Destructive Enchantment

Chapter 5: Arrival

"It is pretty, but it washes you out a little bit," I give my honest feedback.

"You're right. Next one," Eliza tosses the dress back onto the rack before grabbing the one right next to it, the second dress on the rack, without even looking at it. She holds it up to her chest. "How about this one?"

We were going to be here for a long, long time.

———

We eventually settled on two dresses that we thought were the most flattering on Eliza. A beautiful red one that complimented her complexion, and a pale yellow one that made her eyes pop a little more. Unable to decide between the two, she ended up purchasing both, as the sun started to set.

"Thank you," I say to the coachman as we hop out of the carriage.

The coachman tips his hat at me. "It was my pleasure."

"You really are an angel," Eliza comments.

"What do you mean?" I ask, curiously.

"You say thank you and please to everyone, it's quite admirable. Even after I took etiquette lessons for the majority of my childhood, my father said I am still brutish," Eliza rolls her eyes at the image of him telling her to 'be more ladylike.'

I laugh, being able to see the same image. "Well, etiquette classes focus more on how to act in high society, rather than daily mannerism with common folks," I elbow her lightly.

"Plus, it's a habit I have that I picked up from my mother. Growing up she always taught me that please and thank you were the magic key," I think back on her fondly.

"You didn't even have etiquette classes until recently and I bet you still act more graceful than me in high society," Eliza laments.

"Well, we can't be certain. I've never really conversed with those in high society prior to you and your father," I get squeamish at the prospect of being in a room full of them in two days.

"Trust me, (y/n). You are going to take that room by storm. I've been around the high society of the Kruos Empire, and none of them have that charm that you do," she elbows me back lightly.

"That's exactly what I don't want," I deadpan. Being the center of attention? At a ball? Hosted by the Emperor of Kruos? Absolutely not. Zero chance.

Eliza yawns a bit, stretching her arms. "Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow morning. Trying on a hundred dresses was a lot more tiring than I thought it was going to be."

'Tell me about it. I helped you into all one hundred of them,' I mentally sweat.

"Goodnight, Eliza."

"Goodnight, (y/n)."

———

The day of the ball had finally arrived, and I couldn't have been more nervous. After stating our departures with King Therasis, we both settle into our respective seats in the carriage as the coachman loads our small suitcases in the back.

Since we were a bit further away from the Kruos Empire, we were allowed to stay overnight at the castle, for it was dangerous to traverse through the night.

Excitement is evident on Eliza's face. She begins rambling about the ball.

"...—not what I meant, at all. You should try and find a handsome suitor. You are much too pretty for one of those goblin-looking men out there," she gags.

I bring my hand to my mouth to stifle my mouth from the giggles. "Eliza! Don't say that!"

Clutching the fabric of my plain, white gown, I pull my coat tighter to my body. Despite being in the carriage and right next to Eliza, I could notice a noticeable dip in the temperature.