Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 38 - Styles To Fit This World

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 - Styles To Fit This World
"This ensemble would work well for tonight."
A
sapphire blue sweater
with slim-cut black pants was handed to me first.
"The material of both are a wool blend that’s warm without being bulky. They’ll be plenty warm."
I ran my fingers over the fabric. Nowhere near the wool from my world’s
most lauded
sheep shifters, on that
distant island nation
of theirs... but it had a pleasant enough feel.
The particular blue seemed to brighten the sense of my
light complexion
even further in this room’s lighting.
"These are some other selections I believe will fit."
Holding up a blouse with what she called a
crossover front
, I was immediately
intrigued
. Like a shirt that implies some of the lines of a robe.
Several other more
neutral
and
simple
tops were brought, but it was hard to look away from the first and she could obviously tell.
"It would still work as a layer underneath the sweater and be striking when worn alone. Your skin is rather fair and with your black hair, bold reds have quite the contrast."
The rich color had certainly drawn my eye - as a reminder of my
former status
. As well as... a momentary reminder of the red worn underneath a
sleek white suit
.
"I... like it."
Words that came out with more
uncertainty
than assurance because of my
stray thoughts
, but Anise didn’t prod. She let me touch and hold up some of the simpler colored items before bringing another choice.
"For special occasions - or meetings where you need to make an impression."
A solid black dress with s
heer fabric
from the top of the bust to the neckline and shoulders that she said was an ’illusion’ neckline.
The material looked
well fitted
to the point that I would be surprised if anyone without the
exact right measurements
would ever find comfort inside it.
"It’s a modal blend designed to be versatile. Closer to the feel of a natural fiber but with added durability. The simplicity allows for accessorizing according to the occasion - and the structured tailoring ensures it flatters your specific figure."
The black reminded me too much of the
fur
of the Duskpaw for my preference. Yet, my
alternate forms
were not just going to
sprout
a different color.
They are also
not the only
black wolves in the world.
As much as I wanted nothing that would
connect
me to them, a
neutral color
should not be my ’line in the sand’.
"I’ll try it on, but I usually prefer items with more vibrancy. You mentioned accessories?"
"I can bring a few things over that I think might help make the look yours when you are trying it on."
With a nod given, she moved to point out a few final things.
"One sweater is going to get old, so you’ll need something else for colder days."
She presented a lightweight but
warm-looking
’cardigan’ in a deep navy. Helene had owned one of the button-up sweaters in the
earthen tones
the Duskpaw favored.
A gift from
Kyle’s mother
for her eighteenth birthday. One of the few especially kind women in that village.
Of course, with the original body’s
terrible luck
, it was the clothing she was wearing when she
half-drowned
in a lake.
> You don’t have to feel so much shame just from seeing a piece of clothing. It wasn’t your fault that it tore when you shifted to save her. <
Vrika keeps its face flat on the floor in
depression
. Helene did kind of hold onto the
shreds
and look at them every now and then.
I know it’s not about the
destroyed gift
, really. I
think
.
But ’videos’ of pet animals looking like they
wanted forgiveness
after
wrecking the house
keep triggering in Helene’s memory as I watch the spirit.
"This would pair well with any of the neutral tops."
Relief is in my voice, that nothing truly resembled the sort of forest tones that the people of
that werewolf pack
favored. However, while these clothes looked quite a bit like what I’d seen
people of the city
walking around in...
They are not at all
my world’s style
. I’ll have to
adapt
.
"I’d like to try them on now, if that is alright."
I won’t know if I can stand it until I wear them. No matter what, I will have to obtain
at least one
set.
"Of course. Take a few to the fitting room you used before. I’ll bring the others over."
Deciding to go roughly in the order she showed them, I
dressed
and
undressed
one by one. All of the simple clothes were serviceably comfortable.
All of them looked good on this figure. Trust someone who
specializes in fashion
and it is hard to be
very disappointed
.
Denim pants are something that
clung to skin
more than I’m used to, but I’m not sure I would call it bad. They would be
too tight to transform
without destroying, though.
The red top had more ’flow’ to it and felt the
most like myself
. When I stuck my head out to inform her I would be trying the dress on next, she held her hand up in a
stop motion
.
"Perfect timing, don’t rush to change again. The food has arrived."
Looking at the
system clock
told me that I had spent quite a bit of time
gazing at this form
in the mirror. That’s not good.
> Maybe you should be in charge of my time when there is a chance for me to primp. I do not desire to be this world’s cliche of a woman who takes two hours to get ready to go anywhere. <
My stomach
grumbled
softly when I scented the air, the smell of the water’s bounty and the land’s staple coming from somewhere in the boutique.
"Is it fine for me to eat without paying for this set of clothes first?"
"Her card is technically on file in my system, so even if you ran out of the store in it... it would not be a loss for me."
A few moments passed before I realized her ’system’ meant something about the
computers
that handled sales. I’d almost asked some
rather silly questions
of Anise.
Imagine, someone else being
haunted
by the same fey magic. The
relaxing moments
here have not done enough to prevent my mind from being on edge.
She led me to a small area at the rear of the boutique. Past a clothes-strewn countertop, with a
closed laptop
and papers with
sketches of outfits
.
Toward a cozy seating area
hidden
behind a decorative screen panel pulled over a doorway.
A space that almost felt private with a small table and only two comfortable chairs. The kind of
secretive place
where business might be conducted away from
prying eyes
that enter the shop just to see who she is working with.
Many of the merchants whose houses I frequented for
other
concealed reasons had a place like this.
"I use this area for our VIP clients. Please, go ahead and sit."
Multiple containers were being arranged on the table by a young woman shorter than myself by quite a bit. Her tea-brown hair, that I assume may be dyed based on her particular ’Asian’ features, is swirled up into two taut buns on the side of her head.
> A comrade, of sorts! The number two is balance. It is correct. Not too much that it grows excessive, but not so singular that it feels alone. <
Vrika paid no attention to my
monologue
, too eager for me to get to tasting the food. Which was still hidden beneath
black ceramic lids
emblazoned with silver characters.
The language... I am
unfamiliar
with from both sets of memories. Not that I expected any different.
"Thank you as always, Reina. Please tell your grandfather I’ll actually find the time to come in person someday."
The young woman
bowed gracefully
from her hips before departing. An interesting action for a person of this ’modern’ world to take.
Cultural? Not something I think I could
ever
do so
easily...
Being so...
trusting