narration (8)

The speaker describes a conversation with someone who criticizes their worn-out dress. The speaker reflects on their indifference towards appearance and questions the need for a crown when they are feared by many. The conversation leads the speaker to discover a hidden blue dress adorned with crystals and gossamer, which they find beautiful. Your dress is abysmal, it's so worn that it's nearly faded to ash, and there are holes along the hem. So, I thought. I did not care about dresses or baubles. Don't you want one too, sister? A crown of blades to sit upon your golden hair?" She asked me. As our mother's most valuable possession, your appearance could use improvement. I felt a ping in my chest as I processed what she'd said. Her most valuable possession? What need do I have for a crown when so many fear me? I said. Arabella picked through my pile of midnight-colored cloaks, dresses of dusty coal, onyx, and raven. Buried underneath them, however, was a blue dress, soft as the morning sky. Crystals crusted the bodice and formed an icy trim. Web-like gossamer flowed from it, forming a gape-like chain from the shoulders. It was as if a single snowflake had been pulled from a September day. I'd never seen anything so beautiful. Intrigued, I peered at the sparkling dress.