Separate Crowns of One Heart

Twėnty-Føur

The moment we return to the Palace, Mila and Yuunis slink away to one of their rooms (and we already know what they are about to get up as if they weren't having sex all through the past moon), and the Prince and I summoned into the throne room where Their Majesties sit, waiting. The Queen pulls me to the side to tell me about what she has done about the Spring Cottilion planning while we were away and what is left to be done. The King updates the Prince on the political happenings of the Kingdom and the trouble with the Dynasty.

Then after all that, we are bustled to our suite because the Queen has arranged for the Prince and me to get out portraits painted today. Today. It's as if she could hardly wait for us to get back just to get us right back into what we were getting away from.

James and Demi greet us at the door, both of them bending into deep curtsies. "Your Highnesses."

"Demi!" I pull her into a hug. "Did you miss me?" She just smiles, perhaps still shy in the Prince's presence. I look behind her into the suite. The windows have been thrown open to let the fresh air from outside pass throw the meticulously cleaned suite. "Please tell me you gave yourself time to rest."

"Of course, your Highness," she says, but I do not quite believe her. I loop my arm through hers as we enter the suite and cross to my side, leaving James and the Prince together. "Take off those garbs," she orders in a serious tone. "I will ready the bath so we can get that lingering odor of trees and fire off of you. It is highly unbecoming."

Confused at what she is talking about, I sniff my arm. I still do not understand but a warm perfumed bath sounds especially lovely right now so I strip without complaint. The Prince is already soaking in his own tub of steaming water, eyes closed, and head reclined back.

"Oh, this is heaven," I sigh with contentment as I sink into the water.

The Prince smiles without opening his eyes. "Yes, it is."

The bath lasts much shorter than I would like and now I have Demi and two other maids, squeezing me into a large royal blue gown with gold detailing on the bodice and the poofy skirt. When I'm all ready and dressed, I stand before the looking glass to inspect this vision I've been turned into.

My face has been done up with makeup that leaves my eyelids and cheekbones shimmering beautifully and my lips a blood red. My hair is allowed to be freed from the bun the Queen usually insists I wear and blue jewels twinkle from the heavy gold crown atop my head. But the dress... I mean, it is exquisite but I do not think I'm very fond of the way my breasts are being pushed toward my chin.

I turn to Demi while trying to adjust them to look even a little more... settled. "Is this necessary?"

"Queen's orders." She fastens a choker around my neck that matches with everything else I've got on then steps back to admire me. "It is good to have you back, Your Highness."

"I am but a plaything for you to dress up." I shake my head in mock sadness, bringing a smile to her face.

"You are much more than that, Odusanya and you know it." She takes my elbow and leads me to where the Prince leans against his desk while James reads off a list. He stops him when we approach and straightens, tugging at the blue imperial kamis he wears.

His locs also hang down his shoulders, held in place by the golden and blue crown that circles his forehead. His kamis is decorated with pins and badges to show off his many titles, ranks, and accomplishments. The hem of the sleeves and the bottom of the kamis share the same gold detailing as my gown. The gold rings and jewelry in his ears are the perfect finishing. He looks very handsome.

"All this for a photograph?" I complain to him.

"Photo? No, my poor Princess." He takes my hand, pulling me along with him as we leave the suite. "When you are as important as we are, they do not merely photograph you. They paint your portrait." He points up to a framed painting of a long-dead patron. "We will join them up there and the next generation will be forced to learn about us in the Academies."