Nicholas sat in the comfortable leather chair inside the groomer's with a sour expression, as he stared at his reflection. His eyes were locked on his hair, watching as the stylist standing behind him trimmed his hair. He would be tapping his fingers as he was feeling antsy, but he couldn't since his hands were currently occupied. On either side of him were two other females, who were currently working on his hands and nails.

  The hairstylist standing behind Nicholas, a young woman with black hair, flicked her gaze between Nicholas' reflection and the hair she was working on. She shifted on her feet and asked a little apprehensively, "Is there something wrong, Your Highness?"

  Mathew, sitting beside Nicholas, also having his haircut, chuckled, "He's just not happy about the haircut. Please don't take it personally."

  "My hair was just fine," Nicholas grumbled.

  "It's just a little trim," William stated coolly, staring at his own reflection. "It won't hurt you."

  Nicholas' gaze flicked to his father, who sat behind him in the chair opposite the wall he was facing. His father had a poised expression as the hairstylist trimmed his hair. The hair stylist herself was older than the one working on Nicholas' hair, and she seemed completely comfortable as she cut the king's hair. It made Nicholas wonder if she was his father's usual stylist.

  "Look at the bright side," Tristan began, his tone condescending. "At least now you will look a little respectable." He scoffed, "Emphasis on a little."

  The hair stylist cutting Tristan's hair expression tightened, and she shared a gaze with the stylist cutting Lucian's, who was standing beside her.

  "Enough of that," William stated, his voice firm. His gaze flicked toward Tristan through the mirror. "Today is supposed to be a day of celebration. At least try to get along and be on your best behavior." His gaze flicked toward Nicholas, "That goes for both of you."

  Nicholas met his father's gaze through the mirror, "Yes, Father."

  "Whatever you say," Tristan grumbled, his voice dismissive. "I suppose I can treat even the less fortunate a little better for this shin dig."

  William's gaze snapped to Tristan through the mirror, narrowing. "Tristan," William began, annoyance thick in his tone. "This is a celebration of your engagement. Refrain from calling it a simple 'shin dig'."

  Tristan huffed, shaking his head slightly, "I never asked for this engagement."

  William's expression hardened, and he slowly pulled his right hand from the female working on it and raised it. The stylists around him immediately stopped what they were doing and backed away a step. William swiveled in his chair, so he was now facing Tristan.

  "Perhaps not," William began, his tone firm and angry. "But it is for your benefit. The Carsender family is highly respected among the people, especially the noble families."

  "Like I care," Tristan scoffed. "I shouldn't have to be tied down at my age."

  William's glare intensified, "Perhaps you should've thought about that beforehand." Tristan's jaw clenched. William narrowed his eyes on Tristan, "Need I remind you why this engagement was arranged in the first place?"

  Tristan clicked his tongue and went back to eyeing his reflection.

  The hairstylists in the room shifted uncomfortably, exchanging quick glances.

  Nicholas' brows rose as he eyed his father, seeing the intensity behind his gaze. He hadn't known there was a specific reason behind this engagement, but now he was curious as to the reason why.

  William continued to stare at Tristan for a moment before he swiveled his chair to look back at his reflection. He looked at the stylist standing behind him, giving them a nod, and they proceeded to continue to trim his hair, while the others worked on his nails.

  An awkward silence fell upon the room, with the only sounds being the scissors clipping. Sitting beside each other, Lucian and Mathew shared a glance before Mathew cleared his throat and said, "So, Lucian, why the big change to your hairstyle?"

  Nicholas looked toward Lucian, seeing that his once long hair was gone and that he now had short hair.

  Lucian hummed, "Well, I've been thinking about getting it cut, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity." He smiled, "I think it suits me if I do say so myself."

  The doors to the room opened, catching everyone's attention as Gaelin walked inside, followed by Master Yenfra, a female with long black hair and green eyes.

  Gaelin made a beeline to William, stopped, and bowed, "Your Majesty."

  William's gaze flicked to Gaelin through the mirror, "Report. Is everything going smoothly?"

  Gaelin nodded, "As smooth as can be, Your Majesty. Orders have been given, and guards are moving to their assigned positions. We haven't seen or detected anything of concern." He looked toward Yenfra, "The addition of Tri-Union forces has been incredibly helpful." Gaelin's brows rose, noticing Yenfra's averted gaze. Following her gaze, he noticed she was staring at Lucian.

  "Good," William said, and Gaelin looked at him. "Keep up the good work, Commander."

  "Will do, Your Majesty," Gaelin said, giving another bow.

  Mathew looked at Yenfra through the mirror, "All of our troops are playing nice with the Gavarian forces, I hope?"

  Yenfra nodded ever so slightly, her gaze still locked on Lucian, "Y-Yeah."

  Lucian, through the mirror, noticed Yenfra blinking at him, "Yes, Yenfra?"

  Yenfra stiffened before she quickly said, "N-Nothing, Commander. It's just... You look so different with short hair."

  Gaelin eyed Yenfra and chuckled, "A good different, or bad different?"

  Yenfra looked to the side and coughed, "A good different."

  "I just hope Katarina likes it," Mathew jested. "Has she ever seen you with short hair before?"

  Lucian shook his head, "No, she hasn't." He shrugged, "But I'm sure she will." He looked to the side, "At least I hope so."

  "You'll find out soon enough," Gaelin said as he began to make his way toward the doors.

  Yenfra spared Lucian one last glance before following Gaelin.

  Nicholas watched through the mirror as Gaelin and Yenfra left the room, closing the door behind them. Looking forward at his reflection, he grumbled as the stylist cut off a little more of his hair. As he watched the stylist work, he thought about what Lucian said about Katarina liking his hair. It made him wonder if Elianna would like what the stylist was doing to Nicholas' hair, and he hoped she was having a good time.

  ***

  Katarina sneezed, and her nose scrunched as she wanted to scratch it; however, her hands were currently preoccupied. She was lying back in the luxurious leather chair, with her hands at her sides, as two stylists washed her hands while working on her nails. Behind her was a third stylist, currently washing her hair and massaging her scalp. Sitting in front of her was a fourth stylist, currently working on her feet, submerged in the basin.

  "Bless you," Freya chuckled from Katarina's far left.

  "Thank you," Katarina said as she continued to scrunch her itchy nose.

  The stylist working on Katarina's right hand smiled, "Here you go, My Lady." She reached out with a mapkin and scratched Katarina's nose.

  "Thank you." Katarina relaxed and hummed, her lips curving into a contented smile. "I can get used to this. I should convince Lucian to turn one of the rooms into a salon and to hire our own stylists."

  "Well, you do have a big backyard," Freya chimed in. "You could always build a spa and salon in the back."

  Celine's eyes widened with excitement, "Oh, can we do that? We have a big backyard as well." She grinned, "Then, we can have bi-weekly spa days where we can just relax." She chuckled, "Besides, I'm sure Elianna could use some time away from Nicholas." Her eyes flicked to the side, unable to see Elianna. "Right, Elle?"

  Elianna's face reddened slightly, "I don't know. I don't mind spending time with Nicholas."

  "There's a shocker," Katarina jested, earning laughs from Celine and Freya, while Elianna's face reddened more.

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  Elianna grumbled, ignoring their laughter, when her lips pursed, "I wonder how he's doing."

  "Who? Nick?" Celine asked, then chortled. "He's probably sulking since they're most likely working on his hair."

  "Hopefully they don't make it too short," Elianna said, trying and failing to picture Nicholas with short hair.

  Celine grinned, "Like how he looks now, do you?"

  Elianna shrugged slightly, "I mean, I don't think he looks bad."

  "I'm sure you don't," Katarina added, earning snickers from Freya and Celine.

  Elianna rolled her eyes, her face warming.

  Celine hummed, a mischievous look glowing in her sapphire-blue eyes. "So, Elle, which part of Nicholas do you like the most?"

  Elianna's eyes widened, lips going slightly agape, and when her gaze met the stylist who was working on her hair, she watched as they bit their lips between their teeth, obviously trying to hide a smile.

  "Oh, stop teasing her," Freya chuckled.

  "Ah, come on, I'm interested to know," Celine sighed.

  "I'm interested as well," Katarina chimed in.

  "Mooom," Elianna groaned, earning another laugh from her mother.

  "Exactly how long have you known Prince Nicholas?" Tiffany asked from across the room.

  Celine, Freya, Elianna, and Katarina fell silent at Tiffany's voice. Not because they were purposely ignoring her, but because they honestly forgot she was in the room with them, on the opposite side. She had been silent the entire time they had been conversing.

  "Almost six years," Elianna answered simply.

  Tiffany was silent for a few moments before she asked, "Where did you meet?"

  "The garrison at Tri-Union City."

  "The garrison?" Tiffany asked, sounding baffled. "Why were you both there?"

  "We were both training at the time," Elianna explained, her lips curving as she remembered her first meeting with Nicholas. "I was training with my father, while he was on a break from training with his aunt. He showed me his drawings, and we just started hanging out shortly after."

  "Just hanging out?" Celine scoffed with amusement. "That's a good way of saying you two spend almost every day together."

  "I wouldn't say every day," Elianan said.

  "Oh, please," Katarina laughed. "You two are inseparable. If you two aren't hanging out or playing, you're training together."

  "Training together?" Tiffany asked.

  "Oh, yes," Celine began, sounding smug. "Elianna and Nicholas are two of the most competitive people I have ever met. They love to work out together, trying to see who would beat the other that day. Not only that, but they train in combat together, too. With Nicholas being a mage and Elianna an augmentor, they're a perfect match." Her smugness deepened, "You should see Elle with a sword, she's magnificent."

  Elianna's eyes widened, and her face burned as the words, 'perfect match,' rang through her head like a bell.

  "You're training? With a sword?" Tiffany asked, her tone not sounding curious, but judgmental. "Why?"

  Celine scoffed, "Why not? Do you not work out?"

  "I do to stay in shape, but not with a sword. That's not..." Tiffany paused.

  "Not what?" Elianna asked, her voice becoming tight.

  "Not exactly ladylike," Tiffany answered. "There are gentlemen he would be thrown off."

  Celine grinned, "Well, it's as good a thing that Nicholas likes her for who she is."

  Elianna smiled, her face warming. She even noticed the stylist now washing out her hair, smiling a little.

  Tiffany fell silent at that, and a weird silence fell upon the room.

  Katarina cleared her throat. "So, Tiffany, how do you and Tristan get along?"

  Tiffany didn't answer immediately. "We haven't met yet."

  "You haven't?" Katarina said, sounding genuinely surprised. "But, how did you two get engaged?"

  "It's an arranged engagement," Freya stated. "William and Tiffany's father spoke behind closed doors, agreeing to their engagement."

  "I suppose King William believes in my capability of being a queen," Tiffany said smugly.

  Celine hummed, "Well, I just hope you're not disappointed when you meet Tristan."

  "Oh, I doubt I will be," Tiffany said, sounding pompous.

  "We'll see," Celine whispered to herself.

  The room fell silent as the stylists worked on the ladies, with the hair stylists finishing and drying their hair. As they sat up, they looked toward the doors as they opened.

  Elianna immediately recognized the seamstresses as they walked in, rolling a rack on which several covered clothing items hung.

  One of the seamstresses smiled, "Hello, we've brought the dresses."

  The head beautician, Vivian, stepped forward, "Perfect." She gestured to the left hallway, "Please, head down the hall to the changing rooms. The Princesses and ladies are almost done and will meet you there."

  The seamstresses nodded before rolling the rack down the hall.

  Vivian smiled before looking around the room, "Okay, let's finish up and get the princesses and ladies to their dressing rooms. Their dresses await."

  "My Lady," Elianna's hair stylist began, and Elianna looked at her. "Do you have a specific hairstyle you like your hair in?"

  Elianna didn't need to think as she smiled, "A ponytail, please."

  The hairstylist blinked, "T-That's it? Are you sure you don't want curls or an extravagant bun? Or, perhaps even a long braid."

  Elianna's smile grew as she shook her head, "No thanks. Nick likes my hair in a ponytail."

  The hairstylist's brows raised, before she smiled warmly, "I understand." She winked, "Ponytail it is."

  Elianna nodded, and when the hairstylist moved, she noticed Celine grinning in her direction. Elianna's face warmed before she looked forward, which was when she noticed Tiffany staring at her, before Tiffany averted her gaze.

  ***

  Elianna stepped into her large dressing room, noticing the white garment bag hanging on a hook against the wall. Standing beside the white garment bag were two seamstresses who smiled and bowed.

  "Hello, My Lady," One of the seamstresses greeted, before standing straight. "We are here to assist you in getting dressed."

  Elianna blinked, "O-Oh, okay."

  Elianna stepped forward, and her face warmed a little as she disrobed in front of strangers. She felt a little weird being in just her underwear, but was glad the others in the room with her were other women. The seamstresses burst into action as they guided Elianna to the mirror, where they unzipped her garment bag, revealing the dress, which had Elianna's eyes widen in awe.

  Watching the seamstresses, Elianna observed as they took the dress out of the bag and gingerly carried it to her. Carefully, they assisted her in putting on the dress, followed by the gloves. Once they were done, Elianna stared at her reflection, and her lips curled, thinking how beautiful the dress looked on her.

  The dress itself was dark blue with a sheen, golden spaghetti straps, and no sleeves, and it had a golden trim. The gold neckline dipped in the front, which would've shown ample cleavage if not for the golden modesty panel, which still allowed a modest amount to be displayed. Around her upper abdomen, under her breasts, was a golden band going around her lithe frame. In the center of the golden band was a shimmering celestial blue gem that matched her eyes perfectly. Along her hips was another golden band that curved down in the front and back into a V. Attached to the lower golden band was a set of ornate golden chains that formed four loops, one under the other. The torso of her dress was snug, showing off her perfect curves and the roundness of her breasts, with the skirt opening slightly at the waist and falling to the floor. The dress also had an overskirt, open in the front, with a golden trim along its edges. Along her arms, she wore two white gloves that reached past her elbows, with a golden trim along the edges. And something she was glad about was that she wasn't wearing heels, but two blue dress slippers hidden under the dress.

  Once her dress was on, the seamstresses gave Elianna two teardrop earrings that matched her necklace perfectly. With her lips curving into a content smile, Elianna's eyes roamed up and down her frame, happy with how beautiful she looked.

  "The dress looks perfect, if I do say so myself, My Lady," One of the seamstresses said.

  "Looks even more perfect on you, My Lady," The other seamstress added.

  Elianna looked at the seamstresses and smiled kindly, "Thank you."

  The seamstresses nodded, with one of them saying, "We hope you have an excellent night, My Lady."

  Elianna's smile grew, "Me too. And, thank you for your help."

  The seamstresses nodded before Elianna turned and exited the fitting room. As she stepped through the door, she noticed Celine walking out from her dressing room at the same time, while Freya and her mother were already in the common area.

  Elianna looked at Celine, thinking she looked absolutely stunning. Her dress was also spaghetti-strapped, with gold straps, showing off her fair-skinned arms. Her dress was the same shade of blue, with golden trim. Her torso hugged her hourglass frame nicely, with the neckline curving down, without a modesty panel, accenting her well-rounded breasts. On her torso was a golden pattern that matched the one at the bottom of her dress. Three ornate golden chains were linked to the front of her dress, looping around her sides and going to her back. The skirt of her dress widened a little, with the outer skirt being open in the front and broader than the inner skirt.

  Elianna then looked at Freya, thinking how gorgeous she looked. Her dress was simpler than hers and Celine's, spaghetti-strapped and golden. Her neckline dipped deep, showing an ample amount of cleavage, with the torso of her dress being tight, accenting her breasts nicely. Along her neckline was a golden design that led to a blue gem at the bottom. Six golden chains also looped around her dress, looping down from the gem before going to the back. She wore a beautiful golden necklace with sapphires, which matched her earrings.

  Elianna's gaze flicked to her mother, and she smiled at her beauty. Her mother was dressed in a spaghetti-strapped, sparkling, golden dress. The neckline of her dress dipped, showing off her cleavage and accenting her breasts. The torso of her dress hugged her curves nicely, and the thigh-high slit on her left side showed off her smooth, long legs and revealed she was wearing golden heels. She had two golden earrings that complemented her dress and matched the golden flower hairpin above her left ear.

  "Oh my gosh!" Celine began, looking at Elianna. "Elle, you look beautiful!"

  Elianna smiled at Celine, "I can say the same to you." She looked at Freya and her mother, "All of you."

  Katarina smiled as she approached her daughter, looking her up and down. She gingerly tucked a lock of her silvery-white hair behind her ear. "You've grown into a beautiful young lady."

  "That she has," Freya agreed. She smiled at her own daughter, "Both of you have."

  Celine smiled at her mother before grinning at Elianna, "Nicholas won't be able to take his eyes off you."

  Elianna's cheeks reddened. She was about to respond, but everyone's gaze flicked to the other fitting room as the door opened. Then, Elianna's gaze widened as soon as Tiffany stepped out.

  Tiffany looked ravishing and bewitching in her dress that was the same shade of blue as Elianna's, Freya's, and Celine's, with a golden design. Tiffany's dress hugged her torso beautifully, showcasing her well-defined hourglass curves. The neckline of her dress had a golden trim that dipped slightly, showing off a little cleavage. An intricate golden design adorned the torso of her dress, extending from her neckline to her waist. The dress of her skirt was a lighter blue that seemed to shiver, covered by the darker blue outer skirt that matched the torso. The outer skirt had golden trim going along its edges and bottom, and was open in the front. Instead of her dress being spaghetti-strapped like the others', she wore sheer white sleeves with a golden hue, transparent enough to show off her flawless skin. Her brown, silky hair was wavy, and she wore silver earrings that matched her green eyes nicely.

  The seamstress followed Tiffany out of her room and smiled, "You look beautiful, My Lady."

  Tiffany's eyes darted between the others, narrowing on Elianna before looking her up and down. "As expected," Tiffany said, before she turned and began to head down the hall.

  Freya sighed, shaking her head, before smiling at the others, "Guess that's our cue to get going. We'll meet the others at the back entrance to the ballroom."

  Celine, Elianna, and Katarina nodded before they all began to follow Freya down the hall behind Tiffany.

  Celine walked closer to her, "Too bad that beautiful dress of hers can't have her bitchy attitude."

  Elianna nodded, "I don't know what part I hate more. How beautiful she looks, or how the dress makes her look gorgeous."

  Celine hummed before she leaned closer to Elianna and smiled, "Just so you know, I think you look far more captivating than her. You're going to have Nicholas completely entranced."

  Elianna smiled, feeling a little nervous about Nicholas' reaction to how she looked, "We'll see."