Early in the morning, Lining sat at the vanity and carefully helped Sylutia get ready.
First, she helped Sylutia into the somewhat elaborate dress. Its base color was a summery bright yellow, with pure white lace trim decorating the collar and edges. It wasn't restrictive at all; instead, it had the relaxed comfort of an outfit made for an outing.
The sleeves were ruffled, with a thin white ribbon an inch from each cuff. The ribbons could be pulled slightly tighter and tied into dainty bows, accentuating her slender wrists. The curved, leaf-like ends of the sleeves partly covered the backs of her hands, making her fingers look like stamens peeking out from petals. It was a lovely effect.
Once the dress was in order, Lining braided a fine strand of hair beside Sylutia's ear so her hairstyle wouldn't look too plain. Finally, she put on a bright yellow sunhat to match the dress. A large white bow and several pale pink, light blue, and bright yellow flowers adorned it.
When she was fully dressed, Sylutia looked as if she had stepped out of a fairy tale, with a touch of dreamlike beauty.
"All done, Miss Tia. Try standing up and walking a few steps to see how it feels. If anything is uncomfortable, I'll make further adjustments."
"All right."
Sylutia rose lightly to her feet. She wore pale little leather shoes with ribbons tied around them and began walking around the room. At first, she felt a little awkward, but she soon got used to them. Before long, she was walking with ease, as though she had often worn similar clothes.
A little while later, Lining accompanied Sylutia downstairs. Lady Falan was already waiting in the living room.
When she saw Sylutia come down the stairs, holding up her