Esmeralda's alarm jolted her out of bed, but she had barely gotten any sleep the previous night. Nerves had gotten the best of her as she anticipated the intimate and vulnerable initiation ceremony tonight in front of the twelve wolf lords and their ladies. The thought of such an event was daunting, and she had even considered running away. The initiation ritual had been eagerly anticipated by everyone for weeks. As the first princess ever born to the wolf royal family, with all her predecessors being male, Esmeralda felt an added pressure to uphold the family's honor.
The day before, her father had walked her through the proceedings, assuring her that it was a piece of cake and not something to be nervous about. The ritual involved drinking the blood of all twelve wolf lords and transforming under the light of the new moon, sealing the ceremony with the blessings of their goddess, Celeste. Esmeralda had fervently prayed to the Moon Goddess for guidance, feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, especially given her strained relationship with Ezra. Being on the outs with him only added to her unease. She longed to seek comfort in his arms, but he kept his distance from her. While they managed to maintain civility, their conversations were now brief and abrupt. It pained her deeply that he seemed eager to escape her company every time they found themselves near each other.
After sitting on the edge of her bed in quiet contemplation for a while, Esmeralda's door swung open, and her handmaiden, Cilia, waltzed in.
"Good morning, Your Highness. How are you feeling on this very special day?" Cilia greeted her with excitement.
Esmeralda could hear the commotion in the palace, indicating that the servants were busy preparing for the festivities. A grand banquet was scheduled to take place in her honor after the initiation ritual.
Without responding to Cilia's enthusiasm, Esmeralda rose from her bed and made her way to the bathroom for a shower.
"Oh dear," Cilia remarked, noticing Esmeralda's subdued mood.
At this point, it had become common knowledge among all the palace servants and workers that Esmeralda and Ezra were deeply in love. The longing gazes and the intense emotional and sexual tension between them were impossible to ignore. Everyone noticed this, except for King Aaron, of course, who was always absorbed in his royal responsibilities.
While Cilia busied herself preparing Esmeralda's outfit for the ceremony, there came a knock on the door. She opened it, only to find Ezra standing there.
"Oh no, you don't. What are you doing here, Ezra? Do you have a death wish?" Cilia exclaimed, taken aback.
"Cilia, I need to speak to Esmeralda. Please, this is important," Ezra pleaded urgently.
"No, I won't let you. You could get into serious trouble, Ezra. You're playing with fire, a very dangerous fire," Cilia warned, concern etched on her face.
"I know, but I need to see her. She needs to know that I'm here for her if she needs me," Ezra insisted.
"She's currently taking a shower. Wait here, and once she's decent, I'll let her know you wish to speak with her," Cilia relented, recognizing the sincerity in Ezra's eyes.
Ezra let out a breath of relief. "Thank you, Cilia," he said, holding the woman's hands and gently squeezing them to express his appreciation.
Esmeralda emerged from the bathroom, her massive red Afro frizzy from towel drying.
"Do you have any ideas for what you want to do with your hair?" Cilia asked her awkwardly.
"I was thinking of doing a twist out to make my coils bounce," Esmeralda replied as she sat in front of her vanity mirror.
Cilia opened one of her closets and took out hair combs and a cream, then began styling Esmeralda's hair. After about an hour, they were finished, and her hair looked absolutely fabulous.
Cilia wore a peculiar expression on her face as she stood behind Esmeralda, who noticed it.
"Is there a problem, Cilia?"
"It's Ezra, Your Grace. He is outside, waiting to speak with you."
"What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" said Esmeralda as she rushed to put on her robe.
"Let him in," said Esmeralda as she adjusted herself in her vanity chair.
"Yes, Your Highness," said Cilia as she opened the door to find Ezra pacing outside the hallway.
"She will see you now," Cilia said as she let him in and closed the door.
The moment Esmeralda and Ezra's eyes met, their hearts dropped.
"Your Grace," he said as he bowed.
"May I suggest that you both converse in the garden? It is very inappropriate to be in the princess's room. People will talk," Cilia added, interrupting the moment.
"I'll meet you in the garden," said Esmeralda to Ezra, who nodded in agreement and exited the room with Cilia.
She hurried to get dressed, filled with excitement. She hadn't expected Ezra, but this was a welcomed surprise. Ezra's heart pounded in his chest as he made his way to the garden to wait for Esmeralda. He had been so consumed by his emotions regarding her betrothal that he had forgotten she needed him. He wanted to apologize for his preoccupation and reassure her that he would always be there for her whenever she needed him.