ELORA
“Ow.” I winced as someone tugged on my hair. I had been sitting in a chair for hours, and my behind and back ached.
“As they say, beauty is pain,” Lucy said.
After Skye left, she had come tumbling into my room excited. I wondered what was so exciting about being stuck in a seat for hours. My head burned too.
“My back aches,” I whined as the hair stylist pulled my hair even more.
“You’ve only been here for a few minutes.” She replied, amused. She was seated on my bed, admiring the dress I was to wear. “In a few hours, this should be over. Trust me, you’d look stunning. I can’t wait!” She clapped and squealed.
I couldn’t relate to her excitement so I gave a small smile. “Hours? That’s a long time. Isn’t this a dinner?”
“Not just a dinner, Elora. It’s a dinner with the king and his family. Your first time meeting his family as his mistress. It’s a big deal.” She said slowly then stood up and twirled dreamily.
My hands were clammy. “When you put it like that…”
“Oh, Elora. It’s going to be so much fun. You’re nervous now but it’ll soon be over.”
It was easy for Lucy to say. She didn’t have the most awkward and confusing night with the king. No one was sending her threats and clothes soiled with blood which may be her mother’s. It was hard focusing on the dinner at hand with the letter I received and the fact that I was going to see Kain Kurt in hours aggravated me.
What if he kidnapped me or tried to hurt me?
It seemed like he would do anything to harm me and my family.
“Ellie?” Lucy called.
“If you say so.”
“Trust me. During this meeting, your mistress ball will be discussed.”
“Mistress ball?”
“Ah, yes. The king officially announces you as his mistress. After then, Bale expects an heir from you.”
The pressure of her words weighed me down. Ball? Heir?
“That’s… Something.”
“Indeed. But I believe you’ll do well.” She squeezed my arm. “You were born for this!”
As much as I wanted Lucy’s words to soothe me, they only succeeded in aggravating my nervous breakdown. I knew she meant well but I wasn’t prepared to face the king and his family. Especially Kain Kurt and Princess Kate.
After several hours with my face pinched, my hair pulled, and a corset dreadfully tightened on my waist, I was dressed in a blue satin gown. The neckline was higher than other dresses that I had worn and it was decorated with little bits of sapphire gems that reflected light.
The arms were short but puffy, that was the only part of the dress that wasn’t clinging to me. With the help of the corset, my stomach was sucked in and the dress was tightened around my waist. Breathing was difficult. The dress flowed in a wave of lush silk down from the waist to pool around my feet. The sapphire gems were also attached to the hem of the dress.
“You look like a goddess!” Lucy squealed.
Indeed.
I couldn’t recognize the woman in the mirror.
My lips and cheeks were rosier. The blue dress complimented my milky skin tone and my amber eyes stood out against the black eyeliner. The royal hairstylist did a number on my dark auburn hair. It was packed in a complicated hairdo which she informed me was one expected of the king’s mistress. She twisted the hair and pinned it, she then curled the loose hair at the bottom over itself and tucked it into the twists forming an elaborate low bun. The twists were lined with white roses and pearls.
Lucy could be right.
I pulled on the elbow-length satin gloves given to me as the stylists finished dressing me up with a breathtaking pearl necklace, just like what was put it was rose-shaped.
It was no doubt that I looked beautiful but I spotted the sadness in my eyes. I hoped no one would notice so I plastered a smile on my face.
“In a few minutes, you’ll be summoned,” Lucy informed me.
“Thank you.” I gave a curt nod. “Thank you.”
She engulfed me in a hug.
“Anything for you.” Then she released me. “Alright.”
I fiddled with the gloves and waited. I wasn’t supposed to go to the dining room without being summoned. I remembered Skye’s words and tried my best to quell my nervousness and stop my fiddling.
There was a knock on the door.
“Yes?” I managed to say.
The door opened. “You have been summoned to the royal family dinner,” one of the royal servants informed me. She bowed.
“Thank you.”
“Well, this is it.” Lucy squeezed my arm and led me out of the room.
*********
I was dazed by the sight of the room. In all of Alkarod, I hadn’t seen a dining room so grand. Of course, I shouldn’t have expected less as this was the Castle but I couldn’t get enough of the chandeliers. It glittered and gleamed, teasing my eyes. It seemed delicate like it would fall anytime soon.
On the pillars were carefully carved animals. There were eight pillars with different animals and also torch holders on them. The pillars formed an arch that all met in the middle of the ceiling.
At the center of the room was a long table holding diverse delicacies. I shifted uncomfortably as the corset seemed to tighten. Every member of the royal family was already seated and they all stared at me as I walked into the room.
My face burned and my hands trembled. I took careful steps to avoid embarrassment as my legs wobbled.
Why had I been summoned last?