“Hold still, Lady Jayde.” Cara admonished as she tightened the bodice of my dress. Hell, I could barely breathe and Cara was still tugging on the strings.
I gasped, “I think...” Took another breath, “it’s tight enough.” Cara stopped pulling and made a bow.
“You look beautiful.” Cara said with a bright smile. She pushed some hair over my shoulder. Her and Isadora had done my hair and makeup. I felt like a movie star. “Are you ready to look in the mirror? Isadora asked coming back into the room in a pale blue ball gown. I was going to cry this was the day. I was going to be a queen. I turned to look in the full length mirror Isadora had set up so I could see how I looked.
I turned and took a deep, shaky breath. Wow, that was me in the mirror. Samara had worked hard making this dress even better than the picture. Her daughter, Cara had done my hair and make-up and helped with what her mother couldn’t do anymore. Samara was much older than she looked and due to the seamstress business she had developed arthritis in her knees. Thankfully, her fingers were still as nimble as when she started.
“I’m not ready for this.” I said starting to freak out. How could I possibly be a queen? I hadn’t even decided what I was doing about the treaty. I had firmly blocked it from my thoughts. Focusing on spending time with Kohl and all the last minute plans for the ball.
“You are going to be amazing.” Cara replied with a warm smile. Her messy blond bun reminded me that she needed to go home and change if she was going to make it in time for the ball.
“Thank you, Cara. Now you need to get yourself gorgeous.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Lady Jayde.” She said with a bright smile. She took one more look at her hard work and left.
Isadora’s eyes were red like she had been crying. “I can’t believe this is finally happening. I work for a queen.” She said incredulously.
I laughed, “Don’t cry you will ruin your make-up and mine.” Isa hugged me. For the first time since I had met her she was treating me like her friend and not her boss. I embraced her.
A knock sounded on my door and I nervously waited for Isadora to open it. Kohl stepped in looking like a regal fantasy. He had his dark locks brushed out of his face and smoothed away from his forehead and his crown sat perfectly in place. The navy military jacket and black pants didn’t hurt matters either.
“I forgot to give you the last accessory to make your look perfect. He slowly appraised every inch of me even though Isadora was right there. He pulled a large tiara from behind his back. A boyish grin lit up his face as he stepped forward. “Can I?” He asked as he was only a few inches from me. I nodded not trusting my voice at the moment. He placed the crown on my head. “Perfect.” He said the smile never leaving his face. He leaned forward and whispered in my ear.
“I love you, whether you make the announcement or not.” He stepped back looking at me one more time.
“I will see you at the coronation.” He kissed my hand and left. I turned back around to see what I looked like with a crown. It was larger than the last one, but it still wasn’t the final tiara I would wear. Isadora was fighting back tears again.
“I know this isn’t my place, but you and Kohl are perfect together.” She said with a wide smile that made the freckles stand out on her pale skin.
I stepped forward and hugged Isadora again. “Don’t be afraid to tell me anything, Isa.” Another knock came to my door. My room had seen more company in the last week then I had at my birthday party.
Sy walked in wearing the exact same formal outfit as Kohl. He had a large crown on his brushed back hair as well. A few strands of his dark brown hair still fell on his forehead. He looked handsome, too. Isadora curtsied to Sy and walked out the room leaving me with my date.
Sy smiled, his grey eyes roved up and down my body just like Kohl had previously. “You look flawless.” He came forward and kissed my hand.
“Kohl and I are the luckiest men in the world because we actually get to touch you.” I laughed.
“You are acting like such a sap.” I teased.
“I think I’m being a little overprotective. If anyone even looks at you oddly. I’m not sure I’ll be able to control myself.” I hugged him.
“I’m so glad this Sy showed up.”
“I’m always this Sy.” He countered.
“I’m glad. Everyone is going to love this side of you as much as I do.” He froze. Shit had I really said that? I didn’t mean to tell him I loved him like that. I had been sifting through my feelings for Sy all week and I had realized it was love I felt for him, but it wasn’t real love. It was friendship. We were kindred souls trying to find someone who could just break through our defenses and see the beauty that we couldn’t show the world. I saw that beauty in Sy and I wanted him to find someone that would cherish him the way Kohl had cherished me. I wanted someone to see Sy and think of him as their world. It was how I thought of Kohl.
“Sy.” I started trying to find a way to say this to him. “I love you.”
“But.” He said harshly. His eyes were cold and it looked like he was reverting back to the old Sy in front of my eyes.
“No, I love you.” He huffed like he didn’t want to hear anymore. “I love you like the brother I never had. We are so much alike, Sy. I see how wonderful you are. I see that you were hiding from everyone. Don’t go back to the old Sy. Stay with me, please.”
I bit my lip and waited for the outburst. “I love you.” He said simply.”This is your day.” He grabbed my hand. “Are you ready to go?”
“Sy.” I complained wanting him to open up about what I had told him.
“I just need to process.”I looked at him begging him to lash out to do anything, but what he was doing right now.
“I’m not leaving until you get it out.” He sighed and turned his gaze on me. All I saw was hurt. “I knew I lost when you admitted you loved Kohl. That hurt. I get it. I’m just grateful you don’t hate me and I won’t be upset when you announce your engagement to Kohl. I want you to be happy, Jayde.”
“I want you to be happy too.” I said my eyes blurring with tears.
“Don’t cry. We have a ball to attend.”
He hugged me and squeezed tight. “I’m not announcing our engagement. I just want to become queen.” He pulled back.
“Then let’s go make you a queen.”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Sure, you are.” Sy teased good-naturedly. He opened my door and I lifted my gown and train. I headed down another set of stairs that led straight to the library. Sy carried my long train helping me down the steps.
“This dress is stunning on you.” He said when we got to the library. It was empty. Everyone was in the ballroom. Only a few people were invited to the actual coronation that would take place in the throne room.
“What’s our signal?” He said it like we were secret agents waiting for our signal and I bit back laughter.
“Isa will come in and tell me.” I said taking a seat on the sofa I had been sitting on when I first met Sy.
“Do you remember when I first met you?” He asked reading my mind.
“Here.” I said smiling.
“What were you doing here? You had been crying.” I almost laughed.
“You are more observant than I ever gave you credit for. Kohl was showing me family albums.” I leaned over to the end table that still held the albums. “I think your dad was in a few of these.” I said as I grabbed the one of my father’s childhood. My father had been much younger than Sy and Kohl’s fathers by several decades. He slid forward and opened the book on my lap. I knew I shouldn’t have been sitting in my ball gown and I passed the album to Sy. I stood brushing the wrinkles out of my dress.
I paced back and forth as Sy continued to go through the album. He eventually made his way to the second one. He was staring at the same page for a while and I made my way toward him. He was looking at a picture I ha
d skimmed over. It was Sy and Kohl holding me.
“We used to be close.” Sy said still staring at the one photo.
“Kohl and I were connected to the hip until I moved. We did everything together.” Sy said closing the book and not continuing further.
“You know you and I are close. We will be close forever.” I insisted and his blank stare told me he didn’t believe me for a second. Isa walked through the double doors distracting me.
“We are ready for you, Lady Jayde.” Isa said with another wide smile directed at me.