Chapter Nineteen

The day couldn’t have passed any slower. The ritual, as always, was a meticulous dance. A milk bath, followed by an array of beauty treatments that bordered on the realm of torment – face masks, meticulous eyebrow threading, and the excruciating removal of every hint of body hair below the eyebrow line. Then the makeup, layers upon layers of white powder that threatened to choke the very life out of me, lips painted a deep, seductive crimson, eyes lined in rich brown. The result? I resembled a fragile porcelain doll, trapped behind layers of artifice.

But the pinnacle of agony was the clothing, a torment that surely rivaled the designs of Hades himself. Nerida, like an unyielding spirit, commandeered my chambers for hours on end. I stood, twirled, and endured the incessant poking and prodding from our royal designers. The process felt as though it stretched across eternity. There was a primary dress, a secondary dress as backup, and even a tertiary dress – just in case. Not to mention the dress for the unlikely event of my sudden fainting spell, and yet another gown to change into between the ninth and tenth hours. The whole ordeal left my head spinning.
Tonight marked the prospect ball, an event that Irina was slated to attend, flanked by Aelia, Saija, and Amaya. According to Aelia, Irina was having a better day, and her condition was somewhat alleviated. Her parents had determined it was fitting for her to observe the prospective suitors in her concealed guise. I offered a simple nod in agreement. It made sense – if Irina had made strides towards recovery, she would want to remain informed about the proceedings. It was well-known that Irina preferred to pose as a handmaiden during these events. Even before the Empire's incursion, she often confessed that it allowed her to gauge which suitors saw me as an object rather than a person.

Irina, before her the Empire, had been nothing short of brilliant. Her intellect shone like the sun-drenched petals of a vibrant bloom, casting light on the darkest corners of her kingdom. Throughout our shared childhood, she had been the sole person who could outwit me in a game of Polis. Her intelligence was awe-inspiring, and I held her in high regard. Her mastery of court dynamics, the art of handling suitors and quelling jealous adversaries, was second to none. She exuded confidence and a self-assured aura that kept her perpetually one step ahead of her foes. There were moments when I wondered if her brilliance was both a blessing and a curse if her intellect was simply too magnificent for her own well-being.

And then, her voice, a soothing melody, drifted from the doorframe. I was now fully adorned, my gaze captured by the splendid hues of the Dawn Court's sunset. "You look stunning," she offered her presence a comforting embrace.

Clad in a sage green dress adorned with soft hints of blue, the very shade of dawn itself, I stood there. The gown accentuated my waist before cascading into silky slits that revealed glimpses of my calves and thighs.

"I can scarcely move," I quipped, extending a leg to showcase the pearl-white heels adorning my feet.

"You won't have to," Irina reassured me, her arms uncrossing as she approached. "We'll be your guardians tonight." With her authoritative command, the room's occupants melted away, leaving us in solitude. Irina's own makeup was considerably lighter than mine, her matching green-blue eyes exuding an air of wisdom and regality. A serene countenance belied her intricate strategizing, a mind as sharp as the finest blade, weaving plots as delicate as the petals of her beloved garden blooms. Seeing her at this moment, I knew her recent episode had passed, allowing her true self to shine through.

"How long was I absent?" Her voice, tinged with both curiosity and despair, reached me as she gazed out at the expanse of the Astral Ocean from my balcony.

"Just a few days," I answered, my tone tinged with a heavy sense of concern.

Her hand interwove with mine. Behind her serene exterior, a masterful strategist wove intricate plots as delicate and complex as the petals of her beloved gardens blossoms. "I heard I tried to end your life," she remarked with a playful wink, a gesture that eased the tension in my shoulders.

“There’s no one I’d rather kill than you, Rina.”

within her gaze. "There are three princes, in particular, I want you to spend time with," she began, her demeanor transitioning into her familiar role of the kingdom's beloved ruler. I leaned in my respect for her guidance unwavering. When her health allowed, Irina was the very embodiment of the ideal ruler Astraeus could ever hope for. Benevolent, and authentic, she always placed the well-being of her people above all else. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt, for I sometimes resented my own role, wishing I possessed her boundless selflessness.

"Prince Theo, from Planet Helios," she began, her fingers deftly maneuvering holographic projections of her brain technology to display his image. "While they are our allies, Theo also claims Hollis in the Adron Galaxy.”

I nodded, my attention focused on the astral map that lay before us, galaxies gleaming like celestial jewels.

"Then there's Master Aidenous," she continued, but my brows furrowed at the mention of his name.

"Isn't he like two hundred years old?" I interjected, incredulity coloring my voice.

Irina chuckled, a fleeting glimpse of the sister I adored shining through. "Not that ancient, but close. His experience could be an asset, and his realm's resources are certainly appealing. He holds seats both on the Senate and Dawnlight council."

“And finally,” Irina presented a photo of a striking young prince before me, his bright eyes and raven-black hair capturing attention. “Prince Azhrel, my… personal favorite.”

“Irina,” I scolded, though my tone was laced with amusement, "That's Emperor Kao’s son."

Her serene smile only deepened. "I know," she winked playfully, mischief dancing in her eyes. "My mother will be furious."

Laughter bubbled from me, carried away by Irina's audacity. "Nerida will never allow it."

A tranquil confidence infused her gaze. "Nerida will listen to me, and I will marry whomever I choose," she declared casually, perching herself on my bed as she took a discreet hit of Stardust. "My father agrees that Azhrel is the most suitable choice. He claims dominion over all of the Koa galaxies—four if I recall correctly."

I grabbed a feathered pillow and playfully swatted her. "He has connections to the Empire!"

“Oh, so what?” Irina retorted, returning the playful swat with a pink pillow. "Once we defeat the Empire, he and I can rule over all their planets."

Giggles and a sense of sisterly camaraderie filled the room as I gave chase. "They say he conspires against us!"
Irina playfully vaulted over my coffee table, evading me with a dramatic flourish. "Then join the rooms where he conspires!" she called back with a mischievous grin.

Collapsing onto my four-poster bed, I playfully groaned. "I only yearn for Ezra in such secretive corners."

Returning to my side, Irina sprawled out, deep in thought as she contemplated the future that lay before her. "Erza is also a suitable option," she mused. "His eldest brother renounced his title to become a Dawnlight Master." Lost in her thoughts of leadership and alliances, she continued, "Although forming an alliance with Kairos would yield significant benefits."

I propped myseld up on my elbows. "Wait a second, did you say Kairos?"

“Sorry to interrupt a make-out session,” Amaya's voice chimed in with a playful edge, followed by the entrance of Saija and Aelia, all clad in simpler versions of my dress, light blush-pink traditional robes that matched Irina's.

“I see no reason to touch her when I have these for myself,” Irina quipped, humor dancing in her eyes as she gestured playfully to her enhanced curves beneath the rose-colored fabric. My gasp was involuntary, the memory of their recent cosmetic surgery momentarily slipping my mind.

“There are rumors he uses body doubles as well,” Amaya, always the vigilant one, shared. She had attended Irina’s technological presentation, stepping into the projected star map and pointing to Prince Azhrel's image.

Aelia spun toward the holographic photo. “Prince Azhrel, well, hello there. Can you even imagine? Five of him just for us?”

“Can you imagine having five of him just for myself?” I quipped, lifting the Stardust Saija had tossed my way.

“Princess Irina!”

The jovial atmosphere shattered as Queen Nerida's voice resounded, and the room tensed. She stood accompanied by leaders from various planets and members of Dawnlight, including Master Kyros and his apprentice, Ezra. The latter appeared crestfallen, and a silent curse passed through me.

Amaya discreetly took the vape back from me.

“The ceremony is about to begin,” Queen Nerida admonished, her frosty gaze scanning me critically. “I expect you all to exhibit impeccable behavior.”

“Yes, Mother,” both Irina and I responded in unison, only escalating the tension in the room further.