Page 111 of A Cursed Son

He waves a hand in the air, as if it could shake that idea out of her. “You shouldn’t have to adapt to a cruel world. The world needs to change.”

She shrinks her shoulders. “I can’t change it, Marlak. But who knows, maybe this dress will get me a few clients.” She looks at me and smiles. “I used to think that all I needed was one opportunity, one chance. But it’s not that simple.”

Meaning that she doesn’t think this dress will change her life. But maybe it can help. And I don’t want her to be so cynical, so I say, “The opportunities will come. One might not be enough, but as they pile up, you’ll see a difference. I’ll honor this dress and make sure it shines and shows your talent. You’ve achieved one dream, and it means that the rest can become true as well.”

She chuckles. “I love optimistic words. Humans are great at saying them, since you can lie.”

“I meant what I said!” I protest.

“I’m not complaining. I like those words. Have any of your dreams come true?” She stares at me.

I feel called out, but then I point to Marlak. “Right here. He’s the man of my dreams,” I deadpan.

The hilarious part is that it’s true. I don’t think he’ll be upset I’m saying that, since we are supposed to pretend we’re a real couple.

“More like nightmares,” he adds, just because he has to remind me he’s an asshole. I look at him and he’s smiling, though. I guess he thinks it’s funny.

We finish eating, then get back to work. I admire Lidiane’s patience, skill, and attention to detail. I learned how to differentiate cheaper and more expensive clothing, as it can be a crucial skill to identify important and less important members of royalty and even weed out impostors. It’s all about the details, the care, the finish, and hers are all impeccable, even done in a hurry in a one-room house.

The day is getting darker when I get to put on the dress. Marlak turns away, like he promised, and Lidiane does her last adjustments. She arranged the green leaves on top, and slowly they turn darker and blue, with a mix of many colors if you look closely, and then purple at the bottom. I don’t want to look down too much and mess up her measurements, but I’m curious to see the dress, and there’s no full mirror in this house.

Lidiane then turns to Marlak. “You can look now. There’s nothing indecent.”

“Astra’s never indecent,” he says, then turns. He stares at me, and his jaw hardens, but it’s swiftly replaced by a smile as he turns to Lidiane. “Beautiful work.” He’s still pale, though.

“Are you sure?” she asks. “If you didn’t like it?—”

“Astra, do you like it?” he asks.

“I love it,” I say quickly. I’d hate for Lidiane to feel that her work is not appreciated. And it’s a magnificent dress, better than anything I ever wore.

The girl nods. “Let me know what people think. When you can, of course. I’m sure you’re both going to disappear again.”

“The life of a fugitive.” Marlak sighs, then messes the top of her hair. “Stay safe. And let Ferer know what you need.”

He takes a pouch of coins and puts it into her hands. “If I could, I’d ask you to stop working in that kitchen, but the money is yours, so it’s your decision.”

She puts the pouch back in his hand. “I don’t need it and don’t want it. It’s an honor to help you.”

He puts it on the table. “Then throw it away.”

Lidiane shakes her head. “Your carriage should arrive soon.”

I realize that I don’t have my cosmetics bag, and my shoes are far from fancy. It feels a little awkward to ask, but I have to. “What about makeup? And… shoes?”

The girl looks at me. “Right, humans like to change their face for special occasions. I could do a light glamour.”

“No glamour,” Marlak says. “If they notice it, it will look like she’s trying to hide something.” He turns to me. “Fae nobility don’t tend to wear makeup. When they do, it’s extravagant golds and glitters, but in your case, a clean face will be better. As for shoes, again, there’s a difference in taste, and fae privilege comfort. Regardless, I’d rather you had something you can run with—just in case.”

Lidiane’s forehead creases as she turns to him. “You think there will be trouble?”

“Probably not, if the rules stand, but then again, what if? It doesn’t matter how good you are with magic if you can’t stand on your feet.”

I can stand on my feet, no matter how high my heels are. I can even run, but if they think this is how I should go to the coronation, I’m not going to argue. The truth is that it is comfortable. “Makes sense.”

The girl stares at me. “If you’re uncomfortable, I could?—”

“No, Lidiane,” Marlak interrupts her. “She needs to look natural. It shows that she has nothing to hide. It’s better.”