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Nova

My dress had come together even morebeautifully than I’d hoped it would—an incredible feat, given that it had only been a day and a half since Aleks and I stopped into the shop for measurements and materials. Somehow, the seamstress had managed to interpret my vision despite the rushed process, and now I stood on a stool before one of the mirrors in my bedroom, admiring the end result of her work.

The a-line dress appeared deep crimson at first glance, but black beading along the bodice and a sheer layer of dark tulle over the body made its true color impossible to pin down; it shimmered between shades depending on the lighting and angles, an ever-changing fusion of blood and shadows—a tribute to the dress I’d worn on the night of the Moonweaver Festival, only longer and sewn together with heavier, higher quality fabrics.

I’d felt strong that night. Decisive. And I had a feeling I was going to need that kind of strength tonight, so I had purposefully tried to recreate the dress with hopes of recreating the feeling it had inspired.

Aeris had left my hair down in large, loose waves, save for a braided piece held away from my face by a delicate clasp that resembled a raven’s wing. Heeled boots completed the ensemble, along with a small knife strapped to the inside of my thigh.

I hoped I would have no need for knives, but…old habits.

Once I was ready, I fell into another old habit, kneeling in front of Phantom and wrapping my arms tightly around him—an embrace for good luck, the way we’d always done before enduring our royal duties back at Rose Point.

“We can do this, right?”

(Do we have a choice?) he replied, cocking his head.

I sighed, straightening his collar—a regal, jeweled piece he’d insisted I have made for him alongside my dress so that he could look his best for our visitors. Giving him a quick scratch between the ears, I stood and faced the door.

Just another royal obligation, I tried telling myself.Just like old times.

My brother met me as I was making my way downstairs. He was alone, which was surprising, given the number of guests and palace dwellers alike who had been fighting for his attention all day yesterday and today.

“I managed to escape,” he said, reading the surprise in my expression, “and I wanted to come check on you.”

“There was no need; I’m fine.”

“Well, it gave me an excuse to get away for awhile,” he said, grinning.

“Glad I could help, then.”

“You look lovely, by the way.”

“You clean up quite nicely yourself.”

“Yeah?” He gave the collar of his embroidered doublet an exaggerated tug. “It feels a bit like I’m being slowly strangledto death. But Aveline insisted it would give off the proper regal impression, so...” He shrugged.

“No one escapes her iron-fisted rule around here, do they?”

He returned the slight smile I gave him. “Not a single one of us. You know, I’ve even offered to just give her the crown a few times, but she refuses to take it. Says it would clash with her hair.”

My smile widened.

He stopped fidgeting with his clothing and offered me his arm. “We have an hour or two before our guests will be joining us at the dinner table,” he said. “Perhaps you’d like to see the progress our army is making before we get started on the evening’s agenda? Hopefully, it will inspire some confidence for us both.”

The idea filled me with trepidation and uncertainty. But, somehow, I managed to take his arm, walking alongside him without hesitation as he headed toward the wing that overlooked the training grounds, where most of the revived Graykeep soldiers were currently being housed.

Along the way, we stopped to collect Grimnor. It had been returned to its chamber for safekeeping while I recovered from the events at Graykeep, but both my brother and I agreed it should be at my side for the evening’s meetings; Aveline had already provided a means of carrying it that coordinated with my dress, even—a wide, ornate-but-lightweight belt that hung gracefully at my waist, supporting the sword without compromising the garment’s flow.

Before we left, I found myself hesitating, my eyes drawn to Luminor.

My brother stopped as well, his gaze shifting between me and the Sword of Light. I expected him to tell me to focus on my own blade and the power I could control, but he surprised me and said, “Just so you’re aware, I plan to bring up the subject of theLight King to our visiting council. The possibility of him wielding this sword should not be entirely ignored, I’ve decided.”

“…Really?”

“After what he did by your side at Graykeep—and outside of Erebos before that—it seems foolish not to consider that maybe he could be an asset after all. I should warn you, though, that the idea likely won’t be received well by most of our guests. They’ve seen the Above as the enemy for too long; they won’t be quick to trust him, regardless of the bond you two have developed.”

My skin heated with frustration, but I nodded, knowing he was right.