Daybreak:Volume 2 Chapter 7 - Revision history

Aorii at 17:45, 29 August 2023

2023-08-29T17:45:58Z

Aorii at 02:10, 18 March 2022

2022-03-18T02:10:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:10, 18 March 2022
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	"I fail to see how 'meditation' has anything to do with strangling my lungs." Kaede gasped out as the leather corset around her waist tightened another notch. She could feel how it forcely shaped her waist into an hourglass-like arc. "Why do I have to wear this again?"		"I fail to see how 'meditation' has anything to do with strangling my lungs." Kaede gasped out as the leather corset around her waist tightened another notch. She could feel how it forcely shaped her waist into an hourglass-like arc. "Why do I have to wear this again?"

	"Because Her Highness ~~ordered~~ it," Rachel reminded the familiar girl. Though her words ran with approval as she continued: "besides, every girl wears one. It helps you maintain better posture and provides support for your back through a day's work. Even the Princess wears one beneath her dress."		"Because Her Highness suggested it," Rachel reminded the familiar girl. Though her words ran with approval as she continued: "besides, every girl wears one. It helps you maintain better posture and provides support for your back through a day's work. Even the Princess wears one beneath her dress."

	Kaede did notice that all of the palace maids ~~had~~ a leather ~~cincher~~ around their waist~~, which~~ hugged their midsections from ~~below~~ the ~~chest~~ to above the hips. The Princess' dress had ~~it was~~ well. Though in her outfit, the leather simply blended in with the other patches that were meant to anchor armor straps.		Kaede did notice that all of the palace maids wore a pair of leather stays -- an early version of the corset -- around their waist. It hugged their midsections from the breasts to above the hips. The Princess' dress had leather sewn in around her midriff as well. Though in her outfit, the leather simply blended in with the other patches that were meant to anchor armor straps.

	''I don't remember seeing anything like this on Ariadne's uniform,'' Kaede thought. It was yet further proof that Rhin-Lotharingie was 'backwards' compared to the more progressive Weichsel.		''I don't remember seeing anything like this on Ariadne's uniform,'' Kaede thought. It was yet further proof that Rhin-Lotharingie was 'backwards' compared to the more progressive Weichsel.

Aorii at 20:57, 16 March 2022

2022-03-16T20:57:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:57, 16 March 2022
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	"I fail to see how 'meditation' has anything to do with strangling my lungs." Kaede gasped out as the leather corset around her waist tightened another notch. She could feel how it forcely shaped her waist into an hourglass-like arc. "Why do I have to wear this again?"		"I fail to see how 'meditation' has anything to do with strangling my lungs." Kaede gasped out as the leather corset around her waist tightened another notch. She could feel how it forcely shaped her waist into an hourglass-like arc. "Why do I have to wear this again?"

	"Because Her Highness ordered it," Rachel reminded the familiar girl. Though her words ran with approval as she continued: "besides, every girl wears one. It helps you maintain better posture and provides support for your back through a day's work. Even the Princess' dress ~~has a leather corset sewn in~~."		"Because Her Highness ordered it," Rachel reminded the familiar girl. Though her words ran with approval as she continued: "besides, every girl wears one. It helps you maintain better posture and provides support for your back through a day's work. Even the Princess wears one beneath her dress."

	Kaede did notice that all of the palace maids had a leather cincher around their waist, which hugged their midsections from below the chest to above the hips. The Princess' dress had it was well. Though in her outfit, the leather simply blended in with the other patches that were meant to anchor armor straps.		Kaede did notice that all of the palace maids had a leather cincher around their waist, which hugged their midsections from below the chest to above the hips. The Princess' dress had it was well. Though in her outfit, the leather simply blended in with the other patches that were meant to anchor armor straps.
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	She really did not want to have first-hand user experience with the infamous 'fainting couch'.		She really did not want to have first-hand user experience with the infamous 'fainting couch'.

	"If you do, you'd enter palace history as the first girl to do so from something so mild." Rachel's reply came flat. She then ~~patted~~ the leather ~~waist cincher attached to~~ her ~~own dress~~. "I've worn one of these every day for the past century."		"If you do, you'd enter palace history as the first girl to do so from something so mild." Rachel's reply came flat. She then ran her hand across the exterior of her own leather stays, which wrapped around her midsection and held tight by laces. "I've worn one of these every day for the past century."

	"I'm ~~pretty sure leather expands more than this one does.~~" Kaede's wispy answer came with an exhale.		"You may be used to them but I'm not!" Kaede's wispy answer came with an exhale.

	She reached down with her fingers and traced across a stiff, vertical bump on ~~the~~ corset's exterior. It was hidden beneath a column of pink, floral laces.		She reached down with her fingers and traced across a stiff, vertical bump on her corset's exterior. It was hidden beneath a column of pink, floral laces.

	"Is this... steel boning?"		"Is this... steel boning?"

Aorii at 23:12, 15 March 2022

2022-03-15T23:12:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:12, 15 March 2022
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	''I don't remember seeing anything like this on Ariadne's uniform,'' Kaede thought. It was yet further proof that Rhin-Lotharingie was 'backwards' compared to the more progressive Weichsel.		''I don't remember seeing anything like this on Ariadne's uniform,'' Kaede thought. It was yet further proof that Rhin-Lotharingie was 'backwards' compared to the more progressive Weichsel.

	The Samaran girl then immediately snapped off that train of thought. She closed her eyes and shook her head in self-disgust. ''I sound like an egocentric ~~American~~.''		The Samaran girl then immediately snapped off that train of thought. She closed her eyes and shook her head in self-disgust. ''I sound like an egocentric child.''

	"Done." Rachel announced at last as she knotted the laces' extra length. "That's the first tightening. We'll let your body adjust for a few minutes before we finish with a second round."		"Done." Rachel announced at last as she knotted the laces' extra length. "That's the first tightening. We'll let your body adjust for a few minutes before we finish with a second round."

Aorii at 23:59, 12 February 2022

2022-02-12T23:59:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:59, 12 February 2022
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	"<All men have tempers, Sylv. Even your beloved Pascal.>" Cecylia's reply was mostly-consoling yet still partly-teasing. "<Besides, Pascal takes his responsibilities seriously. And this is a critical time for him to spend away from his fiefdom. Perhaps he simply wanted to see his familiar for some... familiarity, no implications intended.>"		"<All men have tempers, Sylv. Even your beloved Pascal.>" Cecylia's reply was mostly-consoling yet still partly-teasing. "<Besides, Pascal takes his responsibilities seriously. And this is a critical time for him to spend away from his fiefdom. Perhaps he simply wanted to see his familiar for some... familiarity, no implications intended.>"

	Sylviane sighed as her heart softened with sympathy. Cecylia was right: Pascal hadn't even seen his father's body or arranged a funeral yet. Nor ~~has~~ he returned to Nordkreuz to officially take up the seat of his inheritance. There were a great many things that undoubtedly awaited his attention back at home. Yet he came to the royal palace upon her beckon without any conditions.		Sylviane sighed as her heart softened with sympathy. Cecylia was right: Pascal hadn't even seen his father's body or arranged a funeral yet. Nor had he returned to Nordkreuz to officially take up the seat of his inheritance. There were a great many things that undoubtedly awaited his attention back at home. Yet he came to the royal palace upon her beckon without any conditions.

	"<You're right,>" the Princess admitted. "<nowiki><I</nowiki> am demanding too much from him.>"		"<You're right,>" the Princess admitted. "<nowiki><I</nowiki> am demanding too much from him.>"
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	She knew she was being irrational. She knew that trying to keep Kaede from Pascal wouldn't work, certainly not in the long term. Yet she didn't want these past two days to end, when it was just the Pascal and her once again...		She knew she was being irrational. She knew that trying to keep Kaede from Pascal wouldn't work, certainly not in the long term. Yet she didn't want these past two days to end, when it was just the Pascal and her once again...

	"<You've already made it clear to the girl that you can keep them apart.>" Cecylia pointed out. "<Now you can show her that they can be together too. Just make sure she knows that it is ''at your discretion''. It reinforces the idea that she'll want to stay on your good side.>" The dhampir advised before she explained in a playful voice. "<Kaede has a plucky exterior, but she also has a rather submissive nature. I could tell almost immediately when I teased her that night. Her cultural background seems to give her a preference for following rules and authority. Plus she herself desires stability and predictability in life. Therefore if you offer her a compromise, even if it's on your terms, she will likely accept the ground rules you lay down as long as ''you'' uphold your end of the bargain.>"		"<You've already made it clear to the girl that you can keep them apart.>" Cecylia pointed out. "<Now you can show her that they can be together too. Just make sure she knows that it is ''at your discretion''. It reinforces the idea that she'll want to stay on your good side.>" The dhampir advised before she explained in a playful voice. "<Kaede has a plucky exterior, but she also has a rather submissive nature. I could tell almost immediately when I teased her that night. Her cultural background seems to give her a preference for following rules and authority. Plus she herself desires stability and predictability in life. Therefore if you offer her a compromise, even if it's on your terms, she will likely accept the ground rules you lay down as long as ''you'' fairly uphold your end of the bargain.>"

	Sylviane grinned a little as she nodded along to Cecylia's suggestions. None of this surprised her as she knew exactly how Cecylia operated. Beneath the adorable tease was a shrewd, calculating girl with a domineering personality and an excellent judge of character. Yet despite this, the dhampir had never tried to manipulate the Princess. It was one of the reasons they'd been best friends since childhood.		Sylviane grinned a little as she nodded along to Cecylia's suggestions. None of this surprised her as she knew exactly how Cecylia operated. Beneath the adorable tease was a shrewd, calculating girl with a domineering personality and an excellent judge of character. Yet despite this, the dhampir had never tried to manipulate the Princess. It was one of the reasons they'd been best friends since childhood.

Aorii at 16:58, 4 July 2021

2021-07-04T16:58:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:58, 4 July 2021
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	She knew she was being irrational. She knew that trying to keep Kaede from Pascal wouldn't work, certainly not in the long term. Yet she didn't want these past two days to end, when it was just the Pascal and her once again...		She knew she was being irrational. She knew that trying to keep Kaede from Pascal wouldn't work, certainly not in the long term. Yet she didn't want these past two days to end, when it was just the Pascal and her once again...

	"<You've already made it clear to the girl that you can keep them apart.>" Cecylia pointed out. "<Now you can show her that they can be together too. Just make sure she knows that it is ''at your discretion''. It reinforces the idea that she'll want to stay on your good side.>" The dhampir advised before she ~~playfully~~ explained. "<Kaede has a plucky exterior, but she also has a rather submissive nature. I could tell almost immediately when I teased her that night. Her cultural background seems to give her a preference for following rules and authority. Plus she herself ~~seem to prioritize~~ predictability ~~and stability~~ in life. Therefore if you offer her a compromise, even if it's on your terms, she will likely accept it as long as you uphold your end of the bargain.>"		"<You've already made it clear to the girl that you can keep them apart.>" Cecylia pointed out. "<Now you can show her that they can be together too. Just make sure she knows that it is ''at your discretion''. It reinforces the idea that she'll want to stay on your good side.>" The dhampir advised before she explained in a playful voice. "<Kaede has a plucky exterior, but she also has a rather submissive nature. I could tell almost immediately when I teased her that night. Her cultural background seems to give her a preference for following rules and authority. Plus she herself desires stability and predictability in life. Therefore if you offer her a compromise, even if it's on your terms, she will likely accept the ground rules you lay down as long as ''you'' uphold your end of the bargain.>"

	Sylviane grinned a little as she knew exactly how Cecylia operated. Beneath the adorable tease was a shrewd, calculating girl with a domineering personality. Yet despite this, the dhampir had never tried to manipulate the Princess. It was one of the reasons they'd been best friends since childhood.		Sylviane grinned a little as she nodded along to Cecylia's suggestions. None of this surprised her as she knew exactly how Cecylia operated. Beneath the adorable tease was a shrewd, calculating girl with a domineering personality and an excellent judge of character. Yet despite this, the dhampir had never tried to manipulate the Princess. It was one of the reasons they'd been best friends since childhood.

	''If only you weren't a Weichsen, you’d be my closest confidante,'' Sylviane sighed with longing. She never once forgot that Cecylia was also the eyes and ears of King Leopold, which made it... difficult, to discuss certain topics.		''If only you weren't a Weichsen, you’d be my closest confidante,'' Sylviane sighed with longing. She never once forgot that Cecylia was also the eyes and ears of King Leopold, which made it... difficult, to discuss certain topics.

Aorii at 16:47, 4 July 2021

2021-07-04T16:47:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:47, 4 July 2021
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	She knew she was being irrational. She knew that trying to keep Kaede from Pascal wouldn't work, certainly not in the long term. Yet she didn't want these past two days to end, when it was just the Pascal and her once again...		She knew she was being irrational. She knew that trying to keep Kaede from Pascal wouldn't work, certainly not in the long term. Yet she didn't want these past two days to end, when it was just the Pascal and her once again...

	"<You've already made it clear to the girl that you can keep them apart.>" Cecylia pointed out. "<Now you can show her that they can be together too. Just make sure she knows that it is ''at your discretion''. It reinforces the idea that she'll want to stay on your good side. Kaede has a plucky exterior, but she also has a rather submissive nature -- I could tell almost immediately when I teased her that night.>"		"<You've already made it clear to the girl that you can keep them apart.>" Cecylia pointed out. "<Now you can show her that they can be together too. Just make sure she knows that it is ''at your discretion''. It reinforces the idea that she'll want to stay on your good side.>" The dhampir advised before she playfully explained. "<Kaede has a plucky exterior, but she also has a rather submissive nature. I could tell almost immediately when I teased her that night. Her cultural background seems to give her a preference for following rules and authority. Plus she herself seem to prioritize predictability and stability in life. Therefore if you offer her a compromise, even if it's on your terms, she will likely accept it as long as you uphold your end of the bargain.>"

	Sylviane grinned a little as she knew exactly how Cecylia operated. Beneath the adorable tease was a shrewd, calculating girl with a domineering personality. Yet despite this, the dhampir had never tried to manipulate the Princess. It was one of the reasons they'd been best friends since childhood.		Sylviane grinned a little as she knew exactly how Cecylia operated. Beneath the adorable tease was a shrewd, calculating girl with a domineering personality. Yet despite this, the dhampir had never tried to manipulate the Princess. It was one of the reasons they'd been best friends since childhood.

Aorii at 16:25, 4 July 2021

2021-07-04T16:25:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:25, 4 July 2021
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	''Bear with it,'' Kaede had to remind herself.		''Bear with it,'' Kaede had to remind herself.

	It was important that she keep her word to the Princess and not create more reasons to be disliked at present. Not to mention she needed to at least work on 'fitting in'. Fashion has always been dictated by the culture of a society and not the individual. Those who refused to accept the 'norm' inevitably attracted strange looks ~~-- which Kaede already had enough of~~.		It was important that she keep her word to the Princess and not create more reasons to be disliked at present. Not to mention she needed to at least work on 'fitting in'. Fashion has always been dictated by the culture of a society and not the individual. Those who refused to accept the 'norm' inevitably attracted prejudice, and the Samaran girl already received enough strange looks as it is.

	Besides, Kaede figured that the current status quo wouldn't last since Pascal wasn't the type to just stay in a palace anyway, not when there was a war raging outside. Then, once she had a chance to prove herself before the Princess, perhaps things would change...		Besides, Kaede figured that the current status quo wouldn't last since Pascal wasn't the type to just stay in a palace anyway, not when there was a war raging outside. Then, once she had a chance to prove herself before the Princess, perhaps things would change...

Aorii at 16:46, 3 June 2021

2021-06-03T16:46:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:46, 3 June 2021
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	"I fail to see how 'meditation' has anything to do with strangling my lungs." Kaede gasped out as the leather corset around her waist tightened another notch. She could feel how it forcely shaped her waist into an hourglass-like arc. "Why do I have to wear this again?"		"I fail to see how 'meditation' has anything to do with strangling my lungs." Kaede gasped out as the leather corset around her waist tightened another notch. She could feel how it forcely shaped her waist into an hourglass-like arc. "Why do I have to wear this again?"

	"Because Her Highness ordered it," Rachel reminded the familiar girl. Though her words ran with approval as she continued: "besides, every girl wears one. It helps you maintain better posture, provides support for your back through a day's work~~, and trains you to move more gracefully~~. Even the Princess' dress has a leather corset sewn in."		"Because Her Highness ordered it," Rachel reminded the familiar girl. Though her words ran with approval as she continued: "besides, every girl wears one. It helps you maintain better posture and provides support for your back through a day's work. Even the Princess' dress has a leather corset sewn in."

	Kaede did notice that all of the palace maids had a leather cincher around their waist, which hugged their midsections from below the chest to above the hips. The Princess' dress had it was well. Though in her outfit, the leather simply blended in with the other patches that were meant to anchor armor straps.		Kaede did notice that all of the palace maids had a leather cincher around their waist, which hugged their midsections from below the chest to above the hips. The Princess' dress had it was well. Though in her outfit, the leather simply blended in with the other patches that were meant to anchor armor straps.
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	It summoned only a louder, more resentful groan from the Samaran girl.		It summoned only a louder, more resentful groan from the Samaran girl.

	''Bear with it ~~for now~~,'' Kaede had to ~~tell~~ herself. It was important that she keep her word to the Princess and not create more reasons to be disliked at present.		''Bear with it,'' Kaede had to remind herself.

			It was important that she keep her word to the Princess and not create more reasons to be disliked at present. Not to mention she needed to at least work on 'fitting in'. Fashion has always been dictated by the culture of a society and not the individual. Those who refused to accept the 'norm' inevitably attracted strange looks -- which Kaede already had enough of.

			Besides, Kaede figured that the current status quo wouldn't last since Pascal wasn't the type to just stay in a palace anyway, not when there was a war raging outside. Then, once she had a chance to prove herself before the Princess, perhaps things would change...

	"Be glad then that Her Highness isn't the one pulling," Rachel remarked almost off-handedly. "Her standards for a 'proper waistline' are far stricter than mine."		"Be glad then that Her Highness isn't the one pulling," Rachel remarked almost off-handedly. "Her standards for a 'proper waistline' are far stricter than mine."

	Kaede swallowed. ''Just what kind of unrealistic body image was ~~the Princess~~ taught?''		Kaede swallowed. ''Just what kind of unrealistic body image was this princess taught?''

Aorii at 04:06, 2 June 2021

2021-06-02T04:06:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:06, 2 June 2021
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	It summoned only a louder, more resentful groan from the Samaran girl.		It summoned only a louder, more resentful groan from the Samaran girl.

	''Bear with it for now,'' Kaede had to tell herself. It was important that she keep her word to the Princess and not create more reasons to be disliked at present~~. She simply needed to wait until the Princess gave her an opportunity~~.		''Bear with it for now,'' Kaede had to tell herself. It was important that she keep her word to the Princess and not create more reasons to be disliked at present.

	"Be glad then that Her Highness isn't the one pulling," Rachel remarked almost off-handedly. "Her standards for a 'proper waistline' are far stricter than mine."		"Be glad then that Her Highness isn't the one pulling," Rachel remarked almost off-handedly. "Her standards for a 'proper waistline' are far stricter than mine."
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	"And you are my fiancé!" Sylviane gritted her teeth as she stared back. "You're here to support me! Not to create more headaches for me!"		"And you are my fiancé!" Sylviane gritted her teeth as she stared back. "You're here to support me! Not to create more headaches for me!"

	"''Create headaches!?''" Pascal responded with an incredulous laugh. "I only asked to see ~~my familiar~~, to meet my personal responsibilities for the first time in two days!"		"''Create headaches!?''" Pascal responded with an incredulous laugh. "I only asked to see Kaede, to meet my personal responsibilities for the first time in two days!"

	He then raised his palms and shook them in the air between them, as though to stress how empty they were.		He then raised his palms and shook them in the air between them, as though to stress how empty they were.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:45, 29 August 2023
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	Kaede gasped out as she leaned forward with her hands holding onto the table's edge. Rachel, the head maid, was tightening the laces on her back, and it was impressive how much strength the old woman's bony fingers had.		Kaede gasped out as she leaned forward with her hands holding onto the table's edge. Rachel, the head maid, was tightening the laces on her back, and it was impressive how much strength the old woman's bony fingers had.

	"Stop ~~complaining~~. I haven't even finished the first tightening." Rachel retorted as she continued her methodical lace-pulling. The elderly maid then offered some advice: "~~Breath~~ slowly. I thought you Samarans believed in 'meditating'?"		"Stop exaggerating. I haven't even finished the first tightening." Rachel retorted as she continued her methodical lace-pulling. The elderly maid then offered some advice: "Calm yourself and breath slowly. I thought you Samarans believed in 'meditating'?"

	"I fail to see how 'meditation' has anything to do with strangling my lungs." Kaede gasped out as the leather corset around her waist tightened another notch. She could feel how it ~~forcely shaped~~ her waist into an hourglass-like arc. "Why do I have to wear this again?"		"I fail to see how 'meditation' has anything to do with strangling my lungs." Kaede gasped out as the leather corset around her waist tightened another notch. She could feel how it cinched her waist into an hourglass-like arc. "Why do I have to wear this again?"

	"Because Her Highness ~~suggested~~ it," Rachel reminded the familiar girl. Though her words ran with approval as she continued: "besides, every girl wears one. It helps you maintain better posture and provides support for your back through a day's work. Even the Princess wears one beneath her dress."		"Because Her Highness desired it, and as she is the 'mistress of the castle', it is in her right to tell all servants what they should wear," Rachel reminded the familiar girl of the social pecking order. Though her words ran with approval as she continued: "besides, every girl wears one. It helps you maintain better posture and provides support for your back through a day's hard work. Even the Princess wears one beneath her dress and she has always enjoyed it."

	Kaede did notice that all of the palace maids wore a pair of leather stays -- an early version of the corset -- around their waist. It hugged their midsections from the breasts to above the hips. The Princess' dress had leather sewn in around her midriff as well. Though in her outfit, the leather simply blended in with the other patches that were meant to anchor armor straps.		Kaede did notice that all of the palace maids wore a pair of leather stays -- an early version of the corset -- around their waist. It hugged their midsections from the breasts to above the hips. The Princess' dress had leather sewn in around her midriff as well. Though in her outfit, the leather simply blended in with the other patches that were meant to anchor armor straps.
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	The Samaran girl then immediately snapped off that train of thought. She closed her eyes and shook her head in self-disgust. ''I sound like an egocentric child.''		The Samaran girl then immediately snapped off that train of thought. She closed her eyes and shook her head in self-disgust. ''I sound like an egocentric child.''

	"Done." Rachel announced at last as she knotted the laces' extra length. "That's the first tightening. We'll let your body adjust for a few minutes before we finish ~~with a second round~~."		"Done." Rachel announced at last as she knotted the laces' extra length. "That's the first tightening. We'll let your body adjust for a few minutes before we finish."

	Kaede groaned. She was already having trouble taking a full breath.		Kaede groaned. She was already having trouble taking a full breath.
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	She really did not want to have first-hand user experience with the infamous 'fainting couch'.		She really did not want to have first-hand user experience with the infamous 'fainting couch'.

	"If you do, you'd enter palace history as the first girl to do so from something so mild." Rachel's reply came flat. She then ran her hand across the exterior of her own leather stays, which wrapped around her midsection and held tight by laces. "I've worn one of these every day for the past century."		"If you do, you'd enter palace history as the first girl to do so from something so mild." Rachel's reply came flat. She then ran her hand across the exterior of her own leather stays, which wrapped around her midsection and was held tight by laces. "I've worn one of these every day for the past century. I can't imagine going through a full working day without it."

	"You may be used to them but I'm not!" Kaede's wispy answer came with an exhale.		"You may be used to them but I'm not!" Kaede's wispy answer came with an exhale.

	~~She~~ reached down with her fingers and traced across a stiff, vertical bump on her corset's exterior. It was hidden beneath a column of pink, floral laces.		"That does appear to be true, as you seem oddly unaccustomed to tight garments." Rachel frowned. "Normally, we should probably get you accustomed to a lighter pair of stays first. But in this case, as you are associated with members of the royal household, there are expectations to uphold."

			''Pompous elitist dress codes.'' The Samaran girl complained in silence as she reached down with her fingers and traced across a stiff, vertical bump on her corset's exterior. It was hidden beneath a column of pink, floral laces.

	"Is this... steel boning?"		"Is this... steel boning?"

	"Yes." The elderly woman admitted. "~~You're right~~ that yours is more constricting than what we wear. Leather adjusts over prolonged use and isn't hard to bend. However we still need to do our chores or, in Her Highness' case, fight in it. You're expected to do neither."		"Yes." The elderly woman admitted. "It is true that yours is more constricting than what we wear. Leather adjusts over prolonged use and isn't hard to bend. However, we still need to do our chores or, in Her Highness' case, fight in it. You're expected to do neither."

	"I can fight. I have a weapon you know."		"I can fight. I have a weapon you know."
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	Nevertheless Kaede sighed inwardly as she thought: ''yet another action hero.''		Nevertheless Kaede sighed inwardly as she thought: ''yet another action hero.''

	It was one of Kaede's annoyances about society -- how people most often focused on those who fought on the front lines. Sure, Edith was the 'champion' of Rhin-Lotharingie and widely considered the best Oriflamme Paladin in direct combat. But surely Dame Cosette, who served Emperor Geoffroi as his chief military strategist, should be more famous? This was doubly true for women, as male bodies had a biological advantage in raw strength ~~and stamina~~, which in turn meant women should establish more role models based on wisdom and intellect.		It was one of Kaede's annoyances about society -- how people most often focused on those who fought on the front lines. Sure, Edith was the 'champion' of Rhin-Lotharingie and widely considered the best Oriflamme Paladin in direct combat. But surely Dame Cosette, who served Emperor Geoffroi as his chief military strategist, should be more famous? This was doubly true for women, as male bodies had a biological advantage in raw strength, which in turn meant women should establish more role models based on wisdom and intellect.

	''Why are the brains always overshadowed by the brawn?'' She filed one of her old complaints.		''Why are the brains always overshadowed by the brawn?'' She filed one of her old complaints.
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	"<By the way,>" the dhampir girl then added. "<You haven't done anything to his familiar, have you?>"		"<By the way,>" the dhampir girl then added. "<You haven't done anything to his familiar, have you?>"

	"<No!>" The Princess retorted almost on instinct. "<Well. I ~~had~~ her ~~squeezed into~~ a dress. Apparently the girl had never worn a corset before. But that's all!>"		"<No!>" The Princess retorted almost on instinct. "<Well. I gave her a dress to wear. Apparently the girl had never worn a corset before. But that's all!>"

	"<Hehe. That's 'normal' for you. I just wanted to make sure you haven't tortured the poor girl or something. You do have a sadistic streak...>"		"<Hehe. That's 'normal' for you. I just wanted to make sure you haven't tortured the poor girl or something. You do have a sadistic streak...>"