Chapter Thirty-Four Arabella
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FOUR
Arabella
I lift my hand to my chest as a letter shimmers into existence on the writing desk in our bedroom.
I’ve never seen anything quite like that before.
My eyes widen when I see my name written on it in Felix’s handwriting, and I open it carefully.
Ever since the steel was delivered, he and I have barely spent any time together.
I didn’t think it possible, but I miss him.
Beloved,
Meet me for dinner tonight.
Audience room. One hour.
Love,
Felix
I smile at the brusque tone of his letter.
I can almost hear his voice. My fingers trace over the word love, and my heart skips a beat.
Even in this short letter, I can feel his attempts to be gentle with me.
When we came to our agreement, he asked me to give him an honest chance to see if we could break the curse through love.
At the time, I gave in because it was the only way to get what I wanted in return.
I didn’t think I could ever love him, regardless of what I said.
Now? I’m not so sure. I’m certain I’m not there yet, but I feel things I’ve never felt before.
I look forward to moments we get to spend together, and I find myself seeking him out on days I know he won’t make it to bed before dawn.
A knock on our bedroom door startles me out of my thoughts, and I turn toward it. “Your Excellency,” one of the palace magicians says, hovering by the doorway. “My name is Molly. His Excellency sent me to help you get ready for dinner.”
I nod for her to enter, and she bows down low in front of me.
Her eyes are brimming with excitement when she rises, and I smile back at her.
The attitude of the staff here is in such contrast with the way I was treated at home.
There they sneered at me, scared I’d infect them with my bad luck, while here they look at me like I’m a myth come to life.
It’s something I don’t think I’ll ever get used to.
“It’s a great honor to attend to you,” she says, trembling just slightly.
This is how Serena was always treated, but never me.
It’s strange how quickly a place can start to feel like home when people seem to want you there.
Molly takes a step closer to me, her eyes roaming over my face.
“You hardly need any beautification, Your Excellency. Your skin is healthy and has a natural glow, and your hair is thick and dark. I can darken your lashes and brows, and perhaps accentuate your cheekbones? What do you think of adding some redness to your lips?”
I nod, unsure what to say. I’ve never been attended to by a palace magician. Since magic is strictly banned in Althea, I have no experience with it. I’ve never used anything but the ointments they had in Althea. “Do as you please,” I tell her. “I’ll trust your judgment.”
A tiny squeak escapes her lips, as though she’s barely able to contain her excitement, and I struggle to swallow down a chuckle. Molly is exceptionally cute, and she reminds me of Serena.
“I won’t let you down, Your Excellency,” she promises me. It’s clear she takes great pride in her work, and I can’t help but smile.
“It’s such an honor to be standing in the same room as you,” she says as shimmering magic flows from her fingers.
She brushes them over my brows, instructing me to close my eyes next.
“Eldiria has waited generations for you. His Excellency warned us not to put any pressure on you, but I just wanted you to know that we’re all grateful you’re here.
I still remember when my grandmother first told me of a prophecy about our empress breaking the curse, and here you are.
Some believed the emperor made it up and told us about a false prophecy to give us some hope to hold on to, but I’ve always known better. ”
I feel her magic flood over my skin, the sensation foreign. “You know, Your Excellency… I thought all hope of me ever having a child of my own was gone. I’d given up, but then you came. I just know you’re going to save us all. I can feel it.”
I’m glad she’s instructed me to keep my eyes closed, because I don’t think I can face her. I fear I’m not the savior they all think I am, and I’m scared to let her down.
“The day you arrived is the first day I dreamed of her. I dreamed of being pregnant, of my baby lying on my chest. Then there were scenes of me cooing her to sleep, and me kissing her forehead. The dreams have come every day since you arrived. It’s all so real.
Sometimes I could swear I can smell her.
I don’t think they’re dreams, Your Excellency.
I think they’re visions… visions of the future you will give us. ”
My heart squeezes together painfully, and a shiver runs down my spine. I want nothing more than for her to have all of what she just described, but I do not have the power to grant it. I’m scared I won’t be able to break the curse. Felix and I aren’t even certain we can heat the ground.
“All done,” Molly says, and I open my eyes.
She turns me toward the mirror, and I gasp.
I still look like myself, except… I don’t.
I look a thousand times more beautiful than I did on my wedding day.
I lift a hand to my face in disbelief. “Magic,” I whisper.
Even my hair is done perfectly when that shouldn’t be possible in so very little time.
Molly frowns at me and nods. “Of course. What else could it be?”
I belatedly realize that the word magic isn’t used as an expression here, and the questioning look Molly throws my way has me feeling defensive.
It’s likely that she expects me to be an experienced sorceress myself, and I’m unsure what Felix has been telling his people.
It’s clear that he’s been using me as a beacon of hope, and I can hardly blame him.
“It’s just something we say in Althea,” I tell her, smiling serenely in an attempt to hide my inner turmoil.
Molly nods in understanding and takes a step back. “Oh! Of course,” she says, grinning. “Now, what kind of dress shall we put you in?”
My wardrobe swings open, a golden dress floating out of it. I smile to myself. I’ve grown accustomed to the palace’s quirks, and I’ve come to trust its fashion sense, too.
“This is beautiful,” Molly whispers, grabbing the dress from the air.
Several minutes later, I’m wearing the stunning golden dress the palace selected for me.
I watch it shimmer in the light with my every move and worry that it’s too much for a simple dinner, but Molly looks so excited that I can’t bear to say anything.
I find myself wondering what Felix might think of me in this dress as I walk down the long hallway. For the second time today, I find myself thinking about love. If he and I were to fall in love, would that truly break the curse? Would it grant Molly’s wishes?
I bite down on my lip and hesitate in front of the throne room. I take a deep breath in an effort to steel myself, but before I’ve had time to push the doors open, they open themselves.
Felix freezes when he sees me, and my heart skips a beat.
In that moment, everything fades away. All I can focus on is the look in Felix’s eyes.
It isn’t until someone speaks to him that I realize that he’s standing next to several men I vaguely recognize as his advisers.
I take a step back, worried I’m interrupting, but then Felix hands the documents he’s holding to Elaine.
“Excuse me,” he says. “I can’t keep my lovely wife waiting for a moment longer. ”
He walks toward me, the hood of his cape falling over his face. I can see why they call him the Shadow Emperor. It must have stemmed from the curse initially, but it’s also the way he moves and dresses.
“Arabella,” he says, offering me his arm. I take it, and he leads me forward. “I apologize. Time got away from me. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“I’m thankful you were able to carve some time out of your schedule after all. I feel like I’ve barely seen you since…”
Felix turns toward me and grins. “Since when?”
I blush as I think back to the night we spent together.
Shortly after, the steel we need for our plan was delivered, and ever since, we have both been forced to focus on our individual roles in our plan, practicing and refining our strategy endlessly.
I’ve spent countless hours channeling fire and bending it to my will, until eventually, it required very little thought, and I was able to keep fires lit in all fireplaces in the palace for several days.
Felix, on the other hand, has spent all his waking hours helping his men create the pipes we need.
His alchemy powers are far swifter than even his best workmen, and though I know he finds it fulfilling to help them, I also know it exhausts him.
I’ve missed him, but admitting that and asking for his time felt selfish when we both have so much on our plates.
“I have somewhere special in mind,” he says.
His hand slips down to mine, and he interlocks our fingers, his thumb drawing circles around my hand.
I glance at him, wishing he’d stop wearing his hood at all times.
It’s strange, but I miss seeing the gold in his eyes.
Even when I catch a glimpse of him during the day, I rarely see him.
“Here we are,” he says, his voice soft. He takes a step forward and holds the door open for me. I pause in the doorway, my eyes wide as I take in the bright sun and the greenery surrounding us.
“This can’t be real,” I whisper. I haven’t seen sunshine since I got here, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it.