Page 70 of Dragon King’s Duty Bride

Celeste’s cheeks pinked. “But it’s proper.”

“It is,” Sia agreed. “But today? None of that royal stuff. Now look at the menu and see what you want. They have whipped cream on pancakes.”

A slow smile crept across Celeste’s face. “Can I have as much as I want?”

“Oh, absolutely obscene amounts.”

Celeste dissolved into laughter, and just like that, the princess vanished and the child remained.

After breakfast, they wandered into the boutiques lining the square. Dresses were admired. Shoes were tried on. Celeste gravitated toward sparkly things, then pretended she hadn’t.

In one shop, the clerk gasped softly when she recognized them.

“Your Majesty, Princess Celeste, it’s an honor. Please, allow me to show you our finest collection. We can close the store for privacy.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Sia said smoothly.

The clerk pressed on. “We can prepare gift packaging embossed with the royal crest, but it will take us a bit to get it finished.”

“Thank you,” Sia interrupted, her voice still gentle but unmistakably firm. “But today, we’d like to shop like ordinary people.”

The clerk glanced at her, still uncertain.

Sia reached out and squeezed the woman’s hand. “Really. We’ll let you know if we need any help. We’ll just look around to see what color catches our attention today.”

Celeste tilted her chin. “Blue,” she declared. “I bought lavender the last time.”

As they browsed, Celeste’s posture slowly relaxed again. It didn’t take long before the clerk was their new best friend and was bringing all types of garments out to them that were anything but royal.

Some of it they laughed at. Some of it was tried on just for giggles. But then Celeste tried on a twirling skirt and actually twirled around and around.

Sia clapped dramatically. “Excellent spin. Eight out of ten. Could use more flair.”

The clerk brought another one that twirled even more. “We have the under garments for this skirt so, umm, the king doesn’t have our heads.”

Once she put on the tiny pair of modesty shorts, Sia declared the skirt a ten out of ten.

Celeste’s eyes sparkled. “You think so?”

“I think it’s perfect for you,” Sia replied and motioned for the clerk to ring it up.

They were halfway back toward the castle when music drifted from an open window. It was a catchy beat that spilled from a dance studio.

Sia slowed as they passed. Inside, young dancers practiced, their movements sharp and joyful. Their instructor was calling out orders as they danced.

As they stood and watched, Sia noticed that Celeste was bobbing her head to the beat and her body subtly mimicked the young dancers.

She didn’t think. Sia just dropped her shopping bags on the sidewalk and began to move. There was nothing graceful or regal about it. It was more like wild movements.

She spun across the sidewalk with her arms sweeping wide and her skirts catching air. She kicked a little too high and nearly lost her balance, then laughed at herself.

It was entirely un-queen-like, but it was entirely freeing. A few townspeople stared and one woman gasped. Someone started clapping to the rhythm.

Sia glanced over her shoulder to see if Celeste was mortified. Shock made her take a double take when she realized that Celeste was dancing. Not mimicking her crazy movements, but actually dancing.

Her movements weren’t polished, but they were instinctive. Musical. Her feet caught the rhythm effortlessly. She turned, leaped, and landed with surprising control. Her face, usually so carefully composed, was lit with pure, unfiltered joy.

Sia stopped moving and just watched. Celeste didn’t even notice. When the music faded, she slowed, breathless and glowing.