None of their opinions mattered to me now.
I would choose this for myself.
We sat for a while with a thick, colorful paste in our hair. I had asked to know every flower that made the hue. The process fascinated me.
Estlen felt alive in a way Nythrel, and Bailoc weren’t. As I sat amongst Novena and her friends, I felt like I was someone—like the past few months being the fae queen’s sister existed only in a dream.
I wasn’t even sure if I liked Novena or her friends. It almost didn’t even matter.
It felt so good to be seen again.
Water rinsed the leftover color from my locks. They carefully wrapped my hair in a black scarf. Novena’s hair was wrapped in one too.
Cerulean powder clung to the edges of the bowl that held my hair. Flower remnants swirled across the water.
My choice might reveal cracks that Soren had hidden. I was almost sure it would. I didn’t know if I was ready to live with it, but I didn’t know if I could let this future go.
“Do I get to see it?” I tugged at the towel, desperate to take a look.
“Later,” the woman with the violet hair said. “Let it dry first or the pigment will run onto your beautiful dress as it sets. Once a stain like that sets, nothing can undo it.”
I had never been so impatient for anything.
“Wait until you see it,” Lady Yvonne said. “It’s extremely vivid.”
“I am so interested to see Prince Soren’s reaction.” Novena stepped past me as they pulled the draped fabric back. “We should be getting back.”
“Thank you for everything.” I peered out into the thinning crowd, looking for Fyn as I followed her.
His ears and his messy waves made him impossible tomiss. When he stepped closer to me I smelled the pickle’s stench still.
“Don’t worry—I got rid of the wretched cucumber,” Fyn said.
“It’s a pickle and you smell like it still.”
“I’ll have my jacket laundered.” He looked at me as if he thought I was impossible.
“Novena may make you walk outside the carriage when she gets a whiff of you.”
He tried his hardest to fight the smirk. “Why do they hide your hair after they change it?”
“So your heart doesn’t fail from shock.” I watched Novena carry on with her friends, without me.
Fyn scoffed. “Now I have to see it.” He reached for the wrap, but he adjusted the leather belt that lay across his chest instead.
It usually held his sword, but it was missing.
“Where is your sword?” I hadn’t even noticed when he stopped wearing it.
“I haven’t had it on me this entire time. They won’t let me carry it while I’m here.”
“Won’t let you?” I stopped walking.
“It’s a political visit. I half-expected it.” His voice lowered until no one else could hear it, but me. “Don’t worry, I can easily take one from someone if I need it.”
“That’s most reassuring.” I smoothed my skirt.
“Has he said anything about yours?” He hovered closer to me.
