Seducing the Villainess

chapter two: sorren pryde.

"Now, Ms. Pryde, your father may allow for you to talk and walk around like a man but that is not allowed inside of my store."

I barely give her the time of day, too enamored with the satin dress that sits beautifully on the mannequin before me. It was the color that drew me in, a light blue that sparkles in the light— I realize it's because of the gemstones stitched into the fabric— and it's the fabric texture that keeps me there. I couldn't help but to touch and feel it, letting the fabric slip and slide on the palm of my hand. It's not the first time that I've touched satin but no matter what, it always amazes me. Though, I know that I can't continue ignoring the other woman, especially as she glares down at me with such venomous eyes that I'm afraid that it'll kill me if I continue standing here. "Oh, come on, Mrs. Bean—" I hold back a giggle. Her surname being "Bean" always makes me want to giggle. "— I'm not doing any harm! And I do not walk or talk like a man, I walk and talk like Sorren Pryde."

"Yes, Sorren Pryde who walks and talks like a man." Mrs. Bean huffs and shakes her head, grey ringlets shaking in the process. "Why don't you finally a buy a dress from me? You're a beautiful young woman, a dress will highlight said beauty. I'll even give you a discount, how does that sound!"

It must be said that I, Sorren Pryde, do not walk and talk like a man. I'm just as prim and proper as any other lady who lives in my small village. The only difference between me and them is that I wear pants and occasionally walk with my hands stuffed deep into my pockets and sometimes with a slight slouch. Two, I do own and sometimes wear dresses, just not as often as Mrs. Bean would like. She believes that at my age, I should be wearing dresses and gowns often, beautiful attire that will attract a man to come to my need and whisk me away That's what Mrs. Bean wants for me, she wants to see me married off to some man, any man who can tolerate me, Sorren Pryde, a woman who "walks and talks like a man".

"It depends," I say, still touching the blue satin dress. "If it's this dress, I might consider buying one of your lovely gowns."

She frowns. "That dress? Now what for? You have nowhere to wear it to!"

"You don't know that!"

"I do know that, Ms. Pryde! That's a dress for a ball, not something you can wear to a bar or friendly gathering. It's much too nice for the things you plan to do."

In this instance, Mrs. Bean is not wrong. The dress is beautiful, too beautiful to even be worn by me. And too beautiful to be worn in a small village like this. It's not like any grand and amazing parties are held here. The only parties that occur here are birthday parities for the children and little celebration that happens at the local bar. That's it. Nothing more than that. We don't even have festivals here! If we want to attend a festival, we would have to walk to the town that's twenty minutes away. While not far from us, it shows how small it is here.

"Then I don't want any of your dresses if it's not this one," I say, frowning. I'm upset. It's a beautiful dress and I do love looking and touching it. Though, I'm not sure if I'm upset because I'm unable to own it or because I won't be able to touch it anymore. "What inspired you to make this in the first place?"

Mrs. Bean shrugs, moving closer to look at the blue satin dress herself. "I wanted to create something that would make a woman look beautiful and stand out from the rest. Something that a noblewoman would wear, or even a princess."

I find what she says to be silly but I dare not to say it. Not with the look in her eyes, the way they twinkle in the light, shining brightly like the gemstones stitched into the material. Instead, I decide to amuse her. "It does look like something a princess would wear. Maybe you can send it to the castle and see if the crown princess will wear it."