“Nyleeria.” Something in her tone made me abort my search and look her way.
“Yes?” I said cautiously.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to be up and about just yet.”
I squared myself, unwilling to relent. “That’s not for you to decide, and I’m not negotiating with you or anyone else for that matter. I’m leaving this gods-forsaken chamber today, and that’s that. Now, where are my clothes?”
She shrank at my words.Damn it.I hadn’t meant to be that harsh, but I just couldn’t bear another moment in this room, as lovely as it was.
Ava took my measure, and her slouched shoulders betrayed her defeat as she approached the wardrobe. I let her pass.
The top she selected was beautifully crafted. The bodice was skillfully adorned with a web of intricate white lace that graduallyrelaxed past the seams of the sleeves until they were sheer at the cuffs. She paired it well with a floor-length skirt made of understated fabric that flowed effortlessly, and a matching set of bold cobalt-blue flats. I wanted to protest wearing such finery, but I held my tongue—it was the least I could do after how I’d spoken to her.
After helping me dress, Ava’s delicate hands worked my hair into intricate braids, as if she wanted the detailing to match that of the lace.
Once finished, I caught Ava’s smile in the mirror. “Beautiful,” she said, and I blushed, averting her gaze.
I stood, absorbing her marvelous handiwork. The bodice molded to my contours, while the skirt softly fell over my curves in a graceful waterfall that swept along the tiled floor. Its elegant simplicity offset the intricate lace beautifully. I studied my reflection as if examining a stranger’s features for the first time.
My chest bloomed with a warm sensation I’d never experienced before, and a tapestry of emotions swirled through me, each thread whispering a deeper truth than the last. It was a soft, warm embrace that nurtured my soul as it entwined with a fiercer flame below the surface, formed from determination and resilience. The last golden thread wove into place, and I smiled, understanding what it was—femininity.Myfemininity. And, to my great surprise, I delighted at its existence.
“One more thing,” Ava said from behind me as she held up my necklace.
I settled back into the chair as she draped it delicately around my neck. Once clasped, she retreated a few steps, allowing me to gaze upon my reflection. It’s weight on my chest filled me with a deep sense of calm, and my eyes misted. I’d never felt worthy of wearing a symbol of femininity.
The pink diamond that now adorned me glittered as it caught the light. Its ability to become something this exquisite from the immense pressure it’d endured had me wondering if I, too, could become more, should I be nurtured under the right conditions.
A tear tumbled down my cheek as I met Ava’s gaze in the mirror.
“Thank you,” I said, and another tear joined.
I meandered through the gardens, feeling a levity that surprised me. Something felt different, like my grief and worries were…locked away. Thinking back on it, they hadn’t consumed me while I’d been healing either. Perhaps it had something to do with my own near-death experience.
While bedridden, I yearned for the immaculately groomed lawn that beaconed me to walk across its surface barefoot as I stared out the window, so that’s where I headed.
It was slow going, and I was constantly waylaid by the magnetic pull of the flowers, frequently stopping to indulge in the richness of their scents. There were countless varietals of plants and grasses interspersed throughout, and their diverse textures lent the gardens a rich character—some were silken, others rough-hewn. All beautiful in their own way.
With a tiny bouquet in hand, I finally reached the point where the trail gave way to a grassy expanse. Stepping forward, I freed my feet, leaving the cobalt flats to keep vigil at the threshold.
A deep moan of satisfaction escaped me as each tender blade yielded to my weight like a plush cushion, embracing me with a cool, comforting touch. The tips of the grass tickled my soles as I gently glided my feet across the surface.
I eased down to the ground, careful of my pristine top; luckily, the darker shade of the skirt freed me of any such worry. Leaning back on my hands, I tilted my head to the sky and soaked in the glorious day—finally finding the respite of freedom and connection I’d been craving for weeks.
Deep down, like a pebble at the bottom of the ocean, guilt and reprimand for this slice of joy tried to resurface but were too distant to take hold.
Once sated, I retraced the path back to the palace, stopping when my ears picked up a metallic clatter. I tracked the sound to the western side of the grounds and found Nevander and the king in the throes of swordplay—neither of them holding back.
Tucking myself into a hidden alcove, I studied their prowess from a short distance. Beads of sweat slicked the powerful contours of their torsos as they parried and attacked each other with a ferocity I’d never witnessed before. The way they moved was like the swords were an extension of their bodies, naturally wielded and expertly controlled.
A pang of longing stirred within me, and my fingers subconsciously rubbed together, craving the cool steel of a blade. Since my arrival, I hadn’t asked the king about my dagger, nor attempted to train. Apart from having been physically unfit for a vast majority of my time, a fragment of my soul felt compelled to conceal that facet of my identity from them, and it would remain that way until I felt secure in divulging that part of myself.
“Enjoying the view?” The familiar, deep voice jolted me from my thoughts. I blushed at the implication and pivoted to find Tarrin smiling down at me.
“If you mean the swordsmanship, then yes,” I said.
An amused chortle escaped Tarrin, but his humor quickly gave way to a more serious demeanor. “I’m glad you’re okay, Nyleeria.”
“Me too, Tarrin.”
