Men of Vorenia (16+) DISCONTINUED

The Banquet

Silk curtains danced in the soft breeze filtering through the windows, the Imperial Vorenian Palace halls brimming with life as servants darted from room to room. Amongst the silver and silk covered halls, a young woman sat on a windowsill, her eyes watching the outside world. “Crown Princess! Your majesty? Where are you?” a voice crowed, making the young woman release an exasperated sigh.

Mumbling something under her breath, she called back. “I’m here, Miss Phillipa.”

“Oh, there you are! Crown Princess, you cannot sit on the windowsills. Think of your dress.”

Crown Princess Orelia Tania swung her legs over the side, her pastel blue dress hanging just below her satin slippers. She stood, her nanny rushing over to her side. The older woman’s hands ran swiftly up and down the fabric, trying to smooth it before her hands went to work on Orelia’s long, mouse brown hair. “Miss Phillipa, please don’t.” Orelia’s voice piped up from behind the nanny’s busy hands.

She ignored the pleas from the princess, finishing what she started before stepping back. Her lined face shifted into a slight smile, her attention shifting to a stray, gray hair that had fallen into her face. Brushing it away, Phillipa hooked the princess’s arm in her own, leading Orelia back to her bedchambers to get her better prepared. “Your father is hosting a banquet tonight, not a commoner’s celebration. You must be properly clean. You may meet your future king tonight.”

Orelia rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she was dragged along. “Once I ascend to the throne, I won’t have all of you ratting on me about marriage. Oh wait, I’ll have the Imperial Court on me about it. I keep telling all of you that I want to focus on improving the Court and international issues before anything. My grandfather started a war with Fraujar decades ago, and what have we gained from it?”

“And I’ve told you before, you haven’t ascended yet and I don’t understand international politics. I am here to make you pretty and teach you the basics of being a well-mannered lady.”

“Miss Phillipa, I-”

“Silence child, we have arrived at your bedchambers. Now, you will get cleaned up without a complaint.”

“Yes ma’am.” Orelia responded simply, her voice shrinking as her nanny pushed the door open.

The massive window facing opposite the door was covered by the thin, silk curtain, allowing the room to be illuminated by the incoming light. To her right was a small room, a vanity illuminated with candles resting at the far end. Phillipa escorted her into the room, seating her in front of the mirror. Orelia watched herself in the mirror, her nanny combing out her hair with her newly attained brush. Stroke after stroke, her hair smoothed out. Phillipa began to braid her hair, looping it around her head after she was finished. Orelia watched as the woman placed pins into the braided crown, sighing and sitting forward. “Crown Princess, your gown has been laid out by some maids. Let’s get you changed.” Phillipa queued, Orelia standing and exiting the candle-lit room.

On her bed laid a flowing gown, a cream corset settled deep into the fabric. Removing the pastel dress and petticoat, she grabbed the corset and wrapped it around her waist. Adjusting it over her pale shift, she secured the laces in the front and Phillipa began slowly tightening them from the back. After the corset had been tightened just enough, she began getting her clothing put back on. The petticoat, and finally the gown itself. The fabric was an elegant milk white, silver decal decorating the collar and bodice. The decal tapered off as the skirt continued towards the floor, but returned near the edge where a small train began. Phillipa looked her over, one hand on her hip and the other tapping her lips. “Something is missing.”

In a moment, she disappeared in the vanity room, returning with something in hand. Approaching Orelia, she dipped her index finger in the liquid. “Close your eyes, my dear.” she murmured, raising her finger and dragging it across Orelia’s eyelid.