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3. First Lonely Night of Many

3

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First Lonely Night of Many

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Sileas expected the empty room. The room was larger than the one she had at her grandparents’ home and was designed to expect a newlywedded couple, a happy one preferably. But it was just her.

a relieved married woman.

One that had to hold her laughter throughout the reception.

The reception started and ended with her entering the hall of the palace on her own, and she ate whatever she wanted in front of everyone. Even her noble grandparents had to sit through her binge eating. It was a first for her to finish two meals in one sitting, all she was ever allowed to eat was a bowl of soup twice a day and a piece of bread from time to time. The last time she ever had cake…it was so long ago that when she finally had it, especially made by the well-known royal patisserie, it was transcendent that she was able to ignore everyone’s whispering.

Her husband still unseen. She kicked her shoes off to the side and made sure that the door was closed behind her before tugging at the cords and ties behind her back. She loosened the bottom cords but couldn’t fully untie it from below.

“Damn it” she hissed. Wrestling with herself until finally she slumped forward and gave up. For a moment she considered pulling at the cord to call for a servant, but that would ruin the peace she has now.

Something she didn’t had in ages.

She sighed. Struggling a few more seconds before finally sitting on the chaise lounge and slumped back. She stared at the ceiling, only just noticing the beautiful mosaic painting on it, a large silvery dragon, Aegir, blessing his children, the royal family, with his power. Every tamer and shifter were blessed by him, but the royal family is different.

Was she part of the blessing? That’s a question she asks often since she inherited no part of her father to speak of or the mythos came true of a hybrid that could create flames like the Queen regent. Even the Princess has that ability even if she was more Draconic than human. Which all made her question if she was ever part of the equation. She never questioned this before in the villa with her parents, she was just herself there.

But did Aegir ever think of her? Did he expect a being like her? talentless, part-human, couldn’t shift and has no attributes of a Draconian yet she come from a long line of shifters that became one of the well-known family in all the country.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound made her jump to her feet. She didn’t think she was nervous until at this moment. In her mind, she was going to do her duty and try to talk to the prince—no, King Eitr. He is king now that he married her after being engaged since they were children.

“You there?” The voice sounded different. Definitely not the voice of the king.

She looked around the room nervously. Aware that she’s not entirely undressed or dressed for that matter to look anyone in the eye. It was one thing to be sincere and not caring about her grandparents’ reactions, but it was another to just loose manners and etiquette.

“Y-Yes” She finally found her voice. Clutching frantically on her sliding sleeves, she tried to pull them up, but it won’t stay put. “I…I am not decent”

There was a low chuckle. “My Queen, trust me, I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.”

She pursed her lips. “Who am I talking to?”

“It’s Lotir, my queen.”

The name of the princess made her hurry to the doors and pry them open almost immediately. Forgetting the state of her hair or her dress that is half clinging and dropping on her frame. “Princess!”

The princess is tall. She remembered seeing her standing beside the King on their wedding and they were at the same height. Long dark locks that she never tried to tame and in a dress that towered over Sileas, she thought of her like a heroine that she is.

Lilac eyes with a cheeky glint and full upturned lips that grinned. She bowed curtly “May I come in?”

Sileas can’t help but look at the empty room. It was only just her and she isn’t sure what the princess would think of that. “I…don’t mind” she said through a well-rehearsed smile.

“Thank you”

The princess steps in, the closest she’s been to her, and truly she was taller than any woman she knew. She didn’t think the heroic Princess Lotir would ever be interested in talking to her, much less visit her in her quarters like this. She looked around the room, which made her worry that she was here to judge the empty marital bed, but the Princess doesn’t seem surprised and just looked at the fireplace and sat near it.

Sileas looked at the empty halls from where the princess came, and it looked bare. No guards or knights were around, and it was late. The sight of the empty halls was welcoming. The room at her grandparents were always guarded. Servants were spies that were close to her grandmother’s ears and the knights were her grandfathers.

She promptly closed the doors.

“Lock them”

Startled. She looked questioningly at the princess.

She smiled. Warm and sincere. “No one is coming other than me. I’m afraid I’m the best company you’ll have tonight.”

The news almost made Sileas audibly sigh, but she smiled instead. “I’m sorry to hear that. I have been told that I am horrible company in all honesty.” She locked the doors and step towards the seat directly across from the princess. “I’m sorry for my state, I couldn’t reach the back of my dress”

“Why didn’t you call a servant?” It was strange. Her voice didn’t sound like she was judging her, but merely asking out of curiosity. “They do make it really easy. I mean, I wouldn’t have been able to get out of that stuffy dress and into slacks if it weren’t for them.”

She’s being friendly, she thought. Smiling at the Princess’ candor. Sileas have never liked court conversations. “I…wanted to be alone. It has been a while since I was left with my thoughts.”

“Ah, I have received news that your Grandparents dote on you terribly. I can imagine how those stuffy old fools would pester you.”

Sileas couldn’t help but laugh at the princess’s choice words. I can’t imagine even saying those words to describe them. “They do keep me safe” from everyone’s eyes.

“I could help you with your clothes.”

“I…I would be incredibly grateful if you could just fully loosen the back and I would do the rest”

“No problem”

Sileas stood in front of the princess and turned her back to the princess and once she felt the ties loosen, she quickly turned back to face her. “Thank you, if you would excuse me, I’m just going to change in comfortable clothes”

“No worries” Lotir smiled. Raising her hands in mock surrender and she flops back down to her seat. She turned her head to watch the flames. “I won’t look.”

It was strange. Seeing Lotir watch the flames with a solemn look truly reminds her of Eitr and his many grumpy faces. She lingered for a moment before stepping behind a shroud where her sleeping gown is already propped.

She changed quickly, though Lotir said she wouldn’t look, but Sileas isn’t too sure. It would raise even more suspicions if she were to react, so she quickly pulled the corset off her body with all her strength and quickly changed to her nightgown and robe.

She took one look at Lotir and was relieved that she is still staring at the flames. Her lilac eyes seemed mesmerized by the fire’s dance. Moving and waving to the air inside the room that she doesn’t particularly feel.

Its supposed to be cold, but all her windows are closed.

“Sorry for making you wait” Sileas sat in her original seat.

“No, don’t say such things. I barged in here without prior notice. You should act more despondent and indignant at my presence.” Lotir finally broken her stare from the flames, where it sputtered and became still behind her.

“That was…amazing” Sileas couldn’t help but mutter.

“It’s a small trick. I’m sorry if it frightens you”

“No,” She smiled. “I’m not at all. I have always wanted to see what a flame controlled by your highness would look like”

“Please, just call me Lotir. You’re the Empress Queen Consort now, a rank incredibly higher than I am.”

“But you have inherited the title of Grand Duchess”

“Still lower than you now”

Sileas’ smile tightened. Not knowing it had as she looked at her lap, where her hands cupped the air. “Perhaps so”

“Strange, isn’t it?” Lotir said. Her eyes are now focused and trained on her. weighing her emotions and expressions, which reminded her to loosen. “You don’t have to pretend. The both of you were engaged so suddenly, it was almost rude at how lack of a décor it was”

Sileas chuckled. “That may be, but no one refuses your family Princess Lotir”

“Ah, yes, my mother being a saviour and my father being a prodigal king. You must have high expectations from us then”

Sileas shrugged. “Everyone is different Princess Lotir. Circumstances and people have different fates. I have no expectation other than what is reality and this is mine.”

“Wise words for a high born”

A dirty high born of common background, Sileas had to stop the snark from escaping her lips. “To what do I owe the pleasure? Is the Emperor not coming?”

“No” Lotir curtly said. A strange deviation from her earlier mood. She crossed her long legs and smiled so casually. “I wanted to meet my sister-in-law. I have to admit, it is nice to have another addition to the family. before my parents left for the nomadic tribes, this palace was much livelier and I hope that the liveliness would come back”

“I would try to live up to your expectation” Sileas looked at the rope used to summon servants beside her bed, she has a tickling feeling that Lotir would be here for a while—which is a welcome distraction. “Do you want something to drink? I shall summon some of the servants”

“I won’t say no to that.”

Sileas smiled. All nervousness fading as she walked towards the bed and summoned the servants. She’s relieved that Lotir saw nothing, and she’s the only company she’ll be having tonight. It had been too long since she last conversed with another person without her Grandparents watching her like a hawk.

Plus, she is beginning to like Princess Lotir. Who would have thought she would still want a friend after all these time?

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