Seduce.
Five days had passed, and I found myself sitting in front of the mirror, gazing at my reflection. I didn't look as bad as before. My swollen face had returned to normal, and the bruises and scratches had healed, but the scars hadn't. A little bit of makeup would help conceal them.
The palace was a flurry of activity as the maids worked tirelessly to decorate for the upcoming masquerade ball, scheduled for tomorrow night. Regan had promised to get me a new mask, but he hadn't done so yet. Besides, he was about to go to war with a neighboring kingdom. What if he didn't come back? That thought lingered in my mind, filling me with fear. I didn't want him to leave.
A knock on the door caught my attention, and a guard entered the room.
"My lady," he bowed respectfully as he approached.
"His highness wants you to have this," he said, extending his hand and presenting me with a small, shiny box adorned with a large diamond on top as the handle.