“It’s a beautiful gown,” the princess’ maid said, as her lady strode out from the dressing room.
“How so?” the princess asked.
The girl wrinkled her brows in thought. She didn’t have the words, in her ill-educated brain. “Sort of...soothing?”
The young woman of royalty nodded. “I want to disappear in the background,” she said, turning as she gazed in the mirror. “I want to look like a harmless, nattering child.”
The maid was not sure whether it was appropriate to agree with this. So she remained silent.
The princess steeled herself for the ball. Other maids finished her hair, applied her jewels and crown used for social occasions.
Tonight, she would look harmless. She would catch the court off guard. She would attract the King-to-be and become his wife. And then...the safe green would come off, and she would take her rightful place in the kingdom.