Ash-colored Despair (15)
She looked at the pile of folded clothes, and then looked down at her legs hidden under the hem of her skirt.
As soon as she opened her eyes early in the morning, she immediately took a bath with the help of a nanny, and then called a doctor to change the bandages. She wouldn't have to show them her scars.
Biting her lips, Talia soon nodded curtly:
- Do what you need to do.
Having received permission, the maids installed a screen in the middle of the room. Thalia, like a cow led to the slaughter, stood behind her.
One of the younger maids approached her, took off her light robe and began to unbutton the buttons of her summer dress one by one. The wide dress that enveloped her body soon slipped quietly down.
Talia noticed that the girl suddenly held her breath, and couldn't help but look at her petticoat. Through the thin fabric the outlines of twisted legs could be discerned. Her ears flared with humiliation - she sharply barked at the girl:
- Why are you frozen? If you do, do it quickly!
The numb maid began to fuss, grabbing the prepared outfits. Unable to watch her awkward movements any longer, the head maid pulled the girl aside and helped her put on a dress made of milky white silk.
The thin fabric, gracefully gathered in small folds, flowed down the body like smoke. Over it, the senior maid threw a translucent cape of an azure shade and tied a belt with an oriental pattern at her waist. The two-layer silk belt was decorated with jades, topazes and animal figurines in the form of pendants. Having tightened it so that the waist was clearly outlined, the maid released multi-colored cords with metal bells and tassels, hanging them over her hips.
But the process did not end there either. The neck and wrists were covered with many thin gold threads with precious stones, and heavy earrings with the image of a golden bird were hung on the earlobes.
Thalia felt like nothing more than a jewel display case.
Is it true that all this elaborate decoration is part of the oriental traditional costume? She frowned in disbelief, and at that moment the maid, who had put on her a spacious blue-black silk cloak, involuntarily gasped, as if suppressing a sigh:
- You are like Tilamer herself from legends...
- Tilamer? - Thalia frowned, hearing this word for the first time. The maid instantly turned pale and covered her mouth with her hand. Her strange reaction only worsened Thalia's mood. Maybe they think she's a fool?
What if they take advantage of the fact that she doesn’t know anything to mock her?
Thalia asked sharply:
- What kind of Tilamer? Why did she fall silent?
“Tilamer is...” she began.
“Tilamer is the spirit of the earth, who rules the seasons,” the senior maid calmly explained, pinning the long tails of her cloak with a brooch. — The ancient eastern peoples believed that they were her descendants. She was considered the most beautiful and noble of all spirits.
Thalia stared at the senior maid's impassive face with slight suspicion:
- I would say so. Why was she scared then?
“Brisa seemed to be afraid that you, Your Highness, would suddenly decide that we really believe in this legend,” the head maid answered quietly, straightening the hem of her cloak so that it fell freely. “The story of Tilamer is just an old folk tale. I hope you don't suspect us of paganism.
Thalia looked into her eyes intently. A barely noticeable shadow of tension ran across the maid’s elongated face. But whether she is hiding something, or is afraid that they will be accused of heresy is unclear.
Thalia turned away and looked straight into the mirror for the first time, which she had avoided before. The smooth surface, framed by shadow, reflected a face eerily similar to the mother. Only on this flawless face there was not a trace of Senevier’s explosive, bright vitality. Instead of it, a gloomy, ashen shadow lay on him. A hungry, haggard look, sunken cheeks, a pitiful body that could not even come close to the perfect sensual beauty of Senevier...
Suddenly, Gareth’s mocking voice rang in her ears:
"The body of a monster with the face of a woman..."
Her face, like an unsuccessful copy of her mother, was distorted into a grimace. She could not bear the sight of her own mutilated, unfinished appearance.
She turned sharply from the mirror:
- Finished - get out! How long will you be hanging around here?
With a sharp movement, she knocked away the hand that was straightening her hair, and the maid standing behind her shuddered and recoiled. The head maid sighed softly:
- Now let's put on the crown. Be patient a little longer.
At her sign, another maid brought a golden crown. The woman placed it on Thalia's head, then twisted her long hair high and secured it with jade hairpins.
Finally, when everything was finished, the maids took a step back and bowed their heads low.
“I will now lead you to the Grand Duke’s chambers,” said the head maid, taking a step towards the door.
Thalia looked at her with concern in her eyes, but without saying a word she followed.
Dozens of soldiers lined the corridor. As soon as she carefully stepped forward, an uneven, shuffling step echoed loudly.
She tried her best to walk naturally, but her stiff legs, as always, betrayed her. Thalia held her head high, trying to hide the approaching humiliation.
I can’t count how long she walked like this. Soon the head maid stopped.
“Here,” she said, pointing to the large door opposite the stairs.
It appears that the Duke's chambers were on the same floor. Thalia felt a slight relief that she wouldn't have to walk up the steps. She walked to the large mahogany door.
“I have brought Her Highness,” the head maid announced respectfully.
A stern male voice came from inside:
- Come in.
The maid immediately carried out the order. The two girls opened the doors on both sides, revealing a spacious room full of vassals.
Dozens of eyes stared at Thalia. Her back instinctively straightened under their gaze. The men, dressed in formal clothes, looked at her as if something had shocked them to the core.
Suddenly a chill ran down my spine.
What if there is something wrong with her appearance? She took a quick glance at her decorations. Maybe all this is a trap, and she was dressed like that on purpose to make a laughing stock? Did you come up with a lie about a “traditional oriental costume”, but in reality you dressed yourself up in a stupid outfit?
She glanced at the head maid, as if ready to tear her to pieces. And then a new panic seized her: what if her legs were visible through the hem?
She quickly looked down: the full skirt with thick folds seemed to completely hide the bottom. But suddenly everything is visible from the front?
Cold sweat rolled down my spine. Thalia glanced around as if looking for a way to escape.
At this moment, heavy footsteps were heard.
Talia shuddered and sharply raised her head - Barkas was standing in front of her.
He too was dressed in a similar outfit: a black silk tunic with a soft sheen, an intricate belt with gold embroidery and a wide cloak thrown diagonally and elegantly hugging his strong body.
Talia involuntarily looked him up and down - and at that moment she felt warm fingers touching her chin. She looked up.
Large earrings with blue stones and a necklace strewn with topaz sparkled in the light.
Her heart sank somewhere down.
This was the first time she had seen him wearing such an abundance of jewelry. Was he not a more ascetic man than any priest?
At that moment, Longboat looked not like a knight of the Roem Empire, but like the ruler of an ancient wild tribe.
-Does your leg hurt? - Barkas asked, carefully peering into her frozen face. His voice sounded dull and heavy.
Thalia, having difficulty coming to her senses, abruptly threw his hand away and took a step back. It seemed to her that he could hear the sound of her rapidly beating heart even from here.
“I-it’s okay,” she squeezed out, trying to speak calmly, although her cheeks were on fire.
His blue eyes glanced over her flushed face. Longboat frowned and touched her forehead.
-You have a fever again...
- I said it's okay! - she interrupted sharply.