Page 24 of Enchanted Heir
One of the king’s guards had come again early this morning, so I wasn’t so sure about that.
“Don’t forget Silvia needs to discuss gowns with you shortly. Not that I would mind skipping that for cookies,” Owen said.
I cocked my head. “Could she join us in the kitchens for that or do I need to try something on?”
“She could. I assume it’s about the ball next week. The Hallows’ Eve ball.”
He might as well have been speaking another language. “What?”
“The ball,” he explained. “For Hallows’ Eve it will be a costumed ball. Usually, it is anyway. One of the more...risquéballs of the year around here.”
I gave my head a shake. All we had in Nerede was the Harvest Festival. Everyone gathered to celebrate the harvest with a meal and then let loose dancing afterward. It was likely far simpler than the ball here. “So we are using fall nearing its end as an excuse for more debauchery?”
Owen nodded. “Of course! Last year’s was.. . intense. But I’m sure because of the Assemblages, His Highness will tone it down a little this year.”
“How intense?” I wondered out loud.
“Dancers in little to no clothing. Lots of alcohol. Some .. .behaviorin the ball room you just don’t see every day. Alcoves set up in the ballroom in encouragement of said behaviors.”
I faked a cough. “I think I’m coming down with something.”
“Nice try,” Owen laughed.
Owen sent for Silvia to come down, but she still hadn’t shown up by the time I finished up the cinnamon oat cookies.
“Well, I suppose we better go find Silvia then,” I offered to Owen.
“Why do you sound bummed? I thought you loved Silvia?”
I shook my head. “No, I do. I was just trying to be out of Krew’s wing for a large portion of the day.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “To give him space.”
Owen rolled his eyes. “I doubt he’ll be up there much today. Do whatever you want.”
Sure enough, there Silvia was, already in Krew’s wing.
“I got your message,” she said as she thanked me for saving her the few cookies I handed to her. “I just didn’t want any of the kitchen staff eavesdropping about our dress plans for the ball. Particularly this one since you don’t have to be color coded and look alike.” She put down the cookies, taking one in her hand and waving it around as she gestured. “You are going to need to choose an animal for this costume. Usually, they wear a gown with some sort of headpiece.”
I looked at the ceiling and groaned. If we were going as animals, it would make sense for all of Krew’s women to go as wolves. But that also seemed like too much. Too personal.
Silvia had to ask the obvious. “A wolf?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged. “Just seems a bit too assuming.”
Owen snorted from where he laid on the couch and picked his head up to look over the couch at me. “I thought assuming was the look we were all going for.”
Silvia held up a hand. “I left my sketchpad here somewhere. Hang on a moment.”
When she left the room in search of it, I let out a sigh and whispered to Owen, “That was before Krew told me last night how he didn’t wish to form any real attachments. I got the impression he was tired of my constant presence.”
Owen’s eyebrows furrowed. “What?”
