𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄, sokeefe

FOUR

SOPHIE FROWNED AT HER REFLECTION—AT THE PERFECT BLOND WAVES spiralling down her shoulders and the gold shadow coating her eyelids. She was a vision of serenity and beauty in her matching gold gown. She knew she should feel almost girlishly excited if this wasn't a very important political meeting.

But it felt wrong.

Too pretty.

Too perfect.

Too unlike the grief-broken monster she was hiding inside.

And seeing how Linh's frown mirrored her own, she guessed she was thinking the same thing.

"Might I suggest something, Your Highness?"

Sophie rolled her eyes. "I know nothing of this Highness of which you speak. You may have the wrong girl." She loved her friend, but she wasn't shy to admit that formalities were a little exhausting sometimes, as were the frustrating social divides between her and those she called friends.

Linh sighed. "Sophie, then. May I suggest something?"

Sophie spread her arms in invitation. "Be my guest."

Linh's face brightened like it always did in the rare times Sophie permitted a little primping outside an important occasion. She fumbled in the closet, her hands emerging clutching the folds of a midnight blue gown. The skirt dropped past her knees and the neckline was low enough to accentuate her neck and collarbones. The edges seemed sharp, defiant, and were studded with the tiniest diamonds—bright enough to shine, minute enough to send the message that they adorned a dangerous person.

I will not play by your rules.

Sophie had let herself be underestimated for far too long. It was time to show them exactly who they were dealing with.

"Well?" Linh said nervously, probably misreading Sophie's expression.

Sophie slipped on a mask for a brief second—a mask of unreadability. Then she let her grin break out. "Help me into that thing."

 ✦❘༻☆༺❘✦

SOPHIE SHOWED UP TO THE MEETING FIVE MINUTES LATE.

I will not play your games.

Immediately upon entering, her eyebrows rose.

There was King Alden, his expression cold and aloof as always. Prince Fitzroy, his eyes lighting up when he saw who it was. This, she had expected.

But then there was a beautiful dark-haired girl who was unmistakably related to the two of them. Her teal eyes narrowed coldly with an expression much like her father's. On her right sat a man with slicked blond hair and penetratingly cold blue eyes. Everything about him was immaculate, immaculate, immaculate, as if anything less than absolute perfection deserved to be burnt to the ground beneath his oily stare. His very presence would have made Sophie squirm if she hadn't spent so long putting up walls and masks against such silly reactions.

"I apologise for the delay,"Sophie said, feeling the need to break the silence.

"I assure you, the fault is all ours," the prince spoke up. These days, Sophie didn't think of him as much more than simply the prince. "We were a little sudden in our planning."

"And yet you would expect a ruler-to-be to be accustomed to such spontaneities," the blond man spoke up.

The king and the girl (Draconia's princess? Sophie didn't remember hearing anything about a princess) smirked along quietly.

Honestly, what do they do? Rehearse?

Sophie flashed a cold smile at the man. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting."

Prince Fitzroy rose to his feet, looking flustered. "Oh, of course! Forgive me, I forgot not all of you are familiar with each other." He nodded at the girl, who stood in a swift, graceful motion. "Your Highness, my sister, Princess Biana of Draconia. Bi, this is Her Highness, Princess Sophie of Azurethra."

Sophie forced a tight lipped smile. "It's an absolute honor to meet you, Princess."

Biana smiled back—though it was a viper's smile just before it attacked. Sophie was familiar with such expressions after years of dealing with politicians. "The honor undoubtedly is mine. The famed Princess Sophie." Her eyes snaked over Sophie's outfit—the bold gown, straightened blond hair, and sharp eyeliner. Compared to the princess's long pink dress, perfect curls, and diamond tiara,Sophie's own garments seemed almost outrageous.

Biana's emphasis on famed made Sophie doubt it was meant as praise. "I don't seem to recall a princess of Draconia, so I'm afraid I cannot return that compliment," she drawled.

Sophie waited for Biana's smile to fade before turning to the blond man. Fitz, seeming somewhat abashed, introduced him as Lord Casssius Sencen.

"Pleasure to meet you," Sophie said, the rehearsed line. Always the rehearsed line.

"You are...dressed differently today, Your Highness." Alden's voice cut through the room like a knife. Sophie could almost hear the swish. 

She took a seat, folding her hands in her lap. "Yes, well, us Azurthrans prefer to be outright rather than hide behind pretty disguises."

I will not regret my choices.

Biana's cheeks reddened. "We are only tolerating these comments due to your closeness with my brother."

Sophie raised her eyebrows. "I'm well aware of that. Did Daddy just inform you today? Give you a line to practice?"

"Enough!" Fitz yelled as Biana started to get out of her seat. "Biana, control your temper. And, Sophie, please." His eyes pleaded with her to understand, to accept.

Sophie took a deep breath. "I apologise. My comments were unwarranted."

"Indeed," Lord Cassius said. Sophie had barely known him for five minutes and she had already decided to hate the man. "If Her Highness pleases, we can continue with the meeting."

Slimy bastard. "Yes, we may proceed. His Majesty made great haste to arrive in my kingdom. I wish to know the cause."

She caught Fitz's eye—and the shining eagerness in them made her stomach squirm.

Your judgement day has come.

Alden cleared his throat. "You have known my son for quite long."

Two months, actually. But why should you care?

"We have a proposal for you,"  Lord Cassius jumped in. "Accept, and we may live on in harmony and peace. Decline, and we will be taking the first step to war."