24

The assistant’s head barely reached Camille’s waist. He swept into a low bow, then disappeared behind the curtain, and reappeared with a bottle and three glasses. He guided us to a low couch by the mirrors, then poured us each a glass of fine red wine.

“Wow,” I said, settling back into the couch. “This is lovely.”

“Thank you,” Camille said. “I received notice from the court that you may be joining me, so I did want to prepare a nice experience for you.” Fina sipped her wine. “Experience?”

“I’d like to show you some of the designs I have to offer,” she said. “Then we can discuss fabrics, detailing, changes, et cetera, et cetera. All the things that make a lady’s wardrobe her own.”

In Daybreak, the tailors made my clothes for me without much input. I wasn’t given such freedom like this—freedom to choose and make changes. Excitement swelled in my chest.

“The Court of Nightfall will be covering the costs, as well,” Camille said. “So please choose anything you like. The king made that very clear—there is to be no limit on the finery for the contestants.”

My excitement fell like a bird shot out of the sky by an arrow. Of course the king knew we were here—and why was he paying for this? Was he trying to make me feel indebted to him, just like he’d done with the map? I exhaled hard, and the sound came out low and rough.

“Reyna?” Adora asked, with a curious tilt to her head. “Did you just growl?” I snapped my mouth shut, horrified. “No! No, of course not.” “Kind of sounded like one,” Fina said.

“Is there something wrong, my lady?” Camille asked.

“No, no, no, nothing’s wrong, this is all wonderful,” I said. I took a sip of my wine, and felt my face flush slightly, either from alcohol, heat, embarrassment—probably a little of each. “Just a bit of a frog in my throat from the cold weather. Adjusting to the climate has been a challenge.”

Fina didn’t buy it, but Camille did. “Ah, well, you’re in the right place, then,” she said with a smile. “We’ll get you everything you need to enjoy these Efran winters. Girls, come out, please!” “What was that about?” Fina whispered to me. “Did something happen?” “Later,” I muttered.

Fina didn’t have time to argue as five live models sauntered out from behind the curtain, wearing gowns of Camille’s design—some long, some with a shorter hem, varying necklines, and delicate embroidery. They were all beautiful, but my attention was caught on the model at the end. She wore a three-piece ensemble: a white fitted top, a long fur-lined coat with sleeves, and pants. They were high-waisted and so loose when the model stood with her feet together that they almost looked like a skirt. But they were pants. I’d never worn them as a Lady of Daybreak. If Camille was offering it now, I was not about to turn it down.

“Has something caught your eye, Lady Reyna?” Camille asked with a knowing smile.

“I love this style,” I said. I stood and approached the live model in the pants, who smiled demurely and held out her arm for me to inspect the fabric of the long coat.

“I do believe it’d suit you,” Camille said. “Shall we take your measurements?”

The models stepped aside, making space for me on the dais. In the mirror, Fina and Adora were both grinning with excitement. Micah hurried forward with a long tape measure in hand, and rapidly began taking my measurements, scratching them onto his notepad as he went. Hips, waist, shoulders, bust, inseam, all done quickly and expertly as Camille watched. She tapped one manicured finger to her lower lip.

“I’m thinking navy,” she said. “Silk. With silver detailing to complement the delicacy of your tiara.”

I nodded in agreement, biting back a pleased smile. A competitor of the King’s Choice in pants? That had to be more offensive than the snide little comments I’d made in the library. Maybe this was the right way to rebel—it was proof that I was not an adequate lady to be the queen. This, combined with my unwillingness to shift, might be enough to get me released from the competition. The king surely wouldn’t find me interesting if I continued to show myself as slightly boring and very unwilling to follow the Nightfall traditions.

“Wonderful,” Micah said. “I have what I need.”

I stepped off the dais and took my seat back on the couch. Fina hopped up right afterward, gesturing to one of the beautiful off-shoulder gowns on display.

“Lovely choice, Lady Reyna,” Camille said. “We’ll have it ready for you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I balked. “How is that even possible?”

“Oh, well, my tailors are mostly Fae,” Camille said dismissively.

“What?” That only made me more confused. “Fae? In Efra?”

“Well, yes,” Camille said. She peered at me with some confusion. “Do you not have Fae in

Daybreak?”

“I’ve read about them,” I said, “but I wasn’t aware they were still in Frasia!”

The books in Daybreak wrote of Fae as if they were long gone, either dead or emigrated.

“Ah,” Camille said. “I suppose there aren’t too many who have returned, yet. Fae just came back to Efra when the king took the throne. His rule further removed many of the prior restrictions on supernatural behavior.”

She glanced at me, as if expecting a response. I said nothing. The last thing I wanted to do was dig myself into a deep hole discussing the policy decisions of my grandfather, Constantine—especially when the king’s father, Drogo, had been the one to kill Constantine in cold blood for the throne.

Constantine had led Frasia like my father led Daybreak, with a focus on respectability and diplomacy, not the savagery of the Nightfall wolves. If Frasia was still led by Daybreak, the manor would be in much better shape, and certainly without shifted servants running around.

“The king has continued what his father began,” Camille said. “Returning the land to its natural state and allowing the inhabitants to reveal their true selves without restriction. The freedom has invited the Fae back into Efra. I’m happy to work with them.”