Breathe

Maverick opens the door for the carriage, and Haroun steps out first, turning to offer me a hand as I dismount from the Gilcha lizard. The setting sun casts long shadows, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. I am utterly exhausted from the day's events, having spent it with the Pope. It was a day filled with me playfully pestering him, pushing the boundaries of decorum just to see how far I could go.

I can't help but snicker at the memory of Haroun's reaction. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw me casually sit in the Pope's chair. The scandalized look on his face was priceless. Despite his usual stoic demeanor, I could tell his heart nearly stopped at my audacity.

As we make our way back to the palace, the cool evening air is refreshing against my skin.

We walk through the palace grounds, observing the flurry of activity around us. Maids and attendants scurry about, their hurried steps and animated chatter filling the air. Right, the royals from the Brendholm Kingdom arrived yesterday, and tomorrow is the grand welcome ball and banquet in their honor. The reminder flits through my mind, but I push it aside for now.

The evening air is filled with anticipation and a touch of chaos as preparations are in full swing.

We finally reach my palace, and the moment we step inside, Valendor sweeps me up into his arms, spinning me around with such exuberance that you'd think I'd been gone for years instead of just a day. His joy is infectious, and I can't help but laugh, the sound echoing through the grand hall.

"You're back!" he exclaims, setting me down but keeping a firm hold on my hands. His eyes sparkle with relief and happiness, and I feel a warm rush of affection for him.

"Miss me that much?" I tease, squeezing his hands before finally releasing them.

"You have no idea," he replies with a grin, his voice a mixture of playfulness and sincerity. He steps back, still beaming, and I can't help but take his cheeks in my hands, standing on my toes to plant a kiss on his forehead. This is why I think Valendor resembles a puppy—his figurative tail seems to wag with joy. The thought brings a giggle to my lips, and I catch sight of Haroun silently slipping past us into the house, his expression one of quiet amusement.

Before I know it, Valendor disappears from my line of sight, and suddenly Nicholai is there, taking my hand and offering to kiss it. His movements are so graceful, so natural, that I could almost believe he was born into nobility. He bows slightly, his purple eyes twinkling as he presses his lips to my knuckles.

"Welcome back, my princess," he says softly, his voice smooth and warm.

*

"Breathe in!!!!!" Kai's voice pierced the air, his hands expertly tightening the corset around me. I winced, feeling the constriction as he pulled the laces taut.

"I can't breathe!!!" I managed to gasp out, my voice strained.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't have eaten and lazed around so much!" Kai retorted, his fingers deftly adjusting the knots to ensure a perfect fit.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally tied the corset securely. I staggered over to the chair in front of the mirror, my body feeling lethargic from the ordeal. Stacy, ever diligent and reliable, immediately began fussing over my makeup.

The makeup products fascinated me; some resembled familiar items from Earth, like the mascara tube, while others were completely alien to me—the circular lipstick and the cream-like clear foundation left me bewildered.

Meanwhile, Kai moved on to my hair, despite his earlier complaints about being treated like a mere attendant. As I watched his reflection in the mirror, I couldn't help but admire his skillful hands as they deftly detangled and styled my hair into an elegant arrangement.

"You're doing a wonderful job, Kai," I offered sincerely, grateful for his expertise despite his occasional grumbling.

He glanced up briefly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Just doing my duty, Your Highness," he replied with a hint of mischief.

As Kai and Stacy put the finishing touches on my appearance, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of frustration and anticipation. Adjusting the corset had been a torturous experience, albeit necessary in the eyes of courtly fashion. As they meticulously worked on my makeup and hair, I turned to Kai with a pointed look.

"How is the plan going?" I inquired, my tone laced with suspicion.

"Now, now, Your Highness," Kai responded smoothly, his hands deftly arranging the layers of my gown with Stacy's assistance.

The plan was a clandestine operation to revolutionize the fashion norms of our kingdom. We aimed to phase out the dangerously restrictive corsets that had plagued noblewomen for centuries. The new dresses, currently in production at a secret factory, would still feature corsetry but in a modified, safer form—more akin to what common women wore but adorned with intricate designs and gemstones befitting royalty. The meticulous attention to detail was causing delays, but it was crucial to ensure acceptance among the conservative and stuck up noble ladies.

"The factory is almost finished with the dresses. In two months, they should be ready," Kai informed me, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.

I glanced down at my chest, I'm already more than blessed in that area but this makes the whole attire scandalous. The current fashion demanded such exaggeration, because unfortunately the average woman in Salona needs it.

Finally, they completed their work, and I stood before the mirror in a resplendent royal blue gown, a color reserved exclusively for the royal family during official banquets. The necklace I wore, adorned with crystals representing the phases of the moon, remained a constant.

"The necklace?" Kai prompted, gesturing towards it.

"It stays," I say already tired of the night's activities.

"Done!" Kai exclaimed with a satisfied tone, wiping a figurative sweat off his forehead.

I managed a breathless laugh, feeling the tightness of the corset. No laughter for me.