I finished up what I had in front of me and helped Roland clean up before I went to Caroline’s Craft Room. I walked down the hall of the main floor and turned right. As I walked down the hall all I could think about was how Theo reacted. It broke my heart. I’m sorry. I spoke through the bond. I didn’t get a response.

I stood in front of a small oak door with a brass door knob. I sighed heavily. This whole situation sucked. “Don’t just stand out there dear, come in!” Caroline shouted through the door.

I turned the brass knob and opened the door to a sewing room that was alive. Needles moved by themselves, fabric pieces draped from the ceiling as sweet old Caroline was picking out a color for a new fit. The machines that were crafted and imported from surrounding kingdoms operated on their own. Taking the thread and fabric that Caroline flung in their direction. Other pieces like embellishments were gathered by a manikin that was linked to Caroline’s mind.

“What can Caroline craft for you today?” She asked as she grabbed the white tape measure and flung it towards me as it magically began to take my measurements. “Interesting. You're building muscles. And losing a bit of weight. Well, mostly.” The tape measure moved to my lower section.

“Hey now.”

“There is nothing bad about it. You’re still at a healthy weight.”

Like I said, Caroline was a sweet old elven woman who had a head full of gray hair, milky blue eyes, wrinkled skin, and a twitch in her hands. As she aged my parents had created the space to work for her, which allowed her hands to rest and the equipment to do the work for her, as the room was full of magically enhanced equipment.

“What can I create for you today dear?”

“I am in need of a dress. A wedding dress.”

Her face lit up and she walked over to me, “Is it for that guard of yours?”

“I wish.” I watched her face fall.

“Then why are you in need of a wedding dress dear?”

I sighed, “Marcel."

Her posture changed at the sound of his voice, “Why him?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Long story. I really don’t want to relive it again.”

“Understood. Come sit.” We took a seat at a table where a quill came flying at us and paper moved across the table to her. “Are we looking for a certain style?”

I shrugged, “I haven’t put much thought into it.”

“I get it, your heart isn’t in it.” She said, She flicked her wrist and the quill began to draw. “I had a vision of a dress for you in mind since the day that guard started coming around. I’d show you that design but I don’t want to upset you. So, I'll go a different route with this dress. Let’s go with a darker fabric."

I smiled at her, “Sounds like a wonderful idea! It’s taking place in the fall and I know the colors we agreed on were gray and sky blue but I want to wear something different. Considering it will more than likely be covered in blood in the end, what color would you suggest?”

She arched her eyebrow, “Covered. In blood? No, I don’t need details. Let’s go black.” She flicked her wrist again and had several different black fabrics hanging in front of us. “Yes, this one and that one.” Caroline pointed to a sparkly black mesh and a solid silk black fabric.

“Could it be a bit revealing in parts? Not too revealing, I don’t need the council to have a panic attack.” If I was going to fight Marcel, I wanted to look damn good doing it.

“Mhm.” She waved the quill to fulfill my request.

The dress itself, besides the sparkly black mesh and solid black fabric, had a train that stretched out four feet. The silhouette of the dress was without a doubt going to turn some heads and raise some eyebrows. One thing I was happy with, Caroline made sure to not have this be the classy ball gown that is read about in most fairy tales. Which made me love it even more.

“Thank you Caroline, I love it!”

“Any time dear. Now please remember to have Marcel come and get fitted for a suit. I don’t have any measurements for him and hopefully he plans to look halfway decent.”

I nodded, “I’ll send him down. Oh and Caroline, keep my dress a secret.”

I left shortly after and found my way back to the main hall. I sighed. Fuck. I have to talk with Marcel today. Each step up the stairs felt long as I dreaded the conversation I was about to have. What was worse, Theo was still silent.

I knocked on his door three times “Marcel?” I called and waited.

“One moment.” He opened the door and smiled down at me, “Hello darling.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Please, enough with the darling.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Call me Maria.”

He thought for a moment, “Fine. What do you want?”

“Caroline requested you to get fitted for your suit today.”

“Suit? For what?”

I sighed, “The wedding. What else would it be for?”

“Another date?”

“Not right now.” I said, “Just get fitted for the suit please.”

“Alright. Anything else Maria?” The way he said my name gave me chills. Hell maybe I should have just let him keep calling me darling.

“Nope. Just the suit.” I said and left.