“What about you, Lunetta?”
“I still have plenty of energy, so I’m going to go see His Majesty. If we’re going to send people to Magyck, I think the sooner we can send them, the better.”
While Lunetta had threatened them and then some, Sophie certainly had her doubts as to whether or not that arrogant king and his magicians could really behave. Vyce had called Jeykos, the prime minister, to his quarters, so they’d likely begun evaluating whom to dispatch right away.
Sophie had nodded. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Lunetta had already used the magic several times and had just returned to the castle. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Sophie had asked.
“I’m quite confident in the reserves of magical energy I possess,” Lunetta had replied. “But you must be tired, Sophie.”
Lunetta had cast her head down as she looked up at Sophie. A bit taken aback, Sophie had nodded. Lunetta also knew full well that Sophie was a novice at magic. There was no point in lying about it. It did sting a bit, though.
“You’ve had your bath, so you can just take it easy.”
“Got it,” Sophie had replied, doing as she was told. Lunetta had given a satisfied nod back.
That’s right—the bath! The bath had been amazing.
Remembering her time in the castle baths, Sophie let out a relaxed sigh.
The castle’s baths had been, in a word, amazing.
The room Sophie had grown up in could’ve fit in threefold in the massive bathing area, equipped with lion statues that had hot water pouring from their mouths. The baths were luxurious enough to boast a fountain shooting out hot water. Not only that, but the waters were sprinkled with pleasantly scented flower petals. They called it a “princess perk,” but I don’t really know what that means!
The baths were so extravagant they practically seemed to boast of the nation’s wealth and power. But Lunetta wasn’t the only one who’d been scrubbed squeaky clean.
The castle’s maids and ladies-in-waiting had washed Sophie’s body and her hair before giving her a massage with scented oil, leaving her skin soft, silky, and supple. The feel of her own skin was so nice she’d caught herself touching it without even realizing it.
“Your hair’s such a beautiful color! It looks like silk woven with peridot!”
“And your skin’s so healthy and radiant! Putting makeup on it almost seems like it’d be a waste!”
“But just look at how adorable she is! Our mission is to help make her even more adorable and even more stunning, isn’t it?”
“That’s exactly right! I’m sure Madam Lyedia’s latest dress would look phenomenal on her! Allow me to suggest some makeup that would work perfectly with it!”
And that was how Sophie had found herself polished up to a sparkling gleam by the oh-so kind and oh-so dedicated maids and ladies-in-waiting.
Wow... That was just amazing.
It had been positively blissful—so nice and warm that she’d come close to making the blunder of going out like a light right in front of them.
Sophie had found herself so dressed up she was positively gleaming, dolled up and radiantly warm. It was enough to make her want to ask every person she met if it was really okay for her to be this happy.
Incidentally, Madam Lyedia was the most popular designer in the whole kingdom, from the sound of it. Sophie felt hesitant at the mere thought of wearing such an expensive dress, but the maids and ladies had insisted. “You’ll get on Lord Vyce’s bad side if you don’t!” they’d said without a hint of ill will, halfway forcing Sophie into the gorgeous dress.
They were frightfully efficient—they’d sent for the dress while Sophie had still been in the bath.
The dress was a soft, light blue, neither too large nor too small. It didn’t have any garish ribbons that would clash with Sophie’s plain face, nor were any needlessly showy jewels embedded in it. The design was enough to make Sophie’s chest throb with heartfelt delight. It’s so cute!
She’d been given a room and an elegant yet adorable dress, woven with care in both senses of the word. Now, surrounded by such gentle things, Sophie closed her eyes.
She was pleasantly tired, a wave of drowsiness falling over her.
Before she’d closed her eyes, at the far edges of her vision, Sophie could see through her window that the sun had already set and the stars were glittering in the sky.
The delicious sandwich she’d had with those fresh vegetables and the cookies that Azuello had fallen in love with were nearly gone from her stomach. I’m starting to get hungry, Sophie thought, opening her eyes. A different country meant different foods.
Having awakened to a newfound interest in food, Sophie’s stomach rumbled. The body always tells it like it is!
It was then that Sophie heard a knock on the door.
She’d been in a daze, wondering if she’d ever lounged about so idly before, only to startle and rise to her feet at the sudden sound.
“Yes, come in!” Sophie answered.
The door opened just a bit. Sophie froze.
His hair was as black as the night, pushed to the side. His skin was snow-white, so pale you might be forgiven for thinking he’d never stepped outside. His long eyelashes seemed to rend the sky in two, framing the glimmering amethyst of his eyes. His lips were so flush with color Sophie almost wanted to ask if he’d put on lipstick. He cut a flattering figure, his long limbs filling out the white suit jacket and matching pants that accentuated his national-treasure-worthy face. Tying it all together was the black shirt he wore underneath, almost as if to remind all who saw it that he wasn’t some celestial being. With his jacket adorned with a pale green gem the color of her hair, Sophie felt just a bit immoral, as if she’d pinned an angel from on high down to the earth.
In other words, Sophie was mere moments away from losing consciousness at the sight of Livio, who was just as polished and cleaned up as she was.
What? He’s way too cool! Too handsome! Too amazing!
Locking eyes with Sophie, Livio closed the door as if in shock, his cheeks flushing with color.