Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Ready to dance
Anaisa was fed a minimal luncheon before she was plunged back into the preparations for the ball. This day of pampering and beauty treatments might have delighted many a noblewoman, but she found them anywhere from tedious to mildly alarming.

She hated it most when her eyebrow hairs were plucked. How many people would get close enough to her face to see a single out of place hair?

It was the first time screaming at one of the servants came from her own desire and not simply an effort to impersonate Sapphira.

“Am I not going to be wearing a mask anyway??” She snapped. “Why is this necessary?”

“The face powder we will apply goes on more smoothly–” The woman began.

“Again–mask!” Anaisa interrupted. “Why is face powder involved at all here?”

“It’s only a half-mask,” Sapphira chirped from the corner with amusement. “You will still have makeup.”

A knock at the door interrupted the escalating argument, and Trace entered with a bow.

“I am off now to get ready and take my place for the evening,” He informed the ladies. “But I wanted to make sure there was nothing else you needed from me before I do so.”

Anaisa took a deep breath, realizing just how tightly the anxiety was wound up inside of her. Trace’s smile helped the knot uncoil slightly, and she smiled back at him.

He’d asked what she needed, and right now she felt like she needed his steadying presence. Trace was always so calm, so open… apart from the secrets he still kept from her, she amended.

“You may go,” She nodded regally, but he hesitated.

“Everything will go well tonight… Your Highness,” He added the title when he realized just how many people were in the room to make her look pretty. “We will keep you safe so that you can have a wonderful time.”

She relaxed slightly and nodded again as he withdrew from the chamber and went on his way.

If Anaisa had wanted time to dwell on his departure, she was immediately disappointed. The servants took advantage of the temporary withdrawal of her ire to pounce more ardently than before, preparing her for perhaps the most important night of a princess’s life.

Anaisa was chastised for frowning–frown lines would ruin the effect of the makeup–and only barely held her tongue. She spared a sharp look for Sapphira. The real princess looked alternately jealous for not receiving the treatments herself and delighted that she wasn’t being subject to certain ones.

The fake princess resisted the urge to make faces at her.

Anaisa’s hair was arranged into an elaborate style with all manner of pins. Her face was dusted with powder, and her eyes accentuated with lines of charcoal-colored paint that would, she was told, blend well with her mask.

Anaisa’s lips were given a bright red hue, and when she looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. The image was beautiful, surely, but the reflection wasn’t her in the least. It was some beautiful stranger, mysterious and flirtatious.

Even the smallest upturn of her lips was clear, and the littlest movement of her eyes. There would be no hiding her emotions tonight without the use of the mask. She was now more grateful for that object than ever.

The wardrobe servants came with the gown and helped her into it without mussing her hair. The beautifully draped fabric was like a comfortable, silky curtain to hide behind after her day of constant prodding.

Her matching mask was secured and fine dancing slippers placed on her feet. She glared down at the shoes for a moment, knowing they would become uncomfortable before long. Earrings in her ears matched the necklace at her throat and delicate bracelet on her wrist. A glittering tiara was fitted into her hairstyle.

She attempted to smile mysteriously into the looking glass but nearly jumped. She had looked different before, but was truly unrecognizable to herself now.

“The guests are arriving downstairs!” A servant rushed in to cry. “It will be time soon!”

Anaisa squeezed her eyes shut. The princess was to make a grand entrance on the staircase as she was introduced en masse to the subjects of the kingdom. There would be a frenzy of activity; no one but servants had seen her before, and since up until recently, Yemi could change the princess’s appearance instantly, rumors abounded about how she would look.

And why, on the day of her introduction to society, she would be masked.

“You’ll do beautifully,” Sapphira encouraged.

“I’m not so sure.” Anaisa whispered back.

Deborah stood off to the side as Anaisa left the princess’s chambers. The maid had nearly forgotten about the magic user, but she paused now.

“How is your baby?” The fake princess asked softly.

“A little better, the doctor says,” Deborah smiled.

“Wonderful. Are you ready to make me sparkle?” She asked the magic user with a small smile. Deborah looked almost as nervous as she felt.

“Yes, Your Highness. If I do it now, it can put enough power into it so that the effects will last until morning.”

“Then by all means, make me the most beautiful woman this kingdom’s ever seen,” Anaisa smirked and threw a wink at Sapphira. It seemed like something the princess would say, and from now on, she needed to be in character!

Deborah knelt to touch the hem of the midnight blue dress, and closed her eyes. Sparkling gems appeared like tiny stars all across the fabric, making the ball gown incredibly eye-catching in even the smallest amount of light.

The magic user rose and took Anaisa’s hand next, for several seconds, and then, finally, lifted her fingers to touch Anaisa’s hair.

The fake princess couldn’t resist moving back to the chamber for one last glance in the looking glass.

“They’re waiting, Your Highness. Everyone is in position now,” A nervous servant piped up from the hall.

A group of guards arrived on the servant’s heels, ready to escort Anaisa to the ballroom. Which was well and good, since she didn’t exactly recall where it was.

“You,” Anaisa pointed regally at one of them. “Escort this maid to His Majesty, she is to serve him this evening.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” He bowed stiffly and glanced towards Sapphira.

“You’ll do wonderfully,” The real princess winked. “Just don’t trip and fall.”

Anaisa pressed her lips together as she turned to follow the guards. “No promises on that.”