Separate Crowns of One Heart

Thrėė

It has been nearly three weeks since I've gone to the Woods to visit with Micah, but it feels so much longer. Between Lessons with the Madams and Training with the Jaguars, I either don't have enough time or am simply much too tired to sneak out and back into the Academy. I miss him terribly though.

I pull my braids back with a ribbon and look at myself in the looking glass. Decent enough for me. I go to the living room and Demi gasps dramatically.

"Good Heavens, Odusanya! What are you wearing?"

"What?" I look down at my clothing. I'm wearing casual trousers with a black top. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Odusanya, this is a gathering held by the Royal family. To hear the Prophecy of the Prince. The entire kingdom will be there," she stresses to me.

"And so?"

"And so..." she takes my hand and drags me back to my wardrobe. "You have to look presentable at least, if not proper." She pulls out one of the many dresses I hardly ever wear. They're all practically brand new. This one is deep purple with shimmering mirror pieces embroidered along the edges.

"But I really do not like that dress," I complain.

"That is too bad, miss." She begins unbuttoning my top and removing it. "If I let you go out like this, I would surely lose my position and I can not bear to bring shame to my family."

"Oh, stop it. I can undress myself." Demi steps back and I trade my trousers for the dress. When I have dressed again, Demi styles my hair with purple ribbons that match the dress.

I glance in the looking glass again. I suppose I do look really pretty. I smile at myself. "Am I good to go now?" I ask Demi.

She sighs with worry. "Please just... Do not do anything out of the ordinary."

There's a knock on the door and I go to answer it. Mila stands there grinning at me, donning a dress just as fancy as mine. "Oh, you look just amazing!"

I laugh with her. "Thank you, but I can hardly compare to you."

"Stop it." She links her arm through mine and we leave my quarters and Demi behind. Demi will join us later with the rest of the handmaids.

"I am serious," I tell her. "The Males will have a hard time keeping their eyes off you." We head towards the Gathering Hall with the rest of the Fems in the Academy. Everyone seems quite jittery because it's not often that the Males and Fems gather in the same place all at once.

We all file out of the Academy and head straight to the Gathering Hall. The space is nearly filled by the time Mila and I get there. We push our way through so that we're not stuck in the back. The Hall is buzzing with energy and anticipation. Today is the day everyone has been waiting for since the Prince was born.

A loud horn is blown, announcing the arrival of the Royal family. "They're here!" Someone exclaims behind me. Their Majesties, the King and Queen stroll in decked out in shimmering jewels and expensive clothes. Prince Kenyøn is right behind them, looking just as beautiful as his parents. The Elders come at the end of the line and a hush falls over the room.

This is it.

The King stops at the center of the room with the Queen and the Prince on either side of him. The Queen's frame appears more feminine and softer next to the King's larger one. She smiles brightly and stands with her back straight, her curls piled perfectly atop her head. She is everything the Madams train us to be.

Prince Kenyøn is almost as tall and broad as his father. Today he's dressed in a much fancier version of his imperial kamis. This one has more gold than blue and is made with finer cloth. Where his mother and father look excited, the Prince could not look wearier.