At The Vermillion Unlimited

*FLASHBACK*

A few years ago, Licha was a feeble, sickly, and delicate child. She always caught a cold or had a fever once a month. So day, Licha was doodling in her notebook and wondering with tears in her eyes, "Whenever I get sick, I don't understand why mother won't come to see me. She cares more about her job than me, the runt!"

*IN CUMSTA CITY*

While walking around town, Heidi thought, "Hmm... since the Princesses are positively progressing in her studies, perhaps it's time for another extracurricular group lesson. Maybe, I might get some beneficial notions on what recitation to conduct. I do believe that Princess Licha is also out on the town. Gallivanting about as always, I'm sure. There is a startling lack of ambition in that one."

She stopped by a tailoring shop named "Vermillion Unlimited." Heidi looked at her journal to find the description of this shop as she had written all the famous tourist attractions and shops of the Cumsta city before taking the post as the imperial mentor for the royal family.

*IN HEIDI'S JOURNAL*

"Vermillion Unlimited" is an accredited, entrepreneurial, and a stand-alone shop that has been doing fantastic business over the past 50 years. It is the first shop in the history of Vermillion to sell over 5,000 originally designed gowns and suits in a fortnight. To increase sales and receive good reviews from the critics, the establishment started serving hot and cold beverages along with a wide range of snacks which were relatively well-known in the kingdom. After the completion of 25 years of the inauguration of initially a tailor-based business, they also commenced selling things like sewing kit machines, etc. Soon enough, it also built a small shelf of books about sewing and making designs, which could be read by customers within the store but couldn't borrow them home.

Professor Heidi thought as she entered the establishment, "Hmm... perhaps I can buy some suit designs that the Princesses could choose to draw for their upcoming art lesson on which I have given some consideration. Also, I need a sewing kit for myself; my white shirt has somehow torn off due to its thin and feeble fabric."

She called out, "Excuse me?"

An attendant wearing glasses came running to the front entrance to guide the guest. As she stopped in front of Professor Heidi, her eyes widened with surprise, and so did the Professor's!

Heidi asked, "Princess Licha? What are you doing here?" The attendant didn't give any response and guided her into the shop.

The attendant came over and inquired politely, "Umm... I work here. What will be your order, ma'am?"

Professor Heidi apologized for the mix-up and asked, "I would like some suit designs, what would you recommend? Also, I need a sewing kit."

The attendant explained, "Well... different tasks can be completed only with specific designs. But in this case of fashion or drawing sketches for people who have an eye for the same, I would recommend the French fashion design. Traditionally, French fashion is chic and stylish, defined by its sophistication, cut, and smart accessories. French-style is internationally acclaimed. Would you like me to show you some samples that we sell here?"

Professor Heidi answered, "Yes, please!"

The attended responded politely, "Well... it will take some time for me to bring them as I have just made them on a scrapbook, and I will be requesting one of the other attendants to print them off for you."

Professor Heidi raised an eyebrow and asked, "You made them?"

The attendant smiled and replied, "Well... yeah, it's like an old hobby of mine. If you're interested, I could show different French suit options, and then you can decide what type of design you'd prefer."

Professor Heidi nodded with approval as the attendant departed to inform one of the other attendants to complete the printing job.

As she left, Professor Heidi thought, "Normally I wouldn't go for French fashion, but her description of the recommendation captivated me. The young woman has the same way with words as Princess Licha. A diligent young woman, and well-versed in her trade... they look alike, but she seems so earnest, quite unlike the Princess."

The attendant went into the staff room and closed the door behind her. She screamed loudly in her head with her heart beating at a tremendous pace out of panic, "CRISIS!!! WHAT IS THE PROFESSOR DOING HERE?! I managed to fool her, right?! I hope I did! This shop is nowhere near the palace. I meant for there to be no chance of running into anyone who knows me! If they find out I'm working on the sly, all will be lost!"

Licha continued thinking, "If mother found out, not only will she strip me of my claim to the throne... I would be disowned and be kicked out of the palace forever!!! Okay, okay, calm down. It'll be all fine as long as the Professor doesn't recognize me. It's easy, all I have to do is not act like the Princess Licha she knows."

As she placed the order, she came out to find young boys huddled around her. One of them said, "Rachel, will you measure the length and width of my abs today? I worked really hard to build them just for you to relish it to your heart's content!"

The other guy said, "I need a suit stitched for me so you can take me to the back room note down the measurements and can have the rest of the procedure in your way!"

Licha grinned and replied with excitement, "Aww, really! Well... don't you worry, my lads! Rach has got plenty of attention to give to you sexy guys!"

She then realized that the Professor was staring at her. Licha left her fun time and started sewing the demanded designs from customers, thinking, "Don't act like me... don't act like me.... don't act like me!!!!!!!!!"

The owner of the place observed and asked, "What's gotten into you, Rachel? You're working with more gumption than usual."

Licha politely requested, "Umm... master? I have taken the order of the little girl with the glasses over there, and I have placed her order in the staff room. Could someone else please go and deliver it to her? I'm afraid I'm not at my best."

One of the attendants looked over and commented, "Oh my stars, how charming! She's sitting all alone..."

The master added, "Venturing out looking for inspiration in the world of fashion? What a big girl she is!"

Licha observed them and thought, "If only they knew the truth.... poor teach!"

But the master responded, "Licha... about your request... I cannot allow that. An authentic worker guides the patron, take the order, deliver it, or tell them to come at a later date to pick it up, inspire them and charge them our services. DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE PULL SUDDEN SWITCH-A-ROOS OUT THERE! IT WOULD BE UTTER CHAOS!"

Licha apologized and went back to her work gloomily.

Licha thought, "Well... maybe she would leave after she gets her order!" She proceeded over to the staff room, got the designs and the sewing kit, and displayed it to Heidi.

The Professor responded, "Thank you for the kit, and I must say that the designs are phenomenal, you really have a talent at this, ma'am. I'm pleased I took your recommendation."

Licha thanked her and moved on with her work, also keeping an eye when the Professor would take her leave. However, Professor Heidi proceeded to the bookshelf, picked up a journal about sketching designs, and commenced reading. At the sight of that, Licha rolled on the floor and screeched in one corner of the store, "UGH!!! NOW SHE'S READING?!?!? SHE'S HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL; JUST PAY FOR YOUR ORDER AND LEAVE YOU BLASTED FOOL!!!"

The master observed and reflected silently, "I'm sure something's wrong with her today...."

Licha calmed herself down and thought, "Well... all I can do is stay far away and try not to stand out."

While Licha was sketching some new designs, in the other corner of the shop, there was a quilting contest being held. There, one matron pushed the other while she was sewing, which ruined her fabric.

The lady yelled, "Hey! Why did you ruin my design!?"

The other screamed in return, "I didn't do anything! Don't make accusations just because you're losing!"

They continued arguing until Licha stepped in to neutralize the situation. She carefully observed the table and intervened into the belligerence and politely stated, "The space between the wall and the table is a tad narrow. I'm sure it was an accident, miss. I beg your pardon, ma'am. I will have the proprietor correct this immediately to prevent further mix-ups. Till then..."

Licha proceeded to her counter, brought one of her best designs, sewed it onto the fabric efficiently, and displayed it to the public with confidence who gasped in amazement after seeing the product. She graciously asserted, "Oh, and ma'am, how about we say that I won the contest."

Everybody in the establishment clapped with astonishment and appreciation for the young woman's swift handling of the situation.

The master then remarked, "And here I thought that you were acting strange today. You did us proud!"

A few moments later, Professor Heidi asked for her check and complimented her attendant, "Your handling of the situation earlier was most impressive, miss. Not only did you dispel the trouble at hand, but you also preserved the store's atmosphere and make sure that the argument didn't turn into a huge commotion."

Licha put on a genuine smile and replied, "Oh, ma'am, you flatter me!"

Before Professor Heidi took her leave, she patted Licha and said, "It is a pleasant establishment, I will come again."

Licha responded, "Thank you very much, ma'am. We look forward to your return!"

As Heidi departed from the shop, Licha thought, "Actually, that was a bald-faced lie. At least I can take comfort in knowing that I fooled her. What's this in my pocket?" She took out a note, opened it, and had to words to state how fearful she was after reading it:

"DEAR PRINCESS LICHA,

PLEASE SEE ME IN MY QUARTERS AS SOON AS YOU RETURN TO THE PALACE.

REGARDS,

HEIDI"

"No way! The secret's out! Uh-oh!"

Licha thought a few moments before another customer entered saying, "I'm here to pick up my order."

Licha turned around and replied, "Yes, ma'am!"

The customer placed her hand on Licha's shoulder and whispered, "I'm here to escort you back to the palace, your mother wishes to see you, Princess Licha..."

Licha glared at the customer and recognized in anger, "YOU!"

*AT DAWN IN HEIDI'S ROOM*

While Professor Heidi had an individual session with Leonora, she thought, "Will Princess Licha visit me in my chambers as instructed? If Viktoria found that her daughter was working in town, Princess Licha would be in a precarious position. Fortunately, it seems that no one has noticed yet. I'll speak with her privately first and then... Wait a minute... who's in the carriage outside?"

Heidi glanced out of the window to see Princess Licha in her uniform in front of an unknown woman who escorted her home. At the sight of that, Heidi thought, "Princess Licha, OH NO! Who's this woman behind her!? I need to see the Queen at once!"

Professor Heidi sprinted from the room and rushed to the Queen's study and was horrified to see the woman who brought Licha home.