Page 185 of A Dance of Water

Ina smiled, a dimple rising on her cheek. There was slight condensation on the mirror from the steam in the room, and Ina raised a long finger to the surface. It squeaked as she let her finger trace the words into the fog:Friend.

A true smile this time—Luella’s cheeks hurt from it. "Yes, friends," she whispered.

How wonderful it felt to have one.

Ina rouged her lips with bright red, reminding her of apples. Luella was urged to stand, and she followed the maid to the wardrobe at Osa’s insistence, the door falling open to reveal the dress.

Her robe was tugged from her body, leaving her in nothing except her underclothes. She shivered in the dim light, feeling exposed… Would she ever feel comfortable in her skin? Would she ever feel like she was not an impostor?

"Remove those too," Osa said, without looking at her.

Luella’s hands fluttered to the hollow of her throat. "W-why?"

At this, Osa turned. Her eyes seemed to fall on every imperfection and shortcoming on Luella’s body. "You need to be pleasing for your lessons tonight. Those modest garments won’t do."

"What lessons?" Luella asked, watching as Osa turned and dug into the wardrobe.

"They did not tell you this either? Well, I suppose even insipid fae can be useful for one thing." Her words were distant as she riffled through the contents of the wardrobe.

Finally, she pulled free two pieces, scant and lacy. The sight made Luella’s face hot. Osa threw them at her chest, and Luella struggled to catch them before they fell to the ground.

"What lessons?" she repeated.

Osa began to turn again, but Luella’s hand shot forward, grabbing her wrist.

"Tell me what you speak of," Luella demanded softly.

Osa jerked her arm from Luella’s grasp. "Your lessons to please the King, of course." A wicked sneer fell upon the fiery maid’s lips.

Luella stumbled back a step. "What?"

Lessons… topleasethe King?

This must be some trick or cruel joke.

"We don’t have the time for you to snivel like a babe. Dress," Osa snapped.

Luella held the clothes close to her chest, unable to speak.

Osa moved to the vanity, packing up brushes and pots of kohl and rouge.

A soft hand touched her shoulder. Luella found Ina, eyes sad as she gave a slight shake of her head, silently urging Luella to leave it be.

Luella unfurled the garments in her hands, eyes widening at the opaque fabric and lace. Two pieces: lace panties and a mesh brassiere.

Osa looked over her shoulder, and Luella hurried behind the changing partition, removing her underclothes and fitting the new pieces onto her body. They clung to her perfectly, the panties a thin, white lace, while the brassiere was a soft mesh, thin strips crisscrossing over her back. The fabric was entirely see-through, her nipples pebbled by the chilled air.

She made a face, wrapping an arm over her breasts and poking her head around the partition, finding both maids absent.

"Hello?" No response. "Ina? Osa?" Luella called. "May I please have my gown?"

The room was still. They had left her.

Carefully, she stepped out from the partition. She tiptoed to the wardrobe and cocked her head as she stared at the simple white gown—perhaps that was why they left. It wasn’t intricate; she would need no help to dress.

Just as her fingers closed around the thin, golden wire used to display the dress and tug it down from within the wardrobe, a caw filled the room.

Luella yanked the gown from the wire and bundled it to her chest, turning to face the open glass doors of the balcony. And there, perched on the stone railing, the raven.

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