Then What Is This?

Luthiel stood within William's chamber, and once William was done dressing up, he walked out from behind the wooden barrier.

He adjusted his suit and raised his head to look at Luthiel, only to become still in disbelief.

"Um... You didn't fix your hair properly again." He said and caught off guard for a moment, Luthiel flickered his eyes before slowly nodding his head.

"It wasn't really necessary at all. I had more important things to do."

He replied with a straight face and William gazed at him for a few seconds before a slow smile formed on his face.

"Luthiel, today is my sister's big day. You need to look good at least. Not that you don't look good now, but please look different today if you get what I mean."

He chuckled softly, and a slight breath fled from Luthiel's nose.

"Well, maybe some other time. I don't have the time to do that anymore."

He shook his head and William turned to his maids.

"You all can leave now." He said to them, and they obediently left.

The guards shut the door, and William turned to look at Luthiel.

"Please have a seat. I know you won't let those maids touch you, but since we are friends, it won't be a problem if I help you with your hair, would it?"

He inquired, and Luthiel gazed at him for a moment before he walked to sit down on the chair.

He cleared his throat, and William smiled at him before grabbing the comb from the table.

"You never change, do you?" He abruptly said, and Luthiel looked at him through the mirror with his brow arched in confusion.

"I mean, you have been the same for five years now."

"We have been friends for five years now and yet, you rarely say a word to me or even smile at all. But maybe I am wrong. I mean, you and the assassin seem to be getting along quite wel-"

"I have nothing to do with her. She's not a friend of mine. My only business is to train her."

He immediately corrected, and William slightly nodded his head.

"I see. Well, I am done." He dropped the comb, and Luthiel looked at himself in the mirror.

His brow arched on seeing that it was left flowing down to his waist instead of tied up like it always is.

"Could you band it?" He asked, and William shook his head at him.

"No, it looks better on you this way. You can tie it back like you prefer once the party is over. "

He smiled at him and, although wanting to retaliate, he eventually agreed, and together they walked out of the chamber and proceeded towards the royal hall.

——————

Yennefer walked out of the washroom, dressed up in an inner white garment.

She walked over to the back of the curtains where she dresses up and gazed at the ocean blue dress with flowery patterns that the emperor had gifted her.

"Looks pretty." She commented, and Livia, who stood on her left-hand side, smiled sweetly.

"Mhm. It will look so beautiful on you. It compliments your hair color a lot."

She said, and recalling that her hair color was white and not black, a soft chuckle exited Yennefer's mouth as she nodded in agreement.

"Lift your hands, my lady."

Masha, who went to grab her corset, returned and stood behind her.

Yennefer obediently lifted her hands, and with Livia's help, they wore her the corset and tightened it at the back to the point that she found herself unable to breathe.

"Hey! Hey! What the hell?" She quickly turned around and glared at them with a traumatized expression on her face. "What are you two doing?!"

She asked, and Livia and Masha glanced at each other with perplexity in their eyes.

"Um... tightening your corset," Masha replied and Yennefer quickly untied the ropes.

"Do you want me to breathe or not?" She questioned, and they glanced at each other again before slowly nodding their heads at her.

"We do."

"Then what is this?!! I have made plans to eat till my belly is full, so if you tighten it to this point, what do you think will happen? How will I be able to eat?"

She asked with a serious expression on her face and thinking that she was joking, Livia and Masha chuckled.

"You are quite funny, my lady. What you just said is not graceful at all for a woman, but... we will not tighten it at all if you do not like it."

Masha said as she walked towards her.

She turned her around, and with Livia's help, she proceeded to tie the ropes again.

"Why do you guys do this?" She asked.

"Do what?" Masha inquired, a bit confused.

"Wear the corset this tight? Aren't you guys afraid that you might collapse or something?" She genuinely inquired and a half smile appeared on Masha's face.

"Well, my lady, most women love their waists to be the size of an orange, so what can we do? May I also remind you that it mesmerizes men."

She cackled, and Yennefer clicked her tongue, having sort of expected that.

"Everything about this era is all about men." She murmured, and Livia and Masha, who didn't hear what she was murmuring about, shook their heads at her.

They finished dressing her up and beautifully brushed her hair, leaving it to flow down to her waist.

They adorned it with pretty jewelry and had her look at herself in the mirror.

"Ahh... you look so beautiful like a princess." Masha flattered her and Yennefer looked at herself in the mirror, now realizing how pretty she actually looked.

She would never have thought she was this pretty in her past life.

A soft smile formed on her face and she slipped her feet into her sky-blue shoes, which matched her dress.

She proceeded to walk out of the chamber, but Masha grabbed her by the arms and pulled her back.

She took a deep breath. "My lady, please do not fail to grab yourself a Prince Charming. You look too beautiful to the point that I will be very disappointed if you don't." She whispered to her and, having not expected that at all, Yennefer furiously blinked her eyes.

"I see...." She slowly nodded her head and, not exactly sure of what to say, she turned around and hurriedly walked out of the chamber, leaving Masha and Livia to stare at her disappearing back.

She hurried outside, and together with the guards following behind her, she made her way towards the royal hall.