20. Dresses
twenty
Dresses
*AZADEH*
I t’s not difficult to convince Alana to come with us to buy some dresses. Kilah was a nervous mess when we knocked at her door. But, Alana proves once more to be a relaxed, straightforward and kind person.
“Goddess,” she snorts. “Stop the gibberish, Kilah. I’m coming with you.”
“Really?” Kilah asks, relieved.
“Yes, but we need to take Ita along.” As if on cue, Ita appears behind Alana.
Judging by Ita’s expression, she isn’t too happy about spending time with Kilah, but she doesn’t say anything. “You are such a softie,” she exclaims to Alana while Kilah runs off to pick up Eibhlin and Simin.
“I just don’t believe in holding grudges,” Alana replies.
Ita smiles at her. “You have a big heart, Al. If spending time with your sister is what you want, I’ll not complain.”
The two women exchange a gaze that makes me almost feel like I’m invading their privacy. I pretend to inspect some of the pictures on the wall until I hear footsteps behind me. They are too heavy to be from any of the other girls. “Royan?”
“I’m ready to go anytime,” he says, completely ignoring the fact that no one asked him to join us. I feel instantly sorry, as I know he is my protector, but I tend to forget to inform him.
“I should have told you,” I admit.
“No, it’s my task to keep an eye on you,” he says with a smirk. “As long as you don’t run, it’s okay.”
“Maybe we should invite Tynan, too,” Ita says with a grin. “And, the general.”
I can’t help but chuckle. Tynan is smitten with Shayan. It's so obvious to everyone, except to Shayan himself.
“I’d rather not,” Royan groans. “During training today, Tynan was focused more on General Shayan’s behind than on anything else.”
“And, how do you know which ass Tynan was staring at?” Alana asks with a grin.
“It wasn’t that difficult to miss,” Royan proclaims. “He literally pushed the warrior who was standing right behind Shayan aside, and then kept staring at him.”
Ita and Alana grin, while I throw invisible daggers at Royan. “You are over-sharing,” I say. “Shayan is like my father.”
“It’s not me who was staring,” Royan says, with a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I’m innocent.”
“Yes, you are innocent, so very innocent,” Ita teases him.
“You grew up together, didn’t you?” I ask in earnest. They tease each other like siblings.
“Actually, Alana, Tynan and I did,” Ita says, chuckling. “Royan is two years older and felt too cool to hang out with us. Deep inside he was just crushing on Alana, though.”
“I have nothing to say in my defense, aside from… I was ten!”
I chuckle. “Oh, Alana was your childhood sweetheart?”
“Now, sweetheart pushes it too far,” Alana snorts. “He is more like a brother to me.”
Royan smiles slightly. “And you like a little sister.”
Ita punches his shoulder. “It was a smart move not to hit on her,” she says.
“I know, Gamma,” Royan chuckles.
They can’t continue their talk, as the other girls approach us. Kilah pauses when she sees Royan. “Do we have to take him along?” she asks.
“I will make sure to stay in the background, Princess Kilah,” Royan says politely.
“It’s his job,” Ita comments sternly. “The king specifically told him to keep an eye on Princess Azadeh, unless she is with one of the alpha heirs.”
“Well, I certainly don’t mind,” Simin says, flushing a hint when Royan smiles at her.
“Yes, he is hot,” Eibhlin comments with a giggle. “Almost as hot as Tynan.”
“You like Tynan?” Ita asks her curiously.
“No,” Eibhlin grins in her usual creepy goldilocks-manner. “I’d rather not pine for a guy who would never want me.” She frowns. “I would need a potion then or an aphrodisiac, and unfortunately, that’s illegal.”
“Oh, such a pity,” Alana frowns. “Come, crazy little sister, let’s make sure we find clothes we will look dashing in. I have no idea what to wear,” she says. “Actually, you girls are saving me!”
“How is the preparation for the ball coming along?” Simin asks.
“It’s going well,” Alana says. “Ita is helping, too. It’s just weird to prepare for an event, especially when our father is counting on me.”
“He is worried because after the ball, you will be sent on your first mission,” Ita says.
Her words seem to finally draw Kilah out of her shell. “You are going on a mission?”
“Yes,” Alana says. “My warrior training is over, then, and I want to work to join the elite warriors soon. For that, I need to prove myself like everyone else.”
“But, isn’t it dangerous?” Kilah stutters.
Alana turns to look at her. “In a way, each time we leave the pack grounds, it’s dangerous,” she says. “I will watch out. Don’t worry, Kilah.”
Before she can turn around again, Kilah grabs her arm. “I want to help,” she blurts out. “Please, can I help you with the ball?”
Alana stares at her. “I thought you wouldn’t want to.”
“But… I love this stuff…” Kilah murmurs.
“I know, I just didn’t ask because I thought you wouldn’t want to spend too much time with me,” Alana points out with a frown. For a moment, Kilah looks sad and guilty, but before she can say anything, Alana smiles at her brightly. “So, with your help, it’s going to be much easier.”
Kilah looks relieved, like a tremendous weight lifted from her shoulders. She is in a very good mood when we enter the small store with dresses. The owners, a young couple, already await us, clearly excited to have so many high-ranking guests.
“Amber is the best,” Kilah says after she greets the young woman. “She gets the dresses from all over the country, but also from other kingdoms and realms.”
Amber rubs her hands. “I promise, by the end of this day, you will all have your dream dresses. Is it for the masquerade?”
“Yes,” Alana says. “Did you already receive the masks?”
“I did.”
When Kilah looks at her sister curiously, Alana just winks. “Let’s say I have planned a little surprise as well.”
Before we can see the masks though, Amber starts to choose dresses for us, which she thinks will suit us. Kilah is the first to find her dress, a beautiful green one with long sleeves. It's modest but with beautiful golden embroidery, and it hugs her body well.
“I like this one,” Eibhlin says while she turns in front of the mirror. She is wearing a pitch-black dress with black embroidery and trumpet arms. It makes her look even more pale, but takes away from her otherwise innocent angel-look, and it fits her strangely well.
“Dad is going to have a heart attack,” Kilah announces.
“Is it weird if I say I like it?” Alana wants to know.
She herself is having the hardest time. She tries on a few dresses, and they all look good on her because she has the perfect figure, but it’s obvious how uncomfortable she feels. “Let’s try something else,” Amber suggests and hands her two pieces of clothing.
Meanwhile, Ita and I roam the store to search for our own dresses. “Who can wear this kind of color? Shimmery gold,” Ita scrunches her nose while inspecting one of the glittery dresses. When Alana steps out of the dressing room, dressed in pants of the same fabric and color, and a long dark-red vest with long sleeves and velvet embroidery, she swallows. “Well, someone can.”
“You look fantastic,” I blurt out. Alana is tall and athletic, yet she has some curves too. The vest makes her look so beautiful. I envy her for how bold she is to dare to wear something like that.
Simin meanwhile finds a beautiful blue dress for herself, with sweet floral embroidery and a fitting belt. Ita chooses an elegant brown dress.
“Now, it’s just you,” Alana says to me, while she looks through everything once more.
“A dress for a real princess,” Amber muses, her eyes wandering over me in awe. She flushes a little bit. “I didn’t mean to imply that you, Princess Kilah or Princess Eibhlin or Princess Alana aren’t princesses or real… it’s just…”
“We get it,” Eibhlin giggles. “Azadeh looks like the textbook example of a princess.”
“She does, doesn’t she?” Kilah blurts out. “I hate being tall, but on Aza… her height looks so good.”
“Yes, she is regal,” Ita smiles.
“With a body to dream for,” Simin adds.
“And the aura!” Alana says.
I stare at them, not sure if I should feel bewildered or embarrassed. I don’t even understand why they are getting so hyped up. I know I’m not ugly, but they make it sound like I was blessed by their goddess.
“I have something,” Amber roams through the dresses, before bringing forward a beautiful red dress. The color is strong and radiant, gold embroidery is all over the upper piece. When I put it on, I’m in awe. The fabric feels so soft on my skin, and the dress flows beautifully. It shows more cleavage than I’d like, and the shoulders are free despite having sleeves. “I’m feeling somewhat naked,” I admit when I show it to the others.
“It’s perfect,” Kilah says. “But, if you feel naked, how about adding a cape?”
“I have just the one,” Amber beams, carefully adding a cape to the dress. It’s fixed around my neck and has the same golden embroidery.
“You look expensive,” Alana teases, making us all laugh.
“I bet you will have so many gentlemen asking for a dance,” Kilah whispers.
Ita laughs at her words. “I don’t think so.”
“Why’s that?” Kilah frowns.
“Because I doubt anyone will dare to cross a prince,” she says with a smirk.
“He would slaughter them,” Eibhlin giggles.
They exchange a few gazes. “What do you mean?” I ask. Alana and Kilah seem to be equally confused and gaze at the other two curiously.
“Goddess, you are all completely oblivious,” Ita smirks. “But make sure to take the dress, Princess Azadeh. It’s like it was made for you.”
Alana tosses her another curious gaze before getting up and having Amber retrieve our masks. They are beautifully handcrafted in different colors. Amber promises to add a few details and embroidery to them so that they will fit our dresses. Some of our dresses need alterations too.
“You can pick the dresses and masks up a day before the masquerade,” she says.
Alana nods. “Maybe you can contact Kilah if you have more questions. That is, if it is alright with you, Kilah?”
“Of course,” Kilah blurts out, obviously excited that Alana lets her handle this.
Ita and Alana link their arms, while the rest of us follow them out of the store. “And now?” Ita asks.
“Let’s go and have dinner,” Alana offers. “Somewhere out. What do you think?”
“I would like that,” Kilah nods.
Eibhlin beams. “I want to have steak. Bloody.”
“You wolves and your meat,” Simin groans.
“I know a place where they have steak and vegetable dishes,” Alana offers with a gentle smile. She has had a soft spot for Simin from the first day on and is kind of doting on her.
Simin smiles happily. “Thank you, Alana.”
Ita turns to look at me. “What about you, Princess Azadeh?”
I was hoping she would forget me, but now that she said my name, all the attention is on me. “I would love to,” I say, hoping I sound dignified. Fortunately, I managed not to blush. “But Prince Endellion promised we’d take the horses, and he’d show me around the forest.”
“Oh, did he?” Ita smirks. “Such a selfless gentleman.”
Once more, Kilah tosses her a curious gaze, while it finally seems to dawn on Alana what her friend is talking about. She looks at me with a smile. “Have fun, Aza.”
Simin gives me the thumbs up and giggles.
These girls are going to be the end of me one day. I have never met people who are less subtle. Besides, Endellion might have a mate out there, so there is no use in allowing my thoughts to go anywhere near that direction. It will only lead to me getting hurt.