Chapter Nine

Serafina

My days with Regina, planning a large masquerade, were not as horrible as I was anticipating. For an entire week we ate breakfast and lunch together, with dinner being a family affair. We sent out invitations, went through seating charts, and had back-to-back meetings with merchants to supply the event.

Everyday she was patient and forgave much of my ignorance when I had to ask questions. By the fourth day I was even given permission to use her name in conversation. Truly not the evil stepmother from my nightmares. No, the best word to describe her now was reserved.

“Will you be leaving soon with Zander?” Her elegant voice broke through my thoughts during breakfast. We had been sitting across from one another, going through different flower arrangements for the centerpieces.

I gave a smile, doing my utmost to hide at least some of my enthusiasm.

“As soon as he gets here.” I replied, looking over at the clock that sat on top of the mantle in the Dining Hall.

I would finally tour Nautica and my heart pounded from the excitement. I was promised snacks and souvenirs. Or were they souvenirs if they came from one’s homeland? It didn’t matter. I was promised a day of wonders and I was not going to accept anything less from Zander’s hyping of his plans.

My body edged to the end of my seat, as I peered at the clock again. Still only ten o’ clock.

“And when will you be seeing Adwin again for your fitting?”

The seamstress, although I was convinced she used something of the mystical sort to get all of her creations out to meet outrageous deadlines that she set for herself. Just the week before she promised me four new dresses to be done within three days. I received them on the second.

“Tomorrow morning after our meeting.” I replied.

Regina gave an approving nod and then returned to maneuvering various flowers of white and blue in a tall vase. Rolled out on hangers beside the table were sample pieces for the fabrics of the curtains and tablecloths. There were dark blues, slippery silvers, and shimmering golds to match the Cosmos theme of the masquerade.

“Is it usual for her to blindfold you as she is working on your clothes?” I found myself asking, remembering a time from the previous week where Adwin refused to let me see the canvas of my dress for the ball.

A short and light snicker seemed to erupt through Regina’s pursed lips. If I hadn’t heard it, I wouldn’t have believed it because she quickly drew her features back to a relaxed nature. She lightly cleared her throat.

“Typically no. But this is a special occasion and I made the request to have you not see it until the night of.”

“Why?” My thoughts slipped out.

Her hands lowered onto the table, steel eyes still gazing at the blooms before her. A soft exhale escaped through her thinly opened lips as her shoulders lowered.

“I know that there are people who believe me to be vain and self-centered.”

My father and brother, I thought but remained silent as she continued to not face me.

“In some ways I know that I am. I know that I can have a tendency to be spiteful at times. Even to those undeserving of it.” The last sentence came out no louder than a whisper.

Then her eyes met mine. Solid and affirming.

“Apologies don’t mean much, I am a firm believer in that. But I do hope my actions moving forward will have you view me as someone who can make up for past transgressions. I wanted the dress to be a surprise because I know that I ruined your first, and only, ball. It’s my hope that when you see yourself in your completed gown for the first time it will make you feel confident and beautiful for your first official appearance in the world. To know that I helped in designing a dress that I feel you may enjoy dancing in, it is a very small form of redemption for myself.”

The air escaped from my nostrils and I wasn’t sure how to recall it back to my lungs. Regina was using the dress as a bridge, one that I never thought I would willingly cross before we started working together. Attempting to collect myself, I engaged slowly and couldn’t fight the upwards ticking of my lips.

“I’m sure I will love the dress. Thank you so much for thinking about me.” It was far more subdued than how my insides were feeling, my stomach doing cartwheels.

Her lips, too, began to form a smile and she returned to the flowers, long delicate fingers always careful to not touch the thorns.

“Well aren’t you the busy body, Regina.” A clipped tone announced from the entrance to the Dining Hall.

Turning to look up, I wished I had just kept my head down and become invisible. Dea strode in, her tight collared deep red dress not so much as fraying from her feet as she moved. I peered up at the clock. It has only been a half hour since I last looked at it. Where was Zander?

Without looking at her, I sensed Regina’s body going rigid at the sound of her predecessor, yet her face would never let it slip that she was uncomfortable.

“But of course. This is such a special occasion and we don’t want any loose ends.” Regina said through a well-aligned smile. It was a smile that did not appear forced or overly joyful.

Dea paused before the fabrics on the hangers, lightly rolling the silver one in her fingertips.

“You always did have a fine taste when it comes to hosting these events. You picked out some lovely shades.” Although a compliment, it sounded more like polite obligation with how tightly she kept her tone.

A sense of warmth spread through my stomach, like butterflies, as Regina’s smile visibly widened.

“Actually, your granddaughter made the final decision on the drapes and tablecloths. She did pick out some nice pieces, didn’t she?” Regina remarked, a small sense of pride in her tone.

Heat crept up my neck and towards my ears. She had asked me which ones I liked. I had no idea that she picked them just because I said they would look nice.

Dea’s hand dropped the material, as if the fabric became acid in her hands. Then she wiped her fingertips subtly against her dress. The urge to scrunch up my face was near impossible to ignore but I returned my gaze towards the flowers. It wasn’t as if I was some contagion. If Regina noticed she didn’t let on as she, too, continued to move the petals around.

The older woman then invited herself to sit at the head of the table. My father’s chair. It was just a chair, I reminded myself internally. She can sit wherever she pleases if he’s not here.

Fingers lightly traced petals in a vase. I wasn’t going to ask for the reason for the unannounced visit. In fact, I wasn’t going to say anything at all if I could help it. I wouldn’t have minded if Zander would hurry along and collect me.

“Marek Drakonis will be arriving in just a couple of days. We want Zander and Princess Celina to become more accustomed to one another after all.” Dea’s voice was light. Her words made it seem like idle chatter.

Regina paused in her work, body stiffening.

“The ball isn’t for another few weeks, Dea. It’s a bit too soon to be welcoming guests.” Regina replied, just as casually.

I couldn’t help but admire Regina’s fortitude over her emotions. A true queen consort never played with the house’s cards, and her demeanor was always proof of that.

“His son will be coming along too.” Dea continued on, as if Regina didn’t respond at all.

“Well then I will be sure to set up some itineraries for them when they arrive. We wouldn’t want to appear as anything other than gracious hosts while they patiently wait for the festivities to begin.” Again, Regina’s voice was casual.

Clearly taking the hint that my stepmother was not going to fall into her snare, Dea turned her gaze to me with such molten malice that I wished I could just melt into the cracks on the floor.

“If you are wise you will accept this visit as a gift, little bastard.” Her tone dripped with sickly sweet venom.

I refrained from recoiling at her words, although I did watch as Regina’s perfect mask faltered ever so slightly as her jaw feathered.

“By the end of the month there will be a glorious union between my beloved grandson and the Dragon King’s most cherished daughter. During that time you should be contemplating your own match and spend time with the son. That’s the gift; the time you will spend with him. But if he doesn’t please you then we know that the Fairy King will be just as pleased to have you in Silvania.”

Ice felt as though it had been poured over my head. She was desperate to be rid of me and it chilled me to the bone to think of how calculating she had been up to this point. We were all aware that she was doing her own negotiations behind the scenes but Zander had told me to ignore the rumors. Only Father and the Grand Council could put pressure on such matters. However, Dea spoke as if she still held sway over all of them. A light cough from my stepmother broke through the silence.

“Dea, I would like for you to refrain from pressuring Serafina. If she wishes to marry someone then I’m sure Jovan won’t protest but pushing a thumb down on the scales is a poor and distasteful way to hurry her along. What if she would prefer Anton? A nice man from home? Or if no one at all? It’s not for either of us to involve ourselves.”

I could smirk at Regina’s beguiling way with words. I could rush out of my seat and embrace her for telling Dea to back off. But I didn’t do any of that. I just sat and witnessed the display unfolding.

Dea’s cool gaze shifted from me to her daughter-in-law. A slight sneer turned up on her lips.

“That ward of yours can give us nothing for her. Honestly, you’ve gone soft, Regina. You know that doing all this, being civil with that,” her gaze back on me for a mere moment, “isn’t going to win you back your husband.”

That was a low blow, even for the former queen. Part of me had thought Regina’s tolerance of me was to gain favor with my father, but I began to see things differently. While yes, they were conversing at each dinner amicably, almost as if feeling each other out, she owed me nothing more than lessons on hosting. We could have worked in silence the entire time, yet the air between us shifted. When I looked at her I didn’t sense that fear that I had always carried when my thoughts drifted to her. Now there was just content co-existence.

“That’s enough.” Cold words emerged from the doorway.

Zander’s eyes portrayed a sense of disgust and irritation.

“You will stop harassing my mother and sister.” It came out as an order. Zander wasn’t one to overuse his influence, so hearing him use that tone on our own grandmother was a bit harrowing.

Dea didn’t seem to be affected as she looked up at him, cool demeanor unwavering in herself.

“You will start preparing yourself for marriage young man. No more of these local wenches. Mistakes like your father’s,” Dea’s eyes flickered towards me swiftly, “cannot always be mended through legitimizing and political maneuverings.”

Zander strode to stand beside me, not breaking eye contact with her for even a moment. His hands balled up at his sides, quivering.

“I’m not my father in many ways. But the most important one is that when the day comes I will not tolerate having you in these walls manipulating behind closed doors. You will only come when I summon you and you, residing in your primary residence up north until those very few days come.” He said with a menacing tone.

My lungs were growing tight as I held my breath, afraid that if I were to breathe it would cause a negative reaction around us. Then he turned towards me, a calloused hand offered. His cool demeanor shifted as he peered down at me. The malice melting away to reveal my kind-hearted brother.

“I’m sorry for being so late, Sera. I was detained for longer than I anticipated this morning. Will you still go into the city with me?” The cold tone was now one of warmth and welcoming.

I slipped my hand into his and pulled away from the table. Pushing in my chair, Regina caught my attention.

“Will it be alright if we continue with the centerpieces later? Maybe after dinner?” I asked, deciding to not glance over at my grandmother.

A small, yet genuine, smile tipped upwards on Regina’s lips.

“Of course.” Her eyes then wandered to Zander and an eyebrow curved upwards.

“Is that an appropriate way to wear your clothes when you are contracted to a princess?”

I took in his appearance, which didn’t appear much different than any given day. Black trousers and a button down white tunic with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the first two buttons unfastened. A simple medallion with the depiction of Cato rested against his bare chest. Compared to my more elegant mint green summer dress with silver embroidered water dragons on my skirt, he appeared veritably casual.

Zander looked down at himself and then back at his mother.

“What?” He asked in a dubious manner.

Regina rolled her eyes at him and then looked back at me.

“Please keep an eye on him and have fun.”

I smiled brightly in return.

“I promise that he won’t be kidnapped by the local girls on my watch.”

A quiet cough interrupted our merriment. How would anyone ever forget that Dea was in the room? She certainly wasn’t a person who would allow for people to pretend she wasn’t there.

“There’s really no point in a tour of the city if she will be expected to find a suitable match with a foreign prince or nobleman.” She remarked as if she were discussing a topic as simple as the weather.

“In Cato’s name, you are insufferable! I think it’s time you returned to your springs up north. You have far overstayed your welcome.” Zander growled out, his body quaking in suppressed anger.

He didn’t give her a moment to respond as his heavy fingers clamped down on my much smaller ones and sharply tugged on them to move us towards the opening. I didn’t dare look behind us to see if Dea was going to retaliate or not.