Ladies peered in, but when they recognized Novena, they immediately turned.
“You may touch whatever you like, Your Highness.” A woman greeted me as I stepped into the alcove. She tucked her silver curls behind her ears. “If there is a gown you’d like to see, you just let me know.”
“Orin, do you still have the plum gown?” Novena’s voice swept between us.
“Of course, Princess. Any others you were eyeing?” Orin asked.
“Just the one.” Novena offered a polite smile.
“I put it aside for you after I saw you eyeing it last time you were here.” Orin gestured to a row of gowns on display. “Look around while I get it for you.”
I couldn’t get over the magnificence of the room—the colors that surrounded me. Each luxurious fabric felt different from the next.
“Is it always so quiet in here?” We were the only ones there.
“When a member of the royal family visits the market they are expected to keep their distance unless invited.” Novena’s eyebrow raised ever so slightly until she turned from me.
“So no one else will enter?” I wanted to see more people—talk with them, hear them laugh, but every amused sound existed outside the alcove.
“My friends will be here soon. They always come to shopwith me, but I see they’re late.” Novena brushed a strand of her deep purple hair off her shoulder. “Where are they Vane?” She turned to another guard.
“I’m sure they will be here shortly,” the guard said to Novena.
“Here it is, Your Highness.” Orin carried the gown as if it were the most precious thing she owned. “This shade will be stunning on you.”
“That is the one.” Novena waved Vane over. “Pay her for it and see it returned to the carriage.” Novena turned to me. “Did you see nothing you’d like? Soren wants you to have what you wish. It isn’t a burden.”
“I have another one in the back that would suit her nicely, in one of my newer silks,” Orin said.
Novena nodded. “We’d like to see it. It is an honor for them to dress us. All eyes of the court are always on us. We make the fashions.”
“You wouldn’t want to disappoint them,” Fyn whispered as Novena turned.
“You find this most amusing, don’t you?” I looked up at him.
He studied me. “I’m not one for dress shopping, truly.”
“Princess Ashlyn, you may love this one.” Orin carried a gown over to me with gold embellishments around the waist and around the neckline. “They are all hand-stitched. It takes a great deal of time. If you wish to try it on, you may.”
“I’ll help you with it,” Novena said.
Each jeweled bead carefully caught the light. “That would be most appreciated.”
Novena and I followed Orin as she carried it into the back. With little effort, my old gown was removed and the new one was pulled up into place.
Orin’s slender fingers quickly tied the back as I peered in the mirror that stood in the corner.
The gown was everything—the embellishments—the way it braced me.
The blue was exactly as I wished it.
“Soren won’t be able to take his eyes off you,” Novena said. “We’ll take it. Vane will pay you for it, Orin. Have Princess Ashlyn’s other gown wrapped and brought to the carriage.”
Orin carried out my old dress.
I followed Novena as she stepped back into the alcove. "I haven't made my decision yet. This feels like too grand of a gift." Gifts like this were never freely given.
"It is what they do for us. Soren wants you to have whatever you wish." She uttered it like a promise. "This future can be yours, but if you wish to keep it, you may want to do more to keep his interest."
