Seraphina’s POV
It was finally the day of the party. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the small box in my hands, it was the gift I’d prepared for Grandmother.
I knew Old Lady Lancaster had never cared about how expensive a gift was; she valued thought over price. And this gift... I was sure she would like it.
"What are you thinking about?" Emma nudged with her elbow, jolting out of my thoughts. "Aren’t you going to get ready?"
"I was..." My voice ca out low. "But you know... I didn’t prepare anything in particular, so I’m not sure what would be best for to wear."
"Is that all you’re worried about, baby girl?"
Alistair’s voice echoed into the room before I even saw him. He strode in the room, flanked by two very feminine-looking n and a woman, all of them dressed like they’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine.
Their heels clicked sharply against the floor, the sound growing louder until they stopped right in front of .
"So..." one of the n said, giving a slow, deliberate scan from head to toe. "This is the sister you keep babbling about nonstop, making us wish we could strangle you?" His eyes narrowed as he gritted his teeth slightly before he looked straight at without blinking.
Before I could even think of what to say, he broke into a quick introduction. "By the way, I’m Jolly. He’s Matt, and she’s Lolita." He waved a manicured hand and was speaking so fast that I barely kept up with him. Then he clapped his hands sharply.
The door swung open again, and a stream of people entered, pushing trolleys stacked high with dresses, evening gowns, jewelry cases — fabrics in every shade and texture spilling out like a rainbow. Even heels and all kind of footwears were brought in as well.
"They’re for both Sera and Emma," Alistair said, giving a soft, knowing look before turning back to the team he’d brought. "Make them the most beautiful, stunning people present at the party. I want everyone to think they just descended from heaven."
My throat tightened. I’d never had this kind of attention, this much effort poured into .
I wanted to tell Alistair that he didn’t need to do that for ! I had plenty of dresses to wear on the occasion. But a part of wondered what it would be like to walk into that party and make lissa choke on her own pride.
The room got busier with each passing second.
The sound of fabric swishing, hangers clinking, and soone was already holding up a dress against , speaking in a language I didn’t understand.
I sat down quietly, letting them circle like hawks. Soone combed my hair, brushes swept across my face, and soone was asuring my waist.
A part of wanted to shrink away. I wasn’t used to this much attention. Especially when soone was picking every strand of my hair and curve of my body.
In the past, parties had been a hassle for , which I always wanted to avoid. It was the places where a single wrong step could turn into a lifeti of trauma.
For a mont, I caught my own reflection in the mirror. My hair was pinned halfway up, soft curls falling over my shoulders, and a gown that was hand-picked by Alistair was being fitted to my fra, hugging all my curves tightly.
The girl looking back at ... didn’t seem like the sa one who had once hidden in corners, hoping no one noticed her.
I took a slow breath, trying to steady myself and determined myself that I must conquer the party.
Even if my heart was trembling, I was still ready to fight for the sake of my loved one.
I noticed Emma out of the corner of my eye, sitting on the other side of the room. She was already halfway through her makeover. She caught my gaze in the mirror and grinned, rolling her eyes at the fuss.
That made my lips curve a little. If she could look this comfortable, maybe I could too.
Emma tilted her head toward , her hair wrapped in rollers as one of the stylists fussed over her but she still glanced at .
"You know," she whispered just loud enough for to hear, "if you keep sitting that stiff, they’ll think you’re made of stone and even if you look like a fairy, it would make you look super awkward."
I let out a quiet breath and nodded at her words. "I just... don’t know what to do with myself right now."
"Easy," she said with a smirk. "Let tell you a way to ease your tension. She said as I eagerly waited for her to continue. "Just pretend you’re a queen and they’re just lucky to be touching you."
I shook my head, but her confidence was infectious. "And you?" I asked, raising a brow. "Aren’t you enjoying this a little too much?"
"Of course," she said without sha. "We’re going to look so good tonight that people will choke on their champagne."
Her grin made smile widely. I turned my eyes back to the mirror to see that little smile lingering on my lips.
For the first ti in a long ti, I didn’t feel like I was preparing for a battlefield.
I just felt... normal, as if I was simply going to see my grandmother and not going there to attend a party where every eye might be on .
"What do you think, Young Miss?" Lolita asked, stepping back with a huge smile as she studied . "I guess I’ve done the best I could, but... with the face you have... there’s really nothing I could add. You already look so stunning."
I blinked at her. Didn’t know how to react to her words, and caught Emma grinning at from her chair.
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