"Princess! Please, Your Majesty, allow me!" Lorna, the royal designer, was practically vibrating with inspiration. "I know the finest silks are arriving from the West Sea soon. Please, let me use them to create a full wardrobe for the Princess!"
She was so swept up in the creative fever that she’d forgotten her fear. As an artist, she had found her muse, and she was willing to get on her knees to keep it.
'Is a dress really worth all that drama?' I wondered. In my old life, I’d never seen anyone get on their knees for a promotion, let alone a bolt of fabric. But then again, Charlize’s memory reminded me that in this room, a mistake usually meant a very short future.
"I allow it," Loxdian said, sounding bored.
Lorna’s face flushed with joy. She looked like she’d just been granted eternal life. She bowed so low her forehead nearly touched the floor, swearing her undying loyalty to the Emperor.
Loxdian stepped forward and took my chin in his hand, tilting my head back.
"You look exactly like her," he murmured.
He was talking about our mother. The former Empress, Princess Altsbeit, had been legendary for her beauty. Loxdian’s eyes were distant, as if he were seeing a ghost.
"My father used to say that for a thousand years, there would never be another woman as beautiful as her," he said. "He was wrong."
He looked at me with a strange, crooked smile. "At least you aren't forced to wear the cheap, gaudy rags the Altsbeits consider 'fashion'."
'Cheap rags?' I thought. 'Grandfather spends more on my shoes than most families make in a year.' But I didn't say anything. If Noah, the ever-practical assistant, were here, he’d probably point out that my "cheap rags" were the most expensive garments in the Empire.
"You know what they say," Loxdian continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Clothes make the man. Or in your case, they make the monster look slightly more human."
I caught his eye in the mirror. 'He’s just blowing smoke again,' I thought. He could read my expression perfectly—he knew I was cursing him in my head.
"The Imperial designers are quite good, aren't they?" he asked. "Certainly better than anything you’d find at your grandfather’s mansion."
"If they're so great, why do your clothes always look like they were thrown on in a hurry?" I shot back.
Loxdian’s eyes flared with a mock-outrage. "Heh! Do you see anyone else in this Empire who can make a simple shirt look as good as I do? You should be honored to stand next to me."
"Should I?" I tilted my head, my expression haughty and calm. "Because if we're talking about fashion... I think Duke Lemut has much better taste."
"That straw?!" Loxdian practically jumped out of his seat.
"I’m just saying. He has a way of making even simple materials look elegant. He’s the most attractive man in the Empire, in my opinion."
"Are you defending him in front of me?!"
"I’m just stating a fact, Brother. Why are you so sensitive?"
I was genuinely annoyed. He was taking a huge leap from a simple comment about fashion to me "defending" my fiancé.
'What is he, a narcissist? Does he really need to be the center of attention all the time?'
I turned back to the mirror and adjusted the blue diamond necklace. I was still wearing the small gold pendant Charlize’s mother had given her—the one that acted as my magical "lifeline." I knew I could never take it off, but luckily it was small enough to hide under the massive Imperial jewel.
Loxdian seemed to calm down, though he still looked like he wanted to argue.
"Fine. Just make sure you look that good at the banquet."
"And the necklace?" I asked.
"What about it?"
"It’s mine now, right?"
Loxdian gave me a look that said 'of course it is, you greedy brat.' I felt a little thrill. Charlize’s memories were starting to influence me—getting what I wanted, especially when it was expensive, felt surprisingly good.
'I can always sell it later if I need the cash,' I thought. Assets like this were much better than anything my grandfather gave me, which were always tracked and monitored.
"Hey, are you even listening?" Loxdian barked.
"Oh? Sorry."
"Stay focused. On the day of the Goddess Festival, I’ll pick you up myself. I’ll be your escort."
I froze. "What?"
"You heard me. We’re going together."
An escort! That meant we’d have to stay together for the entire banquet. We’d be a team.
"No," I said immediately.
Loxdian’s eyes narrowed. "No?"
"I mean... I hate the idea. And besides, I still have a fiancé. Isn't he supposed to be my escort?"
"You mean that 'straw' who doesn't care if you live or die?"
I was silenced by the factual violence of his words. He was right. Askin probably wouldn't care if I was run over by a carriage on the way to the palace.
"Besides," Loxdian continued, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I’ve ordered the palace guards to be very strict about the dress code that day. I suspect your 'straw' won't even be able to set foot in the banquet hall."
He laughed and turned to leave. I watched him go, a deep frown on my face.
I noticed Noah standing by the door. He looked... dazed. His face was blurred, as if he were lost in his own thoughts. He only seemed to snap out of it when he realized I was looking at him.
'What’s wrong with him?'
Loxdian noticed it too. He clicked his tongue and grabbed Noah by the back of the neck.
"What are you doing? Move it, Assistant!"
"Ah... Your Majesty? I can walk on my own!"
Loxdian ignored him and dragged him out of the room. I sighed. Even to his most loyal servant, Loxdian was a total tyrant.
Once they were gone, the room fell into a heavy silence. I looked around at the beautiful dresses and the terrified maids and let out a long, weary breath.
'I’m stuck between a tyrant brother, a greedy grandfather, and a fiancé who treats me like a disease.'
I could almost understand why Askin acted the way he did. He’d probably spent his whole life being used by people who saw his sister as a bargaining chip. I felt bad for him, even if I was the target of his current anger.
*“And at this banquet, we will announce the wedding date between you and the Duke of Lemut.”*
*“You should shut up and win his heart. Be the beauty he can't resist.”*
My grandfather’s words echoed in my ears. And now Loxdian was planning to sabotage Askin’s entrance.
The Imperial Banquet was going to be a disaster.