Piper

My feet landed gracefully onto the balcony of my room, not making a noise when my boots hit the stone. The moon was setting, making way for the oncoming dawn of the new day. I was exhausted, having spent more time at Evander's than I had originally planned, and also from the lack of sleep over the past two weeks. Though I was exhausted almost every night, it wasn't enough for me to get a peaceful night's rest. Nightmares of Evander's memories and the stress of each day ticking closer to my aging plagued my mind.

I sighed, opening the glass-paned doors that opened into my room. Instantly I took in the slightly burnt smell and the pungent sweetness of rose petals. I furrowed my brow, directing my focus to my desk where the smell was coming from.

On my desk was a beautiful crimson rose, the same as the ones Evander had used to display his magic. Beside it was a folded note, edges crisped and a few ashes laying around it. I realized the burning smell had come from that. I recognized the burning smell as the same smell that came from Evander's summoned fire. Must be the magic that made the burning smell so distinct.

I grabbed the rose and brought it to my nose, breathing in its seductive smell even more potently. I picked up the note gently, sweeping the ash off my desk. Opening the note, I could see the elegant handwriting that sprawled over the paper. A soft flutter presided in my chest as I read the simple words.

Since I forgot to offer you a live rose...  - E.B

I wasn't surprised it was from him, but the kind gesture did take me aback. I smiled softly and placed the note in my drawer. It touched me that Evander, a Warlock who has every right to hate everything about me simply because of my Species, was willing to be cordial. The more I had come to visit, I had noticed he was slowly becoming more relaxed and friendly even.

I made my way to the bathroom, picking up a glass and filled it with water. Placing the perfect rose in the glass, I set the glass beside my bed.

Although morning was fast approaching, I decided I needed to get some sleep at least. I pulled my cloak from my shoulders and hung that before quickly stripping off the rest of my clothes to get a quick shower.

I wanted nothing more than to sink into bed fully dressed and fall asleep. But I knew that I needed to wash the smell of the forest off of me. I jumped in the shower and hastily washed my hair and skin before getting out and wrapping a silk robe around me.

I didn't bother putting on night garments. I got into bed and fell asleep in my robe, dreaming of fire, roses, and dark brown locks of hair.

♱

I had woken up a couple of times during the few hours I slept, meaning that once I finally woke up to get ready for the day, I was just as exhausted as I was when I went to sleep. The few hours of sleep that I did get had done nothing to help. I begrudgingly got dressed into a simple cream lace gown with long sleeves and tried my best to tame my curled onyx hair.

I had no plans today. Except, that was what I was hoping at least. When I made it down to the private dining hall my family used, I quickly learned that I did have plans for today. Although, they weren't any plans I was looking forward to.

"Piper, your first debutante ball is coming up and you still haven't had your dresses fitted," Mother whined, complaining as if I was purposefully procrastinating. I wasn't. I had simply forgotten that the retched event was happening.

How I could forget that I do not know.

"Do you really have to refer to me as a debutante? I cannot remember the last time I heard that term," I groaned, sitting back in my chair with a huff.

Last time I checked, debutantes were young, Mortal women presenting themselves out into the world as adults. It didn't particularly mean they were selling themselves to the highest-ranking man. In my case, I guess that is what my mother was meaning. But at the end of the day, I was 143 years old and obviously not a young, Mortal woman.

"Forget the name of the ball. I'm telling you that Mrs. Cazacu will be here shortly to fit you. She will be meeting you in the library at noon," My mother waved her hand, pushing away my comment.

I rolled my eyes and didn't say a word after that.

I didn't mind the dress fitting. I had had hundreds, possibly thousands of dresses fitted over the years and I could care less for it. It wasn't like my body changed much ever since I aged eighteen. It was the ball that had my head in a spin. The dresses were just a reminder of the dreaded night I was soon to have with who knows how many suitors my mother could muster up. Knowing politics and the lust for royal power, almost every eligible bachelor will be there doting on me in some attempt to gain my attention.

As if any of those self-absorbed men could.

And sadly, I vaguely remember her threatening to host more debutante balls until I found my match.

The best part? All the guests, including my whole family, will be watching. Instead of simple, more private meetings like the past three suitors, I will have hundreds of people watching, hoping that they can catch the first glance of their Princess falling deeply in love at first sight.

Having this many people watching me also means I will have to plaster on a fake smile and acknowledge these suitors as if I do actually have an interest in choosing one of them.

Again, as if.

Without saying anything else to my mother, I left her to herself in the dining hall and went back to my room. It was already ten, seeing as though I somewhat slept in trying to curb my fatigue.

I took off my gown in frustration since earlier I had dressed in it thinking that I would be spending my day roaming around the palace. I dressed in my riding pants and a billowy long sleeve top, and left my room to go down to the stables.

I found Alec brushing his massive Friesan, as I had expected, and retrieved Silveia from her stable.

"Do we have lessons today?" Alec asked me, his expression confused as if he had mixed the days up. I shook my head as I placed the saddle on my striking horse.

"No. I just needed to get out for a little bit before my dress fitting," I responded, my tone annoyed when I informed him of my later plans.

"Ah, right. Mamă has been complaining about that," Alec scoffed a laugh, knowing it was ridiculous. At least he understood.

I wished that our parents had stepped down earlier so Alec was on the throne. If he was, I would have had this decision to myself. There would have been no Debutante balls, no fixed visitors, and certainly no arranged bond. But of course, our mother and father wanted to wait until after I was bound to a Soulmate to step down. Apparently, it was their "last parental and royal duty" as King and Queen.

"It's going to be alright, Pip," Alec came over and put his hand on my shoulder gently, "I already know that you will make the right decision and will pick the best man out of the lot of them."

I know he was just trying to reassure me, but it didn't help. I didn't want to make a decision. I wanted it to simply happen. I didn't want to look at a lineup of men and say, "that's the one," when I had only just met the man. What if whoever I pick was a good actor and was great at first but ended up being a terrible person?

"Thanks..." I murmured, getting on Silveia.

"I just don't know if I can do it," I whispered and cracked the reins, sending Silveia racing out of the stables.

––––––––––•A/N•––––––––––

Taking the past couple weeks has been so good. I reread the previous chapters and I am so in love with this book. It really is coming together, and rereading it made me more inspired to write.

Love you all!

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