Page 91 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

"It's strange," I admit. "I think my seamstress is planning on removing the orange and restitching red once tonight is done. I don't envy her when she has to also do Bella's gown." I gesture to where my cousin is talking with a man I don't know. Her gown has much more orange than mine does.

"I believe my dress is supposed to go back in the wardrobe for next year."

"That makes much more sense to me, though I don't think Lord Fallmartin would be pleased with me wearing the same dress two years in a row."

"Probably even more true considering you're going to be a princess next year."

"Ah, yes. I keep forgetting about that."

Emilia raises an eyebrow. "I don't think I'd be able to think of anything but that. You're so calm about it."

"Mmm."

"Why aren't you dancing with the Prince?" Emlia asks.

I groan. "Does everyone know about that?"

She gives me a peculiar look. "Is it meant to be a secret? The two of you dance at every ball."

"It's not a secret," I say quickly, trying to cover up the fact I basically admitted that I didn’t know it was Linc I was dancing with. The more people start asking me about that, the worse it is that I didn’t know.

Though at least I'm not alone in that. Linc didn't know either, and that makes it a little bit better.

"Has your father said anything about a betrothal for you?" I ask her, mostly so I can avoid talking about how oblivious I was to the situation right in front of me.

"No. I don't think he has much hope for my prospects."

"Not even when you're offered a position in the royal household?" I ask.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm going to need ladies-in-waiting, apparently, so there'll be some positions available. I was hoping you'd take one of them."

Her face lights up. "Really? How are you going to get Lord Fallmartin to let you offer me a position?"

"He suggested it, actually. Before I realised I had a say."

"I have to admit, I'm surprised he's giving you one. I don't think my father would in the same circumstances."

"I was surprised," I admit. "But I'm planning on making the most of it. So, do you think it will help?" I'm certainly hopeful it will. It's nice to think I'll have a friendly face around, and if it helps Emilia too, then it's even better.

"Maybe. But I also don't think it matters. If I'm a lady-in-waiting, then I'll have an income of my own."

"I believe so. But I'm not sure what help that will be, you'll likely still have to do what your father says."

"Probably, but there's hope," she responds.

"Maybe."

"And for you. Look." She nods to where a man with light blond curly hair is heading towards us and my heart skips a beat.

"I'll be back soon," I say.

Emilia scoffs. "No, you won't. You dance with the Prince and then you disappear and no one knows where you've gone."

"Not tonight," I promise. "I'm only allowed to dance with him once, but at midnight, the King is announcing our betrothal, so there's no slipping away for me."

"Ah, so you're admitting you normally do that."