Chapter 82: Petals and Pretence
Lyria's POV
Jacinta did not take long to decide.
For all her earlier indecision, once she saw it, there had been no contest.
She settled on the ivory gown. The gown had the faintest blush of rose, as though the colour had been coaxed from the inside of a seashell. The fabric itself was silk, soft and luminous, catching the light in a way that made it seem almost alive. Delicate embroidery trailed along the bodice and down the skirts in winding patterns of silver-threaded vines, each curve precise, each leaf painstakingly formed.
Tiny seed pearls had been sewn into the design—so small they did not overwhelm, but caught the light just enough to shimmer with movement.
The neckline was modest by court standards, but shaped in such a way that it drew attention upward, framing her face rather than competing with it. The sleeves were fitted to the wrist, sheer at the forearms, with faint lace detailing that softened the entire look.
It was… beautiful.
