Beguiling: A Frozen Heart

I assure everything will go your way.

"Yes, yes, I believe the lilacs would be the best pick. They'll look at you and think innocence, it's clearly destined to be." Clara's hands moved delicately through Anayas hair, fingers twisting and braiding with the utmost care as she spoke to the servant. The soft scent of rose oil filled the chamber but it was overwhelmed by the utter commotion from outside the castle walls. The Light Kingdoms procession had arrived and they were surely making their presence known.

"Hold still, darling." Clara whispered, her voice as gentle but firm, as she pinned the last stray hair in place. Her face was serene but her heart felt like it wanted to beat out of her chest.

Anaya sat motionless in her gown, the fabric shimmering in the candlelight, her hands absently twisting the pendent that hung around her neck.

The gown as beautiful, her dress was a masterpiece of twilight and stardust, shimmering in deep purples that faded into ethereal lilacs, cascading like the evening sky at dusk. The off-shoulder design framed her collarbone with a delicate allure, while layers of gossamer fabric flowed like whispers of the wind, catching the light with every step. Intricate gold chains and bejeweled accents twined along the bodice and skirt, along with soft butterfly motifs adorned the hem. But despite its beauty, it felt more like armor. She bit her lip, her mind wandering as the sounds of celebration filtered through the walls.

"They're here," Anaya murmured, her eyes distant as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her mother's hands paused briefly before continuing their careful work.

"Yes, right outside those walls."

Anaya's fingers tightened around her necklace, twisting the chain nervously. The pendant was a gift from her grandfather, right before his passing. She could feel it's weight more heavily...

"Mother..." Anaya's voice was quiet, almost fragile. "Do you think I'll be happy?"

Clara paused, her hands lingering at the crown on Anaya's head. She looked at her daughter in the mirror, no words could offer condolences but she doubted she'd be able to even if she wanted to. Her daughter knew her responsibilities, she knew her duties.

"Happiness is something we find in unexpected places," Clara said, brushing a soft lock behind Anaya's ear. "But you will be strong, and you will be loved. Remember that."

"...Right."

"You will be magnificence, and your brother will be right by you side. If you're scared, or hesitant, or angry, he'll be right there." Although the woman had done some things to prevent the siblings closeness, she couldn't deny it was one of the strongest bonds she had ever had the pleasure of seeing.

Anaya froze for a moment, her eyes landing on her brother standing just outside the doorway, his familiar presence both a comfort and a reminder of the weight of the moment. Leif was there, as always, watching over her. His fingers idly played with the delicate petals of the dandelion.

"You're supposed to be out there, enjoying the celebration," Anaya said softly, trying to mask her nerves with a smile.

Leif gave a small shrug, stepping toward her. "And leave you to face this alone? Never." He held the dandelion up between them, twirling it lightly. "It's strange, isn't it? All this fanfare... for something neither of us wanted."

She took the flower from her brothers hands, letting the dandelion's seeds scatter into the air with a quick puff of breath, watching them float away.

"Have you seen any of them?"

"A few. The youngest is a flirt, I don't think he'd be a good match."

"I'm glad I have you to analyze them first." She giggled softly, already creating a vision of how the young man looked. She looked over at her brother, she wouldn't say it in fear of him changing but he looked absolutely ethereal.

He wore a high-collared, long white coat that flowed down to his calves, adorned with intricate gold embroidery along the shoulders and cuffs. The front of the coat featured detailed filigree, with gold designs trailing down the chest and ending near his waist. The back had a large open section, framed by more golden accents, revealing a glimpse of his skin. Underneath, he wore dark, fitted trousers with gold geometric patterns that ran from the hips to the knees, complementing the elegance of the coat. A deep blue inner lining peeked through the edges of the coat, adding contrast to the bright white. His sleeves were long, with subtle gold detailing near the wrists, and his look was finished with a fitted belt around the waist, drawing attention to his lean figure.

He held out his arm for her to take, "Shall we?"

She gave him a smile, no matter he fate, she knew he'd always be by her side. "We shall."

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

"These people...certainly don't look powerful."

"Don't make assumptions, most of their prowess is spiritual. You'll grow used to it." Cadmus let out a scoff and shifted uncomfortably in his seat, leather and gold did not work well with him. Especially when it made him look like an old vampire monarch but he didn't have much choice in the matter. It was a crisp all white ensemble. The coat, long and tailored, was double breasted with gold buttons and draped over his shoulders. Beneath was a fitted vest that accentuated his waist, paired with matching white pants that were neatly pressed. His shirt, featuring voluminous ruffles at the collar and cuffs, added a touch of flair. A gold chain hung from his chest pocket and the gold epaulet on his shoulder gave a hint of regality to his somewhat simple outfit. It showed the mans personality perfectly; young, puerile, and simple.

"Oh, you will hush your mouth. I swear, there is no boy in this world with a more talkative mouth." His mother scolded him, fanning her face frantically with her handheld fan. She wore a more plain outfit. A light green dress in mermaid fashion with even lighter orange accents. She had nothing to prove.

"Don't scold him mother, perhaps he'll find some clueless maiden to waste the night away with. All the better for us!" Stephan said in his fake laugh, reclining slightly in his seat with a smug grin. His tone was dripping with sarcasm, though his sharp eyes flicked over the gathered guests as if weighing their worth. He dress similarly to his brother, wanting to play it on the safer side regarding color and style. What if the girl didn't like ruffles, or feathers, or lace, or black, or green, or blue? It wasn't a chance he wanted to take.

The carriage, despite it soft and easy journey for all the hours before, hit a particularly hard rock and almost made Ryu spill his entire drink. "Ah, fuck!"

Ryu's outburst drew immediate glares from both Cadmus and Stephan, though their reactions couldn't have been more different. Cadmus rolled his eyes, adjusting his ruffled collar with clear distaste for the entire situation, while Stephan stifled a laugh, finding Ryu's clumsy moment amusing.

"Watch your mouth, Ryu," Cadmus muttered, leaning back in his seat, "We're supposed to make a good impression, remember?"

Ryu scowled, wiping the spill off his lap with an irritated sigh. He had chosen a dark ensemble, a sharp contrast to his brothers, designed to hide stains like these—but it still didn't make the situation any less annoying. "As if any of this will matter when we get there. A species known for tricks doesn't curse? Oh, please."

"How about your all horrible and she will feel flattered by none of you?"

"Don't be mean to your brothers Jani, it's unladylike."

"I feel like a working man trapped in a poorly made clothes."

"Maybe if you dressed like a woman more often, you wouldn't be in this situation..." Jani gave a sarcastic smile before kicking Cadmus in his leg.

"You bitch!" Cadmus yelped, rubbing his shin where Jani's boot had connected.

"Language," their mother chimed in, her voice calm but with a clear warning. "We're nearly there, and I will not have you all acting like children."

The carriage door swung open, and the cold evening air rushed in. They were finally there, and the distant sound of festivities carried toward them on the wind. Their mother gave them all a final, pointed look before stepping out. "Remember why we're here," she said in a low voice. "This isn't just a social event. You're here to be future Kings. All you have to do is win.