Page 10 of The Last Guardian

Aurora murmured in a low voice: “Starting from tonight, try to be a little less dramatic with your opinion about marriage—about Rune. You don’t have a choice. It’s better to be in Boren with a jerk than here with…”

Grandmother stepped through the corridor, interrupting us, and Aurora distanced herself once more. Behind her blue eyes, impenetrable walls rose.

“Aurora. There you are, darling,” Grandmother said, and I couldn’t help but notice that she kept calling her darling and me young lady. “We need to get ourselves ready. Come.” Grandmother put her arm around Aurora, as if Aurora was hers, and both of them turned their backs on me.

What had Aurora been about to say? Stay here with whom? Was she talking about Grandmother? Father? Or someone else?

Trying to chase away my thoughts, I stepped into my chambers and made my way to the dressing table, readying myself for the ball.

A sigh of relief escaped my mouth as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, noting the darker hue my hazel-green eyes had taken from a lack of sleep.

Exhausted. I looked exhausted.

A brief movement caught my eye in the mirror as my younger sister’s figure stepped into view, smiling, already dressed for the evening in a delicate pink gown with voluminous sleeves, her neckline slightly open, wearing a lovely lace corset and a simple skirt. She sparkled in the light.

“Do you have your eye on me, little bird?” I shot her a suspicious glare. I tried to reach for the buttons on the back of my gown, but I failed.

“I’ve been taught by the best.” Romy chuckled, closing the distance to help me. “Everything alright?” she added, making her way through the too many buttons.

“Yes,” I lied, smiling.

Once she finished unbuttoning the dress, I made my way over to my screen to change my gown.

“So, how was your day?” I asked.

The dress I had chosen for tonight had been delivered and hung in the wardrobe. A midnight blue gown, with a skirt billowing at the waist that fanned out like a curtain, with an ivory underlay. Beautiful.

Aurora would don a scarlet gown in homage to Kalor, to commemorate her future spouse and her future realm. Kalorian brides always wore red, according to their custom. The color represented love and passion, qualities the Kalorian esteemed highly in a marriage.

Of course, on her wedding day, she would wear white, symbolizing innocence and goodness, as a Vallenian princess.

“Probably better than yours, I suppose,” my little sister replied as I changed into the fitted, off-the-shoulder bodice with beautiful silver thread, shimmering in the light. It was stunning, but stars! It took forever to get that thing on.

“Prince Aleksi asked me to be his dance partner for tonight.”

Still listening to her, I slipped into my lace-sleeved dress, the fabric gently brushing against my skin, covering my wrists. Again.

“I think he’s the nicest of his brothers,” I replied, getting my dress on. “You could have done worse.” I stepped out from behind the screen and made my way to the mirror, adorning my ears with a pair of pearl earrings. My dark green gemstone fell onto my collarbone, adorned with iron scrolls engraved with my initials. Mother had one made for each of her children. One stone for each. Romy also wore her pink gemstone around her neck.

I didn’t have time to do my hair; it would fall freely, cascading down my back for the evening. I needed to learn how to be more organized.

“I know, right?” Romy smiled.

“But,” I warned in a dark tone, “if he ever offers to go elsewhere…”

“I will definitely say no. You don’t need to worry, Alya.”

I smiled as I approached her and gently brushed my hand over her small cheek. Even with our eight-year age difference, we had always been close. The five of us had stuck together since forever.

“Good,” I replied, giving her a mild frown. “Shall we?”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Romy asked, stopping me in my tracks.

I looked at her. “What?” I asked flatly.

Romy gestured to her tiny tiara atop her head—a rose-gold crown adorned with pink gemstones matching her dress.

Rolling my eyes, I walked to my dressing room to take mine, which rose in pointed arches, crowned with teardrop-shaped diamonds and smaller round diamonds at the base, the central motif curved into a star-shaped—a veritable feast for the eyes.