“How about… this one!” Mira held up a frilly pink dress.
Anna nervously rubbed her arm, “That’s a little too…”
“Too fancy?”
“Well…”
“Got it, something simpler. Hmm perhaps like what you had before!”
“No I don’t think-”
“Come on! We have to make sure you look nice! Meeting a Duke isn’t something you want to look like a sad chimney sweep for!” She pulled out another dress, this one less frills and more poof.
“That one is…”
“Oh yes, I see. Yellow?! Awful for your skin tone, you’re much too pale for that.”
“No I meant-”
Mira huffed. “This is harder than I thought. And to think none of them even fit you right.”
Anna looked in the mirror, she was wearing a lacy purple dress Mira had picked out. It was painfully tight, not conforming to her body at all. It stretched awkwardly at the shoulders, and was too loose around the chest. She averted her gaze, not liking what she saw.
“Oh goodness, and we haven’t even worked on your hair. We need it out of your face like that.” Mira walked over and put her hand on Anna’s face, making the girl flinch. She brushed the hair from her eyes and tucked it neatly behind her ear, combing it with her fingers.
“It’s so pretty, you know. I love the red parts, how do you dye it? Maybe with a nice ribbon here or there you’d look like a more proper lady.”
Anna pulled back in shock, “Please don’t-”
Mira huffed again, “Anna, listen. I have experience with nobility, and an impeccable eye for women’s fashion. Please, I know best so let me choose for you.” She went back to fiddling with Anna’s hair.
“I SAID STOP!”
Mira’s face stung, the girl had slapped her. She reached up and felt where she had left a mark.
“...Anna?”
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