Valerian Empire

As others talked Katie stayed quiet and it seemed that they weren't aware of what happened. She was glad that no one had seen Lord Nicholas kiss her cheek.

"How was the dance with Lord Alexander?" Dorthy asked curiously.

"It was good," she responded to see her friend raise her brow.

"Just good?"

And Katie nodded her head. Cynthia who had been observing Katie spoke,

"Lord Alexander might seem to have a spec of interest in you but remember once he's had a good fuck, you'll no longer be needed," she said looking directly at Katie.

"Cynthia!" Fay exclaimed.

"What? I'm only telling the truth. I don't want Katie to be hurt," Cynthia said in a concerned voice.

"Don't apply your experience on her. The Lord hasn't taken unwilling women and we all know how vampires crave pleasure," Dorthy defended her Lord.

"Oh please," Cynthia huffed, "He'll turn you into a broken toy and I don't think you can satisfy him," she said smugly.

Katie felt a jab of hurt as the woman spoke about her experience.

"Speak for yourself," Matilda said her dull green eyes trained on Cynthia, "You couldn't catch his interest and now you're whining."

Hearing this Katie's brows furrowed. That must mean Cynthia had slept with the Lord.

"Whatever, I was only advising. I am going to sleep," Cynthia said getting up to walking out of the room while Fay gave an apologetic expression and left the room.

"Don't mind her. She's just jealous," Matilda said to Katie as she pulled the blanket to get ready to sleep.

"It's not like he's interested in me," Katie muttered.

Matilda and Dorthy shared a look together before joining both the beds so that the three of them could sleep in it. Taking the blanket Dorthy passed her, she spread it across her body before lying down to sleep the night off.

The next week on one late noon, Katie accompanied Mrs. Hicks with Elliot into town. Elliot who had been bored, had decided to tag along with them.

As they sauntered through the town, Elliot rambled to Mrs. Hicks about the dish he had eaten at the Boland's wanting her to recreate it while Katie walked behind them with parchments in her hand that had lists of what was required in the kitchen.

As they passed through the streets, Katie saw a small shop with a beautiful dress on the mannequin. The dress was a gorgeous shade liquid blue. She looked at the price which was labelled down 'Six hundred and sixty-six' silver coins.

Even though she had the money she didn't want to spend it on the dress. It wasn't like she had places to visit like the elites. For some odd reason looking at the mannequin reminded of an acquaintance she knew long back. She remembered the acquaintance too had beautiful blonde hair with puffed lips.

"Katie!" she heard Elliot call her as they had walked ahead while she was admiring the dress. Walking quickly, she joined them as Elliot looked at the store she had been gawking.

"Isn't that the infamous dress maker's shop?" Mrs. Hicks asked as they began walking again.

"Infamous?" Elliot asked surprised, "Why, what did he do?"

"Mr. Weaver is the infamous dressmaker of the town."

"What a fitting name," Elliot murmured.

"The clothes he makes are absolutely gorgeous and exquisite and his price is affordable," Mrs. Hicks explained, "But the rumor is that after his daughter died, he became strange, and the materials and fabrics he's used is not right, things that go against the living. Some say he was the one who killed his daughter while others say otherwise."

"Fascinating. I would very much like to meet the man," Elliot stated excited, "So have you bought anything from there?" he asked Mrs. Hicks.

"Of course not! I must be out of my mind to go there," Mrs. Hicks exclaimed shaking her head, "People of the town avoid him and the only customers he has is people from the other empires. Who knows what curse the dressmaker may have put on the dress."

"The town folklore. As interesting and intriguing it sounds you shouldn't believe rumors that is loosely passed on," Elliot said as they entered a different store to buy things.

The carriage and the cart was left near the center of the town as it would be easier to load in the things they bought. Mrs. Hicks being the one in charge of the kitchen often visited the town to buy new items.

With the help of the parchment and reading it one by one, Katie asked the shop owner for it. Once they were done loading the two carts, Mrs. Hicks went in the carriage while Elliot and Katie stayed back in the town.

"Did you have something to buy?" Katie questioned seeing the horses pull the carriage.

"I did. Come with me," he said and she followed him to make a stop in front of the shop Mrs. Hicks didn't want to. It was the dress maker's shop.

"Was this the one you were looking at princess?" he asked her.

"No, no," she protested knowing Elliot would buy it for her. She always received little gifts from him. The gifts ranged from edible treats to a hat or a sea shell which was strange in appearance.

"Don't worry. I just want to see how it looks on you," he said gently easing her through the open door and the little bell rang to notify the owner of visitors, "And my curiosity has been piqued."

"Curiosity killed the cat," she said gingerly to which Elliot responded with a broad grin,

"And satisfaction brought it back!"

The store had no windows, except for the ceiling above that had a circular ridge which had a transparent sheet to cover from dust and rain. The only other source of light was from the lamps on the walls.

The room was filled with dresses standing in line elegantly one following another. Katie was in awe as she bent down to see it a little more closely.