𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter fifty-two

Emriana

"Princess, stop moving,"

"Princess Emriana, you have to let Lady Fera do her job," I groaned at their words as I tried to stay still. She was powdering something over my face, which got in my eyes.

"I'm trying," I replied, as I blinked a few times to get the powder out of my eyeballs. My eyes teared up because of the unknown presence against my eyes.

"Now, don't move. I'm almost done," Miss Fera exclaimed as she shuffled around my chair at a hurried pace.

I faced the mirror of the vanity I was sitting in front of and glanced at the room through the reflection. Ladies in colorful gowns moved around the room with different objects. My eyes moved to the left, and I watched an older woman argue with a younger one about what kind of earrings would fit me best. The older woman had some shiny ruby earrings, while the younger one had delicate white flowers. I hoped the younger one would win this fight.

"No frowning, Princess. You'll ruin my work," I laughed at her words as she applied more colors to my face. I didn't have makeup back home with my grandmother, so I wasn't used to it on my face.

"This feels like too much," I watched myself in the mirror and could barely recognize myself. My cheeks were unnaturally pink, and my face was so pale I looked sick. My lips were a daring red that only made my skin appear paler.

The only part I liked was my hair. Lady Fera had done two braids that went around my head like a crown and met in the back to become one big braid. It was the closest thing I was used to seeing on myself.

"No, this is perfect," she added as she inspected my face closely. She hummed in satisfaction before pulling me up to my feet and ushering me behind a large drape.

"Princess Emriana, please change into this."

Another woman handed me a beautiful gown, and I felt wrong even to touch it. It was simpler than what I'd seen Lorino's fiance wear, but it matched my personality better.

The gown was very flowy while being puffy enough to give it volume. It was a shell peach color with white lining around the edges of the bottom and the neckline, which showed a small amount of the swell of my breasts. Around the waist was wrapped a large eggshell white fabric that tied into a chic bow in the back.

With the help of a young lady, I was wearing the dress within a few seconds. She ushered me out of the room, and the room fell silent. An uncomfortable feeling grew in my guts as I looked around the room to see every woman looking at me with a smile.

"You're beautiful, Princess Emriana," an older woman said as she slightly curtsied my way in respect. I wasn't a fan of people bowing at me like I was some god, but I understood it was a way for them to pay me their respect.

"She was already beautiful before," another one chimed in.

"She has the same figure as Tamina."

I made a few steps and stopped in front of the mirror. They were right. I looked beautiful. The dress color matched perfectly with my skin except for my face, which looked too pale.

"What's wrong, Princess?" Miss Fera asked as she saw my slight frown.

"My face... it's too much," I admitted, and she nodded.

"Sit down. I'll fix it."

She moved toward the back of the room, and I watched through the reflection of the mirror the other women get back to work. Two came over to my side with long white silk gloves.

"Give us your hands, Princess," the one on my left said, and I nodded. They glided the fabric up to my elbows, the material feeling soft against my skin.