Max openly stared at Fantasy. She looked beautiful dressed in red. Even in the darkness of the queen’s balcony. She had looked beautiful. He was sure he was in love with her. Yet, what could he do? Now that Valentine was better, she would have to leave soon. He would rather quietly love her than have her reject him.

“Fantasy, you will come to the feast too,” Tarquin said to her. 

She looked up at him, frowning. “Me? Is that alright?”

“Of course! You helped us, Fantasy. You can’t leave without at least celebrating once. Please.” Val looked at her with his pleading eyes. The rest of them made varying noises of approval.

“If you insist.” Fantasy chuckled as Val picked her up and spun her around. “Val-” She laughed. “Put me down!”

Val put her down and sheepishly giggled. “Sorry.”

“How do you plan on doing whatever it is that you did to bring me here and use it to send me back?” She turned to Tarquin. “I mean, how do I go back?”

“I talked to Geoff and he’ll help us,” Tarquin said. Max knew that tone very well, the soft aggression and the slight tensing of his jaw. Tarquin didn’t want to keep talking about this. “Take Fantasy back to her chambers, Max.”

“I’ll take you back to your rooms, gladly.” Max quickly walked to her and took her hand. He rushed out. Once outside, he felt awkward now. He had acted discourteously to her and his brothers when he rushed out. But how would he explain to her that all he wanted was to be alone with her?

“Are you alright, Max?” She asked him, her face pinched with concern. 

“Yes! I-” He paused. “I feel overwhelmed, I think. I am not… I’m not sure.”

“I understand. I feel the same in a way.” She said, “Now that Val is all better, I feel good ofc course. But still, I’ll miss spending all day with him like that.”

“I’ll miss you the most though.” Max sighed. “I think we’ve become quite the friends in this time.”

“We have, Max.” She looked at him with sad eyes. “And I’ll miss you more than you know.”

---

Lavinia looked at the nearly ludicrous amount of jewelry each of the brothers had sent her. Either they had given the money to Neala, or they had personally sent her jewelry they picked themselves. Max, Val, and surprisingly, Silas, had personally sent her jewelry. Neala had paired it with a magnificent rose-colored gown. 

“Neala, this is all too much,” Lavinia said helplessly.

“His majesty and all the princes told me to make sure you are dressed well. As well as a queen, if you will.” She only said that before rushing her to the bathing room. 

After washing herself with nut soaps and flowers, Neala dried her hair over a brazer. Then she sat her down to style it. After numerous braids and pins, it coiled over her hair, glowing with gold, diamond, and pearls. 

The dresses here didn’t use corsets or hoop skirts. It was simple and easy here. A piece of cloth that flowed from her shoulders to the ground, was only secured to her but a gold belt. The dress left her arms bare, Neala made her wear bangles and rings to make it look less naked. 

The most eye-catching piece of her outfit was the huge diamond necklace adorning her neck. It had matching pearl tear-drop earrings too. The princes had really spent a fortune on her. She was dressed like a queen if she did say so herself. 

Neala looked at her and clapped in delight. “Oh, the courtiers will love you, my lady. They might die of jealousy though. When has there been a prettier lady in Jonis?” She made a warding gesture over her. “May no evil eyes fall on you, my lady.”

“Thank you, Neala.” She smiled shyly as Neala continued her endless compliments. 

“Now, now. We need to go.” She said. “Prince Max has said that he will personally escort you to the hall and keep you company there.”

“Will you not go?” She looked over Neala, who was dressed in a gown in a blue, similar to the one she was wearing.

“I will, but the prince’s company is priceless.” Neala paused as someone knocked on the door. “There he is! Now go, my lady!” She pulled Lavinia. She nearly tripped over the hem of her dress. Straightening herself, she opened the door.

Max dressed in a blue jacket over his white tunic. He was dressed very casually. She looked up at him and blushed. She felt wildly overdressed now. “Fantasy, you look-” He paused before shaking his head as if he was clearing his mind. “Beautiful.” He offered her his elbow and Lavinia slid her arm in. 

“Let’s go.”

-------------

There were so many people and so many more questions about her. Where she was from, what her powers were, what classification of witch she was. She vaguely felt like a prized calf at a parade. Soon it seemed, people grew bored of her and retreated to conversations amongst themselves.

After some time, during which Lavinia quickly slipped away as Max held a conversation with some Lady Lombardy, Valentine whisked her away. “I’m so tired, I can’t believe how long I’ve been talking.” He was similarly dressed as Max, except his jacket was brown. He already looked much healthier. Fuller cheeks, a glow to his skin. 

Lavina cupped his cheek. “It’s good to see you like this, Val. This is exactly how I imagined you would look like.”

He smiled brightly. It was like looking at the sun, it was blindingly bright. He laid his hand over hers, kissing the tips of her finger. “I can’t thank you enough. Must you leave us?” 

Lavinia sighed. “You don’t need to thank me. And I wish-” She felt a pricking sensation on the back of her neck. 

He pressed a finger to her lips. The entire hall was silenced as if a pall had fallen over them all. Everyone had gone as still as death. Valentine’s face turned white before he roughly pulled her behind him. 

It wasn’t until she heard Tarquin that a shiver ran up her spine. “Queen Morgan, Princess Cythia, welcome to Jonis.”