Chapter 45: A Beauty Out of a Painting
Ava's POV
The soft murmur of the servants filled the room as they fussed over me, while Gemma stood nearby, unyielding and silent, unwilling to leave or budge.
“Miss Gemma, won't you get ready for the banquet as well?” I asked. Seeing her stand so still made me uneasy.
I wanted her to leave and prepare herself, but her presence felt suffocating, like a smoke screen I couldn’t escape. I didn’t like the way she looked at me, cold, detached, and distant.
“Please call me Gemma, my lady,” she replied, her voice as impassive as her cold expression.
I couldn’t hold back the question that had been gnawing at me any longer. “You don’t like me, do you?”
Her cold gaze lingered on me before she finally answered. “It doesn’t matter if I like you or not. I am here on the king’s orders, and that is all that matters.” I almost snorted at her reply to my question.
Her response was as detached as ever. I wasn't surprised, but I wasn't begging her to like me and her words made little sense to me. I had done nothing to her. Then again, not everyone would like me, and I couldn’t control that.
“You make me uncomfortable,” I said plainly, the weight of her presence becoming unbearable.
She stiffened but gave a curt nod. “Very well, my lady.” Without another word, she turned and left the room.
As soon as she was gone, the tension in the room seemed to dissolve. The murmur of the maids grew louder, as if everyone was relieved by her absence.
The maids continued their work, adjusting the pieces of my blue linen gown with meticulous care. My silver hair cascaded down my back in shimmering waves, magically curled to perfection. I had to admit, I was impressed.
Delicate silver chains adorned my wrists and my exposed waistline, even highlighting a small section of my stomach in an elegant design. The attention to detail was almost overwhelming but undeniably beautiful.
The color of the fabric matched my eyes perfectly. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw an exotic beauty, a vision that felt both familiar and foreign.
Of course, I had always known I was beautiful, but the thought of stepping into the banquet stirred something deeper. Memories of being treated as an outcast gnawed at me, threatening to shake my confidence.
I thought of Raphael and I drew strength from just the idea alone that he would be there with me. He hadn’t looked well when Gemma dragged me away earlier. I hoped he was all right.
“You look radiant, my lady,” one of the maids whispered.
Since the competition ended earlier, the maids had started treating me differently. They no longer saw me as someone they could dismiss or mess with.
“Thank you…” I waited for her to offer her name.
“Mia, my lady,” she said, her voice a mix of nervousness and reverence.
“Thank you, Mia,” I said warmly. She flushed deeply as she fastened the final clasp of my gown. The midnight blue fabric shimmered in the candlelight, its constellation-like embroidery catching the glow.
The daring blouse, held together by a silver brooch, had caused collective gasps when they first decided on it.
“Radiant doesn’t begin to describe your beauty, my lady,” another maid said.
“You will steal the breath of every soul in that hall,” Mia added confidently.
I couldn’t bring myself to agree. After all, Anastasia would be there, and her beauty was unmatched.
I glanced at my reflection again and paused. For a moment, I couldn’t recognize myself. The woman staring back at me looked otherworldly. My silver hair framed the delicate clasp of the blouse, and my blue eyes sparkled with a sharper, brighter intensity than ever before. I wonder if it was due to magic as well.
“You look beautiful, Ava,” Maya, my wolf, whispered in awe.
“We look beautiful, Maya,” I corrected with a smile. Her sincere compliment made me blush.
The gown’s skirt clung to me like liquid silk, with a slit along one leg that revealed just enough to draw attention. The ensemble made me feel like a vixen, a feeling both exciting and unnerving.
“Isn’t it a little much?” I murmured, turning to Mia. I didn’t want to draw too much attention.
“No, no, it’s perfect, my lady,” Mia assured me, stepping back to admire their work. “If they can’t handle your beauty, that’s their problem,” she added with a wide smile.
I chuckled softly. Mia’s enthusiasm was contagious. It almost felt like she was the one attending the banquet, not me.
“Let’s hope no one faints,” I joked lightly.
A knock at the door interrupted us. This wasn’t the room I shared with Raphael, so I was curious who it could be.
One of the maids opened the door, and Gwen swept in like a cool summer breeze. Her presence always brightened my mood.
She looked enchanting tonight. Her dark curls, thick and unruly as usual, had been styled into waves that framed her face. She wore a gown of transparent emerald fabric, pinned at one shoulder with a jewel that matched her vibrant green eyes.
The rumors about Gwen’s appearance, calling her plain or worse, were ludicrous. Her beauty was timeless, bold, and unapologetic. Tonight, she looked divine, like a goddess stepping out of a painting.
“Are you ready?” she asked nervously. “Gemma directed me here.”
“Is she outside?” I asked.
“No, she’s not. You look ethereal, Ava, like the kind of beauty poets write about.”
“Look who’s talking,” I said with a smile. “I was just thinking how you look like someone out of a painting yourself. You’re breathtaking, Gwen.”
“Yes, yes, flatter me more,” she teased, “but I don’t mind.”
I hooked my arm through hers, laughing softly. “Good. Let’s go.”
The maids scrambled to follow us, but I decided to pick the ones I trusted most.
“Mia, you will attend me tonight. Bring her as well,” I said, pointing to another maid.
Without looking back, I left the room with Gwen by my side.
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