A Dove's Tale

Chapter 104

It really took the entire morning for me to get ready. I couldn't believe it. And it would have been just like the dress fitting the entire time if I hadn't asserted myself right away. Maybe other princesses were okay with hordes of maids adding treatments to their bath water and massaging oils and lotions everywhere, but I wasn't. Far too many people had seen me naked recently for my liking. I accepted the beauty products in the maids' hands, along with instructions for use, and shut everybody out while I bathed myself. Then I dressed in my undergarments, took a few deep breaths, and opened the door, resigning myself for the rest of the morning to the ministrations of people who seemed to think princesses couldn't do anything for themselves.

The manicure and pedicure felt nice, even if they were unnecessary, since I'd be wearing gloves and closed-toe shoes.

Theresa hand-feeding me breakfast was extremely uncomfortable, though. I wouldn't have allowed it if she hadn't warned me that makeup, hair, and dress were next, and I'd be lucky to get lunch. So, I let her feed me, shooting her a glare every time she purposely missed my mouth and had to wipe it clean. If we'd been alone, I know she would have used baby talk. Fortunately, we weren't alone, and she knew better in front of others.

And then we all moved in a single wave of bodies to the vanity, where I sat perfectly still while more makeup than I'd ever seen before got applied to my face by multiple hands dodging and weaving in and out of each other. I closed my eyes at somebody's prompting, certain when I opened them again I'd look like a clown. A moment later, somebody else told me to open my eyes and blink several times, and when I did, I still recognized my face in the mirror. My eyes stood out more, and my cheekbones had more definition, but it was still me. A layer of red lipstick, a lip roll and pucker, and the makeup magicians moved away.

This was getting kind of fun.

Next was my dress, because I wasn't letting Yves see me in my underwear. One corset and one beautiful green dress later, and I was staring at my reflection in the mirror, stunned all over again. The perfect fit of two days ago was even more perfect after indistinguishable alterations. Soft green silk hugged my waist and clung to my curves, layers of silk and gauze bloomed from my hips, and the central gauze rose over my chest added just the right touch of embellishment and coverage to keep me from feeling uncomfortable about the low-cut neckline. It suddenly hit me that this was really happening. I really was a princess. And I couldn't wait for Yves to do my hair so I could see the finished product. Silk gloves, silk stockings, high-heels, and I was back in front of the vanity, almost bouncing in my seat for Yves to arrive.

"Ready for me to work my magic?" he asked, strolling into the room.

"Yes, please," I said eagerly.

"Hm. Stand up and turn around," he instructed, putting a finger to his chin in thought.

Now that everybody except Theresa had left, I had plenty of room to twirl around. I completed two circles and stopped, catching myself just before I bit my lip out of a nervous habit.

"What's wrong?"

He smiled and shook his head. "You're just more beautiful than I expected. Sit down."

The makeup didn't hide my blush.

I took my seat, he took my brush, and I watched in fascination as he wove my hair into a series of complicated braids winding from my hairline around to the back of my head, where he wound them around each other in a bun, holding back the rest of my hair from my face to fall loose down my back.

"There," he said, setting the brush down and holding a hand mirror up for me to see the back. "Now it's perfect."

"Thank you, Yves," I said, turning my head from side to side to see it all. "I don't know how you did this."