Evermore

I

"I THINK IT would be fun." Analia, my helping hand, says, without looking up at me in my vanity mirror.

"I don't think it's very fun." I reply glumly, watching her fingers move quickly, weaving gold strings into an intricate crown of braids in my hair.

"You have a group of men who went through all those challenges, all those tests, just to have a chance to win your heart. How romantic is that?" She sighs dreamily, grabbing a pin with a delicate metal daisy on the end, pinning it into my hair.

"They went through all those challenges to have a chance at ruling by my side, Ana, I'm sure for some love isn't quite in the equation." I say softly, meeting her eyes in the mirror, the unnerving shade of violet bright against her olive skin.

"You can't be so down, Everly, it's not good for you."

"This way of finding a husband isn't good for me, either. How will I know he's the right person in only three months? That's barely any time at all, what if I choose the wrong one? What if I already dismissed the one for me, and now I'm stuck with a bunch of men who will never love me properly?" I ramble, bringing my hand up to nervously fumble with my necklace, peals strung through a delicate golden chain.

"Your father adores you, and if something happened where you were confident none of those men were the one for you, then I'm sure he would call it off. He values your happiness over everything, you know that." She says, walking around the chair to kneel down in front of me, gently taking my hand away before I break my necklace.

She holds my hand tightly, her grip firm, and gives me reassuring smile.

"What if he doesn't?" I whisper, anxiety lacing around my throat and choking my words, stunting my breath.

"He will." She murmurs back, looking so confident in the fact that I let out a small breath.

Ana, being four years older than me, has always been like the older sister I never had. Her mother was my nursemaid, but when I turned twelve, the responsibility of making sure I was taken care of accordingly went to Ana.

She read me stories with me when the weather was too downcast to play in the garden, she brushed my hair before bed, she played dress up with me when I was feeling down.

She's my dearest friend, and I'm forever grateful for her.

"I suppose." I say quietly, and she nods, standing and pulling me out of my seat.

Turning so we're both facing the mirror, I rest my head on her shoulder, smiling when she puts her arms around me.

"Look how beautiful you are." She says proudly, making me giggle, shaking my head.

"But look at you, I've always told you that lavender looks beautiful on you." I motion to her dress and she laughs, pulling me into a proper hug, kissing the side of my head.

"You're gonna be just fine, I promise." She whispers into my ear, squeezing me in her signature bone crushing hug.

"Thank you."

"Everly, my love, are you ready? Dinner is about to start and your father is eager to get things going." My mother says, walking into my bedroom, stopping and smiling when she sees us.

"Don't you two look lovely?" She says, clad in her own gown, the emerald silk brushing against the marbled floors.

Striding over to us, she holds my face in her hands, and before I know it, I find her eyes watering.

"Mama," I say gently, and she just shakes her head, breaking out in a small smile.

"I'm very proud of you, darling. You're all grown and I just- I'm so grateful to have you." She tells me, her hand moving from my face to brush over the portion of my hair that isn't braided back.