43rd Dawn - Contract Princess

Today is scheduled for practical application, which means I'll only be watching from the side for the meantime since I haven't taken any lesson yet.

The moment Baron Pierre and I step a foot inside the sewing room, I feel the temperature drop. The same apprentices from yesterday are all here. They're already stationed in their respective cubicles, a set of tools for dressmaking and a small mannequin are neatly arranged in each of their tables. Despite everyone's ebullient smile towards the Baron, I feel like melting at how scorching their gazes are the moment they lay eyes on me.

"Seriously, what's up with them...?"

Baron Pierre asks me to sit from the back for now while he gives instructions for their project. I did as he said and silently sauntered to an empty chair, a bit disturbed by the spiteful side glances the others throw at me. As I settle down, the Baron begins discussing.

"Fashion is continuously evolving in every era. The period of growth is marked by the advent of new trends and emergence of avant-garde designs. For these reasons, I would love to see how much all of you grew and developed as subjects of the fashion industry..."

At this point, everyone's full attention is on the Baron. The atmosphere intensifies as their instructor quietly observes them with a knowing smile. Nobody's batting an eye away. All ears are open. Despite looking visibly pressured, the eagerness to start is seeping through their fronts.

"Today's assignment is a special form of dress that possesses unique attributes that distinguish it from daily clothing. It accentuates women's femininity and brings forth their elegant and graceful facets... Now then, everyone, please create a one-of-a-kind evening dress."

My eyes widened in surprise. I wasn't expecting a full-blown outfit. Then again, hair ornaments and body accessories may just be too elementary for the apprentices of a renowned fashion designer.

After hearing the Baron's directions, everyone starts working. The deadline is tomorrow, which is reasonable enough since they'll only be making a prototype using the small mannequin. It's also beneficial for me since I'll still have time to observe and use this interval to know the environment. With that, I just watch them in silence and take a peek from time to time. Most of them are still in the sketching phase, but some are already choosing the fabric they'll use.

Minutes into surveying around the place, I suddenly meet someone's eyes by accident. Taken aback, I just blink at a red-haired beauty who then flickers her menacing purple eyes at me before using her arm to block her table as if keeping me from seeing her work.

"Oh, come on. I wasn't trying to copy you or anything. I wasn't even participating..." I just thought in miff while pouting.

Hours later, Baron Pierre tells me to take a break with him, but I kindly refuse since I still want to watch them longer. They're already sewing the basic parts so I'm excited to see what they'll turn out to be. With that, the Baron just nods in reply and lets me be before he eventually takes his leave. Little did I know that refusing to come with him would also mean getting left behind in a pack of sharp-fanged beasts.

"How nice... Getting special treatment like that..."

"It must feel great to be the teacher's pet..."

"A pet since she just tails the Baron all day..."

"Oh, you... Don't say that so carelessly. She might tell the director."

"It's true, though?"

Then, shivers run down my spine.

Though I do feel peeved at these, I'm also a bit intimidated. I'm still new to this place, so I'm not really sure how things work here. I don't know if this is a common scenario for newcomers. But then, I find myself agreeing with what they said . The Baron does seem to be treating me differently.

"Scrunchies and headbands? Aren't they just measly pieces of cloth? They're so easy to make that they don't deserve that much recognition. Contracts are better off to something more intricate."

Yet, this one is something I don't think I can stomach.

Swiveling around, I find the same red head earlier along with what seems to be her circle of buddies. She's sniggering while looking at me mockingly, lips curled in disdain. My eyes narrow at this, finally feeling completely rubbed off.

That's until I realize something.

For privacy purposes, the director and employees are the only ones who should know that I signed on a contract to sell these hair accessories. They're still not released to the public. The fact that I'm the one who made them isn't disclosed yet, either. However, for some reason, this girl knew about these. Now that I think about it, I also did catch wind of that ridiculous nickname yesterday.

Standing upright, I hold my head high and saunter to her, not breaking eye contact. All the while, several pairs of eyes trail after me but I couldn't care less. I'm too focused on this bad vibe I'm getting from her. She just seems to radiate some kind of dark energy that appears rather unsightly.

"Hey, you know about this contract princess nonsense, don't you?" I asked after stopping in front of her, voice low and gruffly.

The red head seems to bolder than I thought. She just stands and meets my eye level with an obnoxious smile on her face, arms crossed in a conceited way.

"Well, who wouldn't know? You're quite popular here, princess," she mocked, miffing me more.

"Care to explain?" I retorted with clenched teeth.

"It's my pleasure, your highness..."

When she makes a cursty and bows at me, everyone laughs but I remain indifferent.

She then reveals how the news about me signing a contract broke out the other day like wildfire. They think it's unfair that only because I signed a contract, I managed to get away from that grueling trial test. That's where the first word of that nickname came from. On the other hand, the 'princess' part refers to special treatment. The director's obvious display of favoritism has made me an eyesore to many.

"So, that's it, your highness... Any more questions?"

Then, I snort.

After hearing all these, I just find myself plenty amused, which made the red head blink at me in bafflement.