Mother And Daughter

The master asked in curiosity, "You want to work here?"

The Queen answered politely, "Just for this evening. I do hope you'll consider my request, please sir."

Licha thought, "WHAT!? A QUEEN WORKING IN A TAILOR SHOP!? SHE CAN'T BE SERIOUS!"

Professor Heidi thought in horror, "Viktoria, what the hell are you doing?"

The Queen continued, "My daughter tells me that working at your establishment is rewarding. I am unable to understand why she is so strong-headed about this. But if I work here myself, then hopefully, I will gain insight and understanding."

Licha squealed, "No, mother don't! Have you lost your mind?"

The Queen answered, "Well, I believe you are the one who said that I never tried to understand you."

Licha rebutted, "Yeah...well... I did. But still..."

Heidi intervened by putting her hand on Viktoria's jacket and stepped in front of her saying in a trembling and quivering voice, "Please... I beg of you, don't do this. Look, you put the proprietor on the spot!"

The owner took a deep breath, considered the issue, and replied, "It's fine by me. If you want to work by all means, then consider yourself hired."

Licha yelled, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The owner countered, "What a loving mother you have, Rachel. I can't turn down a pair of eyes as sincere as this!" He then proceeded, "Come along, let's get you into your uniform."

As they entered the shop, Licha thought, "You've got to be kidding me! This has gotten way out of control! For the life of me, I don't know what this woman is thinking!"

*INSIDE THE SHOP*

One attendant said to the other, "Did you hear? The boss is hiring a new employee!"

At that moment, Licha thought, "Wait... a Queen cannot handle this kind of work. Once she proves to be a nuisance, the owner will toss her right to the curb!"

Viktoria soon came out of the changing room and displayed her new look. Everyone gasped with amazement and awe. Viktoria asked, "How do I look? Not peculiar, I hope."

Everyone huddled around her and complimented her on the new uniform, whereas Licha stood in one corner glaring and thinking, "UGH! That fits her way too well!"

She intervened and stated, "Geez. Don't fawn over her! She's way older than she looks, you know!"

Viktoria responded, "I'm just glad the outfit suits me."

She walked over to Heidi and asked with a grin on her face, "Is it too much, Heidi?"

Heidi ignored Viktoria and then eventually answered after Viktoria pleadingly called for her attention, "Had I known, you'd be this reckless, I wouldn't have shown you this shop in the first place! I thought you were going to bring the Princess home, weren't you?"

Viktoria smiled and replied, "I was. But before I can persuade her, I need to understand her feelings. Besides, this shop brings back memories."

Heidi reminded with a pout, "You are not the same girl you were back then, Viktoria."

Viktoria answered, "Yes, indeed. It's quite different now! For you and for me." Heidi gave in and said that she will be working on her lessons for the Princesses, and left the Princess to the Queen's hands.

As Viktoria departed for her work, Heidi thought, "Like mother, like daughter as the old saying goes. Viktoria has always flabbergasted me! This is a matter between mother and daughter. As the imperial mentor, I can only watch over them and serve as their mediator when things get out of hand."

An attendant came and asked Heidi, "Well... Rachel's little sister, would you like some coffee as you watch your big sister work?" Heidi ordered one but glared in return, as the attendant mistook her for a child, again.

The master instructed Licha to show her mother how things workaround in the establishment. Licha screamed, "HUH!? Why do I have to do it?"

The owner replied, "Because I said so."

Licha put her hands on her head and thought, "But we were fighting mere moments ago! What am I supposed to say?! Wait... all I have to do is give her basic instructions. It took me months to be comfortable with this job! She can't pick it all up in one night!"

A few moments later, a customer arrived at the store and called out for an attendant to assist her. Licha asked her mother to facilitate the buyer who entered the shop. She thought, "The sooner she messes up, the sooner she'll leave."

Viktoria went over to the customer, knelt before him, and spoke in utmost politeness, "Good evening, sir! Welcome to Vermillion Unlimited! Name your pleasure, and it shall be done, your wish is my command." The man felt like he was swept off his feet, and for a few moments, he was silent as he had no idea how to greet the cultured and yet such a charming lady.

He took a deep breath and answered, "What a refined woman you are! Well... let's see. I require a piece of navy blue fabric and a measuring tape, please."

Viktoria answered, "As you wish, sir." Viktoria walked over to the staff room, placed the order, and returned to her daughter and said, "I modeled myself to our servants in the palace. And I merely followed what they usually do. Was my performance satisfactory?"

Licha replied with arrogance, "I guess... but the kneeling was a bit much!"

Viktoria put on a genuine smile and responded, "You think? I'll keep that in mind next time."

Licha thought, "Any old geezer can place an order. That's nothing special. But real customer service is an art. Mother can never to that!"

A few moments later, a foreign customer entered the establishment and couldn't understand what the owner was conversing with him. Viktoria observed the situation and asked, "Is there a problem, sir?" T

he master replied, "Yes, it appears that this gentleman is from abroad."

Viktoria stepped forward and conversed with the patron in french and successfully helped him to achieve his purpose. It turned out that the gentleman needed directions to the station.

The master complimented her, "That was incredible, ma'am!"

Viktoria answered, "Oh, no! Not really. I often meet with foreigners in my work."

Licha witnessed everything that had transpired and thought, "I didn't know that mother was fluent in other languages! WOW! Wait... so what? She just got lucky! With my perfect smile and conversation skills, I can be charming in every man's eye. She spends all her time holed up in her study, she can't catch up to me!"

It turned out that all the customers were extremely delighted with Viktoria's work, her conduct, and her knowledge about the shop and the materials it sold.

The master complimented, "This woman is a true mistress of her craft! She hasn't made a single mistake all day! Everyone, including me, adores her!"

Licha sat in one corner and thought, "I think I just lost! It's unbelievable! I didn't know that my mother could do so many different things! The mother I remember was a workaholic who never came to see me when I was sick. And now, on the rare occasions we see her, she acts clingy. How on earth is she able to pull this off so easily? Is it because she had to do so many different things as one ruler for several years? Admittedly, that must be it! When our father passed away at a young age, all the responsibilities of the kingdom and its patrons befell her. I always told myself that I didn't want to be like her when I grew up. But looking at her now..."

Licha was at the cash counter saying, "And that would be 50 Velas, ma'am. And if you'd like to read any of our books, you can drop by at any time tomorrow! We'll look forward to your visit!"

The customer smiled and replied, "Well... thank you, my child! I will be sure to come!" Viktoria looked at her daughter and realized that how earnest she was at her job.

At the end of the day, the owner requested, "Ma'am, won't you consider staying on with us? Even if it's not permanent, I'm sure all the customers and the staff would be thrilled to have you here, please?"

Viktoria politely declined the offer.

Licha informed in a relatively serious tone, "Oh, well... I will bring in the signs from outside."

Viktoria responded, "Wait... let me give you a hand."

When they were removing the signs, late at night, with no one around the streets, Viktoria spoke, "Listen, I'm incredibly sorry, Licha; for inserting myself into your work life, for all the pain that I've ever put you through. I should have better explained myself earlier. If you were to be gravely injured outside the palace walls or if there was a scandal about you working here, it would jeopardize your claim to the throne. I was only worried that you didn't fully understand what was at stake for you. I promise it was never about my reputation or about the royal line of succession. After working for a few hours at this place, I'm beginning to see why you feel so strongly about it. I won't force you to quit. Whether you continue to work here or leave, you must decide for yourself."

Licha admitted, "I love this shop a lot! Working here and displaying my designs is far better than me, just hiding away in the palace. But the last thing I want to do is worry you. Perhaps, it's best if I quit. I guess that I didn't know you as well as I thought I did. I never thought about the demands of your duties, and could never get over of how you never came to see me when I was ill. But of course, you couldn't put your children first. After our father's death, your duties as a monarch piled up, and a ruler has a duty to the kingdom and to its people."

The Queen added, "It's more than that, Licha. It is for the kingdom, you're right. But it is also for my children as well, who I adore more than anything else in this world."

Tears began to overflow Licha's eyes, and she pulled her mother into a warm embrace. In the meanwhile, Professor Heidi was silently listening to the entire conversation.

After listening, Heidi thought, "Viktoria is truly a woman of integrity. Both as a Queen and a mother; I would expect nothing less from one of the first people whom I was ever able to trust."

Licha pulled back and said, "If I'm going to quit my job, I suppose I have to inform the owner, the truth is I am really going to miss this place, mother."

Professor Heidi intervened, "Pardon me, I have a lesson for you, my Princess. Always remember, before quitting something you want to do, you must still explore alternative solutions. My work tonight went more efficiently than I anticipated. I have decided to turn this into a weekly outing. If your mother approves, how would you feel about working a shift when I'm here. If anything were to happen to you, I would protect you."

The Queen responded, "That sounds like an excellent plan! I feel like this is an excellent addition to your studies. If you'd like to stay on here, I think you should."

Licha smiled and thanked the Queen for her consideration. At that moment, the palace guards came by and reminded the Queen that she has guests waiting for her at the palace. And soon enough they exchange goodbyes, and the Queen departed away. Licha stated, "Being the only Queen must be really hard."

Professor Heidi added, "I think it's fair to say that all jobs are difficult to a degree, you of all people should know that."

Licha responded, "I suppose so. Although, I don't mind being Queen if I could be like her. She's excellent and skilled at her job! From this moment forward, I'm gonna give my lessons my all! But I can't quit! I've got to stick around for the boys, the last thing I want to do is to disappoint them."

She stopped talking as she realized that the Professor was staring at her. Licha turned around and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Professor Heidi replied, "Oh, I was wondering whether I misjudged you. When I first met you, my initial impression was that you were the most mysterious amongst your sisters. But now that I see, you are strikingly an ordinary child, aren't you? No matter how old you grow, you will always be the youngest sister. You always pick up fights with Princess Brunia... you rebel against your mother in a manner quite typical of your age! HAHA!"

Licha screamed, "NO! Please stop! In what universe is this devastatingly beautiful and charming young woman makes you think I'm rebelling!?"

Heidi countered, "You needn't force yourself to play the jester. I know that you're serious at heart!"

Licha threw a tantrum, "STOP IT! It just feels as if you're staring at the depths of my soul!"

At that moment, the owner called out, "Rachel! We need you here!"

Licha replied, "Coming!" She turned around and said, before entering the shop, "Oh, and Professor, thank you so much for whatever you did today!"

Professor Heidi thought, "Now there is only one question that needs answering. How and why did Countess Rosenthal know that the Princess was working here?"

The Countess observed everything from the roof of a building. She said to herself with an evil grin, "What a pity... here I thought that the competition for the substitution for the throne would be one fool less. I guess it wasn't written on the cards. If I dig deep enough, I'm sure I would find plenty of scandals and opportunities to drive the Princesses away. Now then, whom shall I bring to ruin first, I wonder..."