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“You have to wear heels,” Roslyn scoffed. “You’re the Princess.”
“It’s fine, Rosie,” Annabel spoke lightly. “Her dress is long enough. No one will see her shoes.” She stole a glance at me and gave me a wink. “I have shoes you can wear for now, but you must learn to walk in heels in your free time. We’ll put a pair in your room so you can practice.” Her smile was warm as she handed me a pair of small boots. They were nothing like the clunky ones that I usually wore. “The black will blend in with the dress.”
“Thank you,” I said to Annabel, grateful that at least for tonight, my feet wouldn’t have to suffer.
Ashley broke the silence, “Now for your hair and makeup, Princess.” She gestured toward a wooden chair.
“Please call me Scottie,” I said as I took the seat. The three of them got to work fixing and pulling my hair. Then they smudged a line of coal over my eyes, coated my lashes with that same sticky substance Vallie had used, and smeared red over my lips.
Once they were done, they started to make their way out of the room. I didn’t move. I needed a minute.
Ashley paused as her wide, brown eyes found mine in the mirror. “I will be waiting just outside the door. Come out once you’re ready.” She bowed slightly before following the other two into the hall, allowing me a moment to myself.
Picking up the ends of my gown, I took a step closer to the mirror. A small gasp escaped my lips at what stared back at me. I thought Vallie had done an amazing job with hair and makeup before, but this was something else. I didn’t recognize myself.
My hair was in perfect curls, cascading down my lower back. Golden pins held the strands out of my face, revealing black drop earrings that dangled to my shoulders. They were heavy with dried blood caked around the metal points where they pierced holes through my ears.
For the amount of time they spent doing my makeup, it was lightly done. The red on my lips was just enough to completely mask the scab that was still there. They highlighted all my features, but focused heavily on my eyes. The sapphire outshined any lingering gray that sometimes sparkled through the blue. With the black dress and the lined coal, my eyes were unavoidable. It was like I was staring into that depthless lake behind the castle. So deep, they’d swallow you up and drown you if you stared for too long. For the first time in my life, I felt beautiful. I was beautiful.
I took one last glance at myself before meeting Ashley out in the hall. “You look magnificent,” she beamed at me. “Prince Noren will be delighted to see you.”
“Thank you,” I responded, not wanting to comment on Sie. I didn’t miss the lingering admiration that crossed her face at the mention of him. It left me riddled with guilt that so many girls would have switched spots with me in a heartbeat, especially Vallie. But I felt the opposite of lucky. Me being connected to him was just forcing my inevitable doom. And no amount of unholy attractiveness was worth that. Besides, it was washed away by the fact that he was an emotionless jerk. I almost told Ashley just that but thought better of it.
Ashley and Annabel seemed sweet. Maybe they could be my friends. I could really use some. My heart was left hollow without Vallie’s comforting presence.
So far, everyone I had met at the castle had been cordial to me, which was not something I was used to or expecting. Minus a few unpleasant glares, maybe Sie was wrong about the threats. Maybe people would be happy to see a nix as Queen. Even if I desperately wished that the nix wasn’t me, perhaps I could change things for the future. I could try to soften the ranking system and advocate for treating the Advenians who are rank zeroes with respect. Even if I had no clue where to start, I’d try, as long as I didn’t get myself discovered and killed in the process…
“This is it,” Ashley halted as she gestured toward the looming doors of the Grand Hall. She gave me a low bow, her brown doe-like eyes never leaving mine.
“Please, don’t bow for me.”
“What would you rather me do?” she asked, startled, as she straightened up.
“I would rather you treat me as a friend. I could use one here.”
“I can do that,” she smiled. I returned it before walking through the doors.
SEVENTEEN
SCOTLIND
The conversation halted as soonas I entered through the doors. It was like the energy was sucked dry, the door I came through a vortex, leaving nothing behind. My cheeks flooded with heat as every eye in the room turned their attention on me, making me utterly aware of how tight and revealing my dress was.
The room was filled with males seated around a large rectangle table. King Lunder took up the head, with the only other female in the room seated straight-back beside him. The current Queen. She looked imposing amongst the sea of men. Her coppery crown, smaller than her husband’s, looked just as regal. Her hands were folded into one another and laid flat across her beige beaded gown as she offered me a small smile.
I would never be like that. I would never complement the King, wouldn’t complement Sie. I looked as out of place as I felt. Still covered in bruises and scabs, I was a fool in a pretty dress.
The males at the table weren’t as kind. All of them remained seated, not moving on my account. I bowed awkwardly, lowering my head at the table before me. I honestly had no clue how to act. Maybe Peter was right, that I desperately needed etiquette classes or whatever other lessons they shoved at me.
Sie was staring coldly in my direction. His eyes never left mine until Peter stood to save me. He walked over to me casually, his hands in his pockets as he flashed his dimpled smile. The silence in the room grew, all eyes watching our movements. I took his outstretched arm as I let him lead me toward an empty seat across from Sie.
Peter stalked around the table and slumped into the chair next to his friend. He seemed so out of place amongst the High Council. He was too civil and too casual amongst the stiff backs and placid stares.
Conversations started again, as swiftly as music on the wind, light gossip and small talk spread. Slowly, the males seated around me began to introduce themselves. I recognized several from my packet, but I couldn’t remember a single name, even as they told me again and again.
I didn’t utter a word to the Prince but found his gaze lingering on mine as it swept over the room. No, he wasn’t watching me, but more how the males were interacting with me. His eyes trailed to which ones spoke to me, who gawked at my dress, who ignored me wholly.
Was this all a setup? Did Sie select this outfit on purpose? As a test to see who would approach me? Was this to gauge who might be in favor of me being here and who wasn’t?
