The Prince's Collection

6 - Calanthe's and Anwar Royalty Lunch Time

I GOT IN the clean water after emptying the bathtub and washed myself using the rose petals and body oils that I usually carry with me when I travel, I always smelled like peonies and I liked to imagine that was my favorite feature, an essence that only I have, a scent that is totally mine.

I didn't let my hair get wet because it had already been washed on the dinner night... The sortition night.

I had forgotten about the coronation, it was so much pressure on my shoulders.

I let myself be distracted while drying myself and putting on my underwear in a bit of a hurry, as soon as I ran to the bedroom, calmer now, I was relieved to see that the dress was ready and scented the way it should be, at least something was done.

"I will teach you the duties of a servant and companion". Ana nodded and came to me with her head down, we put on the first layers of the skirt and I started to talk again. "And one of the things you should know, in case my mother puts you in charge of one of my brothers, or Damir's bride, or maybe even Anwar's visitors, is that when we ask you to prepare water, it is not for you to bathe, but the Royalty."

"I understood, Your Highness."

She started tying the pearly silk ribbons on the back of the dress, I noticed that her hands were shaking and she was trying to hide it, if she saw the bruises she act like she did not saw nothing, I was really relieved to don't have the need to think of a fancy idea to get away from the subject.

"Escorts cannot be scandalous and must walk in the same rhythm as their Mistresses... Well, don't go around dancing on porchs and balconies that aren't yours, this isn't a party, a ball... Although I don't like the term..." I cleared my throat. "You need to be like a shadow when you're hanging out with any noble out there".

"Yes, Your Highness."

She pushed the transparent sleeves up my uninjured arms and adjusted the seam on my back, I saw her purse her lips, contained an amused smile, I was surprised that it didn't stress me out, the situation looked a little comical if we thought about it calmly.

"During lunch you'll be seated at the back of what I imagine will be a salon and you won't be able to talk unless you're called. You can watch Vitoria, Prince Koyran's lady, and do what she does. I think she won't refuse to teach you a few things and will be happy if you show interest to be her friend". Ana took her hands out of from my dress and hurried to unclip my hair and make a small braid on either side of my bangs and tie them with a bow in a darker shade of blue, right at the back of my head. Ana might be clumsy, but she was a great hairdresser.

"Anyway, I think I'll keep you with me, if you don't mind... At least the knots you tie in my bodice don't stop me from breathing like the ones Kalyn cruelly does."

Ana gave me a shy smile and painted my face. My lips were tinted with a sweet, coral-pink paste, she also dabbed a pink, slightly shimmery powder on my cheeks, and the only thing she did to my eyes was to dab the same orange gloss on my lids. I got up feeling light, but the lightness was gone the moment I saw the time.

"Let's go! Let's go!" I said running hurriedly out of the room and feigning fullness the moment I walked through the door. Ana followed right behind me, this time without trampling the skirt of my dress.

The woman who had escorted me to my room was waiting at the end of the hall. She bowed at length and motioned for me to accompany her.

We passed again through the garden where I had had breakfast with the queen hours before and we were received in a large room, the windows were made of glass and part of the ceiling was also open, allowing the sunlight to enter freely. Maybe that was what made the room feel so big.