Vying Ceremony

"I am sorry , my lady. There is nothing more we can do. No hairdo will work with your short hair." Veda says with a dejected look on her face.

They had to cut Siv's hair shorter since it was uneven. Her hair style now is a medium-length bob.

'Stylish back home, but freaking peculiar here.'

Siv sighs.

"How am I going to go through the ceremony like this?" She covers her face.

"Oh, I have an idea, my lady." Veda runs into the closet and then reappears holding a hairpin. "Remember this?"

It's the sapphire hairpin they bought back in Kemi. The dress both Veda and Tove worked on altering all night has no blue in it. It is plain gray, so it wouldn't match.

"We can add a blue ribbon on the waist." Tove announces as if she read Siv's mind. She smiles.

"Great, let's finish it all quickly, I cannot be late."

The ladies work their magic and add a dark blue ribbon to the waist of the dress, Veda even manages to use some blue lace she digs up from a box and sews it into the hems of the sleeves. Tove places the hairpin on the right side, slightly lifting a few locks up. It all looks very sophisticated.

'Let's just hope sophisticated is the new lady-like.'

Siv starts walking toward the ballroom where the ceremony is taking place. Lord Benson spent a good chunk of the night instructing her about how everything will proceed. All the candidates are to wait in a nearby room until they are called by name, in order of importance. So, the princesses will be called first, then the noble ladies. Siv will be called last since she is the fiancee chosen by the late king.

Between Shelby's lessons and the fitting of the dress, Siv got very little sleep last night. She feels so tired she keeps yawning. She just wants to close her eyes and fall asleep.

'A Red Bull or coffee would be nice right about now. Oh coffee, how I miss you.'

"My lady." A footman bows to her before opening one of the double doors to a study. She has never been here.

"Thank you." Siv enters, it appears she is the last to arrive.

Siv recognized Vagle on one of the settees and of course Princess Hella from Vanta. She would never let an opportunity like this pass. Three other gorgeous ladies are scattered around the room, sitting on different chairs and sofas.

"Good afternoon, ladies." Siv greets after debating whether she should or not.

It turns out, she shouldn't have because all she gets in response are scoffs, glares, and whispers. Siv's throat feels dry all of a sudden. She feels a few drops of cold sweat run down her back. This scene is so familiar that her hands start to tremble. The atmosphere is exactly the same as when she joined the Morrison Architecture firm. The hostility is tangible in the room. She shakes her head trying to discard the dreadful feeling she has in her chest.

'Ok, I'll just sit in this corner.'

"Lady Holmen, is that a new hairdo from Lohja?" Gunvor mocks making the other ladies laugh.

'I'll give you a hairdo you little-'

Siv takes a deep breath. Lord Benson mentioned this to her already, so she is a bit prepared for the venomous comments.

"Thank you for noticing , Lady Vagle." The room goes silent. "Hardly, it is a personal style. I do hope though that you are not relying on your hairdo to seduce His Highness." The girl's eyes bulge in surprise. "You see my dear, the difference between a woman and a child are... curves, which you clearly lack." Siv smiles so sweetly, you would think she has just complimented the girl. One of the ladies bursts out into a loud and unstoppable laugh, earning her darts from the rest.

"Listen you-" Lady Vagle starts but her voice dies when the doors fly open.

"The ceremony is starting." The butler announces.

All the ladies stand from their seats and straighten their dresses. Everyone looks nervous but poise.

"Her Royal Highness, Princess Hella Arkelson of Vanta." The Herald calls.

'Of course she has to go first. Can I make her trip?'

"Her Royal Highness, Princess Shayna Banderson of Hammenlinna."

'Ha, that's a character from the game. I swear this is so weird.'

"Her Royal Highness, Princess Helga Mathison of Jyvaskyla." The girl who laughed earlier smiles at Siv, tilting her head to the side before walking out to the ballroom.

'And that was supposed to be my character. At least she doesn't look as hostile as the other ones.'

"Lady Runna Jostad of Lovisa."

"Lady Gunvor Vagle of Salo." The young girl rolls her eyes at Siv before walking out.

"Lady Siv Holmen of Lohja."

'Here we go.'

Siv takes measured steps into the ballroom where the royal members and the nobles from Pyama and neighboring countries all watch. She feels her heart hammer in her chest but she ignores it. With an elegant curtsy, Siv greets the king, then the queen, and finally the crown prince. She then walks to join the other ladies in the center of the room, as instructed by Shelby.

"The traditional Vying has existed for hundreds of years and it is part of our history." The Minister of the Palace Affairs starts. "The king and the elders will help the crown prince make the decision of choosing the future queen of Pyama." Applause bursts throughout the room. "From hereon, the ladies will all be granted the title of Rouva. They are to use the title with their first names until the end of the Vying." The old minister takes a moment to catch his breath before he continues. "The Rouvas are to be judged on matters of politics, etiquette, housewifery, elegance, and virtue." He raises his glass of champagne. "To the Rouvas."

"To the Rouvas." Everyone cheers before drinking.

'Where is my champagne? I could use some to calm this heart of mine.'

After the toast, the other Rouvas are surrounded by some of their family members and friends. Siv, on the other hand, stands alone in the corner. Her family traveled back to Lohja as soon as news of the Vying started spreading. They were too embarrassed to attend any events after that and just left the capital.

After staring at the crowd for a moment, Siv walks through the double glass doors into the veranda. She welcomes the chilly breeze, a nice contrast to her flushed cheeks. She leans on the baluster and takes a deep breath.

"Man, I miss Colby."