When they made their way back to the manor, Charlie stepped out of the carriage to see most of the house servants swarm towards the western building. Wade held out a hand to assist the women step down from the carriage. Wanda immediately bolted as a horde of servants surrounded her.

“The ball will be in the entertainment house,” He chuckled at Charlie’s stunned expression, “It’s basically a large room for dancing, dinner parties, and the like. Much easier to decorate than rearranging the house every time we throw a party. There’s an entrance directly from each of the western wings, so you won’t have to travel too far before being there.”

“Trying to make me less nervous?”

“I’ll have Cynthia make up a dressing room for you after your bath. It’ll be easier for you to get ready there,” He grinned, “Plus, all the ladies will need a place to rest and touch themselves up throughout the night. You can entertain them there before the ball, if you’d like.”

“What exactly am I supposed to do to keep them entertained?” She scoffed.

“Be your lovely self, of course,” He winked.

“Miss Charlotte!” A familiar voice called, “You’re running late. We should have begun hours ago. Come, we have to get you prepared!”

Charlie took a deep breath and let out an exaggerated groan, “Wade, you better not do anything stupid tonight.”

“You know I can’t possibly promise something like that. Though, there is a present that waits for you in the office of the room you’ll get ready in.”

She gave him a pointed look. He grinned and took her hand in his.

He kissed her hand, “Until the ball, my lady.”

Cynthia ran up to her in a huff. Charlie let her catch her breath before the older woman relaxed. The pair walked across the courtyard and into the main house. As they reached the staircase, the lady-in-waiting couldn’t stop herself.

“Your dress—”

“Is it in already?”

“Yes. The countess is not pleased with it.”

“Of course not. It’s basically a wedding dress.”

“You knew?” Cynthia blinked.

“She already told me she saw it this morning. Besides, Wade bought it,” Charlie laughed until she saw the older woman’s scowl, “Sorry, Lord Wade bought it.”

“Why on earth would he want to do something like that to anger his sister?”

“Den—Lady Denna was there,” She rolled her eyes at the woman’s corrective scowl.

“That would explain why it’s over budget as well,” She sighed, “Come on. You need to shower quickly while I put the final touches on your dress.”

Charlie stopped in her tracks, “Since when did we get showers?”

“The young lord had construction started in the main bathing chambers of the red wing when you arrived. It finished earlier this week. He’s giving you his suite to get ready in as I prepare for—” Cynthia paused, “Is everything alright?”

“This definitely feels like a trap,” She narrowed her eyes.

“Lord Wade is getting ready with his brothers in the eastern halls.”

“I don’t think that’d stop him.”

“Are you afraid the young lord would do something uncouth this close to the ball?” She chuckled.

“Oh, I’m sure he’ll do something at the ball,” She sighed and ran a hand down her face, “Cynthia, please send someone you trust that could stop Lord Wade from doing anything stupid to guard the shower for me.”

“You may need a god to do that,” The older woman laughed, “I can have some other women ready to help you move to the western house. If we get enough of them, I’m sure they’ll stop him from bothering your shower.”

“How many hours until the ball?” Charlie tapped a finger on her chin.

“The music will begin at dusk. Countess Wanda will give a toast a few moments before. Then, the auction will begin once the moon is bright enough.”

“So, a good few hours,” She smiled, “I’m going to take a long, hot shower.”

“Not too long, I hope. Pruned skin is devilish to prepare.”

“I fell asleep in the bath once, Cynthia! It was relaxing.”

“Still once more than anyone else I’ve known.”

Charlie gathered towels, her bag, and anything else she needed and walked down the red hall. Two guards stood outside of the French doors at the very end of the hall. She gave them a friendly smile before they opened the double doors.

“This is Lord Wade’s bed chambers,” Cynthia said matter-of-factly, “His office is to the left and the bathing room is to the right.”

Charlie couldn’t move as she took in the sight of the room. It felt like a penthouse suite at the nicest hotel she could imagine. Four bedposts held an opalescent sheer fabric above the redwood bed. A black comforter folded over showed silky red sheets. Every piece of furniture had wine red pillows and cushions if sat on. If not, golden decorations or white marble statues.

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“Goddamn. This room is beautiful.”

“Lord Wade decorated it himself. I agree that he has fine tastes. Red is his favorite, so he took this wing as a young boy. He’s updated it throughout his life,” She nodded, “If you wed, this would be your room as well. I’m sure he would let you decorate it as you see fit. Unless you’d like another color somewhere else in the house.”

“Cynthia, we’ve talked about you trying to pressure me into marrying the man,” She laughed.

“Just stating facts, my lady,” She ushered her to the bathroom, “Shout if you need someone to help. I know you hate having one of us in there to bathe you. I’ll let someone know to be on the lookout for a sneaky young lord.”

Charlie closed the door behind her and turned to the largest stained window she ever saw. A kaleidoscope of reds and oranges lit the room from the sunshine outside. Black marble floors and tiled walls made the space seem enormous. When she saw a shower head covered in runes, she squealed and ran towards it. She pressed one of the buttons on her skirt and the fabrics sucked into a neatly layered gemstone that clattered to the floor. As she unbraided her hair, she pressed the rune shaped like a sun. Steaming water rained down on her and she moaned loudly. As it overheated, she pressed the crescent moon rune to cool the water down.

The one thing she missed most about earth, besides her friends, was a good shower. She never felt clean enough from baths. Though she stood near the wall of the bathroom instead of in a stall, she felt perfectly comfortable until the door opened. A small gasp caused her to cover herself with her hands.

“Knock first you pervert!” She yelled.

“I’m so sorry!” The door slammed shut.

Charlie wrapped a towel around her and cracked the door open. A younger boy stood with his face in his hands to cover his eyes. His red ears indicated he likely saw something he knew he shouldn’t have.

“I promise I didn’t see anything!” He squeaked, “Miss Cynthia said you wanted someone to watch the door.”

She shook her head, “Oh, you little rascal. Just make sure Lord Wade doesn’t come in here.”

“Yes, my lady!”

“You can turn around and open your eyes,” She patted his curly red hair, “Just don’t open the door again.”

“Yes, my lady!” He squeaked

Charlie closed the door behind her and walked back to her peaceful shower. Without being interrupted again, she clawed all her dead skin off and washed her hair at least twice. It amazed her that the temperature never changed unless she pressed the runes. When she walked over to her things to get water from her mug. Something caused her to squeal happily.

The cerulean “P” lit up once again.

She pressed the button and waited for Puddles to respond. She didn’t have to wait long until she heard a familiar voice.

“Charlie?” She asked faintly.

“Yes,” She fell to her knees, “It’s me!”

“Prove it.”

“Puddles, if you don’t fucking believe it’s me after all—”

“Oh, thank Ocean, you’re alive!” The goddess sighed, “Where are you?! We’ve been in Vlaminer nearly two months now! Davon’s already got his attunement.”

“Well, I’d say you wouldn’t believe it, but—”

“Skip the bullshit and tell me where to find you.”

“I’m at the Everleigh manor.”

“Where?”

“The family that owns most the land at Vlaminer.”

“How the hells did you get there?”

She laughed, “Long story short, I’m easy to kidnap.”

“No shit. Especially since you just went with them. You’re lucky that L—”

A commotion outside the door caught Charlie’s attention.

“Puddles, something is up. I’ve got to go. There’s a ball later tonight. I’ll make sure you’re let in.”

“I am a goddess. I don’t need permission to enter a silly mortal party!”

She grinned, “I’ve missed you too.”

Charlie pressed the rune again to close the connection. When she opened the door, she saw a beautiful white dress. It would have been more magnificent than her own wedding dress, if it didn’t have colored stains all over it. Cynthia knelt down in a heap of tears on the floor.

“What happened?” Charlie ran over to her.

“I moved the dress in here. I left for a moment to—” She sobbed, “I’m so sorry, Miss Charlotte. I’ve failed you.”

The old woman’s wails forced Charlie to keep herself calm as she figured out what to do.

“Breathe,” She tightened her towel as she squatted next to the woman, “Just go get one of the other dresses from my room and tell Wade that I decided against wearing it.”

“Are you sure? Shouldn’t he know someone sabotaged your—”

“Hey, look at me,” Charlie held her face, “We don’t know who did it. I’m safe. You’re safe. Just go get another dress. I don’t care. We can clean everything out and save it for the next occasion.”

The older woman sniffled and threw her arms around her. Charlie hugged her back.

“Now, I’m going to dry off and get out of this towel. Come back quickly so we still have time, okay?”

“Lord Wade will surely punish whoever did this. The countess—”

“Do we know if she’s behind this or not?”

“I do not think she would do such a thing to her own brother,” She whispered, “They’ll kill whoever did this. Lord Wade made it well known that every staff member was to keep an eye out for this dress to stay pristine during the night. They aren’t even allowed to give you any food or dark beverages that might leave a stain!”

Charlie frowned that they would cut off any food or drink but imagined Wade wanted her to appear like a bride.

“Then, she will find whoever is responsible and take care of it then,” She shooed her off, “Go get another dress and try not to look so panicked. You’ll live.”

As she fled the room, Charlie walked into Wade’s office. He told her a present waited for her in there. She saw a small, wrapped gift and quietly pulled ribbon. As she lifted the lid of the box, a gorgeous emerald the size of her palm sparkled up at her.

“That looks expensive.”

Once she realized the dress was the only target, she relaxed and thought of what to do. Then she remembered the only person she had seen since Cynthia left. She walked back into the main room and sat on the bed.

“Adiona.”

> There is one other person in this room.

“I know you’re in here,” Charlie whispered, “I can help you get out. Just stay quiet for now.”

When Cynthia returned in an even paler shade than she left, she had a bad feeling.

“Lady Charlotte –”

“My other dresses are ruined, aren’t they?”

“How did you know?” She blinked.

“Petty, entitled, rich bitch,” She clapped, “Fine. Two can play at that game.”

“My lady, you can’t possibly go to the ball without a dress.”

“Oh, I have one. Everyone is going to hate it. Not as much as me, but it will definitely be a problem,” She cackled, “Cynthia, I’m going to make an appearance.”

“What could you possibly wear?” The woman puzzled, “Pants are not something for—”

Charlie reached into her bag and pulled out a bundle of scarlet ribbons. She clinched it in her fist and looked at her new friend.

“Tell Wade that his sister is going to be especially angry with me tonight, but it’s not my fault.”

“What is that?”

“This is what I like to call the ‘fuck around and find out’ game,” She untangled the strands, “And I am a champion.”

The older woman looked between the bundle of ribbons and the scowl on her face, “Will you need me to get ready?”

“No. I need you to be as panicked as possible. Tell them I’m not going because someone ruined my dresses. That I refuse to attend. That I ran away,” She looked through the bag of make up on the floor, “Just meet me in the hidden hall between the manor and the ballroom to give final touches before my grand entrance.”

“V-very well.”

“And bring a very, very large glass of wine for me when we meet, please.”

“I shall have multiple bottles prepared for you.”

“Remember, Cynthia,” She winked, “There’s no need to worry about me.”