Royal Games

Chapter 32

The arctic blue satin clings to my body in all the right places. A large white sash hugs my hips, while the blue fabric hangs loose around my legs, swaying slightly as I move. White lace patterned like snowflakes is layered over the blue above my sash. The satin ends above my breasts, but the lace continues down my arms.

I twirl, admiring in the mirror the gorgeous dress Liam bought on Topia for me. I paid him back for it, although I have a feeling the dress is more expensive than he let on.

I shoot Liam a quick text, thanking him (again) for the dress.

'Can I see?' I receive his reply less than a minute later.

I take a mirror selfie and send it to him. Just as I press send, there's a knock on my bedroom door.

"Come in." I call out.

Brielle walks in, wearing a shiny mauve dress that beautifully highlights the curves of her body. "You look so pretty." She says.

"So do you." I return. "Would you like to take a seat?" I gesture towards my desk, littered with an array of hair accessories and colourful makeup supplies.

"That's a good collection you've got." Brielle comments as she sits down.

"Thanks. It's mostly stuff I brought from home." Not entirely true, but close enough. Liam has smuggled quite a few of my things (including clothes) from the palace; as much as he can get away with without anyone noticing.

I don't have much experience styling hair, so I stick with a simple design for Brielle. I tie her hair in fancy-looking bun, leaving a few strands loose to frame her face. Then I move onto makeup, giving her plum eyeshadow. We talk as I work.

"So, you grew up on Topia, didn't you?" Brielle checks.

"Yeah." I reply. "I have to admit, it's kinda strange to go from a world filled with a magic, to a world where magic is concealed from plain sight."

"Well, it's not entirely true that it's always hidden from plain sight. Sometimes humans find magic and just pass it off as the wind, or a trick of the light, or whatever else seems logical to them."

"I know. I saw it on All Hallows."

"Humans aren't stupid." Brielle says. "But sometimes they just, I don't know. I guess after being told their entire lives that magic doesn't exist, their brains just can't seem to fathom the truth most of the time."

"It's the word 'fantasy'." I add. "Magic is considered fantasy, and fantasy is considered made up."

"And that's where the Topian word 'fantasia' comes from: the fantasy genre considering our knowledge of real magic." Brielle pronounces fantasia as fant-az-ee-er. Humans have picked up a lot of magical terms and facts over time, but it all gets twisted up, such as their use of the word 'fantasia'.

Another common mix up is their term 'utopia'. Topia was inhabited by people before Earth was, so, much like how New York got its name, Earth was dubbed New Topia when Topians discovered it. It's easy to guess how New Topia became utopia. Humans don't even realise that utopia is their home, and the idyllic idea of utopia they speak of is simply known as Topia.

"All done." I say, placing down a tube of pale pink lipstick.

"It looks amazing." Brielle twists her head, admiring my masterpiece from different angles. "Right then, my turn to do you. Is there a particular colour you'd like?"

"I was thinking blue eyes, but maybe something white in my hair."

"Got it." Brielle picks up a hairbrush and gets to work smoothing out my hair. I feel delicate tugs from her dainty hands as she creates a complicated braid pattern with some of my hair. She finishes off the design with a pearl slider.

"What's your favourite magic trick?" I ask.

"Hmm. That's a tricky one..." Brielle goes quiet for a few seconds. "I love creating orbs. There's just something about holding a ball of magic in my hands and, like, changing its colour and size with a simple thought and hand movement."

"And splitting a larger orb into smaller ones. I know what you mean." I add. "I was always making potions when I lived on Topia, but now... I've hardly made any new ones since coming here. And I don't really know why."

"Maybe it's the big change in your life." Brielle suggests.

"Maybe." I think about how much my life has changed since I turned eighteen. It's been a much bigger change than Brielle realises.

"Anyway, what's it like living on Topia? I've often wondered about moving there for a year or two."

How can I answer the question honestly? I grew up in a palace, how would a member of the general public have lived?

"Other than the obvious differences, it's not much different to living here." I answer. "Magic is openly practiced. There are no cars or planes, but we do have most Earthen technology like phones and TVs. But you already know all of this."

"Yeah, but what's it really like for magic to be practiced so openly?" Brielle persists.

"Well... It's kind of hard to put into words." I take a moment to think. "It's really nice not having to hide who you are." The double meaning of this is not lost on me, although Brielle is none the wiser. "And the magic in the air feels great because it's naturally stronger than on Earth, even with the fluctuations. And I guess there's this sense of wonder at unicorns flying overhead and all the colours and random blasts of light. Even when you're used to it, it can still fill you with awe."

"You make it sound just like the kind of place humans would call magical." Brielle comments.

"Exactly. It's like a young human girl's dream. If only dark siders would stay in the dark realm." I think of my murderous mum, masquerading as innocent.

"But that's unfortunately not how it works. The dark realm is a haven for them, but they have free movement anywhere else except the angelic realm. That's just the natural balance."

"I hate the natural balance." I say. "We get rid of one evil, and another evil takes its place. I get it; the world needs both good and bad. But wouldn't it be great to be free of dark siders once and for all?"

"Yeah, but it's never going to happen." Brielle swipes nude lipstick across my lips, preventing me from replying. "Perfect." She beams at me.

I stand, and we both admire each other and the work we've done. We leave the room, ready for the night to come.

Eliza is already waiting at the bottom of the stairs in an elegant silvery dress. Megan should've already left, in order to wait for Brielle at the party, and Zoey is probably still upstairs. Brielle, Eliza, and I make our way to the ball, just the three of us.

I know a university ball isn't quite like a royal ball, but I still can't help remembering what a disaster my birthday ball was. I put on a brave face as we near the entrance. Apprehension still gnaws away at my insides.