Chapter: 23: Sun Spheres

“Wake up, Willow.”

My eyes felt heavy, and my body was immovable.

“Faye,” I mumbled, the bright light tainting the insides of my eyelids with splashes of different colors. “What time is it?”

“Late,” Faye said, pulling the sheets off my body, leaving the icy air to raise goosebumps on my skin.

Without opening my eyes, I shivered and reached out for the warmth to envelop me again. Unfortunately, Faye had thought three steps ahead and placed the sheets out of my reach.

“Come on, Will,” Faye said again, poking my bare skin. “The stylist will be here at any moment.”

Here?

I yawned, forcing my eyes to open despite the headache it inspired. “Are they coming here?” I muttered, lifting myself off my pillow. “At what time?”

“In five minutes.”

“Five minutes!” I exclaimed, suddenly feeling more awake than last night when I’d run into the crown prince. “Why didn’t you wake me up before?”

I jumped out of bed but stopped in my tracks as I had no clue what preparations needed to be handled before the stylist arrived.

“I did wake you up an hour ago,” Faye chided, rummaging through a casket in the corner.

“I was busy preparing for Adriel’s arrival, so when you opened your eyes after I’d pulled the curtains, I assumed you were awake.

“Did you doze off again?”

“I—um…”

That could’ve been a possibility.

The royal bed had been even better to sleep in than I’d imagined. It had been like lying in a cloud carrying me into the peaceful oblivion of sleep.

“Go wash your face,” Faye commanded, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Yesterday, Faye had been afraid of calling me by my name, let alone directly looking at me. Today she was bossing me around.

“Aye, Lady Faye,” I said, chuckling as I skipped toward the bathroom.

Faye smiled despite her attempt not to. “Make sure to clean your ears too.”

I laughed louder.

She sounded like my mom, but I followed Faye’s instructions. Her voice might have sounded playful, but it was probably a good idea to listen anyhow.

She already knew more about this life than me.

A knock sounded on the door as I wiped my face with the fluffy towel.

“Welcome, Adriel,” Faye said as she let in the stylist. “I’ve prepared room for you at the vanity table.”

I pressed my ear against the closed door to listen.

“Good morning, Faye,” a deep, calm voice said. “Is the wildcard ready?”

Adriel sounded kind and compassionate, judging from how he spoke to Faye. I wondered if he was a First-blood too.

“Yes,” Faye said. “She will be out in just a moment.”

“Perfect, then I’ll make sure we can get started when she’s ready,” Adriel said, making a flush of color warm my face. “Lux, Amelia, let’s hurry.”

“Yes, Adriel.”

Two female voices chirped before heels raced across the floor.

I took a deep breath, shaking my body of the plotting tremors, and opened the door.

Faye was helping the three additional people unpack around the vanity table to my right. I cleared my throat, stiffening when their attention turned to me.

The two women looked like drops of the same water, both equipped with blonde, luscious hair and olive, delicate skin. Their nails looked like claws painted by the colors of the sun.

Then my eyes fell on Adriel.

Black, coarse hair was gathered in a loose bun at the back of his head, untamed strands caressing his pointed ears and tall forehead.

His large eyes were almost as dark as his hair, rounded and deep-set, angled upward as if his sharp cheekbones had defined their shape.

A golden necklace wrapped around his broad neck, past his defined collarbones, and decorated his chest with a depiction of the bright sun.

He was probably a decade older than me, maybe more if his youthful appearance had been crafted to deceive unsuspecting eyes.

Adriel smiled, stretching his thin lips. “Miss Aldwyn,” he started, slowly stepping closer. “It’s such an honor to finally meet you.”

His hand was warm as it delicately grabbed mine, guiding it to his lips.

“I have been waiting weeks for this moment.”

I realized that I should probably have addressed his kind greeting and, at least, nodded to acknowledge him. Instead, I remained stiff, unable to open my mouth.

Adriel sensed my reluctance, but he didn’t appear bothered by it. Instead, he smiled even wider.

“Now, let me look at you.”

He snapped his fingers, and a sphere of pure light materialized in the air, hovering right above us.

My eyes widened, mesmerized by the light that looked like a miniature sun. “You’re a Light Iridis,” I whispered, shifting my eyes to look at his face lit by the golden light.

Adriel nodded, breathing deeply. “I am,” he said, letting go of my hand. “I was taught to master my element inside these very walls.”

“At this castle,” I whispered as another globe of light emerged on the other side of me.

“Yes. My mother was a First-blood and the queen’s personal stylist. She often took me with her to work and taught me her trade.

“So, when I—at twelve years old—came to possess the abilities of a light manipulator, the queen asked me to train here.

“It has served as an enormous benefit within my field of expertise. A stylist can never have too much light.”

I wanted to know more about his training here and why he didn’t choose one of the elite academies instead. The words just wouldn’t cross my lips.

Adriel was still a stranger, and I didn’t want to pry into a past where I wasn’t welcome.

“You’re going to love it here, Miss Aldwyn,” Adriel said when I didn’t answer him. “The royal family are among the kindest people I’ve yet to meet.”

I was starting to believe that was true.

The king and Prince Atlas had been surprisingly kind and patient with me at the mansion. Then again, when I ran into Prince Atlas yesterday.

“Now, if I may ask you to raise your arms, Miss Aldwyn,” Adriel said, gesturing for me to imitate him, “so I can assess the extent of the damage.”

He winked at me, but I could hardly make myself smile.

Adriel attempted to be lighthearted, but he had no idea how accurate that statement sounded.

Nervous, I raised my arms, and Adriel caught my hands to guide me farther up.

“You have some beautiful eyes, Miss Aldwyn,” he said, examining my face, “and hair like the mighty lightning lion’s mane.”

I smiled, proud from hearing his words.

“Your nails, however,” he continued, frowning discontentedly at my brittle nails, “do not look like they’ve been taken care of.”

“I don’t,” I said, blood rushing to my face. “I like working with machines, and that rarely leaves much room for pretty nails.”

I intentionally didn’t mention my bad habit of biting them, although Adriel could probably see it.

“I see,” Adriel said, smiling widely. “I’m dealing with someone who doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty.

“Not many of my clients would dare touch a machine, terrified of breaking a fragile nail. You’ll certainly present a new challenge.”

Adriel talked as if that was a good thing.

“We’ll have to apply some makeup to those hollow cheeks of yours. People will think you’re being starved if you appear on TV like that.”

I instinctively touched my cheeks, my fingers following the inward curve of my face.

My body wasn’t necessarily starved. On the contrary, I’d gained some weight when working at the mansion. I just didn’t have as many curves as most of the other suitors.

“No offense intended, my lady,” Adriel said, lines appearing between his eyebrows as he directed one of the sun spheres closer to my body.

“But a full treatment may be necessary.”

It didn’t come as a surprise, and Adriel only expressed his professional opinion.

I’d never even been inside a beauty parlor, much less worried about my appearance. They’d have their work cut out for them; that much was evident.

“Then I think we should get started,” I said, smiling as Adriel looked up.

He smiled warmly and snapped to make the sun spheres disappear. “As you wish, my lady.”

Adriel guided me to the chair in front of the vanity table.

I looked tired, and the flaws Adriel had pointed out suddenly became more apparent the longer I looked at myself in the mirror.

It would be a miracle if Adriel could hide those imperfections with the power of powder and paint.

“Now, Miss Aldwyn,” Adriel said, guiding my head to lean against the headrest.

“Relax, and let my team take care of you, but don’t hesitate to speak up if there is anything you feel uncomfortable with.”

I nodded, and the game began.

They started by applying countless products to both my hair and my skin. Then they began scrubbing me down, not missing a single inch of my body.

I came to like Adriel the more he talked. He had experienced many interesting adventures as a stylist and met various people, some more likable than others.

It wasn’t until Amelia and Lux spread some warm, sticky substance on my legs, followed by a thin piece of paper, that I realized what true suffering was.

Waxing, they called it.

Adriel assured me it was a necessary process, but it took them a full hour to convince me.

I only allowed them to touch me again after Faye volunteered to hold my hand during the agonizing process.

I had no idea I knew so many cursed words.

“No,” I said when Adriel took the scissors from his tool belt. “I don’t know what permissions you’ve gotten from Evelyn, but I refuse to have my hair cut.”

My eyes were still bloodshot and teary following the brutal procedure of having my hair removed from every inch of my body.

I felt more naked than when I was without clothes and was not in the mood for pleasant discussions.

I grabbed the entirety of my hair that their products had transformed into a luxurious mane, moving it away from Adriel’s destructive instrument.

Adriel chuckled. “I don’t plan on cutting it all off, Willow,” he explained, “but you have a lot of split ends that are essentially dead hair.

“Removing those will promote hair growth and leave your hair healthier.”

I hesitated but allowed Adriel to continue eventually.

To no one’s surprise, Adriel had been right. My hair now both looked and felt much healthier than ever before.

“Close your eyes, darling,” Lux said before applying scentless powder to my face.

Finally, I heard Adriel sigh an exhausted breath, and hands left my body.

“I believe that’s it,” Adriel said, removing the apron protecting my robe. “Open your eyes and embrace the Crown Trials look.”

Reluctantly, I opened my eyes and glanced into the mirror.

I could still recognize myself, but my face looked more refined, my hair fluffier, and my eyes glowed brighter than when they’d been hidden beneath my dense eyebrows.

Adriel had braided a section of my hair into a crown on top of my head, leaving the rest to flow down my back like a peaceful creek.

“It’s beautiful, Adriel,” I whispered, twisting my head to look at this work of art from every angle. “Truly.”

“Thank you,” he said, smiling as he packed his tools. “I will come by your room tomorrow morning as well to help style your hair and do your makeup. How does that sound?”

“Good,” I said, chuckling as he bent down to face me with his pinky stretched toward me. “I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

I wrapped my pinky around Adriel’s, much like when Tristan and I made each other a promise.

Adriel and the girls left my chamber, so only Faye and I remained.

“Wow, Will,” Faye said, stepping back to look at me. “Adriel is really able to work wonders.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I said, chuckling as I shoved her sideways.

Faye was about to answer me when my stomach growled loudly.

Color tinted my pale cheek as I reluctantly peeked over my shoulder to see Faye trying hard to contain her laughter.

“I haven’t had anything to eat since the sparse breakfast, okay,” I said, sticking out my tongue at her.

“I know,” she said, taking deep breaths to remain calm. “Dinner is first served in a few hours, but I’m sure the kitchen still has a few leftovers from lunch. I’ll be back shortly.”

The food here was absolutely divine—even the sandwich I’d eaten on the train.

Adriel’s styling session had lasted the majority of the day, and the evening approached quicker than I felt ready for.

It would be the first formal meal we’d have to share as suitors.

“Are you ready?” Faye asked, presenting the high-heeled shoes.

I scowled at the sight. I’d never worn shoes like them, but I’d heard they were highly unpleasant.

The dress was fortunately quite simple—high neck, elbow-length sleeves, and a soft, chiffon skirt reaching just above my exposed ankles.

The color faded from white to a pale blue at the hem of the dress.

Faye helped me step into the dress and the shoes of doom, and by some miracle, I could stand on my own.

Feeling confident that I might be a natural talent at taming these things on my feet, I stepped forward only to have Faye catch me before I hit the floor.

“Sorry,” I said, sighing, defeated. “I-I’ve never worn shoes like these and—”

Faye stared at me, bewildered. Then it occurred to me that it probably seemed unusual for a royal academy graduate to have never worn high heels.

“Okay,” Faye said, stretching the ~a~ into a melody. “I can’t teach you to master the trade before dinner, but I think I can teach you how to stay on your feet.”

We spent the remaining half hour practicing. Faye was a surprisingly brilliant teacher, and I’d somewhat gotten the hang of it by the time I had to leave for an evening of great disaster.