Page 12 of The Rose in the Shadows

“Iris, this doesn’t make any sense,” I whispered. “I know the Dragon doesn’t trust me. Why would he give me all of this?”

She sighed and sat across from me, smoothing out the skirts of her gown as she did. “Anything the Dragon does, he does out of political motivation. If it’s true that you are just an innocent in all of this, and he imprisoned the last known member of a royal household, that’s grounds for war. Promissa, or any other country for that matter, could, and likely would, come to fight for your honor. Everyone in the world will want your allegiance because you’re the last of your line. And if that wasn’t motivation enough, the Dragon will want you to fully balance the Council here in Athenia.”

“I don’t know the first thing about your Council!” I protested.

“No, you don’t, and you don’t need to for now. All you really need to know is that the international community would respect a complete Council. With you in that role, it would be much more difficult for anyone to pull us into a war again. The Dragonwants that. He’ll want to secure you as a citizen of Athenia, specifically because you're the last Descendant of Hyrax."

That all might be true, but my gut still told me I couldn’t trust that I was safe here in this palace.

“You’re right about the Dragon not trusting you,” she admitted, folding her hands in her lap. “But that can change with time. And so, until it does, Dimitri and everyone else in this palace will watch you.”

I pursed my lips, laughing softly as I started understanding what she seemed too afraid to say directly. I’d been so blinded by the suite’s finery that I allowed myself to be fooled by the state of the situation. These roomsweren’ta kindness from the Dragon at all.

“I never really left the prison.” I realized. “He only moved me to a finer cell.”

She was still for a moment, her eyes darkening, but eventually, she nodded and offered me a small smile. There was pity in her smile. I tried to ignore that.

We sat quietly until she finally stood and cleared her throat. “Well, I best be on my way for now. I’ll return with some things to fill your closet in the morning.”

“Iris, that’s not necessary-”

“Oh, hush!” She chastised, patting my hand. “Now, you’ve had a long day, and I do not doubt another one will await you tomorrow. So try to get some rest tonight.”

I promised her I would, and she left. As the doors swung shut behind her and the characteristic sound of a lock falling into place sounded, I sighed. Those doors wouldn’t open again tonight. I was stuck here in these over-elaborate rooms. A prisoner in luxury, but a prisoner, nonetheless.

I sat in that parlor for what felt like hours, replaying the day’s events over and over. The time to request food came and passed, but I couldn’t even consider eating. Finally, when hues of orangeand purple from the setting sun filled the room, I moved to sit on the bed, sinking into its feathered mattress heavily. As I undid the laces of my boots, I stared out the windows, watching as darkness fell over the land.

I didn’t lay back into the sheets until long after shadows had covered the fields. The bed was comfortable; I couldn’t deny that. So, I tucked myself under the covers and folded into the mound of pillows. Even so, sleep wouldn’t come.

Ifinally woke in the morning to pounding on the door, having only managed to eventually drift to sleep as the sun started cresting over the gardens again.

“Theadora, please do not tell me you are still asleep in there.” I heard Iris calling. “Don’t make me have Dimitri knock down this ancient and historic door.”

“I’m coming, Iris!” I hollered, stumbling through the bedroom.

I opened the door just as her fist was poised to knock once more. She had gowns of all different colors and fabrics piled high in her arms. Lorelai, the Truthseeker from the Council meeting, stood behind her, offering a small, apologetic smile. With them was a more petite, older woman with graying hair and a stern expression.

“Little Miss,” the stranger huffed, pushing past the two girls and into the room briskly. “I don’t quite care what family you come from. It is quite rude to keep people waiting.”

How could I have kept people waiting when I wasn’t aware they were coming?

The woman set down her bags in the parlor, not bothering to introduce herself before beginning to pull out measuring tapes, threads, and needles. I glanced towards Iris in confusion, and she only rolled her eyes at me, prancing into the room impatiently with a disapproving sigh and shake of the head. As a last resort, I turned to Lorelai, my frustration clear.

“This is Ruthie,” Lorelai explained. “What she lacks in manners, she makes up for in quality work. She’s the finest seamstress from here to the Great Lake. She’ll be designing some gowns for you.”

“It is nearly ten!” Iris chastised, hands on her hips. “Please, don’t tell me you’re just waking up!”

“I had a bit of a day yesterday,” I reminded her, closing the door grumpily behind them.

Iris ignored the excuse and began going through her gowns, placing them in piles around us. She looked startlingly different today; her pink hair was now a bright ginger, cut close to her chin with fraying bangs. Her ballgown was yellow, made of a subtle lace that gave the illusion of petaled flowers growing atop her dark skin. She evaluated the colors that suited me while Ruthie measured my bust and muttered softly to herself.

“Is this really necessary?” I asked, eyeing an elaborately beaded gown with crystals and sparkling fabric. It was all a bit gaudy for my tastes. Just a few simple dresses would do. And I certainly didn’t need enough to fill the entire closet.

“It’s quite necessary!” Iris insisted. “You, my dear, are the most eligible bachelorette in the kingdom, and I intend to make sure you steal every young suitor’s heart.”

“She’s not a doll to dress up, Iris,” Lorelai said softly, smiling as she folded herself into one of the armchairs.

Ruthie ripped up my arms, measuring down the length of each. She was silent as she worked, eyeing my body shape as she moved. I could practically see her mind alight with creativityas she imagined the finery she would craft for me. Sighing, I threw my head back and submitted to it all. How much say in the matter did I really have anyway? I was stuck in this palace one way or another, whether that was captive as a prisoner or displayed as a princess. Still, my eyes betrayed me as I scowled at a glittering monstrosity of a ballgown in Iris’ hands. She only winked back at me.

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