Despite Agilus leading the negotiation, Lara discovered how difficult it was for women to buy a property at that time. In the end, she was only able to buy the cows, the care of which she entrusted to the village chief with a sharing agreement on the proceeds if the livestock were sold for meat or milk or when they gave birth to their young.
’I have read about the injustice that women suffered in ancient times due to inequality, but I never thought that I would experience it myself.’ Lara thought bitterly.
If she wanted to own a property, then she needed to buy it in General Odin’s name, and then it should be passed to her as a dowry or inheritance.
When they returned to the Mendel manor, the Gabriella ladies were busy rushing to finish the gown that Lara would wear during the banquet in the early afternoon.
Thankfully, Reya has previously made her a full-skirted gown, made of velvet, with a raised waistline. The color was a deep shade of blue, and the fabric was a gift from Jethru when she turned fifteen. At that time, she was 1.67 meters tall. Since then, she has grown five centimeters, so the skirt had become shorter that Reya had to layer it with a thinner fabric of a lighter color underneath.
Her breasts have gotten bigger compared to when she was fifteen, and to address the issue, Lina crafted a striking V-shaped cut that elegantly accentuated her neckline, tapering down to where her waist was. She meticulously sewn a layer of shimmering silver fabric, creating a breathtaking contrast that captivated the eye with its interplay of rich dark blue and radiant silver.
Lina, Thalia, Zeeta, and Leah decorated the skirt with small white flower appliques, and when Lara wore the gown later on, it seemed like she was walking on a sea of flowers. The dress had a square neckline, exposing a lot of her flesh on the upper chest, even showing a little bit of cleavage. The sleeves, however, covered her entire arm, reaching up to the wrist.
’I’d rather cover my chest than my arms.’ Lara grumbled. Who would think that female in that era were okay to expose their chest, but would cover their arms and legs?
Reya delicately stitched a cascade of white appliqué flowers, their petals intricately crafted, as a charming trim just above her elbow and along the hem of the sleeve that enveloped her wrists. Each blossom seemed to dance with life, its soft fabric contrasting beautifully against the smooth texture of her garment, adding an enchanting touch to her ensemble.
After adding a few more embellishments here and there, the ladies were done with the dress, and all five crowded into Lara’s room to assist her in changing.
"The flower appliqué is beautiful. Whose idea is it?" Lara asked, her arms raised as instructed by Reya, so they could easily slip the dress on.
"It’s Mona’s," Lina replied, glancing at the girl who was carefully arranging the hem of the gown.
"Really?" Lara asked, looking at Mona with bright eyes. The girl looked down shyly. "How did you think about this?"
Mona locked eyes with Lara. She was blushing, and it took some time before she could gather the courage to reply.
"I don’t know. I just thought the white cloth would look good on the color blue." She looked down and nervously clutching the hem of her blouse.
Lara’s eyes sparkled. She might have encountered a fashion genius. "You must be an inborn talent. Good work, Mona."
The girl blushed even more.
After some time, Lara was finally dressed. When Reya attempted to put a ridiculous-looking headpiece on her, Lara vehemently refused. Reya had no choice but to create an intricate three-layer braid, securing it with a simple silver hair accessory adorned with three chains that cascaded down the back of her tresses, covering her back.
The effect was a hundred times better than wearing the ridiculous hairpiece.
"Miss, you are so beautiful. Even more beautiful than any of the princesses of Northem." Reya gushed. "If Madam Freya is here, she will be very proud and happy."
Lara did not know how to react to Reya’s praises. They did not have a big mirror, so she could only see her face.
It wasn’t the first time she was dressed for an event. She had attended a ball when she was in Junior High School, which turned out to be an unfortunate event. She didn’t have many friends because she would often go home right after class, leaving her no time to socialize with her classmates. She was branded as a nerd, especially since she wore oversized glasses.
During the prom, she was the only one without a partner. But because she looked unremarkable as a student, always wearing a loose blouse and a fringe that covered half of her face, everyone was taken aback when she arrived at the venue in an off-shoulder blood-red ball gown, her hair done in an updo with a few strands stylishly curled and cascading from her temples.
Suddenly, a long queue of males wanting to dance with her formed, and this caused their female partners to resent and hate her. One even became bold enough to push her off the pool. Yes, the party was beside a pool.
But how could Lara, with all the years of her training, allow herself to be bullied? All she needed to do was take a step backward, and there was a splash. The classmate who orchestrated her fall and wanted to embarrass her fell victim to her own schemes.
"Miss Lara, stop looking at yourself. I am pretty sure you are the most beautiful at the banquet tonight." Reya’s cheerful voice pulled Lara back to the present. She gave her a reassuring smile and thanked the ladies before heading to the wooden stairway and descending to the living room, where the two old men and the children were waiting for her, their eyes filled with admiration.
"Sister, you look like a goddess." Ivy was the most expressive. Her honest voice sent a smile to Lara’s face.
Jethru and Samuel looked at Lara with pride as if she were their own granddaughter.
"Little girl, hurry up. Your escorts had been waiting for a long time." Samuel urged her.
’Escorts?’ Lara thought she had heard wrong, so she pushed it to the back of her mind.
When she exited the house through the main entrance, she was shocked to see what awaited her.