Chapter 18: Wrapped Wings

In the cocoon, a dragon's earliest memories were of their dam's warmth. Although the pair were separated by the placenta, the ammonia fluid and the eggshell, a young dragon's hyperawareness transcended the physical barriers. They could acutely feel the dame's, their mother's, large, comforting body circling around the egg. Every rise and fall of the dam's chest was like a slow lullaby, which would be soon overwhelmed by the quickening beats of their heart as the young dragon was close to hatching.

Whenever she closed her eyes and truly retreat into the depths of her mind, she would recall the sensation of having two hearts pounding at different rhythms in her ears. Though she didn't know if it was universal for other dragons, her dreams always started off that way. She would be encased in inexplicably soothing darkness before it gradually morphed into something else.

First came the sudden weight weighing down her body, then the familiar sensation of plush grounding her back and her bottom. She awoke on her chair by the vanity table. The times she's sat in this chair could be counted on one hand, but like every dragon, she knows her territory well.

Gradually, she woke up. Her slow blinks quickened to steady her vision as her spirit grounded itself to gravity. She raised her head and saw her reflection in her vanity mirror, but she looked strange. Her dragon features were on full display, but they were twisted and foreign. Her complexion was pale like she was plagued with sickness. Her horns were spiked at the top, indicating her age was older. The twin spires were coated by scales of vibrant crimson, like a fire dragon's.

What scared her most were her eyes. The black in her eyes had faded into nothing but a tiny pupil in the centre that was surrounded by an ocean of gold. They captured the sunlight effortlessly, reflecting like cursed gold that drove even the staunchest of dragons mad.

A suffocating weight in her chest threatened to seize her thumping heart; coaxing an involuntary sting in her eyes. Suddenly, she was sick of staring at her own reflection. She rose from the chair and was assaulted by a wave of dizziness.

Then, there was a steady hand on her arm.

She was about to glare at the impudent person, simply because she despised being touched without permission, but her breath was caught in her throat. Beside her, was a tall, beautiful woman with hair of spun gold. She wore armour of royal silver that matches her warm eyes. Her undeniable human features were kind as she whispered in a tone that made her wings shudder, "Are you okay?"

"I-" stuttered Ayu. Her split tongue refused to cooperate as her mind kept repeating the question "who is this flawless person?" like a broken record.

"Come, how about we eat a little something? You must be ravished," suggested the woman, who seemed oblivious to the conflict in Ayu's heart.

She allowed herself to be guided by the woman, but in their silence, she observed the gait of the person who was brazen enough to match the strides of the crown princess. They made no conversation, and Ayu was content in simply soaking in the scent of the new stranger by her side. She smelt of lavender and eucalyptus, much like the gardens she wanders in. The one behind the palace, the Garden of Solitude, where the great-grandfather became a host to vines and lost to history.

It didn't need to be stated that Ayu's worries weighed heavily on her mind. Many glorify the throne, but only a few comprehend how fickle the favour of fates genuinely is. Ayu herself doesn't particularly understand it, she simply finds it unfair that she's expected to balance upon a pyramid made of sand, whereby a mere gust of wind could cause the entire structure to collapse. Azule, hates the responsibility that came with the moniker.

"Where are you going?"

She turned around to see the blond woman pausing by a door, looking at her with an amused smile but it was softened by her kind eyes. Unknowingly, the knight managed to spread warmth across the princess's cheeks as if she were merely morning toast, leaving a trail of iridescent blue across her sharp cheekbones. Abruptly stopping in her steps, Ayu quickly entered the dining hall to make up for her fumble.

Sunlight lit up the room, reflecting off the silverware crowding around a single chair by the end of the long table. Her heart stuttered when she realised that was her father's chair, and her own was nowhere to be found. Unadulterated panic encircled her palpitating heart, squeezing the apex to reveal the congealed blue inside.

The blonde woman was not deterred by such thoughts, so she strode forward to pull back the chair.

"Oh, take a seat. Never mind hunger, you look so blue!" she remarked.

Her words rang sharp with worry, scissoring Ayu's vision that was spiralling out of control to narrow down on her face. In direct contrast, the human's cheeks were dusted with rose petals. Her silver eyes bore deep concern that was only soothed when Ayu hesitantly sat down afterwards. As she sat on a cushion of thorns, the woman bustled about the table and fetched a pitcher of tea.

"What's on your mind, Ayu?" She whispered.

In the hall of dreams where everything looked exactly the same with not a single carnation out of place, Ayu couldn't bring herself to pick up the teacup for a sip. Instead, she gazed at the woman, and with a voice heavy of regret, she said, "I'm not ready."

As if she understood the underlying meaning behind Ayu's words, she placed the pitcher down. She smiled and it was beautiful.

"No one ever knows they're ready, not even the mightiest dragons."

"How would you know?" She quipped. "You're only a human."

At the admonishment, she only rolled her eyes. "It doesn't take a dragon to understand fear. We both have much to fear for," she lifted the cup from the saucer, and took a bold sip. "Plus, you are still young, if you do make mistakes, you can't be faulted."

"I am to be the Queen..."

"-Temporarily. Until your parents return. There is no better candidate, no better dragon to care for the Kingdom, for fear is the maker of a wise ruler," she said reverently.

Ayu closed her eyes. She felt the rim of a teacup being pressed against her lips.

"You can do it. I'll be right behind you," she said.

Ayu parted her mouth as tea as warm as summer's nectar filled her mouth.

"I promise."

==

"Your majesty, it is time."

When Ayu awoke from her deep slumber, it was to the voice of a stranger that set her scales pointing outwards in agitation. The maid stuttered backwards and repeated her words like she memorised them off a script. "Your majesty, it is time."

"For what?" Ayu growled.

"The coronation," gulped the maid. Behind her, there was a gaggle of maids who were holding garments, boxes filled with what must be priceless jewellery.

The tense lines drew themselves on Ayu's shoulders as she forced her scales down. The inevitable had come, and cowardice would only invite tardiness to her own coronation.

"Make it quick."

X

Irene shook her legs in the carriage in excitement. Her locks were tied in a bun above her head, forming an upright bouquet of rose buds that curled outwards with a pink bow around her scalp. Even so, she had no trouble moving her head towards the window of the carriage veiled only by a pair of emerald curtains.

"Irene, please," chided Frieda who was still busy fiddling with her bracelet that couldn't sit right over her lace-covered wrist.

Eric meanwhile, was a statue beside Frieda, save for his hands that were twirling his medallion back and forth in his hand. Irene noticed it and thought about Everett's medallion hidden under her desk. Maybe she should've brought it with her, then her dad could play with two.

"Is it nice to play, father?" She asked.

"Hm? This, no, I'm not really, well I suppose I was," he stuttered. Then, he sighed. "Truth is, I'm nervous."

To that, Frieda exhaled slowly through her nose. "I've told you that you have nothing to worry about. You're dressed your best," though, she did reach out to tidy his hair that was slicked backwards, "and you'll do just fine as long as you speak when spoken to. I'll be doing most of the actual talking."

Most men would be outraged, but Eric deflated against the backrest. "I know you will dear, but what of the Lords? I'll have to be the one approaching them and they will be ignoring me all the while. I look like a fool trying to coax a cow to dance to the tune of a flute!" He wailed.

"If they bother you so, you can do the bare minimum and then speak to those you're friends with. I will most certainly be accompanying Lady Ryudarah, her husband isn't well yet."

"Who else is there to hang out with? Everyone is terrifying-" He trailed off with several blinks of realization. Lord Watherson should also be invited, they could hang out together, brave through the ball like actual buddies and it would be spectacular. Fueled by a secondary boost of motivation, his posture revigorated.

"I want to play with Paulie!" Irene chimed in.

"Who, love?"

"Pauline Kinstone."

Freida's frown as she moved on from the bracelet to adjusting her neckwear deepened as she swiftly responded, "They'll be at the garden. Our attendance will be required to remain within the palace. I forbid you to run about the palace grounds without either of us accompanying you," she pinched off any suggestions that were building up behind Irene's tongue.

"But mother-"

"No," Frieda persisted.

The carriage pulled to a slow stop, informing the family that they'd arrived.

"You're the daughter of the Wincott family, you must learn to withhold the family responsibility."

Suddenly, Irene felt like the dinner wasn't fun anymore.