Time was fickle—it seemed to pass the fastest when I wanted it to slow. The days seemed to take only hours, my mind preoccupied with preparing Katrina for the banquet, and my infuriated sister was fighting me every step of the way. Everything from the etiquette lectures to dancing lessons to fitting for her dress seemed to tax us both as I watched my sister reform into a lady for the first time in years.

The day arrived before I knew it. before I had time to truly prepare myself for the banquet or what would come after. The stronghold was abuzz with servants carrying out the final preparations in the grand ballroom, the halls filled with the scents from the kitchen preparing enough food it could fill the stomachs of every citizen of Oraeil.

Pacing across my sister’s room to glance out the window, I could see the courtyard brimming with lords and ladies dressed to extravagance in fine clothing of bright, ostentatious colors. The line of carriages extended further than I could see, and I knew every inn and stable in the city would be full at the end of the night along with every guest room the stronghold contained.

An aggravated shout drew my attention away from the view of arriving guests, a shattering noise making me flinch as it brought my eyes back to my sister. She stood half-dressed, her flaming hair a wild mess around her face and her black corset loose and untied over her silk shift.

A small porcelain dish was shattered on the floor at her feet, the splatter of soft pink pigment staining her stockings as she cursed at the woman attempting to help her prepare to face the masses.

Her personal attendant was unamused, pale yellow eyes sharp and narrowed as she faced my furious sister.

Despite being several inches shorter and a much slighter figure than Katrina, Nola had no fear of stepping within range of her clenched fists. She had always been the only person, apart from myself, who dared to face Kat’s tantrums, and her patience seemed to be wearing thin as she crossed her delicate arms over her chest.

“Young lady,” she started, a dark warning in her tone.

Her rising temper had the pastel mint feathers amidst the strands of her emerald hair beginning to stand on end, curling upward as Nola glared at my sister. The soft points of her ears were flushed pink with her anger, and her lips pressed into a thin line as she seemed to debate, reaching for the sword at her hip.

Kat snarled back, unintimidated by the elven servant who seemed to scare every other inhabitant of Oraeil. Nola had watched over her for nearly five years since coming to Adeyl, and they knew each other well; Katrina was one of the few, even in Adeyl, who didn’t harbor a shadow of Elais’ disgust for the elves who left their homeland. “Don’t take that tone with me,” she hissed, her chest heaving under the constriction of her loose corset. “This is all just a farce, a play to appease the empire. Why must I take part in such a ludicrous production?”

Nola opened her mouth, eyebrows furrowed, only to quickly shut it again and pin me with a pleading gaze. For a moment, I considered sidling out of the room while Kat was focused on her attendant, but as she followed Nola’s gaze to include me in her burning glare, I knew I couldn’t escape.

After all, it was my job to prepare her. Making sure she was at least dressed properly was likely within those duties.

Sighing, I paced away from the wall where I had been watching dusk settle over the line of carriages still arriving. Its end finally in sight as the city’s gates closed to protect us from any dangers in the night. Kat stiffened, her jade gaze full of defensive anger, and I winced at the edge of fear hiding behind her sharp glare.

Standing in front of her, I took hold of the dangling strings of her corset, beginning to pull them tight so it was laced properly over her chest.

“You know this is your duty, now,” I chided softly, my eyes flicking to Nola for a moment as she cleaned up the mess Katrina had made of the makeup. “It’s not so bad, I promise.”

“You don’t have to wear a corset,” she grumbled, sucking in her breath at my muttered directive so that I could position the boning properly against her ribs and tie the laces tight. She breathed out in a rush, making a face as she pressed a hand against her chest.

I winced, sympathizing with her discomfort, and tried to keep my tone light as I teased, “I could wear one, too, if it would make you more comfortable.”

Kat snorted a laugh, crimson curls fluttering over her bare shoulders as she shook her head. “That would be a sight to behold, but we hardly need to give our father any more reasons to lose his head.”

“Right,” I murmured the word as I stepped back, shame and guilt coiling in my stomach.

“Markus…” Katrina’s voice was filled with regret as she took in my forlorn expression, but any apology she could have given was quickly waved away.

We had done this a dozen times, and the outcome had never changed. It just made us both feel horrible and awkward as it fizzled into heavy, disappointed silence.

Clearing my throat, I stepped back and gestured for Nola to take my place. She gave me a grateful smile as she hurried forward, coaxing Kat to sit at the dressing table against the wall. Katrina followed the directives, sitting as patiently as she was able while Nola powdered her face; her gaze never left me.

I gave her a reassuring smile as I finally allowed myself to escape. “I should get ready as well,” I said, giving the convenient excuse as I scurried for the door.

“Markus!” Kat’s voice, strung tight and high with anxious fear, made me pause with my hand against the wood.

I looked back at her, a lump in my throat as I saw how young and uncertain she appeared in just her shift and corset, her hair tumbling free to her lower back, and her dragon sleeping soundly coiled around the legs of her chair.

“You’ll wait for me, right?”

Nodding, I promised softly, “I won’t enter the ballroom without you. It’s best if we face this together.”

My false confidence seemed to reassure her, a relieved smile on her face as she turned her attention to Nola’s demands. I shoved the door open, leaving the room quickly before I could be held back again.

I loved my sister, but keeping up my brave face for her sake was draining. I couldn’t allow myself to feel my own doubts or anguish in front of her—not when she was so unsteady herself. Keeping strong was how I supported her, but my head throbbed with the effort of it as I paced through the busy halls.

Even away from my sister, I still had to pretend to be collected; it hadn’t yet been announced that Katrina would be taking my place, so many people in the stronghold still looked up to me as their young lord. It was a struggle to greet them naturally, keeping my steps even though I wanted to run for my room.

Reaching the familiar doors was always a relief, and I had gotten used to the cold and lonely feeling that had overtaken my chambers.

It no longer took me to my knees, though my jaw ached from how tightly my teeth were clenched. I had to control my breathing against the grip of fear beginning to take hold of my heart.

I distracted myself by preparing for the banquet. My preparations weren’t nearly as thorough as Katrina’s, and I had no attendant at my side to help me dress in the clothing my mother had commissioned and prepared well in advance.

I felt stiff and formal in the fine black trousers and tailcoat, standing in front of the mirror affixed to my wardrobe as I corrected the lay of the collar. Golden embroidery along the cuffs and seams of the jacket gleamed with the soft orange light from the fireplace as I turned to check the fit. My vest was the same void of midnight color, golden buttons engraved with my family's crest over a neat black undershirt.

I grimaced as I reached up to adjust the brooch, which was attached to the knot of my navy tie, a crimson dragon embossed on its surface.

My gaze fixed on the sight of it for a moment, my stomach churning. Red dragons were royalty among their species and had not been seen since the end of the war between realms. I knew there had been a whisper among the inhabitants of Nuzyn when Adeyl’s lord brought to them a child with crimson eyes—a hope that it was a good omen.

I couldn’t help wondering if they had felt disappointed when it was reported I had departed from Ardeya without a pair.

Shaking my head, I took a simple black ribbon from the jeweled box on a shelf of my wardrobe to tie up my hair; it cascaded down my back even when tied at the top of my skull to contain it. I fidgeted with the collar of my tailcoat again, forlornly meeting my gaze in the mirror.

The crimson eyes I had once been so proud of now seemed disappointing—a horrible waste for a failure who hadn’t been able to find a pair. I swallowed, reaching for a pair of simple black gloves to pull over my hands, covering the shame of my unmarked palm.

A rising in volume from the band, which had been playing in the ballroom since the early afternoon, pulled me away from my mirror. Quickly pulling on simple black dress shoes, I hurried to exit into the hall. The thud of the door closing felt final as I stepped toward what would be my last moments as the treasured young lord of Adeyl.

As I walked through the halls, they were empty, and all the servants were no doubt attending to those in the ballroom. Rushing down the stairs, my steps echoed, drawing my sister’s gaze to me as I joined her in the main hall.

She was a vision in her formal clothing. Her elegant dress was a stunning maroon with black accents, and her hair was braided neatly with gold ribbons. Her arms were covered in sheer lace, but her hands were left bare, fingers twisted together nervously as she gave me a small, shaky smile.

“Ready?” I asked, offering her arm as I came to her side.

Her hand slipped over my forearm, and I could see her struggling to breathe—her anxiety as crushing as my own as we stared at the grand doors of the ballroom.

“No,” she hushed, taking as deep a breath as she could under the constriction of her corset before she raised her face and squared her jaw. Taking a fistful of her skirt in her other hand, she brought a gentle smile to her face, the perfect example of a noble lady, as she said boldly, “Let’s show them our worth.”

The words stung, knowing how little I had, but I was at her side as we walked forward. The doors were thrown open with a grand crescendo of music, and suddenly, we were the center of attention as every eye in the room focused on the rumored Eliseo twins making their debut.