The black fabric was sheer but better than bare skin.
“Yes, please!” Evelyn agreed.
It took Odette less than a minute to attach the chiffon and complete the skirt with her magic.
“That’s so much better,” Evelyn said.
“What about the top of her dress?” Damien asked.
“Let me see…” Odette considered.
She used her magic again to cut a larger length of fabric, which wrapped around Evelyn’s arms and shoulders. With some adjustments, the chiffon was fashioned into a round cape that draped over Evelyn from the base of her neck to just below her elbows. The low neckline of her dress was still visible, but she no longer felt on display.
“There we go!” Damien exclaimed. “Maybe your father won’t have a heart attack, after all. Although I prefer the original style.”
Evelyn ignored him. “I owe you a favor, Odette. Truly, thank you.”
Odette smiled. “It was really no trouble, Princess Evelyn. Would you like me to pin up your hair while I’m here?”
“Please! I will owe youtwofavors.”
Evelyn glanced over at Damien, catching him staring at her.
He helped me. Again. I’ve been crying over Leo and thinking about Haydn while Damien is just… here. I don’t deserve a friend like him.
33
Glass
Damien walked Evelyn downstairs when it was time to leave for King Gerard’s funeral. Odette had twisted Evelyn’s hair into a loose braid to restrain her curls. Evelyn kept swatting Damien as he tried to pull strands of hair out of place without her noticing.
King Tristan was waiting in the entryway with Hannah. She wore a one-shoulder black dress that flowed nicely to the floor. There was nothing inappropriate about it, so she obviously hadn’t pissed off Gabrielle. Her bright copper hair was braided into a coronet on top of her head.
She can’t even wait a few more days until she gets a real crown?
Leo wore his crown, which someone must have rescued from the garden. His mother was in a long, black, lace dress and a veil. Evelyn’s heart broke for both of them, even though she also wanted to set Leo’s eyebrows on fire.
Several closed carriages waited outside the palace to transport everyone. Leo and Queen Camille climbed into thefirst one. King Tristan and Hannah took the second. Evelyn and Damien sat across from each other in the third.
“How far are we going?” she asked.
“It will take about an hour,” Damien said. “We’re headed for the southwestern coast. The Royal Cemetery is in the Vision Court’s territory.”
“Why there? Why not have it closer to the palace or on military grounds?”
“After the land was split into courts, the first king had Vision magic. Before he died, he requested that his body be returned home. He was laid to rest by the ocean, and it became a tradition for kings after him. I’ll warn you, the row of mausoleums overlooking the water is a bit jarring to see.”
“What about queens and children of the royal families?”
“There’s a graveyard nearby for them.”
“Is that where Prince Christopher is?”
Damien nodded. “I didn’t expect to be going back there so soon.”
“Did you know him well?”
“Well enough. He and Leo were close, but Chris didn’t get into as many shenanigans as we did.”
