A click was heard from the table, and the seamstress pushed the door open. She picked up the lantern that she had earlier placed on the ground. Entering the room, the woman lit other lanterns, and suddenly the room was as bright as it would have been in the morning.
"Since the time I started and have been a seamstress, I have been creating sample gowns for the women and young ladies of high society. Maybe we can find you something decent to wear here," said the seamstress, adding, "But I will need it back the very next day."
Eve's eyes widened at the woman's words and she quickly offered a deep bow, "Thank you so much, Mrs. Russo. I will not forget your kindness!"
The poise look on the seamstress's face didn't change and she moved her elegant, lean hands to push open the trunks one by one, which had different gowns and dresses. While they looked for the dress, Eve asked curiously,
"Why did you decide to help me?"
There was no reason for this woman to offer her any gowns even though they were old, as she would not benefit anything from her. Unless… the woman had brought her here to drink blood from her. Eve's heart skipped a beat in slight worry.
"There was once a time when I didn't have proper clothes. I came from a poor family, from another land," said the seamstress, and as she said it, Eve noticed the woman having an accent. "My parents were from a middle-class family, yet they couldn't afford what the rich could. A kind lady once gave me a dress. It was peach in colour. I decided to make my own shop, reusing the materials to make better ones. I know how it feels when you don't have something others have," explained the woman.
"Your family was originally a vampire family?" Inquired Eve, and the woman nodded.
"You look surprised," the woman chuckled, and she picked an orangish-brown gown from the trunk. "Why don't you try this and I will see if there's anything more."
Eve took the gown in her hand and went behind the wooden divider, wearing it as she heard the shuffling sound coming from the other side of the room.
"How is the fitting?" asked the seamstress. The woman came around to take a look at Eve, who was still in the process of wearing it.
Eve quickly gathered the gown in front of her body, and the woman rolled her eyes. The seamstress said, "You do not have to be shy, I have seen plenty of women and girls' bodies to now see nothing in them but a mannequin. I think we'll have to look for another one."
"I think this is fine, Mrs. Russo," said Eve. She wasn't picky and only needed to wear something passable to the ball.
"You underestimate me, girl," the seamstress turned to give Eve a look. "There's not been a single customer I have let step foot out without my personal satisfaction. Not to mention, you underestimate the ball that is being held in the Moriarty mansion."
Mrs. Russo went on to open another trunk, picking up one dress after another, before she found a pastel blue gown. She murmured to herself, "I completely forgot about this."
The woman returned to the other side of the divider, carrying the dress for Eve to wear. At first glance, the gown looked simple and nothing too eye-catching. But it was elegant and soft to one's eyes.
"This is one of the finest dresses I made for a woman who unfortunately died after being attacked by a werewolf," said the woman, handing the gown for Eve to try. "People believe in misfortunes and I locked it up in the trunk. You know what they say, someone's misfortune is another one's luck."
Once Eve was done wearing it, she stood in front of the mirror, and the seamstress appeared next to her. Eve liked how the dress looked on her, even though it would need a little adjustment when it came to the fittings.
"Doesn't it look stunning?" questioned Mrs. Russo, admiring her own work, which she had created three decades ago. "Let me see where it needs to be tightened."
While the woman was taking the measurements, Eve noticed the lilac lace that went below her bosom and to the back. The lace was then tied at the back before letting the rest of the lace trail down.
Eve stayed there for a few more minutes while the seamstress made a few alterations to the pastel blue gown before handing it to her. She offered a deep bow and thanked the woman again,
"Thank you for lending me the gown, Mrs. Russo. I cannot tell how much I appreciate it."
Mrs. Russo gave a slight nod and said, "No problem. I will expect to see you after a week?"
"Yes, I will bring the dress back once the ball is over," replied Eve, and she saw the woman step back inside the shop, leaving Eve outside by herself and the bag that had Mrs. Russo's gown as well as Lady Marceline's gown.
Hearing the tower bell ding, Eve's head turned to look at the tower, and she noticed the clock had struck seven. Seeing how she still had a good amount of time on her hand, she decided to look at the shoe shops.
As Eve walked, her eyes fell on the names of the shops, and she muttered the names under her breath. Her eyes looked through the glass walls of some of the shops, and she couldn't help but stare at the items there.
She tore her eyes away from the expensive shops, and while looking at the other shops, she caught sight of Vincent in the opposite direction. Before she had the opportunity to switch streets, he noticed her.
Vincent wasn't alone but with a man Eve had met the night the siren had died. Vincent said something to the man, who bowed his head and left his side.
A crooked smile appeared on Vincent's serious face as they got closer. Eve turned slightly frigid when he got nearer. But to her surprise, he didn't stop to talk to her and walked past her.
Huh?
Eve didn't realise she had been holding her breath. Curious, she wondered who Vincent had smiled at and turned around. She noticed him greet a young brunette woman and kiss the back of her hand. The woman was beautiful and it seemed like both of the woman as well as Vincent were able to keep up a conversation.
Of course, thought Eve to herself. She had been worried for no reason that he would annoy her.
She was a governess. And in a town like Hollow Valley, people like him and her didn't mix.
Turning, Eve continued to look through the shops for the next fifteen minutes. The prices of the shoes were too high for her to afford, but there was no price when it came to looking at them, and that is what she did. Though some guards and shop owners were hostile to her, glaring at her so that she didn't hover.
While she stood in front of the last and maybe the most expensive shoe shops in here, Vincent walked to where she was with his hands in his pockets, "Have you decided to quit being a governess and work as a guards woman outside the shop?"
His eyes subtly moved to look at her hand before returning to meet her eyes.
Eve turned to him and noticed he was all by himself. She saw a few folks walking by pass looks at them.
She said, "I was looking at the shoes."
"I could tell by the way you were looking at it now. Dawdle here idly and one would mistaken that you are planning to steal something," remarked Vincent, and his eyes fell on one of the guard, who was eyeing Eve.
"I realised that," Eve replied with a bitter smile.
Vincent stared at Eve with an unwavering gaze, before he ordered, "Step in."
"What?"
"You obviously are in need of a pair of shoes, and I wouldn't want my little sister's governess to be the centre of bad attraction," stated Vincent in a matter-of-fact tone. "The payment of the shoes will be deducted from your wage."
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