“Imagine Yuri’s surprise,” I said, “when you’re able to read him a love sonnet—or better yet, write one yourself.”
A twinge of a grin teased her mouth, but didn’t remain. I sighed, wishing I could trade places with Pia. Then we’d both be happier. She could be at the center of a ball she longed to go to, and I could hide away on its outskirts.
Trying once again to lift her spirits, I presented an alternative solution. “With so many guests and so much commotion, I doubt anyone will notice one maid and one guard slip away for a few minutes. There must be some abandoned corridor where you two can share a private dance.”
Those words did the trick. Pia turned to me, eyes sparkling. Her lips curved with a radiant smile. “You’re brilliant, Sonya!” She kissed my cheek. “You deserve an extra hour of my ‘highly sought-after training.’” Her dimples caved. “You might even be able to win our game.” She referred to her favorite method of strengthening my ability. Now that she was gaining confidence as a reader, she had advanced from studying illustrations to silently reading snippets from tragic histories, while I tried once more to guess at the content by discerning her emotional and physical responses. “Let’s hope Vladimir the Terrible doesn’t drown in a pool of his own vomit the next time we study,” she said.
I held up my hands. “That was your fault. It’s never a good idea to gorge oneself on pastries before tucking into a nice story.”
Pia gave a light shrug. “An unfortunate hazard of my occupation. Besides, they were hazelnut pastries. Irresistible!” She rose from the couch and smoothed her apron. “I should get going before Lenka catches us enjoying ourselves.” She rolled her eyes. “And now that you and I have reminisced over the finer points of retching, make sure to drink up your tea.”
I groaned, which made her giggle. Pia glided to the doorway on pointed toes. “I’ll wink at you from across the ballroom tonight. I’ll be the one emitting waves of love,” she dramatically declared, laughing at herself. She blew me a kiss and danced her way out the door.
I grinned with the lingering, sweet spell of her aura. Even a second sip of the tea didn’t sour my mood. But Lenka did. She marched in on the tail of Pia’s exit. I braced myself for an hour of callous remarks and sneers. However, none of her usual irritation was evident. I relaxed somewhat and tested her emotions for her changed mood and the triumphant way she held her head on her matchstick neck. Without a word, Lenka lifted me to my feet. At a clap of her hands, my other attending maids entered, each bearing a box tied with silver ribbon.
“What’s all this?” I asked warily.
“New robes.” Lenka’s nostrils flared with pride. “Commissioned by His Imperial Majesty, Our Lord Emperor himself.”
My shoulders fell with understanding. Tonight Lenka would have her glory by me. I would look the part, once and for all, of the grand sovereign Auraseer.
Three hours before the ball began, my maids returned, and the copper tub was brought inside my bedroom. My skin tingled at the remembrance of who I last saw using it. The maids gave me the careful attention of a bride on her wedding day. All the cleansing, dressing, primping, and perfuming was done with a slowness that set my teeth on edge. Beyond the walls of my rooms, I felt flurries of panic at the last-minute preparations. The fact that six maids were deemed necessary to wait on me when they could be used elsewhere made me feel ridiculous. I thought of the widows living in rags in the border towns of Riaznin, scraping meals together for children who would only grow up to be soldiers, without a choice in the matter. All the while, my face was powdered, my nails trimmed, my lips stained red.
The emperor’s gift was suited to me in that the robes bore no fur trimmings. According to Lenka, Valko even insisted I wear no corset, which, for the first time, made me want one. The emperor must have known all this while that I was free of bindings. His hand had been on my waist often enough. A corset would have provided another barrier beneath my white satin gown. But did I really expect him to make another pass at me tonight when he was so desperate to finalize his arranged marriage? He would be a fool to try.
I ran a hand across the bodice of my dress and skimmed the bones of my ribs beneath it. Even though Valko had ample reason to leave me alone, I wasn’t comforted. I didn’t trust myself to deny him, even if he didn’t make an obvious move. I hadn’t forgotten the first time we kissed. I had initiated that.
As Lenka continued to clothe me, I tried to bolster my courage. Anton once said I’d fared remarkably at resisting his brother. I could fare remarkably again. I could resist my own desires, as well.
My next article of beautification was a tall headdress of embroidered silk stretched over a flat crown standing six inches off my head and dangling with ropes of pearls that brushed my shoulders. Perhaps the emperor thought the pearls would be safe for me, that an oyster didn’t die when it was robbed of its jewel.