Realms of Azymus: The Healer

Chapter 3: Marie

After lunch, Lily had dragged Marie off to the sidewalk. "This outfit will simply not do," she said, "If you are to represent our family, you must look fabulous" Marie tried to protest before being whisked into the dress shop she had noticed earlier.

Penny's Princess Patterns was a beautiful store, but Marie nearly had a heart attack the moment she entered. Having grown up in a convent, the amount of cleavage was scandalous. Long v-necks, sleeveless dresses, and short skirts seemed to scream cursed of the devil.

"Lily, what is going on..." Marie stammered, "I don't think I can take any more of these crazy dresses. I mean, how can you call these 'princess designs', clearly only a harlot would wear them."

"Oh come on Marie, these are all the rage nowadays. Just because you wear long skirts and sleeves doesn't mean it looks good. Why do you think we are here?

"Fine," Marie mockingly curtsied, "If it appeases her royal highness."

"Oh please," Lily laughed, "You know you love these dresses. Cinderella didn't land a man by wearing her rags, did she?" Lily dragged Marie through the store, taking dresses off the racks without stopping to ask for Marie's opinion. She kept saying things like, "Hmm yes, this will do," or "This would look perfect on you!" At some point they ended up in the dressing rooms.

"Ooh, try on this yellow dress first! It's a real fashion statement!" Lily exclaimed. She was holding a short yellow dress with large yellow polka dots.

"Yellow?" Marie stammered, "I don't know if this is my color..."

"Nonsense! Anyone can pull off any color if they believe!" Lily dropped the dress in Marie's hands.

"What if I don't believe?" Marie tried.

"You will, now put it on! And turn that frown upside down!" Lily said. Marie sighed, and stepped into the dress. She was right, the dress was horrendous, and what should have been a knee length dress was more like floor length.

"Lily," Marie shook her head, "Are all of these your size?"

"Um, maybe?" Lily checked the tags on the clothing items she had picked, "New plan! Let's go to the children's section."

Marie emerged from the store wearing a thigh length pink dress that fluffed at the waist, and high purple stockings with small black shoes. The purple necklace sat around her neck. For the first time in....ever, her raven black hair was down instead of veiled by a wimple. Apparently her looks were warranting many stares from strangers, which added to her discomfort. Was it the clothes? The dark hair? The fact that she was with the princess? Whatever it was, she didn't like the extra attention at all.

The King and Queen were sitting in the carriage, discussing something, and Lucy leaned against the door, reading a very thin looking book. When Marie and Lily drew closer to the carriage, she alerted the couple.

"What is that you were reading?" Marie asked Lucy quietly.

"What was that dear?" Lucy replied, and Marie repeated it a bit louder. Marie was not good at talking to people, especially adults. Talking just made her nervous.

"Oh this? It's a magazine, 'Healer Weekly'. It has all the updates on what's going on in the realms plus some herbal remedies and spells to try." Ace and Leo entered the carriage, holding bags with the words "WarriorZone" written on them. The second that they had settled into their seats, the carriage began to move.

"Nice poofy dress, Shorty," Ace smirked, "You're really selling me on the little kid look."

"Ace, that's rude," Lily turned to Marie, "Don't listen to him, I think you look sophisticated enough." Marie nodded in acknowledgement, but she knew that the outfit looked like something that a ten year old would wear to her birthday party. "I'll have my personal stylist get your measurements and make something custom for you."