fits Cedar perfectly. He polishes up very well.
Rin is a gorgeous doll in a pale blue gown that falls straight down her body, and a belt cinching the fabric around her waist. Her sweetheart neckline is accentuated by a glittery necklace with stones that resemble sapphires. Her blonde hair is pulled up and with only a few loose strands.
"Rin, you are beautiful."
She's laughing and twirling on the spot, the skirt of the dress ballooning outward around her legs and it's gorgeous. Never in a million years have I imagined we'd be experiencing this.
"Licia, you better not cry and ruin your makeup, or we'll all be later than we already are."
I gasp with exaggeration and fan my face to keep from tearing up. "As if I'd cry over a dress."
"Alright, it's your turn to get dressed," the woman says at my back. She ushers Cedar away with a hand and he ducks into the corridor, the door closed behind him.
Before I even turn, two women are pulling off my robe, and I snatch back at the robe as I'm completely naked underneath.
“It's all safe,” the brunette with the kindest eyes reassures me. She's maybe in her forties with a soft voice. “Here, we have some undergarments for you first if you want to put them on ‘quickly.’”
I take the white underwear, which appear much smaller than the usual ones I wear. So I step into it and drag it up my legs.
Now they are pulling a huge dress over my head. They tug it down my body and I keep my hands up. The material slides over my skin like silk. When my head pops out of the strapless, and I trace my hands over the white fabric studded with miniature crystals.
"Prince Eryk had this dress especially made for you," the woman explains. "Diamonds were used as he wanted you to look like a snow princess."
I'm lost for words, but when she starts tugging on the cords at the back of the corset, I lose my breath too.
Women are fiddling with the dress, circling me, while Rin stands in the doorway, her expression belonging to someone in shock. "Is it that bad?" I ask her.
"Are you crazy? Have a look in the mirror."
Before I can turn, the woman wraps a white fur scarf around my shoulders, then I step in front of the full-length mirror.
This isn’t me. On the inside I'm squirming because the girl staring back at me can’t be me. I don't look this beautiful, I don't have an hourglass figure, or cleavage.
The dress mesmerizes me, the diamonds glinting against the sunlight pouring in from the window, and it reminds me of sparkling snow.
"I don't know." I swallow the thickness in my throat and something squeezes in my chest.
"What's wrong?" Rin is at my side, her hand in mine.
"This isn't me. I speak my mind and I don't have a clue how to dance. What if Eryk asks me to dance? I'll trip and fall on my face."
She forces me to face her, "You can create a freaking snowstorm with a single thought, so this is nothing for you."
I nod my head. By the time I finally told Rin and Cedar I had powers, they laughed and said everyone in the village and kingdom recently found out from the guards after the hobgoblins attacked. Then I proceeded to tell me they weren't surprised since I've always easily broken into homes without any tools which was strange at the time but they said nothing about it. I laughed so much that my stomach hurt because I had been pretty obvious in hindsight.
But when I glance back into the mirror at myself, I can't help but wish my parents and grandparents were with me. To see me dating a prince. My heart clenches that I missed out on the chance to really know them.
"You better not cry," Rin states.
I laugh and quickly drop my gaze away as I swipe the wetness under my eyes.
"And your shoes, my lady," the tailor announces.
I turn and on the ground is a pair of stunning white leather ankle boots with short heels. Eryk knows me well.
Cedar appears in the doorway. "We need to leave. The carriage driver is getting impatient.”
I nod and step into the boots, then I'm ready. Me and my friends are all dolled up. This is a first, and I can't be happier.
Outside on the street sits a carriage as white as snow, and horses to match. Half the neighbors are lined