Miavel

Without seeing the King at all the day before, I gave up on apologizing for the chance that my making us retire early from the party was embarrassing for our stations. He clearly didn’t want it. Though, it was becoming a habit now to glare at that door connecting our rooms whenever I felt like I should be saying something to him. I didn’t open it, didn’t knock. Heck, I wouldn’t even be able to tell if he was in the room or not. If I stood there, knocking on a door with nobody to answer, then I would go crazy.

But what was this?

I was sitting in a chair, gazing at dresses while a doctor gave me a whole check-up. It was more thorough than any check-up I’d had before and ultimately, very confusing to go through. Lilia and Rogers were both present, giving me an update for the day.

Apparently, I had all of these appointments and they only found out about them last night after I’d gone to bed.

Like, really?

I managed to gesture at the dress I wanted for the day, and the blonde maid, named Ann, who had mentioned that my former corset wouldn’t even fit her ten-year-old sister, was assisting Lilia today. She was a rather quiet young woman, but her eyes were bright and clear as she focused on helping as much as she could. She left a good impression, and frankly, I liked her and Lilia both. They took me behind the screen while the doctor wrote a few things down.

“Madam Delaine will be arriving with her tailors just after lunch for your fittings,” Rogers commented as the two ladies helped me into the light pink gown.

My back ached, far worse than with wearing that old corset. I guessed it was from not wearing any kind of support at all yesterday, even if I didn’t do much. The doctor had been told of the corset fiasco and had specifically checked my back and spine before making a note and telling me to give it to the tailor who would be making my next corset.

“You need gentle but firm support because of the mess that ill-fitting corset caused. Give this to your tailor so they know how to make it.”

When I returned from behind the screen, the doctor bid us farewell. Ann and Lilia started in on my hair and a light dusting of makeup on my face.

A knock on the door had me nodding my head quickly at Rogers who went to the door and answered it. There were murmured words in an exchange before he came back with a piece of paper in his hand.

“What is it?”

He hesitated, his eyebrows lifting as he read the note.

“It seems your morning will be a bit busier, Your Majesty. A shoemaker will be here an hour before lunch.”

I closed my eyes as Ann put the powder on my face. She gently tapped my shoulder when she was done. My refection gazed back at me when I looked and I gave her my approval with a smile before glancing at Rogers.

“A shoemaker?”

“Yes. If I’m recalling correctly, he makes shoes with little to no heel on them.”

Lilia and Ann both gaped at him, pausing in their efforts on my hair while I just stared at him blankly.

Little to no heel.

Usually that meant commoner shoes. Most noblewomen tended to follow trends of heels. Honestly, I was tired of heels, so this shoemaker could be perfect, as long as they weren’t too old-fashioned in style and color. After all, I’d hate to wear it and have someone get cranky over anything more than a short heel. I glanced back at the adjoining door as I thought that, wondering what he might say to my radical thinking.

“Alright.”

Even Rogers had the nerve to look mildly stunned by my nonchalant response.

“Your Majesty?!” Lilia chirped out. “But high society–”

“Lilia?” I cut her off quickly before she could say more.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

I smiled at her. “Shouldn’t I at least look at the shoes first? They are coming all this way.”

Her surprise seemed to settle and she nodded. “Yes, you’re right. It would be rude if you didn’t.”

We settled into a surprisingly comfortable silence as they put the finishing touches on my hair. It was only interrupted by a knock on the door.

Three minutes later, we were all staring at the newcomer as if aliens had appeared before us.

“I am a masseuse, Your Majesty. If you would allow me, I’ve been instructed to massage your feet and ankles. And, if you permit, your shoulders and back.”

There was silence that followed.

My mouth opened several times. Nothing came out. I was quite speechless by this turn of events. I mentally shook myself and cleared my throat.

“My ankles?” I squeaked out.

She eagerly nodded. “I’ve been told that you will be on your feet for quite a while today.”

And who told you that?

I almost didn’t keep that thought contained. Despite how sudden it was, I really, really wanted that ankle and foot massage. I held out the left one first.

“Alright. But I won’t be doing the shoulders and back today.” That would feel a little too intimate a little too fast for a stranger.

She smiled and nodded her head before getting to work. The firm push and pull of her fingers nearly put me to sleep in the chair before she switched sides. When she had a hold on my right ankle she slowed and paused, gazing up at my face for a moment in confusion before massaging it with great care. At first, it was a bit painful, but by the end, it was like she had magic in her fingers. The aches were all gone.

“Thank you.”

She bowed respectfully before she left. And then I was put in a pair of shoes to take a tour around the palace and grounds before the shoes and their maker arrived.

“Would you have an interest in these, perchance?” Timothy pulled out a row of dazzling shoes in bright colors, with sparkling gems sewn into the decorations. I reached out to grab one, taking note of the lack of heel, and of the extra cushioned lining inside the shoe. The best materials were easily recognized in every inch of the design.

I met his eyes.

“I can try them on?”

He grinned, giving me the answer I needed. He extended his hand to take the shoe back before slipping it onto my foot. Somehow, it was the perfect size and as I stood and took a few steps.

I smiled and turned to him.

“How many of these do you have?”

His eyes widened before he chuckled happily. “I have almost two dozen of that size and style with no added heel with me today. Ones with an inch heel built into them, I have about another dozen here.”

“All in this size?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was like a miracle. The right size and the right style.

“I’ll take them all.”

I managed to ignore the other shocked gazes in the room, but my answer seemed to overwhelm Timothy. He looked around as if he were being pranked.

“Pardon? Don’t you want to see the colors first?”

I shook my head as I spoke. “I trust they’re all equally stunning.”

Nothing was held back from his beaming smile that followed my words. He got to work removing the various shoes from a few trunks that were lugged in by a few of his staff. By the time he was ready to leave, I had filled an entire section of my closet with shoes. He handed the bill to Rogers, who didn’t even flinch at the amount that I was sure had to be high.

I tried not to think about the price either. It wasn't a conversation I was looking forward to. Something about spending too much and was it necessary to get that many pairs?

Yeah. I wanted to postpone that conversation.

By the time Timothy was prepared to leave, I was also deep in thought. For him to have brought shoes that would fit me specifically… and dozens of them at that, all in a commoner’s style, but too dressy to be such. It all seemed very obviously thought out. I mean, how could he know my shoe size, or that I’d rather there be no height to them because of the strain it puts on my ankle? He wouldn’t know those things.

Even if he guessed, would it have been that accurate?

That meant that someone was behind all of this. Considering how shocked everyone was at my purchase, it wasn’t anyone present. A part of me could almost see His Majesty, King Talyn, doing something like this. Almost. Not quite. It was more of a wishing that he had.

I filed those thoughts to the back of my mind to figure them out later when I had spare time. Timothy knelt before me and held his hand out to me. I placed my hand lightly in his.

“Your Majesty,” he said with a sort of reverence in his voice. He bowed his head over my hand in respect. “It has truly been an honor.” When he lifted his head and met my eyes, I noticed his were wet with tears. He sniffed. “If you ever need anything, a shoe repair or a new pair custom made to your fancy, please don’t hesitate to call on my humble shop.”

I nodded. “I will, thank you.”

And with that, him and his staff left the palace. Immediately, I asked Lilia to grab me the first pair of shoes he’d shown me. With a smile, I put them on. They really were the perfect shoes.

Lunch was as uneventful as I expected, being the only one dining. However, as I walked back to my room, Rogers reminded me of what was to come next and that the guest had already arrived, early, as it was.

As I returned to the sitting room where we’d welcomed Timothy, I saw a woman turn my way and smile. She was radiant, so much that I stared openly. This was…

“Hello, Your Majesty. I’m Madam Delaine.”