veiled hearts

four

Sadira hadn't shown up the whole day today, the preparations for the masquerade were ready, and my mind was all floaty, wondering what I would do that night, scared that it may not be as good as I expected.

I was finally not going to use the veil for an entire night, no one would know this was me. Finally, the only ones watching me as the princess would be the gods, no weight of the royal family would be placed over my shoulders.

My curls fell gracefully over my shoulders as I put on the long, dark red gown. The material was heavy, the upper part of the dress fit my body tightly, it was long-sleeved, dark red with some stones sewn into the skirt of the dress. I didn't put it on myself, a couple of servants helped me get ready, and the Courtier stood in the room as well, checking if the dress did fit me properly. Because more people stood with me, I was wearing the veil for now, and I could not wait to take it off, to reveal my face at least partly, yet I had to wait for them to get out of the room. Multiple servants fixed my hair, two other ladies arranged my skirt, and the Courtier tightened my dress from the back.

"Ugh!" I exclaimed as he tightened the dress, it was a bit too tight, but he said nothing, he was simply doing as he should. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I felt as if I had just fallen in love with myself. "It's-."

"Gorgeous," The Courtier finished for me, his voice sounding dreamy. "Here's your mask, princess," He handed me a golden mask, details everywhere, it was outstanding, I loved it, and I couldn't be happier. It was heavy and it had a thick red lace that matched my dress. "The Duchess asked me to tell you that you shall not take it off the whole night, it may be dangerous. So it doesn't fall off, may I help you secure it?" I nodded.

The man put on the mask tight on my face, a bit of the hem of my veil sat under the mask, but I was still able to remove the veil afterwards. The Courtier grabbed some pins to secure the lace to my hair, making sure that it held on tight and was not able to fall off throughout the night. My hair wasn't completely down, half of it was held up in some type of bun, yet the front pieces of my hair were left loose over my forehead and some reaching to my cheeks. "May I?" He asked signing the veil so he could make sure he had my permission to take it off. I nodded. His cold hands stroke my cheeks as he grabbed the sides of the veil, unpinning it from my hair, I slightly beamed before lifting my gaze, seeing his light blue eyes spark as he finally got to see my nose, my pale cheeks and my plump lips.

"Dare I say, you're beautiful, princess." The little smile I had soon turned into a grin, my face felt warm. After he stepped back, a servant painted my lips the same shade as the dress and the lace of the mask, I didn't feel as if I were me. I looked at myself in the mirror, who was she? I didn't know her, I had never seen her before. I could easily blend in dressed like this because everyone would be dressed just as I was. Many in red, others in black, but none in white.

No one wore white in this ceremony. I didn't know why, though, I simply noticed it each year as I greeted the guests. No one was wearing white. Maybe they just didn't wish for the colour to get messed up.

"We are leaving now, princess," The Courtier stated before he opened the door.

"Goodbye, and thank you, James," I spoke. He stopped in his tracks as everyone left before him. He turned around, flashing a smile at me. "I shall thank you, princess. Have the greatest night." I was now left alone, fixing some last details in my hair before I left out the door to find Eiran. This wasn't me. I didn't feel comfortable, I couldn't. But that was not a problem.

There was a slit in my dress which was perfect so I could get easy access to the dagger that Eiran had given me at noon. I secured it to the lace in my thigh before I caressed its handle which was detailed symmetrically. It was truly a beautiful weapon and I was glad to finally have it.