"... Do you really want me to become an outcast?" I asked, looking over the outfits she had arranged before looking back to the mask in my grasp. The smooth and shiny black mask, extended outwards to form an undefined muzzle as two slightly curled horns pointed backward. It was a dragon even if she meant to make it as undefined as possible. It was as if Miss H had wanted to call me a threat. What's worse, I couldn't tell if she was trying to drag me down or push me up.
"Oh, don't be dramatic, it did get approved. We had all agreed that it was suitable," She hummed behind me, holding a fluttery dress in front of me. Staring flatly into the mirror, her clothing options all the same soft and childish style. Almost, get this, as if to make me look as unthreatening as possible.
"Why are you giving me a dragon's mask if you wish to make me appear non-threatening?" I asked deadpanned, the two contradictory and very much so grinding on my nerves.
"You are to be seen as a silent threat, dear, you are not to show off but you are not allowed to hide either. We are already aware of how strong you are, but for one in your position to brag you will be seen as weak." She tossed the dress aside while my gaze just moved back to the mask. For a dragon, I suppose it was as nondescript as possible. For a dragon.
"You want me to act modest?" I scoffed rolling my eyes, setting the thing down to look over her horribly frilly choice of clothes.
"No, you are not to humble yourself, you just need to speak the honest trust, no humbling no bragging. You are the brewmaster behind the largest contributing potion in this war, you are also the brewer of a potion growing in popularity, you will be riding on the back of your one-of-a-kind dragon, and you are one of the few and the youngest to ever summon a holy beast. As far as anyone is concerned, you are above anything they ever will be, yes?"
My hand froze over the rack as my gaze snapped to her. "Above them?" The words felt foreign but I didn't dislike the taste they left on my tongue.
"Most definitely, the only people you are to ever bow before are the monarchs, you are ward to the council of magis, apprentice to the greatest mages alive, a mere noble does not stand on par with what you've achieved," She nodded, "Now, I think this will look best," She help up a hideous white blouse that had a pleated design, pearls decorating the large blouse, wide long sleeves gathered at the wrist, a pair of black ruffled shorts in her other hand, white lace creeping up the slits in the sides of the shorts.
"Absolutely not,"
"I look horrendous," I stated, the oversized blouse quite comfortable, the silky lace fabric tucked into the high black shorts that were almost like a skirt. The blouse climbed my neck and hugged my wrists, and despite the words, I couldn't help but stare. It was pretty. As if I would ever admit that to her though.
"Yes yes, now put on your gloves," She didn't even bother to humor me, handing over the black silk gloves.
"You're not wearing gloves," I stated, staring at them in her hand. She sighed, having gotten tired of my attitude after the first twenty minutes of my outfit refusal. The very outfit I ended up in.
"I'm not the one decorated in scars," She stated while I raised a daring brow and met her gaze, "This is a ball for peace they do not wish to be reminded of war, it is polite to hide one's scars. It is also the reason you are allowed to wear a mask. There will be others hiding at least portions of their faces,"
"Is that why all the tops were long-sleeved and high-neck?" I asked surprised, taking the gloves. She gave a nod, rubbing her temple as I put them on. While the sleeves were sheer, they weren't so sheer you could see my scars, I hadn't thought much of it but I suppose that makes sense. "Are we done?"
"We are not, you still haven't had your hair done," She gave a pointed reply, my hair in fact a messy mane barely forced back by the mask I wore. My braids having been taken out the moment we had arrived as promised. And what a time waster that had been.
"Fine," I rolled my eyes, she hadn't even attempted to touch my hair as I removed the mask. I don't know what she expected of me, my hair was not cut evenly, portions missing, portions still burnt. There wasn't much I could do that she would approve of. Well, I guess I can always... Yeah, I'll do that.
With the assistance of supplies I had demanded and products that were more than necessary, I rangled my hair back into two low buns, hiding the unevenness to the best of my ability while supporting the delicate childish image she was set on. Guiding a few of my curls I let them frame my face, carefully uncoiling a particular white ringlet from my fingers I hummed as I gently moved it for a good resting place.
"Approved?!" I shouted, dropping my head backward as I leaned back in my chair, she looked at me from her mirror. A slight narrowing of her eyes and a twitch of the smile but she gave me a nod nonetheless. Humming I leaned forward and carefully put the mask on. Fastening it I looked back at the mirror, carefully readjusting my framing curls around it. Getting to my feet I made my way to the other side of the room.
"Are you done?" I asked, leaning against her chair, and looking over her shoulder at myself. The red liner she had made me wear contrasted between my black eyes and the black mask while successfully blending them together.
"Not quite, give me a few more moments dear," she hummed, painting her lips with a striking purple. Blinking at my reflection, a fine-lined blue pulsing around my slightly oval pupils, as if to illuminate them. A shiver of warmth raced up my spine as I shook my head lightly. Meeting my gaze again I found no such line. My pupils blending into my irises perfectly as they always did. Frowning I straightened my back, my hand covering my uncomfortably warm forearm, the scar pulsing. "You remember what I said, yes?"
"While it is a ball to celebrate peace between the seven kingdoms, we as the council representatives are to ensure the safety of the monarchs and their heirs," I replied drily. "What's the point if we aren't even allowed to bring weapons? No one's allowed to bring weapons!" I rolled my eyes dropping my arm.
"Lilith," She warned while I shrugged with my palms up, "We are in the middle of a war, no matter how they wish to pretend we aren't, no matter how close to the capital you live, we are at war, do not forget it." Opening my mouth I closed it, the need to bring up my being a capital noble feeling as if she was insulting me.
"Just because I do not see it does not mean I'm ignorant of it," I mumbled while she just hummed. Patronizing me. Narrowing my eyes at her I didn't press the matter further. It was an argument that left me with nothing to gain, to begin with. "Are you done?" I asked again while she fluffed her hair.
"Indeed I am,"
YOU ARE READING
Glass Soldier REWRITTEN
FantasyGlass magic, the weakest of magic, the most fragile, the least effective... Or, it should be but what about a glass soldier that doesn't break? A glass dragon that could easily be considered a real one? She's tired of being looked down on ju...