Reiya nodded. “I’ll see them now.”
She stepped into the adjoining dressing room just as Lady Neda and Thalina entered. The consort’s regal poise contrasted with the girl’s boundless energy as she darted toward a settee draped with gowns.
“When Kaelendrin’s message arrived, telling us he and Alarik were bringing you home, we began preparing some dresses,” Lady Neda explained. “Without knowing your measurements, we chose a variety of styles—at least for tonight. Tomorrow, if you wish, the royal seamstress can tailor them to your liking.”
Before she could reply, Thalina clutched the sleeve of a rose silk gown, her eyes gleaming. “This one’s my favourite!”
Reiya smiled, stepping forward to trace the delicate embroidery. “It’s beautiful, Thalina. You have a keen eye for elegance.”
The girl beamed. “It suits you.”
“A fine choice,” Lady Neda agreed. “Graceful, without being overly grand.”
She added, “The king wishes to keep tonight’s gathering intimate. Just immediate family rather than a courtly spectacle. You’ve had little time to settle—he thought it best to ease you in.”
Reiya exhaled, the tension she hadn’t fully acknowledged unwinding from her shoulders as she let Lady Neda help her into the soft silk. “That’s considerate of His Majesty. It’s been a while since my last court event. It’s reassuring to return to it gradually.”
Truthfully, her comportment felt unpolished, rusty from weeks where survival had mattered more than decorum.
Lady Neda’s eyes glinted with amusement. “Then it’s fortunatetonight requires no scrutiny—at least not yet.” A pause. “Tomorrow’s event, however, will involve the court. A different setting, one that will require . . . careful balance.”
Reiya nodded, tracing the gown’s embroidered hem. “Balancing warmth with grace. Enough composure to command respect, but not so much that I appear distant.”
“Precisely.” The consort reached for a pearl pin on the vanity, securing a loose strand of Reiya’s hair. “In a court like ours, sincerity is valued, but restraint even more so. They will weigh your words—and your silences just as much.”
“What is planned for tomorrow?”
“An afternoon picnic in the desert, closer to sunset when the heat is less oppressive. Most courtiers are still summering in their villas outside Mezerin, so the gathering will be smaller, but significant enough to be your introduction to the court.”
Reiya hesitated before carefully asking, “Might Lady Annaïs be in attendance?”
Lady Neda’s hands stilled briefly before smoothing the silk of the gown with deliberate care. When she met Reiya’s gaze in the mirror, her smile was polite but distant.
“The High Lady of Mezerin will likely attend. Her father, High Chancellor Hassamir, is the king’s distant cousin, and their family ensures their presence on such occasions. She is . . .” She paused, averting her gaze to the gowns. “Skilled at ensuring all eyes remain on her.”
Thalina huffed from where she sifted through a jewelry box. “She loves being the centre of attention. She always wears something extravagant, so everyone notices her.”
Lady Neda’s lips twitched faintly. “She understands the court’s intricacies well and wields her presence with precision.”
The girl’s small hands faltered over the pearls. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “She makes people feel small sometimes. Even Mother.”
The weight of that admission settled over the room.
The consort’s expression remained composed, but something flickered beneath the surface. She resumed adjusting Reiya’s gown.
“That sounds unkind,” Reiya said softly.
Lady Neda’s smile held a quiet resignation. “I was born to a family of cloth merchants west of the capital. When I first entered the palace, it was as a steward to the Keeper of the Royal Household—and Lady Annaïs has never let me forget it.”
“But now you are the king’s consort, and the mother of his daughter.”
“Highborn Omegas are rare. Before you, Asadia had only two—Annaïs, and Lady Safira, a child too young for courtly matters. Such rarity lends power, and Annaïs knows it better than most.”
“And her father?”
Lady Neda’s tone smoothed into practiced neutrality. “The High Chancellor is a man of considerable standing. As the king’s distant cousin and a council member, his voice carries weight, and his counsel is highly regarded. He is devoted to his house’s prosperity, as any wise head of family would be.”
Reiya watched her reflection in the mirror, noting the careful choice of words.
