Bezmun (part 2)

"Whoa!" Reis exclaimed cheerfully. She was admiring the view of the sea from the balcony. The moon hung low on the vast sky, creating quite an ethereal reflection on the waters below.

The waves crashed loudly against the tall rocks surrounding the bottom of the high ground.

Ysabel opened the largest wooden trunk brought in from their carriage. A smaller one sat beside all of her belongings.

Selecting the best of the dresses she had brought, Ysabel carefully laid them out in the Queen-sized bed.

A smaller bed was arranged across from hers. Unlike most of the monarchs that had been invited, Ysabel had been given a special privilege.

Shifting her attention to her only friend, Ysabel smiled rather fondly at her. All those years that they had grown up together in the castle made Ysabel's heart prick.

But she forced a tight smile to appear in the corners of her lips.

"Reis," Ysabel called out. The latter tore her gaze away from the scenic view and approached Ysabel.

"Your Highness," she lowered her head, but Ysabel tutted, putting a finger under her chin, and lifted her head.

"I brought you here as a friend, Reis, and not as a palace maid."

Ysabel watched her friend's eyes gather tears. They were ready to fall, but she blinked them away and threw her arms around Ysabel.

The embrace was too tight, but Ysabel kept silent and patted Reis' back. She waited until the latter let go.

"I shall help you get ready, your highness."

Ysabel nodded.

"Let's do that."

Carefully, Reis undid the ribbon at the back of Ysabel's dress. The two friends remained silent while Reis worked on the dress.

Ysabel closed her eyes, humming a song she once heard from her mother's lips.

"Should I prepare you a bath, your highness?"

Ysabel shook her head.

"I shall have one after making appearances. I don't smell, do I?"

"Oh!" Reis was suddenly frantic, afraid that her words had offended Ysabel. "I didn't mean it like that. You're fine. You never smell."

Ysabel chuckled, which calmed Reis' troubled thoughts in an instant.

"I was joking."

After undoing the dress, Reis helped Ysabel get into the new one. It was similar to her mother's favorite dresses; a burgundy with the end of trailing gallantly behind her when she walked.

Its upper bodice hugged the slender shape of her breast and hips.

Reis finished getting Ysabel ready.

"Let me braid your hair, your highness,"

"I always love your braids. They make me feel pretty."

"But you are already pretty!"

Ysabel offered a light smile, ushering Reis toward the vanity. She sat on the cushioned seat, watching Reis work on her hair.

It reminded her of that day.

Chasing the images away from her head, Ysabel placed her focus on the sound of the restless sea. Cool night air flipped the silk curtains hanging by the balcony.

She knew that Hinrik had specially chosen this chamber for her. She remembered in their letters how she expressed to him her love for the ocean, the sky, the moon, and the stars.

He was trying so hard to win her. The guilt clawed deeper in her insides, making it difficult for Ysabel to look at Reis.

"Your Highness," Reis whispered, gently releasing her hold on Ysabel's hair. She had done a magnificent job arranging her curls to fit the burgundy dress.

Ysabel swallowed the negative feeling gnawing at her and turned to Reis. She grabbed her hands in hers and grinned mischievously at the palace maid.

"It's your turn," Ysabel remarked excitedly.

Reis had briefly processed what Ysabel had meant, gasping as the latter pulled her toward the large trunk.

"Your Highness!"

"Such," Ysabel replied. She let go of Reis, gathering a fistful of her dress before kneeling in front of the trunk she had just opened.

Pulling out one dress after the other, the pile flew toward the bed.

"You will be late for the party, your highness!"

Ysabel chuckled.

"The queen is never late, Reis."

"B-but!"

Finally finding something that could match Reis's skin color, Ysabel fished out the dress and smiled triumphantly.

"Aha!"

She presented it to the palace maid, grinning like she had won the lottery.

Ysabel wished she did win the lottery. But in her entire life, she had never once made any bet nor dared to make a bet.

The lottery was a means for people to have fun and gamble on luck to win some money.

'I don't have that,' Ysabel thought bitterly.

She had never felt like she was lucky, contrary to what everyone believed because she was born a princess.

'If only they knew what it was really like.'

Ysabel dismissed the somber thoughts, pleading with her friend to try on the dress. It was a mint-colored one. Reis' eyes would stand out if she wore it.

"Please, Reis. Wear it,"

Reis' eyes grew wide both in excitement and uncertainty.

"But it's your dress! I will be punished—" Reis couldn't finish her sentence. Ysabel had stood behind her and slowly untied her clothes just as she had done for Ysabel.

"Come on, please," Ysabel whispered. "Do this for me. Plus, we're not in Eyeris. No one has power over you here. If anyone tried to scold you, they would have to face me."

Reis had no further argument. She let Ysabel finish undressing her and let her help in putting on the nicer dress for the evening.

Happy with the result, Ysabel gently pushed her friend toward the vanity and let her behold the captivating beauty that she had become.

Clamping her mouth, Reis couldn't believe her eyes. A change of clothes had made her feel alive for once and more of a woman than a simple maid working for the royals.

Ysabel smiled from behind, taking pride in her work.

"Your Highness," Reis mumbled, her eyes glistening with tears for the second time. "You're glowing."

Ysabel accepted the compliment with a slight tilt of her head, putting a hand over her heart.

"And so are you," the monarch commented, extending a hand toward Reis. "Come, let's enjoy the feast and make this night unforgettable."

Ysabel watched Reis nod her head vigorously, oblivious to the impending doom that was to come.

'I'm sorry, Reis. May the gods be with you and me as we continue our journey separately.'