Birthday Ball

The two dresses seemed to glare at her in the closet as she looked at them. The one the queen had selected was over the top in its extravagance with jewels and embroidery. It had a low cut neckline with no sleeves and the skirts looked like a muffin too as they spread out from the waist. She kept going back to the one Mei and Tatiana had agreed on, the aspect of it less daunting and not as large. The simplicity would be covered up by the jewelry they had selected along with the fur shawl that clipped in place with a detailed brooch.

Cathlinn rubbed her face and winced at her back. She had asked the wrapping to be thick for the ball they wanted to hold and while Fidor practically never left her side and helped the process along, her back was stiff and was still hurting. She stood up and walked to the one she had selected, carefully taking it from the mannequin as the closet door opened. "Cathlinn," Mei sang. She looked over and blinked at her and Carmichael, a smile slowly spreading on her face. They were both dressed in complimenting colors and were decked to the nines.

"You both look really good," Cathlinn complimented. Her voice felt sweet as bitterness filled her chest in the form of jealousy. How were they so happy even knowing everything that was going on? Why couldn't she be like that too? She rolled her eyes at herself and looked back to the dress she was trying to take off the mannequin. "I don't get why you're here. Isn't there a reception or something?"

"We know you hate corsets," Carmichael stuttered a bit as he nervously looked at Mei who was bouncing. "But we had this specifically made for you."

"Why are you guys spending-"

"Happy birthday, Cathlinn," Mei took a box from behind Carmichael with a laugh. Cathlinn stared with wide eyes, taking the box and nearly dropping it from the weight. "We based it off of two factors; the east knows how to make armor for every occasion and Cravidiar loves its corsets. It won't squeeze and it won't hurt you." Cathlinn opened the box and blinked at the large, golden piece, pulling it out and staring at the engraved designs and the gems along the edges. Mei pushes Carmichael from the room and skipped over, finishing taking the dress from the mannequin.

Mei helped Cathlinn get into it and she couldn't say it wasn't okay. The armored corset wasn't flexible like a normal corset but it only wrapped around her waist and attached to her neck via chocker. It was angled downwards to leave her back open and it was perfectly fitted to her figure. The shawl was clipped around her as Tatiana stepped into the closet with a trolley covered in hairpins and some sort of gel. Cathlinn felt like squirming was the two stared at her in silence for a long moment.

"I say a side swoop," Mei nodded.

"She'd look more intimidating," Tatiana sighed.

"And that's exactly what we need to complete the look," Mei nodded.

"Or, we can do a delicate piece and curl her hair," Tatiana suggested.

"A happy medium would be the swoop with the curls," Cathlinn muttered. The two looked at her and she immediately regretted saying anything. It felt like it took them a few hours to do her hair when in truth it took them only thirty minutes.

The minute she stepped onto the steps, she was greeted by a jumble of people from different places. Each one was decorated in their own finery while they stared at her in utter shock. Cathlinn held tightly to the King's arm and he smiled down at her, leaning and kissing her head. "What a beautiful woman," he hummed softly.

"Please, dad. This is way too much. They even tried to put make up on me," Cathlinn muttered.

"You look amazing," he chuckled lightly. She didn't feel amazing. She felt like she was in a zoo and she was the animal everyone came to see. She was led down the stairs and the clapping made her face go red. Cathlinn searches the faces, settling on those that looked familiar to her to keep her heart from racing. One by one, people stepped forward to wish her a happy birthday, the large smiles on their faces faltering slightly when she shook their hands instead of let them kiss the rings that had been placed on her fingers. It wasn't until the queen stepped down the stairs that the anxiety ate at her.

"Why didn't you wear the dress I chose," the queen gave a small pout as she held Cathlinn's hands.

"I had already chosen a dress, your majesty. I appreciate the thought though," Cathlinn gave a small curtsey as the queen's eyes darkened slightly.

"You would have looked marvelous in it, dear," she hummed.

"I'd look like a cupcake. I'm okay with what I chose," Cathlinn nodded. She sniffed as Cathlinn pulled away, she was quickly hugged and Mei giggled.

"Your majesty! Doesn't she look gorgeous? It was a pain just to get her to come along," Mei hummed.

"How uncouth," the queen snickered. "Why, dear, don't you teach your servants to show respect? It's almost like you own a pack of dogs." Mei stiffened and Cathlinn saw the smile become forced.

"Call my men dogs again and I'll show you a mutt," Cathlinn pushed a smile up, twisting a bit and putting her arm around Mei's waist as if they were together. "Maybe then, you'd understand the sort of loyalty I require from those I serve with." The queen's smile dropped to a small one as her hand went up to her chest.

"That almost sounds like a threat from a savage," she cooed. Cathlinn stared and began reaching for her, stopping as trumpets blared and names began to be called. They all turned and Cathlinn blinked as the kings and princes walked in. They looked handsome, each and every one of them, and they held an air that Cathlinn could never hope to achieve in her life. "I feel bad for the husband that takes you." Cathlinn turned and her hand snapped out, the slap so quick that she hadn't even realized she'd done it.

"You-"

"Cathlinn," Romano lifted Cathlinn and Mei into a hug, spinning with them. "What a beautiful maiden! Truly this brings out your personality! Right Fidor? Istvan?" The women were set down and Cathlinn stared to the two Romano spoke to.

Istvan wore a cloak lined in untamed fur, his hair pulled back and a deep blue suit that looked more like armor adorning him that held accents of white. Fidor has let his hair flow naturally, light armor decorated in white swirls slightly covering a black silk shirt and a pair of light blue trousers. Cathlinn blinked as they stared and she quickly looked away after making eye contact.

"Ravishing," Fidor hummed. People had stepped back as they noticed Istvan and he sniffed, stepping to Cathlinn. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles before turning it and kissing her palm.

"I believe I was wrong about you being restrained by skirts. You look as dangerous as you are," he smiled. Music began to play, making Cathlinn jump as she tried to find the source of it.

"Is this a birthday or a prom," she muttered quietly. The men looked at each other before laughing.

"Dear, you're being very rude," the queen scolded and took Cathlinn's hand from Istvan's. "There are many suitors here and you're showing such a display of favoritism, it's unsightly."

"Quit interfering," Cathlinn pulled her hand away from the queen and sighed. "It's not rude. If they want to make a move then let them make a move. Fidor-"

"Titles," the queen snapped. "This is a formal setting, young lady."

"So my birthday is a formal event," Cathlinn frowned and crossed her arms. "I'm sorry, but that's bull-"

"Language," the queen gasped.

"Oh do I have some language for-"

"Monique. To your room," the queen ordered. Cathlinn stared as everyone around them began to murmur and a small laugh left her chest. Something heavy nestled there and she shifted the armored corset.

"I'm good. I'm not tired yet," she sniffed. "But thank you for your concern." Cathlinn straightened your and her grin grew wider, "In fact, fuck formality tonight. This is a party right?"

"Oh boy," Mei mumbled quietly. Cathlinn stretches a bit and walked for the tables lining the walls, grabbing a whole bottle of whatever alcohol they had set out. People watched in shock as she sat on the table and popped the bottle open.

"This is a party. So screw politic for the night and let's just unwind, huh," Cathlinn started drinking and ignored the wide, shocked gazes on her. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she knew she'd deal with the aftermath later.