Page 32 of Falling Princess

“Then, submit your paper. You can always back out if he doesn’t approve.” Cata relented. “I think you’ll get to present your biodiversity study. It might be a good way to get more people interested in helping us save our country from attack.”

“Because of our unique ecosystem and medicinal plants.”

“See? Your intellectual bent isn’t useless at all.”

Cata’s reassurance is not, well, reassuring.

I checked the side mirror, which revealed Raina’s head on Lorcan’s shoulder, asleep.Just kiss him already.How has he failed to pick up on the fact that his childhood friend has the world’s most obvious crush on him?

He’s not dense. He noticed the title of the book I picked up in my haste at the library. Why, then, doesn’t Lorcan make a move? Or Raina, for that matter?

I’m so tired of being their third wheel.

I realized with a start that I’d been staring at him for several kilometers, when Cata asked him a question and Lorcan’s chin tilted up to listen. The tiniest flash of annoyance skimmed over his face as he tried to shift position without disturbing Raina. Unexpectedly, his gaze locked on mine. We stared at each other in this odd fashion, through a mirror outside the car, for several seconds before I jerked my gaze away.

* * *

On Saturday evening, Cata ordered takeaway from an Indian restaurant around the corner from our hotel and sent Lorcan out to retrieve it. Raina and I were sharing a room, with Cata and Lorcan in the adjoining one.

While he was away, Cata unzipped three black garment bags. Raina clapped her hands and squealed.

“For us?”

“Loaners. A fashion designer who wants to use Auralian textiles in his next collection. He’s trying to impress us. What do you think?”

Raina already had hers out, holding it against her body. “I love it. Do we get to keep them?”

“No.”

“Is it for sale?”

“Probably.” Cata grinned and handed me the hanger with my gown. It’s pink and fluffy and will make me look fifteen. The cut is simple, exposing part of my back and most of my chest. I hook the metal over the top of the closet door and sit, cross-legged, on the bed. “How am I supposed to wear a bra?”

“You don’t.” She tossed me a pink-and-black square package. “You use boob tape.”

I stared at the box, uncomprehending. Give me a proper undergarment and layers of spidersilk over this crap, any day.

“Before we dress and do makeup, though, we eat. There’s never enough food at these events.” Cata opened the door to reveal Lorcan carrying paper bags. I glanced down and realized I was holding a box with an illustration of a woman covering her breasts with tape. Embarrassed, I shoved it under the pillow.

I do not want that man even thinking about my boobs, in any context. Not that he is, surely; Lorcan must despise me as much as I do him. I would, in his place.

After we ate, Raina did our makeup and hair.

“Ready, my flower?” Cata placed the celestia diadem on my head. “The lads won’t know what hit them.”

I snorted, and the perfect princess in the mirror mimicked me. No more of that. Schooling my features into a mask of perfection, I buckled my shoes on. “I miss my Converse. Haven’t worn heels since we arrived in Scotland.”

“You look lovely, though. Very royal.” Raina took my gloved hand and held it high. The symbol of the goddess, of whom I am supposedly a descendent, was embroidered on the back of each hand.

Legends and stories and nonsense, no more real than fairies and unicorns, if you ask me. I am a scientist. Rational. Logical. Immune to such silliness. I can’t stop thinking of the biodiversity summit. I have a real opportunity to be more than a princess. I could put Auralia on the global map. Make people sit up and take notice, instead of dismissing us as a backwater.

But tonight, I must be the former, and put on a show, instead.

“I’ll try not to embarrass you, or my country.”

“You two aren’t capable of it. The boys, on the other hand...” Cata sighed gustily. “Let’s go see whether they’re ready.”

* * *

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