Gowns Gallery

Upon hearing the question, Artie tightened her hold on Larkin's hand. After recalling those tips that the System had told her, she was growing more and more careful of her actions. It was also because the scoring was solely dependent on Larkin's thoughts of her. Her stunts from earlier weren't even taken into consideration as Larkin thought little of it as measures of Artie's worthiness of his trust.

Now that she was presented with such a question again, her precious fifty percent might be reduced if she didn't answer this question as gracefully and naturally as possible. Fifty percent was too big already, and she had yet to finish her first task after spending a few days in the place already. It seemed inefficient.

That was why she had to make sure that he could trust her… by trusting him first.

"...I trust you." Artie smiled at him, her eyes curling like crescent moons as well. "But you can't stop a wife from worrying, can you?"

Pull! Larkin pulled her towards him and made her spin just to land on his lap in a decent sitting position. Just like the first time they had met, he carried her into his lap and let her sit there. He then used his fingers to comb through her short fringe. "No, I cannot."

He leaned down to her face again, placing a kiss on her lips. It was so soft and firm as if he was happy hearing her answer. He pulled back slowly and then started attending to what he was doing earlier. His hand reached out to take the pen from the stand and began signing documents again.

[You have gained a sliver of trust! Active task completion: 60%. Veneration + 15. Total meter points: 111; Veneration 64, Apostasy 47.]

[Congratulations on reaching a total of points above 100! Twenty parameter points are awarded to you!]

[You are not yet eligible for the reward! The rewards will be stored temporarily!]

Artie's eyes then flickered. Not because she had received the addendum that she knew would be coming, but because she was left to sit there on his lap while he worked on his documents. 'Uh, what now…?'

She hesitantly wrapped an arm around his neck before reaching out the other one to make a full circle, fully aware of Larkin's other hand on her back. "Larkin… I can't be sitting the whole time..."

"Me either. I will be done soon." Larkin didn't take a look at her and just continued to work as if he was hosting a cat on his lap instead of a live human.

'Done soon? But there's so many...' Artie gazed at the piles of paperwork on the table. She had no idea what was on them, but based on the ones he was reading through and signing, they should be formal documents about the taxes. 'Miel must have polished these beforehand. All he had to do was check a few things and sign them.'

Artie wasn't reading the documents per se, but her gaze was fixed on the papers. She couldn't help but be mesmerized by the way the pen moved while Larkin signed on them. Even her calligraphy teachers probably couldn't draw such godly handwriting each time they wrote their cursive.

The last page was done, and Larkin organized everything on his table neatly with just one hand. It seemed that the pile of paperwork… was his output for today. He had already accomplished them so, when he said he would be done soon, he wasn't lying. Artie's eyes flickered yet again as he carried her out of the room.

"Have they informed you about the seamstress's coming?" Larkin spoke as they walked through the hallways, seemingly going to another place that was not the bedrooms. It wasn't even towards the baths as well.

"Miel just mentioned it earlier..." Artie looked around. The decorations on the walls of the hallways were increasing and getting more and more extravagant. Soon, Larkin showed her a place filled with glass cases of dresses that were preserved in their best conditions. "Ah, this is an exhibit for?"

"Exhibit? This is the gowns gallery." Larkin let her down and watched her circle around some glass cases. "Weddings are quite joyous and ceremonial to the people of Achlys. More often than not, it was merely a symbol of the union between houses; however, it was a joyous celebration. Be it the celebration for fame, wealth, or glory."

Artie glanced at him from time to time when he was talking, but she was more focused on taking a look at the dresses. They didn't seem to be uniform in any aspect aside from being long gowns that covered most of the bride's body. The conservative nature showed the formality of the celebration, but the frills and laces seemed to denote the innocence of the brides.

Larkin continued to speak even if Artie was halfheartedly listening to him. "Weddings turn into memories as soon as the people pass away. However, the Second King started a strange tradition in Ellis Plains. As the ruler passed away, the widow or widower would have to replace the departed's image with their wedding clothes as a symbol of the widow or widower's loyalty and grief in the absence of their love.

"Not many continued the tradition, but everyone was forced to preserve their clothes. The groom's clothing gathered in a different gallery. I took you here to give you an inkling of what to expect from the seamstress's designs." Larkin gestured at the dresses. "Pick one that would resemble what you wish to wear."

"All of them are very lovely!" Artie retreated, her eyes roaming the scene as if giving the dresses one last glance. "But I don't think there's one that I would like. Don't worry, I have an idea what I want as my wedding dress, but I might have to consult with the seamstress if it is appropriate." She sheepishly grinned at Larkin.

The dresses were all fancy in Artie's eyes, but they seemed to be more of renaissance costumes rather than wedding dresses to her. None of them were white, and they were either in ballgown or in sheath style. Ever since Artie was little, she knew that she wanted a white mermaid wedding dress. She might be a child by then, but she knew that, when she marries, she would be a rather alluring adult.

She would not be a little princess anymore; she would be a woman of her own.

It's just that… such a concept might be too foreign to the people of Ellis Plains—if not Achlys or Galacia. She shouldn't destroy a ceremony just because she wanted to be unique, should she? That was why she needed to ask the seamstress if they were willing to do so. Until then, her dress would be a secret even to her husband-to-be.