Hey everyone, sorry for the long wait. Got distracted working on my other novel and didn't realize how long it had been since I updated this one.

Hope you enjoy!!!

Love

NJ Kuhr

xoxo

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The weeks went by much in the same manner. My appetite came back with vigor.

Emmeline kept constant track of my health as her agitation increased each day with her oldest son. It was unfortunate... for him.

Emory and I continued being cordial towards one another. It had erred on the side of enmity as Emory became more and more hostile towards me. We avoided being left in the same room alone, avoided sitting close to one another.

Warin wasn't that concerned with our aloofness though he noticed it. Their mother was getting more creative in her ways of getting the two of us together. I was sure King Theodrid was aware but wasn't one to meddle like his wife. I caught him giving Emory a few sour looks that Emory pretended not to see.

I insisted everyone start to call me Colette instead of 'my Lady.' Emmeline thought it was a great idea and had given herself a little grief over not having thought of it before. Whenever anyone used my new name around Emory his jaw would flex.

I spent hours poring over books Emmeline brought me. She would hand me transcripts in different languages to see if I knew them. There were four other languages that I was fluent in.

Only one Emmeline spoke so we sat talking in Hindesse for hours. She told me it was the scholars tongue from the Republic of Hispellum. The detail didn't eliminate many countries in regards to my birth. It was a common tongue and spoken in most port cities and capitols. The Republic of Hispellum had a historic university that housed people from all over the world. It was common practice to send young minds there to study.

We were still talking in Hindesse sitting on the couches in the library. Emmeline had pulled out a few texts and scrolls in the beautiful language. I was admiring the script and glancing over the writing. I asked her questions about passages or illustrations.

We heard people heading down the hall. As they drew closer there were two sets of footprints. Emmeline didn't stop talking so I continued our conversation when Warin walked in. Alone.

"Mother." He walked over to kiss her cheek, then he turned to me and said in flawless Hindesse. "There's a scholar's mind inside that head of yours, is there?"

"It seems there is." I grinned at him. I couldn't help but emulate his cheerful persona. I couldn't be discouraged around Warin but my heart felt a little heavy. I was sure Emory had been with him but he had heard my voice and changed his direction. A single set of footsteps continued down the hall. Maybe I was being a little self-abhorrent. It was possible he never intended to come into the library in the first place. I couldn't shake the feeling that he had but changed course to avoid me.

There were always things Emmeline would bring me to study, a collection of illustrations of the flags of different countries, genealogies. I went over maps and sketches of cities. Once we learned I spoke Hindesse they gave me other texts, histories and philosophy. Emmeline and Warin would sneak in random questions.

We discovered I could chart the stars when Warin slipped in a question about sailing. I responded with the position of a constellation. Needless to say there was nothing left for Warin and I to do but wait for the sun to set and try out my skills.

Warin pulled out chairs and a table from inside the Keep. He placed them in the middle of the training field with an oil lamp. We spent over an hour wrapped in blankets charting a map with a compass and a sexton. I knew all the constellations and could name the stars.

At one point Emory came bursting in through the gate on his horse. He had taken to riding out into the city after dinner and not coming back for hours. I knew there were many taverns and inns in the city. I forced myself not to think of whom Emory was with or what he was doing. I would not allow myself to be jealous. There was no cause to be.

He pulled back on the reigns, hard. His painted steed nearly sat back on its heels, his front hooves coming off the ground. Emory just glared at us.

I knew I was staring at him as if he was detestable, he glared back on challenge. He knew I knew what kind of establishments he chose to visit. I turned back towards the charts pretending he wasn't worthy of my attention.

Warin didn't say anything and I couldn't read the expression on his face. It wasn't like Warin to hide his thoughts and feelings. He and Emory were staring each other down in a way I couldn't interpret.

Emory spurred his horse towards the stables. Warin let out his breath and then turned towards the charts as though nothing had happened. Warin waited so that Emory could get his horse settled and retire to the Keep before he announced it was too cold to continue. If he wasn't going to say anything about Emory then neither was I.

Emory and my estrangement continued to get worse. The division between the two of us was a constant presence. Clory even began to get frustrated with me. She assisted me with my education though she would bring up Emory every chance she got. I usually ignored her until she changed the subject or found a way to do it myself.

I also learned that I am proficient in mathematics and geography. I had an elegant script and could write with ease. I studied my penmanship. The letters flowed across the page curling and lovely.

Even Theodrid would surprise me with unexpected quizzes or comments. He liked to discuss strategy and found I was a skilled chess player, although he was better. I could only best him one out of every four or five games.

Duke Melborn wasn't given many opportunities to speak to me in private. I had my own chores and responsibilities. Duties I had insisted on so I could contribute to the day to day needs of the Keep. If they were going to house and feed me, then I was going to be useful. I'd spotted Melborn lurking near me or watching me though he wouldn't approach me if I wasn't alone. He made me uncomfortable so staying busy kept him well away.

Emory and his family were always teasing one another, playing little jokes and pranks. I had always just observed until one day at breakfast Warin brought out a tray of tea and saucers. Exchanging quick glances with his father and brother before handing us each our own. I rather enjoyed the floral brew. I preferred the watered wine but it was hot and that was nice on such a cold morning.

I wasn't even aware that there was something off. Warin made some joke at his mother's expense and I'd burst out laughing. Everyone was laughing much harder than his joke had warranted. Even Emory, though he turned away. I looked from one to the other suspicious that they were all watching me rather close. None of them said anything.

I went back to my suite to ask Clory if she needed any help with the laundry. She gave her little chirp of surprise and stared at me.

"What?" I asked.

She looked abashed but led me to the vanity in the washroom without saying anything.

I glanced at my reflection and turned back to her after not seeing anything. Then when I was still looking I asked. "Clory? What is going on?"

I saw exactly what was going on. I made some shocked moan, leaned forward to examine my teeth in the mirror. My teeth and inside of my mouth were black.

"Warin!" I shouted even though he wasn't there. He wasn't being helpful with the tea. It was all meant to be a prank intended to dye my teeth black.

"They put ink in your tea." Clory explained. I was angry at first but there was no real harm in it.

For the next few days I laughed with my lips closed or covered my mouth with my hand. I made sure to talk with my face adverted. It took days for the ink to fade. Days!

My mouth finally turned back to its normal color. Emmeline told me there was a cordial I could have drank that would have removed the stains quicker.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" I accused her.

"And put an end to their game? Had I told you they would have felt obligated to turn their attention towards me."

She had a point but I was bent on including her as an accomplice and told her so. She winked at me, smiling with a glow in her eyes. I tried to hide a smile but failed. I squinted my eyes at her hinting that she was not free from my retribution.

The days continued as they had and I was trying to come up with a good prank that would get them back. I could be patient.

I had begged off a fitting for clothes. There was no point until I was closer to what would be my natural size. One crisp morning Clory had brought in the first dress I'd worn. I was drying myself off from a bath when she helped me into the gown. My arms fit tight in the green sleeves and we both glanced at each other then back to my arm. I reached down to tie the stays that crossed over my stomach and ran to look in the mirror. It fit. I actually filled the dress in for once. It was comfortable along my hips and chest.

I was so excited that I raced to the Great Hall. I hadn't even sat down when I showed Emmeline who had signaled for her breakfast. After that she insisted I meet with the tailor. I protested at first but she wouldn't budge.

We waited for the men to return, Emory giving me his typical polite disinterest. Emmeline sent me to quarters on the second floor once our meal was finished. The room was stocked with assorted fabrics and already half assemble dresses and men's attire.

The tailor was a brisk man for someone with such a small stature. He had long hair pulled back into a low tie at the base of his neck. He wore a long dark jacket that was loose enough he could move his arms. He bid me to stand on a low pedestal and walked around me taking my measurements.

Barking orders at his assistant the young man fled to fetch bolts of fabric and threads. The tailor held them up to me. He compared them to my skin tone and facial features. I grew bored but didn't want to offend him. I nodded and made agreeable noises whenever he asked me something. A few times I couldn't tell if he was talking to me or his assistant. He made the Royal Families entire wardrobe. It was an honor so I hid my tedium.

The tailor insisted I change into a simple shift of dyed white linen. The shift wasn't scandalous but it wasn't exactly modest either. The tailor explained it was necessary to get exacting measurements so that each piece would fit perfect. I didn't know enough to argue. And the shift did fit perfectly. It showed every curve and shape to my form in stark relief.

The open windows allowed in sunlight that set an aura around me. The fire kept burning hot to stay off the winters chill. Regardless I knew my nipples were hard against the cold and the dress did little to hide that fact. I wasn't cold but it was enough.

When he walked in I was too warm. Much to my dismayed surprise my nipples hardened even more as I was more aware of their visibility.

Emmeline must have been planning it for days. Waiting for me to cave to her wishes. A few hours of standing on the stool waiting for it to be over and I was praying it would never end. Emory came to have his measurements taken anew.

There I stood, raised a few inches off the floor. Every detail of my figure exposed and on display. Emory came skipping into the room. It would have been comical if we hadn't been so distant with each other for weeks. He stumbled at the sight of me. The casual expression on his face dropped completely. Taking me in, his mouth was open and his pulse beat against his throat.

I watched him struggle. His eyes took in my delicate yet rounded hips that curved into my small waist. They traveled up to my breast which had grown into perky mounds as my weight and health had improved. I saw him struggle to swallow knowing the fabric was showing off my erect nipples and he had noticed.

Pulling his eyes away, they traveled up to my collar bone. I knew how sickly they had made me look before. They were now healthy and my olive skin looked fresh and young. His eyes lingered on my lips before he looked me in the eye.

I wasn't shy. I let my expression show him exactly what his slow examination of my body had done to me. I could almost feel his hands on me and desire flared through my veins like a flood.

Emmeline was behind this. I was certain. I thought it strange that the tailor had needed me to change. A master tailor could have taken in my measurements just fine in the dress I had been wearing before. He'd asked Clory to undo the chignon of my hair before she left to attend to her own chores. My hair curled down my back with a few strands pulled in front placed so they rested on my arms. Clory was always making sure my hair was in place. I hadn't thought anything of it when she styled it for a simple fitting.

No. Emmeline had dressed me up like a show horse fit for a parade.

Watching Emory fight to compose himself I tried to calm myself down. He almost lost his self-control and all but dragged me to the floor to take me right there but he got a grip on himself. I was somewhat disappointed which only made me angry. The air between us was tense and sparked.

The tailor was back in a side room. Searching for something specific so he hadn't noticed anything. Judging by how hard Emory was working to collect himself Emmeline had gotten the reaction she was hoping for. He had a white knuckled grip on his dignity.

After that he avoided looking in my direction. I could see every muscle in his body was strung tight. He sat in one of the chairs waiting for the tailor, propped an elbow up to place his fist under his chin and bit down on the knuckle a few times. He was staring at the wall as if it was to blame for his discomfort. One of his legs was erratic, bouncing up and down on the ball of his foot.

Something I could relate to. My entire body was trembling and this damn dress was making sure every single tremor showed. I squeezed my thighs together though I wasn't sure why. It did seem to help, if only a little.

Emory eyes jerked towards me. A glancing look at the junction between my hips where my thighs pressed together. Turning away from me he squeezed his eyes closed. His breathing was shallow. He stuffed his fist between his teeth. His other hand gripped his bouncing knee hard enough it looked like it hurt. He was going to snap any second now.

Finally the tailor made his appearance. I didn't know what else to do so I turned to the side to face him. The sun highlighted my silhouette. I knew the shift slid down my back like a second skin. Dipping at the bottom of my spine it hugged the curves of my buttocks.

I knew Emory had turned back to me. Knew when I bent forward my long curling locks would fall to hang like curtains around my face.

Emory was memorizing every inch of my figure. I might as well make the best of it. His mother was very, very good. I knew the site of me, this glowing present his mother had presented me as was going to sear itself into Emory's mind. It was all he would see when he closed his eyes.

I was careful not to look at Emory. I didn't want him to stop admiring me and if he knew I knew he was looking he would turn away. I smiled down at the tailor giving him my somewhat complete attention. He showed me two similar bolts of fabric and asked me which one I preferred. I figured Emmeline knew what she was doing so I was going to make it worth it. That and I wanted Emory to suffer.

I reached up with one hand and pulled my hair over my shoulder. I tilted my jaw to show the lines of my neck as I raised my hand to feel the edge of the fabric. Leaning forward as I was; my breasts almost fell out of the sheath. The sunlight shined through the fabric.

The tailor seemed to believe the bolts were two different colors. They looked much the same to me so I made a reply, something about him being the expert and I would trust his judgments. He seemed pleased by the compliment and informed me that he would return at the end of the week for a final fitting but I was free to go.

I bent me knees to give him a kiss on the cheek. Thanked him for his talent and his time before I rushed to grab the robe Clory had left for me. With a half bow and a curt "Your Highness." I made my escape.

Slipping into the hall I heard the tailor turn to Emory. He said something about Emory's session not needing to be as long as mine since the tailor had known him his whole life. What a delightfully young lady I was. How happy Emory must be that I was staying here.

I paused to catch my breath and snorted at the last remark.

Emory's voice was louder than it usually was when he asked. "Did my mother put you up to this?"

The tailor didn't appear to have any idea what Emory was talking about.

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Damn their pride.

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