NovelEnglish
Aurelia took a deep breath to look as calm as she could and forced a smile.
Carmella was distracted for a split second. For some reason, she suddenly recalled her first meeting with Helene.
They were similar in age and often attended various events with their elders. She was the standard young lady,
while Helene seemed a little rebellious for the royal family, always doing something shocking.
Each time she did those baffling deeds, the teachers in the palace would execute their authority to teach
disobedient ones with a cane.
Helene was often punished, and before she was hit, she would be so nervous that her shoulders would shake
involuntarily every time.
Carmella felt her brain go numb. She looked at Aurelia again and saw her long chestnut hair. She could not help the
chills that ran down her spine as she shuddered.
How could it be?
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe forced herself to calm down. This must just be a coincidence.
Carmella straightened up and coughed before smiling at Aurelia. “Ms. Aurelia, you don’t have to be nervous. You’re
summoned today because I heard that you’re a skilled seamstress. I’ve seen the dress you’ve custom-made for the
Irwin heiress, and it was gorgeous on her. The patterns and design on it stand superior to the embroidery artists in
the palace.”
“Y-Your Majesty, you’ve flattered me,” Aurelia stammered to say.
She ducked her head down with flitting eyes as sweat drenched her palms.
After she was “invited” to meet the queen today, not only was there a cumbersome protocol, but her phone had
also been taken away according to the royal family’s rules. She could not even contact the outside world.
“I have a few pieces of clothing here. The embroidery on them isn’t looking great anymore, so I hope you can
restore them for me.”
Carmella smiled and added, “I’ll pay you ten times the price.”
Aurelia composed herself and looked up at her.
The queen was elegant and maintained herself so well that she did not look one bit like a woman in her 40s. She
also kept up a smile when she spoke to her, her demeanor graceful and open. That demeanor could not be easily
faked.
In spite of it, Aurelia did not really like this person whom she was only meeting for the first time for some reason.
She was only scared—scared of Carmella’s status and scared of getting in trouble, that was all.
Carmella raised her voice. “Ms. Aurelia, did you hear me?”
“Oh… I did.” Aurelia’s heart was lodged in her throat. “Your Majesty, would you like me to re-embroider them?”
“That’s not necessary. Just restore them.”
Aurelia picked up the garment to study it closely, but she took quite a while and still could not figure out how it was
embroidered. There was a kingfisher on the robe with emerald green feathers. It looked lifelike, but the embroidery
technique and craftsmanship of the gold thread used as adornment were things she had never seen.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe hall was unsettlingly silent as if it had fallen into a vacuum.
Aurelia could only hear her thumping heart. She looked up after a long time and abruptly met Carmella’s cryptic
gaze.
“Ms. Aurelia, problems?”
“I…”
Aurelia felt her throat tighten as she put down the garment and got up to bow.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I don’t know how to do it.”
“What?”
Carmella arched her brow but was not surprised.
The craftsmanship was a world-class gem only a Southeast Aciatic local—an old veteran artisan—would know.
Forget Aurelia, even younger embroidery artists in the palace would not be able to recognize it.
“I said… I don’t know how to.” Aurelia’s voice grew less audible as she clutched the hem of her dress.
“Is that so?” An icy smirk glinted in Carmella’s eyes. “And I thought you’re an amazing artisan who could embroider
anything, Ms. Aurelia. I didn’t expect these pieces of garments to stump you.”
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
