CHAPTER 145: PREPARATIONS

My ice hasn’t come out for hours. That was a good start. It wasn’t hard thinking about Drevon, as he was always on my mind.

Diana was right, Drevon’s my anchor. However, I still needed to be in control, which meant being able to turn my powers on and off at will. Solely relying on my feelings will be tricky in any circumstances.

I stretched my hands to the goblet on the table, taking deep breaths as I closed my eyes briefly.

Come on...work! Please?

I have been at this for a long time and waited for that moment. Will it ever come?

"She’s been at this for a while."

"Your Grace is trying her best. I’m sure she’ll get it this time."

"Or not, she’s not trying hard enough."

"I can barely concentrate with all that whispering!" I snapped, clenching my fist, and the goblet finally turned to ice.

"Oh, look, she did it."

"Only because you’re vexing!"

"Hmm, your emotions work with your ice. Thankfully, thinking about Drevon will help, but that will not be enough. Think naughty thoughts."

"Ugh!"

The goblet suddenly turned spiky.

Diana came closer, arms folded, and tipped her head. "It hasn’t done that before."

I leaned toward the goblet and reached for it, but the icy spikes were too sharp and pricked my finger.

"Ow!" I quickly sucked on it.

"You just weaponise it, how is that control?"

I turned my dark gaze to Diana. "Maybe because you’re a bad company to keep," I gritted.

"Ungrateful!"

"B-But we’ve made progress. It’s safe to say come tomorrow you can attend the preparations without anything to worry about," Osha said, hoping to lighten the mood.

Diana and I turned back to the spiky goblet with one thing on our minds. Doubt.

~•~

As if having doubt would change the fact that I must attend. I worked through the night, and the only thing I could work with was thinking of Drevon. Hopefully, I don’t turn anything into crystal art.

The moment I stepped out of my chambers after days of being confined, my anxiety was on the verge of bringing me down.

"You’re too tense," Diana said beside me. She wasn’t dressed as a handmaid.

I could see how different she looked with all her heavy makeup; she looked like an actual spoiled princess down to her lavish-looking gown. How her hair was let now and adorned with a golden hairpin. Her gloves and hand fan to match, almost like everything was tailored to fit.

"I’m not tense," I said as we got closer to the open door, with a crowd of servants inside going about different things.

Great, looks like we’re late. Diana just thought it was a good idea to take three hours of my time...getting ready.

I didn’t have time to appear royal, I wore a simple-looking gown, although I couldn’t call it that because of the elegant designs, but here I looked ordinary, not bothering to style my hair and just letting it flow to my waist, with simple diamond earrings to at least look presentable.

"You are..." Diana intoned.

We stepped through the doors into the busy hall. I saw the Dowager giving orders.

"Just don’t turn everything to ice. Think naughty thoughts," she whispered to me.

I rolled my eyes as we walked to the Dowager, but she wasn’t alone; Sloane was beside her.

"What is she doing here?" Diana asked, displeased.

It seemed like we were both triggered by her.

I thought only women of the Balthar’s were meant to be here. Oh... I see what it is. Sloane was already thinking of herself as Balthar.

"Oh, look who finally decided to join us, Your Majesty," Sloane said in that sweet voice of hers when it was anything but.

Always trying to spite.

"I told you not to call me Your Majesty anymore. In time I won’t be addressed that way."

"But you will always be Your Majesty to me," she said, coiling arms around the Dowager’s.

I looked to Diana beside me, a dark look plastered on her face.

"Forgive us, Dowager, it wasn’t our intention to come late," I said, hoping to avert whatever seed Sloane was trying to sow.

"You’re here, that is what matters. It’s best to get to work, or do I need to waste my time explaining to you what your duties are?"

Sounds like she doesn’t want to spare any moment with me.

"But you do."

"Excuse me?"

"I don’t know what to do, especially since this is my first ball preparation."

Sloane giggled. "It’s understandable, Your Majesty. She comes from such a far country where they do little to no engagement. Sadly, she’s not trained in many ways."

I pinned Sloane with a glare, and her grin only widened with a devilish look in her gaze.

Trying to trash in front of a crowd, huh?

The Dowager clicked her tongue. "Sloane, I’m handing the reins to you, knowing you’ll represent me well. Show the human what to do, so that I don’t waste my time." She spared one look of indifference at Diana before walking away.

Sloane stepped forward, hands clammed in front. "There’s much to do, and to abide by tradition, we must be involved to welcome the Fates. It’s the greatest honor."

"We?" Diana interjected. "I don’t remember you bearing our name. Don’t you think you’re acting a bit shameless?"

"Shameless?" Sloane giggled. "I’m not anything of that sort, and by the way, Your Highness, the Dowager did not approve of you coming here."

"W-What? I’m a Balthar!"

"Yes, but not the needed one."

"How dare you!" she pitched, about stepping forward, but I stopped her with a hand stretched in front of her.

"Careful, Your Highness, you shouldn’t raise your voice... It’s unsightly of you. You represent a great family. You should act like it."

"Do you know what else is unsightly?" I spoke up.

"Wha—"

"Speaking to the princess in such a manner. I don’t care what status you have, but nothing gives you the right."

"I suggest you watch your tone with me, you’re speaking to your future queen!"

"I’m looking forward to it. Be a darling and lead the way, or might we find it ourselves? I’m sure the princess knows what we can do. I don’t need to listen to you or tolerate your misbehavior, which is unfit for a lady. What would your house think about you disrespecting the princess?"

Sloane was speechless.

"Shall we?" I said to Diana as I turned on my heels and walked away. "No time for rubbish."