Rori twirled in an earth green dress. Bottom of the dress seemed to cascade like a never ending waterfall of green stardust, the dress flowed fluidly with the direction of her body.
"Is this magic?" Roriana's eyes widened. She had never seen anything like it. Active magical clothes.
Black gems decorated her neck and ears as a long green veil hanged on both her elbow, the bottoms fading into stardust like her dress. The design of the dress was off shoulder, tight at the top loser on the bottom. It was tighter than any corset she had ever worn, but it brought out every curve in her hips.
The makeup was ethereal with light pink lipstick, her skin was as smooth as glass and her hair. Her short hair was styled in a way she had never seen before. They groomed her hair elegantly, neatly curling it at just her jawline. A black hair clip held the edges together as beautifully greenish blue butterflies dances around her dress.
As Roriana's inched to the left, the butterflies followed. Her lips parted in awe as she moved again to the right the butterflies followed as well, emitting a faint dreamy light.
"ivert," Rori said, as she observed her features in the mirror with her mouth open. Her breath was taken away. "Is that, me?"
The woman staring back at her looked nothing like her. She almost didn't recognize herself. They had brought out all the best features she didn't even know she had. That woman in the mirror looked like a beautiful figurine perfectly embodying royalty.
She looked like ... a queen.
Hiriah smiled softly, "of course, your Highness. You have such harmonizing features we only had to put light make-up else it would take away," she had a faint pride in her lady. Queen Roriana was a low Qira but she had unmatched beauty. With big sharp green eyes, small button nose and a cupid bow lips. There was a siren allure to her.
Tears nearly welled in her eyes, except she had to keep the integrity of the makeup the makeup artist had spent so long artist perfecting.
Her hands lightly glided from her small waist to her wide hips.
"I've never looked so beautiful. Lethivi has to be a god," Rori exasperated with a smile
"He was elected as this year's royal designer for a reason." Iverts raised her nose proudly. "Now let me see our practiced smile."
Rori's pink lips curled into an angelic like smile.
"Teeth."
Rori widened her smile to reveal pearl white teeth.
"Remember you have to give your best smile when you step out of the carriage. The capturers must have the best impression of you immediately. To catch the Emperor's eye you have to be more than captivating, the women that have come out of his room are high courtesans, queens from many of his conquered worlds, treasured princess. You will not even earn a glance with a mediocre smile."
Rori flushes deep pink. "I understand."
"The carriage has arrived," a maiden curtsied, telling Ivert.
"Your highness,"
"It really is time." Rori says as she bites the inside of cheeks. She would see the Emperor again.
Her mind replayed her first encounter with the Emperor, she remembered everything, his body, face, expression. Her body suddenly becomes hot.
"Your highness, are you coming?"
Rori snapped out of her head. "Oh yes of course."
The ride was short, sky carriages tend to move at high speed. It felt good flying in the stars at night
When the main carriage stopped the convoys landed as well.
Roriana furrowed her eyebrows as she was greeted with a bright building far less subtle than the Selection. Fleets of carriages were everywhere in the skies on the ground... like bees.
"Who are they?" Roriana asked gazing through the dark glass window.
Ivert gazed at the crowd of people standing outside the building of the events. In the middle of the sea of people was an isle of clear glass carpet.
Ivert shot up her eyebrows. "Oh those are the publishers. The Fayere feast is a public event. Though not many people can have access to the Central Palace, past Emperors had thought it a good idea to let certain journalism guild in to capture at times, to boost the publicity of the newly introduced queens." Ivert narrowed her eyes as she noticed many of them looking at their fleet. "It's the only time were outsiders can enter the palace,"
"It's like they know I'm here?" Roriana gasped as her heart rate spiked.
"They can. They are the Empire's top journalists, they have a sense for these things. The introduction of the new rulers is the biggest scoop of the era, after all. They are your best tool to shape your image. But you must not give them too much, they are always looking to get more than they need."
"Okay," Roriana felt like she was hyperventilating. Or perhaps she was hyperventilating... No she was choking.
"Calm down, you can do this. You have to give it your all." Ivert smiled.
Ivert gave the signal and two guards stepped out of the carriage and shot enough energy into the sky carriage, to get the door opened, revealing a stunning slender beauty seated in her elegance.
The crowd of journalist instantly sharpened their attention at the revelation of the beauty.
As single green heel stepped out of the carriage and suddenly a storm of bright flashing lights cascaded all around Roriana, nearly blinding her. In the midst of confusion she froze shutting her eyes, walking forward but she couldn't see a thing. Oh no.
A hand stretched grabbing her own as her guards quickly surrounded her.
The lights suddenly became brighter and louder.
The hand lead her forward, into the hall. As they reached the open space, away from so many blinking lights, it made Roriana's nerves calm.
She looked to see who had guided her. It was none other than her Head Maiden.
"You did well, Your Highness," ivert smiled at her.
"What were those lights?" Roriana asked somewhat terrified.
"Capturers. It steals the image of what it sees and translates it to an illusion for distribution," Ivert answered. "It seems the journalist were really riled up for you. The popularity of the low Qira who entered the palace must have spread more than I thought."
"How did they know that was me?" Roriana asked.
"Perhaps when they noticed you freezing."
"What?" Roriana panicked. She froze? She had one job and she couldn't even do that right.
"Nothing your Highness," Ivert hummed nervously. "But you still aren't clear yet. You still have to walk down the aisle to your table , without interference... That's where the real work is."
Roriana knitted her eyebrows and turned to the side.
Oh my!
Before them was a long aisle separating two side of the hall. The left had a seat of people dressed in black. While the right seats were of people dressed in red.
Unlike the selection, their face weren't covered in smoke. You could see the expressions on their faces. They were just seated judging with pride in the eyes, as they were in a theaters and the queens were out for display.
"Nobles," she breathed, thankful they hadn't noticed her and had their eyes on a stunning petite girl walking gracefully in a dress of feathers. A trail of white light followed behind her. She was the living embodiment of delicate and elegant.
"Not just nobles, top members of the High Court. The left represent the North and the East courts. While the right represents the South and the West courts."
"Why is the aisle so big and long," Roriana stated as she noticed the blonde girl still walking.
"It's meant to fit quite the number of people," Ivert answered. "These are the ones you should please. You must represent power, show that you are a strong queen to rely on. Because if all goes your way you will be ruling one of the four High Court.
A green butterfly fluttered and landed on Roriana's nose reminding her of the pretty creatures she had around her.
"I can do this," she muttered to herself.