iv

"My lady, your dress is ready whenever you are." Anaieese called through the bathroom door as Ophelia was soaking in the water. The water in her apartment never got as warm as this.

"Okay, I'll be out in a second!" Ophelia called out, pulling herself from the warm hug of the water and wrapped a white, fluffy towel around her body. She opened the door and stepped out.

There was a dress laced onto a mannequin. It had a dark blue, high-waisted skirt with three silver buttons on each side. The top was black with long sleeves. They flared out half-way down the forearms and immediately hugged the wrists.

Ophelia slowly walked forward and gently touched the fabric. It was fancier than anything she owned. "I'm ready to get dressed, Anaieese," Ophelia looked sheepishly. "Uh, can you help me get into it?" Ophelia looked back to the dress. "I don't mean to bother-" "No, my lady, that's why we're here." Anaieese reassured.

Ophelia smiled. "Anaieese, you don't have to call me 'your majesty' or 'my lady', you can call me 'Ophelia' or 'Eli'. I don't mind." Ophelia smiled as Anaieese nodded and unlaced a corset to wrap around Ophelia.

Ophelia closed her eyes and dropped the towel, quickly covering anything she could. Anaieese smiles a little at Ophelia's nervousness. "It's alright, Ophelia." Anaieese assured and, after Ophelia dropped her hands, put the corset around her torso. She laced the corset and tied it.

Ophelia touched the front of it and released a small breath. "It's not horrible like I heard it was." She looked over her shoulder at Anaieese, who smiled in response. "Whoever told you that probably didn't put it on correctly."

Anaieese turned and pulled the dress off of the mannequin with the help of one of the younger handmaidens and put it over Ophelia's head. It fit her perfectly. Anaieese stood behind Ophelia and laced up the dress.

"Would you mind walking to the vanity so Jillian can fix your hair and makeup?" Anaieese moved out of the way so Ophelia could walk to the elaborate vanity on the wall beside the room divider. Jillian immediately started working on Ophelia's hair, brushing through the small knots. She started twisting Ophelia's hair in complicated ways and pinned it up.

Jillian started working on her makeup, placing a soft red paint onto her lips and blending it out. Combing black through her eyelashes and making a small flick on her eyelids. Jillian finished by gently pinching Ophelia's cheeks to give them some colour.

"There you go, my lady." Jillian bowed and backed away. Ophelia looked into the mirror and almost didn't recognize herself.

"Oh wow." Ophelia looked in the mirror and was amazed. "Are you ready to meet your subjects, Ophelia?" Anaieese walked up behind Ophelia and smiled at her in the mirror.

Ophelia nodded and stood, turning to face Anaieese. "Let's go."

Anaieese held out a pair of thick-heeled shoes. They were black and Ophelia loved them instantly. "Your father figured that you would feel more comfortable in some human clothes instead of the royalty wear." Anaieese clarified. Ophelia nodded and took the shoes from Anaieese, sitting back down on the chair in front of the vanity and strapped the heels onto her feet.

"Let's go." Ophelia smiled, looking at the three handmaidens. Ophelia walked to the door and opened it.

---

"Ophelia!" Abraxas called out over the bustle of the crowd once he saw his daughter walk into the ballroom. Ophelia looked and smiled at him, making her way through the crowd. People moved and stopped what they were doing to gawk at her.

The princess is back. She's so beautiful. She's grown up well.

There were many comments bouncing around Ophelia, but one stood out to her.

She looks exactly like her mother, Gods rest her soul.

Ophelia sucked in a breath, but kept moving forward. Abraxas and Caspian stood at the end of the crowd, and dejavu smacked her in the face. She's dreamed of this. Not in the scenery but exactly what's happening.

"You look beautiful, Eli," Abraxas smiled, hugging her tightly. "You look just like your Mother." Ophelia felt tears prickle the back of her eyes as she looked up at her Abraxas. "I miss her," Ophelia's face fell. "I don't even remember what she sounded like. Will that come back?"

"Of course, the barrier hasn't broken all the way." Abraxas patted Ophelia's shoulder. Ophelia nodded. "Will I be able to remember more about her after it does?"

Abraxas sighed and shrugged. "I've never had one break before. I do not know, Eli." Ophelia looked down. "Oh, okay." Caspian stepped forward and lifted her face with his index finger. "Would you like to get to know some of your subjects?" Ophelia looked over her shoulder to the crowd of people watching the three of them exchange words, and nervousness gripped her heart.

"I would love to," Ophelia turned and looked back to Caspian and Abraxas. "But what if they don't like me?"

Abraxas smiled. "Just like your mother. She worried about the same thing and they adored her." Ophelia smiled shyly back. She turned and allowed Caspian to lead her through the crowd. It was comforting to have Caspian by her side, at least she had someone she knew to walk with her.

"Head up, Darling. Don't hide yourself, you've already been seen." Caspian murmured, while tapping Ophelia's lower back. Breathing in a deep breath, Ophelia raised her head and pushed her shoulders back.

Many people watched as Ophelia and Caspian passed by, admiring how beautiful she was. Someone rushed forward, causing Ophelia to pull back and move to stand a little bit behind Caspian.

"I had to see if the rumors were true," The old man panted, wide grey green sparkling. "Just like your mother, you." Caspian sighed. "Get on with it, Jamison."

The old man, Jamison, waved off Caspian's comment. "I remember you as a wee babe. You'll need to come by the infirmary so I can give you a check up." Jamison grabbed Ophelia's hands and bowed deeply. "Until we meet again."

Jamison walked away, leaving Ophelia stunned. "That was...strange." Caspian chuckled and shook his head. "Strange doesn't begin to describe that man."

Ophelia released a chuckle and heard the scamper of a small child. She looked down and saw a small, frightened girl on her hands and knees in front of her.

"Amelia!" A woman, who Ophelia assumed to be the child's mother, rushed forward. "I'm so sorry, Your Majesty." Ophelia shook her head and kneeled down to help the child up. "It's alright. This happens." Amelia looked at Ophelia and smiled, curtsying and turning to look back at her mother.

"Be careful, Amelia." Ophelia patted the child's head and smiled as she and her mother moved back into the crowd.

"Exactly like your mother."

Abraxas walked up behind Ophelia and sighed. "What was she like?" Ophelia asked, reaching over and shaking hands with a man who had walked up to her.

"We'll talk afterwards, Eli." Abraxas grinned and turned, walking to go and converse with some of the people on his council. "It's been so long since the princess has been here. We're so glad that you've come home." The man smiled and patted her hands. Ophelia tilted her head and smiled. "It's so good to be back."