Page 62 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
“Well, I certainly don’t mind,” Simin says, flushing a hint when Royan smiles at her.
“Yes, he is hot,” Eibhlin comments with a giggle. “Almost as hot as Tynan.”
“You like Tynan?” Ita asks her curiously.
“No,” Eibhlin grins in her usual creepy goldilocks-manner. “I’d rather not pine for a guy who would never want me.” She frowns. “I would need a potion then or an aphrodisiac, and unfortunately, that’s illegal.”
“Oh, such a pity,” Alana frowns. “Come, crazy little sister, let’s make sure we find clothes we will look dashing in. I have no idea what to wear,” she says. “Actually, you girls are saving me!”
“How is the preparation for the ball coming along?” Simin asks.
“It’s going well,” Alana says. “Ita is helping, too. It’s just weird to prepare for an event, especially when our father is counting on me.”
“He is worried because after the ball, you will be sent on your first mission,” Ita says.
Her words seem to finally draw Kilah out of her shell. “You are going on a mission?”
“Yes,” Alana says. “My warrior training is over, then, and I want to work to join the elite warriors soon. For that, I need to prove myself like everyone else.”
“But, isn’t it dangerous?” Kilah stutters.
Alana turns to look at her. “In a way, each time we leave the pack grounds, it’s dangerous,” she says. “I will watch out. Don’t worry, Kilah.”
Before she can turn around again, Kilah grabs her arm. “I want to help,” she blurts out. “Please, can I help you with the ball?”
Alana stares at her. “I thought you wouldn’t want to.”
“But… I love this stuff…” Kilah murmurs.
“I know, I just didn’t ask because I thought you wouldn’t want to spend too much time with me,” Alana points out with a frown. For a moment, Kilah looks sad and guilty, but before she can say anything, Alana smiles at her brightly. “So, with your help, it’s going to be much easier.”
Kilah looks relieved, like a tremendous weight lifted from her shoulders. She is in a very good mood when we enter the small store with dresses. The owners, a young couple, already await us, clearly excited to have so many high-ranking guests.
“Amber is the best,” Kilah says after she greets the young woman. “She gets the dresses from all over the country, but also from other kingdoms and realms.”
Amber rubs her hands. “I promise, by the end of this day, you will all have your dream dresses. Is it for the masquerade?”
“Yes,” Alana says. “Did you already receive the masks?”
“I did.”
When Kilah looks at her sister curiously, Alana just winks. “Let’s say I have planned a little surprise as well.”
Before we can see the masks though, Amber starts to choose dresses for us, which she thinks will suit us. Kilah is the first to find her dress, a beautiful green one with long sleeves. It's modest but with beautiful golden embroidery, and it hugs her body well.
“I like this one,” Eibhlin says while she turns in front of the mirror. She is wearing a pitch-black dress with black embroidery and trumpet arms. It makes her look even more pale, but takes away from her otherwise innocent angel-look, and it fits her strangely well.
“Dad is going to have a heart attack,” Kilah announces.
“Is it weird if I say I like it?” Alana wants to know.
She herself is having the hardest time. She tries on a few dresses, and they all look good on her because she has the perfect figure, but it’s obvious how uncomfortable she feels. “Let’s try something else,” Amber suggests and hands her two pieces of clothing.
Meanwhile, Ita and I roam the store to search for our own dresses. “Who can wear this kind of color? Shimmery gold,” Ita scrunches her nose while inspecting one of the glittery dresses. When Alana steps out of the dressing room, dressed in pants of the same fabric and color, and a long dark-red vest with long sleeves and velvet embroidery, she swallows. “Well, someone can.”
“You look fantastic,” I blurt out. Alana is tall and athletic, yet she has some curves too. The vest makes her look so beautiful. I envy her for how bold she is to dare to wear something like that.
Simin meanwhile finds a beautiful blue dress for herself, with sweet floral embroidery and a fitting belt. Ita chooses an elegant brown dress.
