesses of the royal family and to think of it, he could barely keep up with their demands.

Princess Rhaenyra often dressed in expensive and rich silks and satins decorated with gems and gold embroidery. The message of her wardrobe was simple. Royalty and raw power. The royal dressmaker had fun designing the wardrobe of the heir to the iron throne whilst her daughter had allowed him to do the exact opposite.

Any liberty could not be taken as she had a very specific code of attire. A list of guidelines had been made and rarely changed as she liked her blacks and greys. The use of navy blue was rare and only worn on specific occasions to honor her house.

Aside from obsidian and silver chains, he could not add any gems or additional trinkets onto her dresses. His princess did not pay any attention to what type of fabric was used except of the quality that was used to make the same three black dresses.

All the royal dressmaker had to do was make the same copies of black pleated skirts and variation of suits. Perhaps the only thing his princess ever cared for was the embroidery done on her vests and and collars and of course were always done by her aunt, sparing him any extra work.

Now, Princess Helaena had dressed in pastel colors of blue and green but the sudden change of color palettes and fabric types had certainly shocked him. The once soft princess had seemed to attempt to parody what her elder sister did in terms of fashion. It was a pitiful attempt but he gave her credit for trying.

The wardrobe of Princess Rhaenyra was incredibly hard to copy hence the reason for her clear individuality among in the nobles.

Helaena walked past the second rack of dresses before grinning as she found a dark purple one, thick with a rigid bodice of dragonglass. "Whose dress is this?" She asked, taking it out as she showed the dressmaker. The dress itself was a hassle in weight but as her mother said, beauty is pain.

"Oh, it is an old mockup for Princess Rhaenyra. Those dresses are to be taken apart and used for other things my princess." He looked back to his notebook of measurements as Helaena hummed and looked at it.

Syrax had been embroidered in golden thread across the bodice and the thought of Dreamfyre replacing it had delighted Helaena.

"I want it. Tailor it to me."

"My princess, it will take at least a moon to do so. The bodice is incredibly hard to reconstruct, perhaps my princess will like another one? More new?"

Helaena smirked and shook her head, "No. Your princess demands this one. If you still cannot tell Herbert, I want a new wardrobe. No more pinks or soft colors. I'm sick of them." She smiled to him as he internally cringed, nodding and swiftly took note of it.

"I shall send the tailor to you this afternoon princess." He turned, grabbing his things, desperate to leave as he motioned to the servants who pushed the racks of dresses out, following him miserably.

Helaena smiled in content, "Bye Herbert!" She played with her necklace before frowning as she realised she had spoke too much. It was better to remain dark and mysterious, she thought to herself. She turned, walking to her window where she observed her brother training.

Such skill. Such beauty. Pity he is a cripple.

"Princess?" She hummed as a small reply, not offering much of an acknowledgment as she twirled the bead on her necklace.