Curia Dolum (part 2)

by Marcella Haddad

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            “Perhaps if miss cannot decide what she wants to wear, instead of going down to the feast so late, she should simply don her nightengown and inform the lord that another illness has befallen her—“

            “And miss out on the prince?”

            Phatorytt licked the juice from a berry from her fingertips, aware that they were staining her lips a delicious red. She walked slowly around her bedchamber, observing the gowns her maid had laid out for her on every flat surface available.

            The gown tonight was important. Not to impress the new court lady—no, that didn’t matter at all. But the prince! Phatorytt had missed his welcome feast as a result of the same illness her maid was suggesting she use as an excuse, and she would find it hard to sleep at night if she did not make it up to herself.

            “I’ve heard he’s very handsome.” Phatorytt fingered the neckline of a maroon dress, running her hands over the lace. “They say he takes after his father—I absolutely adore light eyes.”

            Her maid, Ketora, nodded mutely, following after her mistress and carefully folding up the gowns she had deemed unworthy. This was surely a task for two maids, with the amount of clothing the princess had--but all of the others were at the feast with their mistresses.

            Phatorytt popped another berry into her mouth and stopped in front of one of the last dresses, a violently red creation with a circular neckline. She smiled slowly, observing the fitted bodice. It was perfect—red to draw attention, and the neckline made her into the paragon of innocence while showing more that her mother would approve of.

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            After all this time, she still couldn’t choose a dress.

            Meru shook his head at the unchanging stubbornness of his friend. He knew exactly why she hadn’t been at the feast so far, since it had been this way for years. When she had missed the princes welcome feast he had wondered, but then she truly had been ill. Most fortunate for him, as she had been very interested in the prince, therefore making him his main opponent in her love.

            Though that must have been very horrible for her to go through, of course.

            Meru laughed inwardly at himself as he stood at the edge of the dancing floor. Here he was, worried more about his jealousy for the prince than for her health! What a person he was.

            He did wish she would come tonight, though. Even if it meant she did have to see that ridiculous prince.

            It was as if the god Den himself had been listening to his thoughts. There she was—walking in in that dress, the red one he loved so much.

            But would the prince love it too?

            His violet gaze lifted from Phatorytt to the prince—he was looking at her, all right. But only with an expression that could be described as nothing more than boredom.

            Meru relaxed.

            “Has he danced with anyone yet?”

            Unlike most, Meru didn’t jump when he heard her voice close to his ear. He was accustomed to her way of moving silently, like the other ladies who seemed to have it hammered into them at birth.

            He put his arm around her waist, and pulled her close, aware of how naturally she seemed to fit into his side. He looked back at the prince, who still wore the same expression.

            “Not that I’ve seen.” He murmured into her hair. It matched her dress exactly. “Perhaps we should show him how it’s done?”

            Phatorytt seemed to think for a moment, and then nodded. Meru couldn’t help but wonder if she was only trying to make him jealous…