His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 60: Like Stardust (1)

A relentless snowstorm had buried the palace beneath a thick blanket of snow, piling nearly to the tops of our doors. Guards on duty kept shovelling pathways tirelessly, clearing the main palace grounds and, likely on my brother’s orders, ensuring the snow was removed from my own entrances as well.

It had been days since the assassination attempt, and I neither saw Soren nor Margarette. Without his return, I’d settled a little easier, though his betrayal was never far from my mind. Any noises, slight or loud, made me startle and look over my shoulder. Theo tried to relax me with shoulder and head massages, but they didn’t work.

The moment I felt too relaxed, I forced myself to become alert. Theo seemed to become increasingly concerned and suspicious of me—he kept asking me if I was keeping something from him. My hard denial proved he was correct. Still, I would not tell him about Soren. I needed it confirmed first.

It was both blessed and wretched that Soren hadn’t returned yet. On the one hand, I could compose myself more and make plans, while on the other hand, it made me more anxious. Would he return with more orders to kill me, deny everything or tell me he had no choice?

Ugh, I sipped on the khave the Southern Weres sent me this morning, needing it to awaken me after hours of grooming, readying me for tonight.

Placing the cup down, I couldn’t help but look at the thick snow on the window sills and glass, almost covering my views entirely—not that there was much to see anyway.

The snow must have kept my maid at home with her youngling. I had yet to hear any news from her. Margarette may act rudely, but she would still inform me about her plans. The woman needed coin. The weather is treacherous, so any post may be delayed as well.

It wasn’t, however, treacherous enough to cancel this evening’s ball. I put the now empty cup down on the table and returned to the bed, hands lightly clutching my elbows.

For once, Deyanira did not order me to wear a dress, but two boxes were placed before me, and now I am on the bed with a choice. Both were dresses, gifts. The first is a light blue gown, matching the royal family colour, a dress gifted by Alaric. The second was a gown like none other I had ever seen before; it was in a striking colour of gold-silver stardust.

In the light, it shimmered and almost seemed to glow. My fingers grazed along it, shocked by the softness of the material. It looked like it might be rough. Neither was it heavy. It didn’t seem to have a corset like my usual attire, either.

"How would I wear this?" I whisper.

"Will you really wear what that Prince has sent you?" Theo grumbles as he rises from the sofa where he has been lying down. He’d drawn me a bath and done my hair in a plaited bun, now awaiting me to choose a dress.

Since the bath incident, we’d slowly fallen into this role in which he would dress me. It was a temporary solution until Margarette returned. One I should have felt more uncomfortable about was Theo. He settled my nerves—mostly.

I could dress myself mostly, but many corsets were tied up at my back. If anyone discovered Theo helped me with such things, then my reputation would be ruined. Slave or not, it didn’t matter.

I was a maiden, unmarried, and ’virtuous’. Nobody checked on this palace anyway. However, I have begun to wonder if Deyanira might reach out to Theo.

"Ida?" I look away from him. I’d been staring back at him, pondering what action he might take if Deyanira made him an offer.

Squeezing the small message in my hand tightly, I pointed to the dress Eryx had gifted me for tonight. "Eryx is my escort, a suitor. I will wear the dress he has sent." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Very well." Theo strolls forward and cautiously removes the dress from the box. I watch in awe at the sparkles and the glittering specks of golden light dancing along the walls. "Do you need me to assist you with this?"

I walk around him and the garment he holds up. "Hold it up," I instruct, removing the robe from my shoulders and letting it drop to the ground. The cold clutches at my skin, pebbling my nipples as goosebumps flourish my skin.

Theo stares for only a moment more, swallowing thickly before looking away. I have to close my eyes and focus on my breathing to stop the liquid heat pooling between my thighs at the hungry look he had given me. My heat was still an issue but with my focus on the attempt on my life it had mostly acted more like a simmering pot of hot water.

Eryx hadn’t seen me since ice skating, the problematic Prince that always stirs my blood to boil uncontrollably, and Theo had mostly kept his distance. It was only in times like this that I was reminded of my predicament.

I stepped inside the dress, my hands sliding through the delicate fabric. Theo steps behind me, ready to button me up. Before my slave could do anything, the material knitted itself up along my spine.

My shoulders straightened, and my chest squeezed a little tight. It felt like there was a corset around my midsection after all. I checked my reflection in the standing mirror and inhaled sharply. The dress was magnificent.

The fabric hugged my figure, cascading gracefully from my hips in flowing waves that mimicked ripples on water. Stardust shimmered up to my chest, scattering delicately to create the illusion that the sparkles were part of my skin. Intricate patterns of silver stones spiralled down my arms, adorning sheer material like celestial threads, before rising to encircle my neck in an elegant design that resembled a necklace.

"You look..." Theo cleared his throat, gazing at me in the mirror from behind. "Beautiful."

"Thank you," I whisper back, still a little shocked at my appearance and the intricate, stunning details of a dress I know is not of Ice and Claws design. My hands skim along the side of my hips, marvelling at the material and looking back at my face, observing anything that might appear out of place. "I think all I need is earrings..."

Theo nodded, seeming dazed, then shook his head and returned to the bed. "There is a pair here... and..." He trailed off, sounding confused.

I look back at him and find him holding some golden object in his hands. "What is that?" When he opens his palms, I pause upon seeing it.

"Your Prince is inviting me as well." The golden object was a choker, a more stylish one than the collar he wore now. It was a sign of ownership.

"He is not my Prince," I say quickly, then get to the point, "You do not have to wear that. You do not have to come, Theo."

I take the choker and inspect it more. It is heavy and thick. Something that would run up most of his neck, the intricate, symmetrical filigree pattern of vines and floral motifs created an almost lace-like effect.

"It is not a request," Theo says through gritted teeth. The choker was another statement. He was a slave and could not walk around without one.

"I will speak with him," I say sternly, irritated on Theo’s behalf. How dare Eryx order Theo to come to the ball. My gaze flicks between Theo’s. "Unless you want to come? If you do, I will not force you to wear this."

I wanted to throw the piece across the room. It didn’t matter how expensive it looked and felt. The choker might be of real gold, but it was still a statement.

Theo looks at the choker in my hands and back at me, those pretty eyes roaming over my features. "I will do as he says for you-"

"No, Theo-"

"It will be good for me to see this ball. Maybe I can act as your shadow and listen to what I can," he smiles mischievously, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, nor does his dimples show. He is doing it for my benefit. "Besides, Soren is still away doing Goddess knows what. You will need someone else you know in your corner."

"It would be nice to see a familiar face that doesn’t wish for me to perish..." I trail off. "Come however you wish, though."

Theo took the choker from my grasp and held it up before our faces with a small smirk. "I will make myself more presentable."