‘It had been a while, Lady Iris.'

‘Hope you have been well, Mrs Macy.'

Mrs Macy was the owner of the tailoring shop; she ran one of the longest running tailoring shop on the main avenue of the capital city. Mrs Macy took them to the rear reception room and Iris sat in the comfortable sofa that had been proffered.

‘So shall we have a look at the new order, Lady Iris?' Mrs Macy asked politely as she poured Iris a cup of hot black tea. On the tea tray was a plate of buttery and sweet smelling financiers and tart and lemony petite madeleines.

‘Of course.'

She received the cup from Mrs Macy and turned to Katri who was sitting beside her. Iris was visiting Mrs Macy today to deliver the finished filet lace.

Katri carried a sturdy wooden chest that contained Iris' finished lace. She handed it to Mrs Macy, who took out the lace and studied it.

‘As usual, the knots and seams aren't visible and thread is unlikely to unravel.' Mrs Macy said. She took of her spectacles and looked closer at the lace, ‘Such a delicate pattern...ah flowers; the combination of bloomed and budding flowers is simply wonderful. And the vines that connect them look very delicate and elegant. Lady Iris, this is truly wonderful work.'

Iris' stomach was always in knots when she presented her finished lace to the buyer. Because of that, even if she was presented with such delicious pastries, she couldn't eat. She was on tenterhooks waiting for the verdict.

‘It even has a three dimensional effect, how gorgeous.' Mrs Macy said with delight in her voice as she spread out the lace, ‘It will shine well even with a light coloured dress.'

Iris' basic premise was to make lace requested by the buyer. The types vary dependent on what was requested. Dependent on the knotted lace provided, their uses ranged from wedding dresses and ballgowns to shawls. It was up to Iris to consider and decide what kind of embroidery to create on the knotted lace. On a few occasions, she asked to see what the design of the dress she was making lace for to help guide her decision, but the design of the finished embroider was up to Iris. Because she had such a high degree of freedom, Iris was always nervous about the final evaluation.

‘It has a very lovely finish, Lady Iris.' Mrs Macy said finally.

Iris' face relaxed into a relieved smile, ‘Thank you, Mrs Macy.'

When she received her payment, she remembered what Ernest had said about her money,

‘The payment you receive is, of course, for you to do as you wish. But if you donate some of it towards charity, it will do well towards your reputation as Queen, killing two birds with one stone.'

After that, Iris was ashamed of herself that she had never thought of it. As a noblewoman, she had visited the churches and orphanages many times. However, the pervading thought was that they were funded on budget by the province.

Because of what Ernest had said, she realised it was alright for individuals to donate. And she realised she would like to use the money she earned in service to others. She had saved all the money she earned till date because she hadn't required it. Since she didn't use it, she might as well donate it.

She decided to donate the money to a worthy cause when she became Queen.

Thinking of her future made Iris feel strange; although, thinking of Ernest reaction when she told him, she knew he would be pleased. But that thought made her heart ache once more. Mrs Macy unaware of Iris discomfiture smiled at her as she put the lace into another box.

‘Lady Iris, thank you for your hard work.'

Mrs Macy took a sip of her tea, then she said, ‘I was still thinking of you as a young child, but now you are getting married. Congratulations.'

As a daughter of a noble family, she was about to be left on the shelf as it were. But to Mrs Macy, who had made Iris' clothes since she was little, she would still see her as a young child.

‘Thank you, Mrs Macy.'

It was Mrs Macy who had recognised Iris' talent at making filet lace and asked Iris to make lace for her. It was not an exaggeration to say that, Iris' advanced skill was thanks to Mrs Macy. Thinking of the past filled Iris with nostalgia.

‘It is ready now; would you like to try it on?'

‘...yes.'

While the main reason for her visit was to hand over the completed lace, there was also another reason. Iris knew it could not be helped so she rose from her seat and followed Mrs Macy to the fitting area. The large fitting room was lined with beautiful lavish dresses from left to right, but the one on the mannequin in the middle shook Iris' heart.

It was a glorious dress of pure white.