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“What about this one?” I asked, but no one seemed to hear me. From the little conversation I picked up on, they were bickering over how to resolve this nightmare of a situation. Why hadn’t they given me this one to try?
Even Emma and Daphne were involved in the discussion. I guess a few glasses of alcohol had loosened their lips. It was the most they’d spoken all night. So without their help, I removed my oversized ballgown and slipped into the slim, fitted dress that had caught my eye.
I didn’t even have to see myself in the mirror. The moment I put it on, it just felt right. Still, I picked up the fabric around my knees and let the train follow me as I went to stand in front of the mirror again. My dismal frown was immediately replaced with a tentative upward curve of my lip.
The dress had thin straps and the neckline dipped in an elegant v-shape that highlighted my cleavage. It was tight enough to accentuate my curves, but unlike most that I had tried on, I could still breathe in it. Although it hugged my stomach, I didn’t see the bloat from a day’s worth of wine and cake. Again, I questioned the dress’s magical properties.
The bottom half of the dress flowed to the floor, its long train trailing behind me. There was no lace, no beads, no tulle or patterns. And yet it was stunning. It was hands down the best dress I’d tried on all night and, better yet, I felt like a bride for the first time. I felt beautiful.
My slight grin turned into a full-blown smile and my eyes were once again glistening, this time with happy tears.
I was met with silence when I turned around, but this time was nothing like the first dress. Looks of awe and pleasant surprise adorned their faces when they noticed me waiting for their attention.
Rather than sputtering, Sophia’s eyes glistened, and she placed a palm across her chest. Emma and Daphne exchanged another look. This time I understood it as acknowledgement that the dress was perfect. Adelaide looked confused, and I wasn’t sure why until she spoke.
She muttered softly, “I don’t remember bringing that one.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond, but thankfully I didn’t have to. Sophia moved forward to embrace me in a hug. “Well, thank the gods you did. She’s stunning. Oh Emilie, I can’t wait to welcome you into our family.”
Sophia held me close, and I patted her on the back awkwardly. I wasn’t used to this physical affection that she loved so much. Her glass flute tilted in her hand and the twins gasped while Adelaide ran forward to grab it from Sophia’s hand.
Thankfully, nothing touched my perfect dress. Sophia’s tears of joy only landed on my bare chest. She was a blubbering mess and as we stood in an embrace, I started to tear up too. And then I laughed at how ridiculous we must’ve looked. But it was nice to have a mother like Sophia.
A knock on the door made us separate.
“Am I interrupting?” Ladon asked.
The sight of him left me breathless. I hadn’t seen him in a week. It had been that long since our last training session. After which, I’d decided not to go back. Miraculously, I hadn’t run into him in the halls or anywhere else in the castle. I was becoming quite accustomed to the lack of his snarling presence.
Right on cue, his focus landed on me and I thought I saw his nose twitch. Like he’d caught a whiff of a foul odor.
Fuck him.
“What did you need, sweetheart?” Sophia asked her son.
I stifled a laugh at the nickname. Ladon was far from a sweetheart. Perhaps his mother had permanently suffered some brain damage from her drinking habits.
He tore his eyes from me and focused his attention on Sophia instead. “Cyrus wants to see you. Mentioned something about the Driash family complaining about taxes again. He needs you to help smooth things over.”
Sophia sighed and explained. “The Driashes. They were my neighbors growing up. I was really good friends with their daughter and once I married Ezra, they started looking for favors. I’ve told them a million times they won’t be receiving any preferential treatment, but they won’t take no for an answer.”
“But Cyrus is king now. Why would they still seek you?” I asked.
She laughed. “That makes it even worse. They think I have even more influence now because he’s my son.”
Then she leaned in to whisper conspiratorially. “Don’t tell them, but they’re right.”
She set her empty glass on the bar cart. “Anyway, I should go take care of this. Come on, Ladon. Stop staring at the beautiful bride and escort your dear mother.”
Horrified, I looked toward Ladon, still perched next to the door. His cheeks flushed red.
Had he been staring?
Chapter Eleven
Emilie
I heard a knock on my door, and before I could speak, Cyrus walked in. He was wearing his night clothes—soft and loose-fitting black pants with a thin gray shirt.
