"Are you ready?" Alaric broke their silence, the question aimed at Edwina. 
"It's only a party," Edwina dismissed airily, "I already did the hard part, so what is there to worry about?"
"Never ask that," Blair interrupted, "never, ever ask what could go wrong or else you'll jinx yourself." 
"I hate to say she's right but well..." Hida added on, gesturing to her neck for emphasis. 
"At least she didn't say 'what's the worse that could happen', then I'd expect a literal disaster," Calvin joined in the teasing.
"Like falling in a pond at an Event?" Gavin slyly teased.
"You're all so comforting," Edwina's sarcasm wasn't subtle. 
"Welcome to adulthood Winnie," Derbie joined in the fun, "where we pretend to respect each other but really we're waiting for the others to put on a show."
"I should have left with Farran," Edwina lamented, and they all laughed.
It was a far larger feast than Derbie had expected, the purpose was supposed to be Lord Daro celebrating Edwina's success at becoming Master Gentileschi's apprentice, but the scale was encroaching on Event size; making Derbie wonder if the Korolenkos were feeling left out as they hadn't had a Debutant since Daro. It was an underhanded way to make themselves socially relevant, and Derbie tried not to scowl as they entered the feast. This was supposed to be Edwina's time to shine, she'd worked hard to be recognized, and given the likelihood of her missing her Debut next year so she can focus on her studies this would be her chance to experience a little of what that could be like. 
Instead, Derbie saw almost every single eligible woman invited as if this were Lord Daro's Debut. Alaric was clearly fuming, not unusual with how serious he always was, but even Blair looked annoyed. "Who do we hold accountable for this?" her hiss wasn't quiet. 
"I presume Lord Adam Korolenko saw an opportunity and is trying to take it," Calvin sounded assured. 
"As if anyone else stands a chance with Winnie in THAT dress," Hida's remark set them all off laughing. 
"Thank you for that vote of confidence," Edwina smiled, hands smoothing on the corseted bodice she wore. 
"If I thought I could steal any of those clothes when I get bigger, you'd be in trouble, but I'm too short," Hida lacked not only the height necessary to wear it, she still also lacked a womanly curve outside the muscles her training was bestowing.
"I'd say you'd have more luck stealing my clothes," Blair smirked at Hida, "but although you're the right height, my dresses would just fall off you."
"For the sake of us all, please stop reminding me that you're girls," Gavin whines. "You're my sisters, I don't want to think about your shapes."
"Behave, the lot of you," Alaric called them all to order. "Edwina, please lead us in," he gave her the honoured position and finally they entered her feast.
The Korolenkos were a southern Countship, and where the Briggs heavily traded with Tashatia, they clearly had more interactions with the Southern Islands. Lord Adam was the Count, their parents retired once he married and produced his own Heir, but Derbie was surprised to see Ladies Bogna and Celestyn in attendance as well as Lord Daro. The southern style dress Edwina had chosen was reflected in their gowns as well, though Korolenko gray did not stand out as easily as scarlet did. Lord Daro was wearing the men's southern style suit; the lack of both jacket and cravat almost shocking except Derbie recalled how hot the lower parts of Taroton could get.
Honestly, it was a trend he'd like to see emulated int the Capital for the hotter months of the Season, and he could see the interest such a simple style change was garnering. Being able to discard even a single layer could greatly help with enduring the summer heat, though he could see a subsequent trend of vests having alternating styles to make them the focal point.