Welcoming of the Court's Contest
Isabella had begun to adapt to her new life within the palace of Arcoi as a lady of the court. Despite the rumors of the impending contest circulating among the ladies of the court, she relished the daily rituals of being dressed in delicate gowns and dosed in perfumes, with her every whim and need catered by her attendants, the elegance of the Arcoi palace had become a cozy haven, and the intricate dance of politics that took place before her very eyes as the ladies sized one another up for the competition that loomed ahead.
However, the cloud of uncertainty loomed over her, for she knew the details of the contest remained a well-guarded secret, and Alexander's enigmatic hints had only piqued her curiosity. The notion of becoming a concubine for Casmir, the very man she had fled, filled her with dread. She was determined to avoid him at all costs.