Weight of the World

Chapter Fifty-Six

—Tregaar—

Rhenna didn't recognize herself. The woman staring back at her in the mirror looked mature beyond her years and refined in a way she could never hope to be. She wore a dress of dark red satin, the design far more daring than anything she would have ever picked out for herself. A low-cut bodice drew attention immediately to her chest, heightened by the teardrop diamond necklace that settled over her heart. On the right side of the dress, a provocative slit reached nearly up to her hip, a small delicate lace pattern that bridged the gap there the only thing to protect her modesty should a strong breeze blow by.

On her wrists, matching diamond bracelets, and diamond earrings dangled from her ears. Her hair was left mostly down, a style she wasn't used to, part of her hair gathered together and pinned with a diamond hairpin. It reminded her of the way Ori had worn her hair. Her makeup had been done for her, darkening her eyes a bit and painting her lips red like her dress.

Everything had been chosen by Regis. Rhenna hadn't been able to protest. If she was to attend the ball, she would submit to his demands. His servants had helped her dress, do her hair and makeup, and now as they left her alone, she almost imagined that she was looking at another person entirely. She could see why Regis had made the decisions he had. Now, she looked like she belonged amongst Tregaar's nobility.

Running a hand over the stomach of her dress, she let out a shaky breath. There was much to be decided that night. She had warned Eclipse of what was to come, but Rhenna had yet to decide if she would help them save Lord Mitra or if she would let him die. She would see for herself, gauge the lord directly, and decide where her loyalties lay.

No pressure or anything.

A knock on her door startled her from her thoughts. She told her visitor it was safe to come in, the door swinging open to reveal Raler standing there in crisp, new suit. He looked quite dashing, and she was going to tell him so, but the moment he saw her, his jaw dropped, his red eyes dragging slowly down her body. The action made her shiver. It felt almost as though she could feel his hands wandering over her.

"Holy fuck, sweet girl..." he groaned as he stepped inside the room. "You...have excellent taste."

Rhenna glanced down at herself. "I didn't pick any of it, actually. This is all Regis' doing."

Raler frowned. "Man knows what he likes..." His sudden grumbles made her smile as she realized why he was unhappy.

"You know...Regis isn't trying to seduce me or anything...At least, I don't think so...That would be kinda weird."

"Why?" Raler scoffed. "You're every guy's dream."

Rhenna blushed furiously. Raler said it with such sincerity that it made her heart flutter a bit. "Yes, well, perhaps not every man seeing how Regis is sleeping with my brother."

Raler blinked, startled. "With your...? Holy shit. Is it obvious? How did I not notice?"

Rhenna shrugged. "I don't think it's obvious. When I went into his office, I found Hadrius there without a shirt and sleep pants. Easy to put two and two together then."

"Ah, well, that's...that makes me feel a little better."

"Why? No one's going to whisk me away now?" she teased, but Raler nodded firmly.

"Well, there's still Lord Fart Face, but I can at least just assassinate him in the middle of the night."

Rhenna rolled her eyes. "So mature. Now, are you going to escort me to this ball or what?"