Meeting the King

WINIFRED

"I am NOT wearing a dress."

"Come on. You can't even see it. It's a very lovely dress. You have to wear one."

"Absolutely not!"

"Come on, Winifred. You promised to be nice to the maids. It's a beautiful dress you would look absolutely gorgeous in."

"You use words of flattery mister but I'm not falling for them."

"What if I get Lord Silver to pick your dress?"

"...bring me the dress."

"Rude!"

"You don't have to be in here, Lord Silver."

"You say my name with so much spite like you actually hate my guts. You have to be nice, Winifred."

"So I'm chastising you for being in a blind girl's room and you're saying I should be nice?"

"You brandish the weapon your condition every time, don't you?"

"It's because I know I'm always successful."

We finally got through that whole dress up procedure. The stitches over my eyes were removed a week ago and I could finally see why Nathan was sore about losing a century's worth of magic.

I could finally see color.

It was only the color blue and it alarmed me when I saw it. I told Nathan about it and then Darryl. It turned out I made a mistake because they kept putting blue colored things in front of me. I was sick of it.

"You look absolutely gorgeous, Winifred. My father would be delighted to meet you," I heard Prince Ferdinand say as I descended the stairs with Darryl's help. I look at him and the bastard is wearing a blue suit.

"Your highness, what's the colour of the suit you're wearing?"

"It's blue."

"Did anyone, perhaps, give you a suggestion to wear this suit?"

"Yes! Lord Silver said I would look handsome in a blue suit. Turns out he was right!"

I knew Nathan would get back at me somehow but this, oh, this is good. If it's a fight he wants, it's a fight he would get.

"Let me escort you to the carriage."

"Thank you, your highness, but Darryl is already escorting me."

"That is so mean, Winifred."

I believe I was being as nice as I could. I ignored his wailing and moved on.

"I could escort you, your highness."

That was Nathan's voice. I wished I could see his reaction but his tone was everything I needed to guage the situation.

"N-No. I'm fine, thank you."

"Turning me down like that really hurt me, your highness. You don't want to be like Winifred, do you?"

"B-But you're a man."

"I am also a noble. That should be enough, shouldn't it?"

"I...! I'll go with Circe!"

"I have to guard the King this night, your highness. You refused to pick all of the ladies that we showed to you so I think you have no other choice but to go to the ball with Lord Silver as your date."

"Circe! You're betraying your master!"

"I am only obeying the King's command, your highness and he specifically asked for you to bring a date to the ball tonight. Lord Silver looks very handsome tonight. He could help you get rid of the ladies you're always complaining about."

Have I ever said I love Circe?! I love her so much! She had no sugarcoat on her words, even to the prince most likely to become King. I don't know what Nathan is doing but Circe, she was being so comical on the issue.

"I've never seen the prince so flustered," Darryl whispered to me, chuckling. I chuckled too, a chuckle that turned into full blown giggling when the Prince had to relent to having Nathan as his date. It was the funniest thing I had ever heard.

The discomfort of the carriage ride was ruled out by the Prince's discomfort.

"Do you want me to hold your hand, your highness?"

"You don't have to hold my hand, Lord Silver."

"Do we have to dance together then? I'm not very confident in my skills."

"Lord Silver, we're just two friends going to the ball together. It's perfectly normal and we don't have to dance or behave like a couple."

"Pity."

"Pfft!"

I couldn't hold in my laughter anymore. Nathan was really milking this joke. The prince was fighting so hard to still be polite.

"Circe would be unavailable to guard you this evening so Lord Silver would be looking after the both of you. But if I'm not nearby, I will send another one of my trusted knights to you. I'm not sure I can find one who fulfils your requirements but I'll try my best, Winifred."

"As long as you're trying, your highness."

"Now that I look at you again, you're looking very beautiful tonight. Lord Silver did a fantastic job with letting those stitches heal nicely."

"Your highness, I'm ten years old."

"I know. Your birthday is fast approaching. I can't believe it's almost been a year since we met. We should throw a big celebration."

"You're just going to use that as an excuse to invite all your allies, aren't you?"

"I didn't need your retort, Winifred. We had a deal, remember?"

"Oh, I remember. I was just testing your conscience."

I didn't know it was almost a year. I didn't have any concept of time. It felt like I was finally experiencing what conspiracy theorists have said all along, that time is just a social construct. Time doesn't actually exist, if you can't experience it or are in perpetual darkness. It felt like time couldn't affect me, for some reason.

"Here. I got a veil from the church. You aren't supposed to show your face in public. I'll help you put it on before we come out of the carriage. Darryl, lead her well."

"Yes, your highness."

We arrived at the palace after taking one teleportation portal. Thankfully, I didn't feel the need to empty my stomach. Before I could come out of the carriage, he placed a veil over my head. After asking what the color of the veil was, I was informed by Darryl that it was a black veil but it didn't clash with my dress.

The prince led in front and behind us was Nathan and Circe. I thought I would see both of them walk together but that was pushing the prince too much. I could only see Nathan so if they walked together, I would know.

"Now arriving, his royal Highness, Prince Ferdinand Hozier Fallon and his escort."

The traditional formal introduction. But...why the hell are we the escort? I thought I was the Saintess!

We walked into the ballroom and I could instantly feel so many stares directed at me. I knew we were being stared because of prior experience and Darryl's trembling hands. He was supposed to lead me yet I was the one pulling him forward. I forgave him this one time.

"We greet the emissary of the god of light and her blessed offspring, your Majesty," Prince Ferdinand said as he got in front of the King. Darryl whispered to me to bow and I did as he asked.

"So, that's the girl?"

He had a gruff voice. The slight mischievous undertone that Ferdinand had, he possessed as well.

"Yes father. This is Winifred."

I waited, with baited breath, for him to say something... stupid. But, he didn't. Instead, he did something I would later learn is a huge privilege.

"I bestow Oriel's blessing as his servant upon the child of this kingdom. You may enjoy the party as you see fit."

"Thank you, your majesty."