28. Fashion & Models
Robin is pretty sure there's a mistake, when she sees the prince of Ylisse inside the store. She's half ready to ask if he somehow got lost, and blundered into the wrong part of town, followed by somehow deciding a small boutique was where he wanted to be. But the best she can manage is a startled "Hrrk!?"
Which at least alerts the others to the fact that they have a customer. Or one extremely lost member of the royal family.
"Ah, welcome to Minerva." Cherche's voice, by contrast, is smooth as the silk she's holding. She gently pinches the cloth between her fingers, as she approaches the young prince. "Though I must say, we've never had such a well known guest before. Is there anyway we can assist you, your Grace?"
Robin tries not to flush at Cherche's smoothness; she just managed to casually voice all the questions running through her own brain.
"A-ah. Well…" She blinks at the stutter in the young man's voice; he sounds almost as off balance as Robin feels. "It's just… I'm looking for some clothes."
"Well, we ARE a clothing store. So you're on the right track with that." Cherche smiles, to take the sting out of her remark. "Though we don't usually serve royalty…"
"B-but, you DO serve the nobility. Sometimes. Don't you?" He stumbles through the questions. "I-I was asking the captain of our guard where she got her uniform trimmed and fit, and-"
"Oh! You know Phila!" Cherche is bold right now; bold enough to interrupt him, and guess at what he wants. "Yes, she showed up last month, right in time for some sort of festivity up at your palace. Her uniform had been damaged, and the palace seamstresses were all busy with the preparations."
Robin nods along to that; she remembers working through the uniform, carefully patching spots where it looked like swords or arrows had almost found their mark.
"Well… She looked stunning, and caught Emmeryn's eye. She suggested I go see you as well. And… Well, here I am." Cherche nods at that, her eyes sliding over to Robin.
"We're a little bit busy with orders right now; the summer fete is celebrated across the city, you know. But I'm certain I can free my assistant Robin up a little, and have her begin taking your measurements, and working with you. Minverva's will always make time for a customer."
Even if the workers feel a little dizzy at the prospect, Robin thinks to herself.
-o-o-o-
Chrom makes for a surprisingly willing and patient client, letting her take his measurements with scarcely a complaint. The problem is that those measurements themselves… Are oddly distracting.
'Stay professional, Robin!' She tries yelling at herself… And Chrom gives a slight yelp in response.
"T-tell me, do you always pinch people's arms when you measure them?" He asks, trying to get his composure back. And he's already doing better than Robin, with how she can feel her face burning up.
"…Sorry. Accident." The best she can manage is two words. And try as she might, she can't quite ignore how fit he is, underneath his clothes. Robin narrows her eyes, trying not to focus on the fact that Ylisse's prince is painfully attractive in person. She has a job to do-
"Did I… Offend you somehow?" And it gets harder to do that, when Chrom keeps talking.
"No." And still, she can only manage brief sentences.
"It's just, you've been frowning ever since I stepped in here. And Phila always talked about how friendly the staff were…" The disappointment in his voice finally frees up her throat, letting her speak.
"Ph-Phila was… A little closer to our ranks." Robin doesn't dare meet him in the eyes as she talks. "She's not the prince of a country. And not…"
"Not what?" Chrom prompts.
"Not… Quite like… This." Robin finally rests her hands on his shoulders, giving them an awkward pat. "Ph-physically speaking, you're rather… Striking."
She's more than a little horrified at the words spilling out of her mouth. She doesn't even want to go into how oddly sweet he's been, since he walked in. She'd half expected him to be more demanding, like she'd always expected royals would be.
"M-maybe you should take someone else. Cherche can probably ask for one of the other girls to help you out. And keep things more professional-"
"I-I'd prefer not to." Chrom stops her short. "Phila actually… Talked a lot about how you helped her out with mending her uniform. And Emmeryn… She also suggested I ask for you." He rolls his shoulders in a shrug, moving her hands up and down. "So if you don't mind, I'd LIKE to work with you."
She wants to argue that; he'd do better with someone more professional. More gathered together… But the fact is, Robin can't bring herself to protest. Not with that eager and hopeful look he gives her.
"If that's the case, then… I guess I owe you the finest suit I can make."
-o-o-o-
Robin doesn't make that claim idly, Chrom realizes. When he comes back in to get his fittings adjusted, instead of a half finished outfit, there's a fine suit waiting for him. The cloth is smooth under his fingers, and has a soft, rippling sheen of dark colors. And when he tries it on, it fits over him like a second skin.
"You did this on such short notice?"
"You trusted me with a fine outfit… So I wanted to see it through." Chrom looks over the navy blue fabric, smooth as cream. Chrom sighs in admiration; he'll not be putting his sisters to shame with an outfit like this.
"Well, if you don't mind… I just need to make sure it fits perfectly." Robin tells him, though her touch on the sleeves is hesitant. Almost shy.
"I-I don't mind at all." Because while he'd never admit it out loud, he doesn't mind getting her hands all over him. Chrom tries to hold back a quick sigh… Though he does give the seamstress a nervous smile.
"You know… Phila was right." He finds himself saying. "So was Emmeryn. You all know how to build up a good suit."
"Y-yes." Robin says in answer, examining her stitching and how it sits against his arms. "I… Imagine you're going to be impressing a lot of the young women in court."
He doesn't miss the odd longing in her voice at that… And wonders for a moment at it. Perhaps she's a bit of a dreamer after all, wanting to experience the court for herself. Chrom considers her, wondering.
'I am allowed to invite a personal guest along. In fact, Emmeryn has been insisting on it.'
He tugs his wrist away from her, and points to the pocket of the jacket he wore to the shop. With a confused blink, Robin goes to the jacket, and fishes out a sealed envelope. She blinks between it and him.
"This… Looks a lot like an invitation-?"
"It is. And you… If you want, you could come to the court with me?" There's such a bright light in her eyes at that, he almost wants to ask her again.
"I-I just need to find something to wear."
-o-o-o-
She's half afraid her outfits will look poor, compared to such finery. But when she steps among the swirling dresses and suits, Robin gives her skirts an experimental swish… And finds that they blend in well enough. The violet fabric flatters her skin as well, though she notices few people opt for such dark colors-
"Robin…?" Comes a familiar voice. The deep navy of Chrom's suit is vivid against the white columns and bright floors.
"It's good to see a familiar face here." He tells her, brightening up as he moves through the crowd and draws close to her. "Emm's going to be glad that you came."
And oddly, Robin brightens up at that; knowing that she has the permission of the Exalt… Even if there's scowls going around on some of the other nobles. At least she has two people in support.
"So, why did you want to come here?" Chrom asks, leading her to a quiet section of the ballroom. "Was there someone who caught your eye?"
Robin gives him a bewildered look.
"Y-yes… Sort of."
"…Oh." He sounds almost disappointed. "Who's the lucky person?"
"L-lucky?"
"Sure; I'm a little envious of whoever gets to know you better."
"D-didn't you figure it out?" Robin stares at him; handsome as he might be, and even with his kind streak… He hasn't quite grasped it. "I… I was hoping I…" She rested her hands on his wrist, pressing her thumbs to his skin. And it seems that gesture is what makes him finally understand.
"…You want to be with ME?" Chrom blurts out.
"O-or at least I want to get to know you!" She rushes out as well, hoping they aren't drawing too many eyes. Robin dares to look at him… And to her shock, sees that he's smiling.
"You know, I'm pretty sure that Emmeryn would like me to expand my wardrobe a little more. If you'd be interested…?" Robin gives a small laugh and nod at that, and lets him lead her back into the gathering, feeling a little brighter. And certainly proud enough of her work to be there.