Page 10 of Crown of Draga

Chapter Four

Nadyah

Crystal Ballroom

Draga Royal Palace

Planet Draga Terra

Nadyah stoodwith Alpha behind the royal family at the bottom of the sweeping staircase. She had never seen the inside of the ballroom during an event and it was absolutely magnificent. It was difficult to believe Adelina had planned most of it herself with help only from the staff. Apparently, it was supposed to be a test to see if she could do one of the main duties as princess; event planning. And Nadyah had to admit Adelina had outdone herself.

The decorations for the coming-of-age party were an ode to every facet of Adelina. Her loyalty and patriotism to Draga were forefront themes. The amount of gold spent must have been obscene, but it was a coming-of-age party that would be talked about for cycles to come. The sacred rosaneras were displayed in massive bouquets around the ballroom, their spicy-sweet scent not overpowering but pleasant with the deep red roses Adelina had chosen so carefully with the gardeners. They decorated the tables, buffets, and even food dishes.

The ceiling was the true beauty though. It was a feat in patience, planning, and skill. Somehow Adelina had convinced her farmhands to work with her on this and it must have taken months of careful preparation. There was an invisible force-field over their heads. Nadyah had tested it with a tap on the wall as they’d walked in and it had sparkled in response. The force-field protected the guests from the fat bodies weaving magnificent webs above them. The sacred ragna spiders were content to move along and ignore the crowd below.

Nobles and courtiers couldn’t stop glancing above them nervously. Nadyah guessed the spiders were protected from the sound as well. To have the webs as intricate and numerous as they were, the spiders must have been weaving for at least a month now, which meant there had to be climate control to keep them cool from the heat of the Draga sun.

Nadyah was enamored. Her princess loved the spider farms and the silk. She oversaw the royal silk businesses and everything that entailed. Not even Raena had thought to do such a thing for her coming-of-age despite them being sacred, as they were all fearful of them – all but the youngest princess. Clever that Adelina made sure no queens were among the spiders. It could have been seen as a challenge to the heir apparent and crown princess.

The attention to detail astounded.

There was a side-stage where a live band played the music Adelina had pored over for months, choosing each song carefully. The dark suits and black-wood instruments set a dark and mysterious tone. From the documents on the princess’s shreve, she had gifted the musicians those instruments after finally settling on the band. Later Masha would perform her dance and Nadyah was intrigued to see what the quiet, submissive girl could do.

Another table was stacked with gifts for the princess. Then along one long wall was the buffet table groaning with delicacies from every planet. Nadyah couldn’t wait to see what kind of gifts the princess had received.

When she had entered the ballroom with Alpha, Nadyah had been given a delightful party favor; a unique and delicate gold necklace with a single, dark-red fire opal drop. Without hesitation she’d turned and had Alpha put it on her. The details Adelina had thought of…No doubt the princess had designed the necklaces herself and Nadyah couldn’t help but notice how many ladies wore theirs.

Her princess had made a subtle claim, a statement she doubted anyone but the Spider noticed. Nearly every single lady had opted to wear her gift and every male had replaced his cufflinks with her opal ones, and they glittered and shone like living fire throughout the ballroom. Adelina had claimed them all as hers with the gifts and they had accepted out of their love and adoration for the quietest, gentlest princess Draga had ever seen.

The fire opals caught the light of candle flame.

Adelina had picked up the courtesan’s subtle seductions with incredible astuteness, using real candles instead of sol-power. Even the drapes were a silky black like the ones at the House, fluttering in the midnight breeze from the open windows. The candles cast a warm glow rather than a bright one and the guests stayed close to each other, feeling the difference in the atmosphere from that of the palace.

Nadyah smiled with pride. Her pupil was flowering in her own way. She was so proud of Adelina for accepting the challenge to bloom where everyone could see her, rather than in the dark of night like her signature scent – the night-blooming jasmine.

As each day passed Nadyah wondered more and more what the next cycle would bring. Already she veered from the original path laid out before her. She had put the camerraleto on pause until they learned the results of Adelina’s genetic makeup.

It made Nadyah wonder if she would ever go back to the House of Kismet.

A glance at the massive, floating glass balls told her Adelina was a minute late already. For a brief moment she panicked as she wondered if something had happened to the princess. Alpha’s hand brushed hers. She glanced and saw him nod towards the top of the sweeping spiral staircase.

Despite having just seen her, even though Nadyah had dressed the princess herself – the breath caught in her throat, and her hand fluttered to her heart when the lift doors opened. The smile on Princess Adelina’s face was blinding. There was a flush to her cheeks and when she paused at the top of the stairs for everyone to take her in…she was devastating.

Wars would be fought.

Rash declarations and promises would be made and Adelina would be the cause of them all.

As the princess descended, the face of her escort became visible and the Master of Ceremonies announced the Princess and Prince. Then a different kind of hush fell over the crowd of glittering nobles.

The pair of them together was like watching gods descend among them.

Nash was massive and the blacker-than black suit contrasted his dusky brown skin. His aapoak eyes glittered like fire under the candles. The fire opals paled in comparison. The green flashed as he smiled at no one in particular, but there was no mistake he only had eyes for the princess.

As Princess Adelina descended, her burgundy-red gown set off her golden skin and those lips were sinful. The dark kohl had been the right choice for this party. It amplified the dark flecks in her light-purple eyes and there wasn’t even a murmur as she made her way down the stairs with the dark warrior by her side.

No one seemed to mind Prince Nash was the one who escorted Princess Adelina as he had just been declared an official ally once again with sanctuary granted. His place in the court was secure. No, it was the entire royal family who stiffened in disbelief and shock.

How no one had thought to check who would escort their princess was beyond Nadyah. It only showed how truly oblivious they were to the third-born princess, who was considered too submissive to do something so wild. Raena’s cheeks grew red with fury and Nadyah clutched Alpha’s hand, praying to Amora, to Mala, whoever would listen – that Raena would keep her mouth shut and not make a scene.

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