The maids were not giving up. Lady Iryne had given them a deadline to make Sigrid decide on a dress so that nobody in the family clashed by wearing a similar outfit.
"A beautiful red silk gown that billows magically." Lama said in a honeyed voice.
Sigrid smiled as she pictured it.
"Made entirely of apple skins." Lama finished in a small voice.
And the smile on Sigrid’s face withered.
Lama had yet to notice as she was lost in the vision and she added, "It will have a belt around the waist and when you twirl it will release cinnamon scented sparkles."
"Fruit salad!" Sigrid’s sarcasm didn’t sparkle, it smoldered. "You want , the crown princess to go to a ball dressed as fruit salad!"
Lama turned the page quickly after noting the sourness in Sigrid’s tone. "I too thought it was a terrible idea but I promised the tailors that I would share all their ideas with you.
Next up is the oversized collar embroidered gown with a long trail and each dwarf’s face, magically enchanted to wink."
Sigrid did not even justify that with a response.
Lama wiped sweat from her forehead. It was becoming really hot in the bathroom. "A gown with mice and gloves that sll like cheese."
Lama did not even make eye contact with Sigrid after sharing that idea. She already knew what answer the crown princess with give.
"How about an ordinary light blue sparkling gown." It had a well drawn picture that she showed Sigrid. The gown, gloves and tiara were okay. "With heels that can fly and take you to prince charming." Lama could feel the foolishness in that idea.
"This is not Kansas. I am not Dorothy." Sigrid muttered.
The maids were confused. Who was Kansas and Dorothy?
"Uhm, a gown made of inflatable satin and wool of magical sheep with forms a cloud. When the clock strikes midnight, it inflates with a ’whee’ sound."
"Whee." Sigrid’s flat voice ca.
Lama closed the dress idea book and bath ti ca to an end. By the ti Sigrid finished dressing up, Roland was already pacing outside impatiently.
"That bath run longer than my last three showers." He muttered.
Sigrid tapped her hair that had just been curled. "Perfection cannot be rushed my dear. It takes a lot to look this good."
Roland’s eyes road over her and they glead appreciatively. It was undeniable that she was breathtakingly beautiful. But, even without all the fuss, he still found her to be the most beautiful woman in the world.
She could be dressed in rugs and he would still choose her. That was how desperately he wanted to be with her. Why she could not see that, he could not fathom.
He slipped her arm through his as they slow walked down the steps.
"So, what do you think your father’s first question is going to be?" She asked him.
He looked out and pondered on it for a mont. "Peace with doris. I know that is very unhappy about it."
Sigrid was sure that it was not the only thing he was unhappy about. There was sothing else that he would be itching to touch.
When they arrived in the royal hospital, the king sent everyone out, including Elarin.
"You too Roland." He commanded his son.
Sigrid pulled back the chair that Elarin had been sitting in and she made herself comfortable. For the first ti since King Raff opened his eyes, she got to see him. He was still pale. His feet could not work just yet but he could sit. He was covered in a red velvet cloak that reflected the fury he was feeling.
He spoke first, in a scratchy, suspicious voice. "You were the brains behind the secret union between Eldoria and doris."
Sigrid blinked innocently. ", no! Lord Alexander ca looking for the union. The secret al which the n ate in the observatory was not attended by a single person of influence in a dress or skirt. Apparently, the fact that war is n’s business has not yet changed even though female mages played a great role in conquering Nemoris."
King Raff coughed and so blood fell from his mouth and it soaked into a white tissue.
"You have not yet recovered." Sigrid noted. "This is why I told everyone but Elarin to stay away until you are declared fully healed."
"Bullshit!" King Raff rasped and coughed again. "You granted your family a private army while I was unconscious. You did not need to be at that eting for your ideas to make it into the room."
Sipped slowly leaned back in the chair. "I have no idea what you speak of. From what I heard, Duke Alexander and the Crown prince chose my grandfather and father to oversee the neutral army which will keep peace between all nations in our region. Everyone from all around the world is welco to join it."
King Raff bristled. His breathing beca heavier, "Do you take for a fool? I have already sent my people to check. You filled that army with all the knights that used to serve under your grandfather. It is now an army that serves your Thorin family. Are you trying to outmaneuver the crown prince or undermine my rule?"
Sigrid leaned in, all feline grace and faint nace. "Well, where were you expecting recruits to co from? They are n of the sword and when they heard that they could pick it up again, they did. As for outmaneuvering the crown prince, why would I ever do that?
He is my husband and I intend to live happily ever after with him. As for undermining your reign, whyever would I do that? After you, Roland is next in power, he is emperor and I am empress. If I wanted to undermine your rule, I would have killed you in your sleep while you were sick. I would be empress already."
She leaned back and folded her arms on her chest.
"What do you intend to achieve?" he asked her.
Sigrid shrugged, "Right now, pizza for breakfast and later, safe birth for my first child. I also hope that our enemies do not beco stronger than us and invade while you are still holding on to paranoid delusions of the Thorin family overthrowing you."
King Raff sputtered, "I never claid....!"
Sigrid slapped the chair angrily. "Do not even try to weasel your way out of it. It was the entire reason why you forced my marriage to Roland. My grandfather is old and he would prefer to spend his days drinking, tea, harvesting coffee, eating cheese and drinking wine.
My father just wants to spend his ti with my mother listening to her nag about this and that. My brothers just want to practice magic and I just want to eat Mauve’s pastries, watch tv and listen to gossip. No Thorin is plotting to overthrow you.
I could be finding out if Lady Crane and Lord Thistlebaum actually had sex last night but instead I am here on an empty stomach, fighting a headache and facing baseless accusations from you. Go on...please, don’t hold back. What else am I suspected of?"
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