The flutters and kicks of my little baby increased as the day of our wedding came closer and closer. And Dorian would constantly stop what he was doing to place his hands over my round stomach, smiling when he’d feel our baby kicking against him. His mother had to kick him out of the office a few times so that I could focus on my lessons, making me laugh when he would pout as he walked away.
On the morning of the big day, Ivy and Morina woke me up and helped me get ready. They prepared my bath and poured oils and flower petals into the water while other maids pulled out the dress and all the adornments that were going along with it. I was massaged, wrapped in silk and sprayed with perfumes. I was made to lay in bed with a mask of herbs and flowers on my face and forced to sit still for hours while my hair was treated and combed. A light coating of make-up was placed on me while my nails were polished and
The chill in the air was biting as I walked through the garden with Lanalee. It had been so long since I was able to spend time with her and I knew that once my baby was born I would have even less time. So, even though Dorian wanted me to rest and keep warm within the Central Palace while he traveled with his father to the Capital, I wrapped myself up in a warm cloak and decided to take a walk. We were enjoying the gentle calm the winter breeze blew in when Calix appeared, running towards us in his own little cloak and boots. “Why are you out in the cold My Lady?” He asked me, his breath making little puffs of white blow out with his words. “Calix.” Lanalee chastised, shaking her head at her son. “I told you, it’s not ‘Lady’ anymore, it's Madam, or Your Majesty.” “Oh, right.” He bowed and corrected himself, maki
I sat in my room feeling bored as I re-read some of my old books, deciding whether it would be tossed aside for donation or kept for later enjoyment. I was nearly done taking down most of all my books from my bookshelf, placing the ones for donation in a wooden crate while my more treasured tomes were being gently tucked away in a small luggage case. I paused when an old dark blue leather book caught my attention.
The next few days flew by and I was soon waiting for the carriages that would take my sister and I to the Fafner Royal Palace. Our luggage was piled up and separated near the front door with a maid standing watch against both walls. I was still waiting in my room while my sister very loudly talked and passed out in the hallway. She finally stopped when the family butler came to get her, telling her that both carriages were here as well as her handpicked Knight.
When we finally arrived at the Palace we were quickly escorted to the Queeness Palace, a Palace maid guiding us to our private rooms on different wings. Rosanna was verbally grateful to be living away from me as she followed her Maid to the north wing. While I smiled and silently followed my guide into the south wing. Ivy and Arden walked with me, wanting to see where my rooms were before settling into their own. Gratefully, my rooms were the last ones at the very end of the south wing, with large wooden doors that were adorned with intricate designs.
The silence that followed only lasted a short while before a maid found us, bowing to the Prince before urging us to join the others in the ballroom. She noticed the blood streaks on my arm and helped clean them up, offering a few tissues to Rosanna to help her still look presentable. Once we rejoined the rest of the Queeness’, His Majesty disappeared down a smaller pathway and through a side door followed closely by his Knights.
After me meeting with the King and Queen I was sulking in my room, feeling so utterly pathetic for letting myself get sucked into my memories in front of others. Especially His and Her Majesty. Ivy wouldn’t stop bringing it, saying how she was so moved with my tales of my mother and how happy my childhood had been. My brother on the other hand was drowning in his own embarrassment, trying to shift all the cringey feelings onto me by teasing me.
I don’t know how long I spent outside crying my eyes out like a lunatic. But when I was finally calm enough, I got up from the ground and gathered my dirty shawl, tossing the wooden sword aside as I made my way back into the Palace. As I snuck back inside I wrapped my bleeding hand with my shawl, fighting back a yawn as I made my way down the hallway. But as I neared my door I froze, feeling the presence of someone nearby.
The morning of the first festival day brought on a surge of chaotic excitement that affected everyone. And soon the news of who was going to open and close the first day of the festival spread across the Palace. Those Noble Ladies spent the entire morning shouting commands at their Handmaid’s as well as the Palace maids. They were urging them to get things for them, changing their minds about their performance outfit and crying a river when the tiniest things were out of place. Ivy, Arden and I just enjoyed the free show, quietly laughing at the manic range of emotions that was running through the two dancers of the day.When the sun was high in the sky, we were all escorted to the large open plain on the farthest edge of the Palace grounds, on the other side of the Central Palace. Banners, flowers and ribbons of all colors were blowing in the summer breeze from the posts of every shop and game stand. There were hundreds of Shifters walking around too, all full of smile