"This one," Anne raised the white dress in front of Cora's eyes. "It was going to be your birthday gift, but we can get another. This is more important."
She nodded and stayed in place while her grandmother dressed her in the last of her layers.
Leonard was coming again to visit them and had requested an audience with no one but her – all alone.
"Let me braid your hair," her grandmother ushered her to a chair. "Maiden braids, he must see you as you are."
Cora held her wrist before she could continue, and pulled a long golden string from inside her bodice.
"Maiden Princess braids," she requested. "Please."
Anne's eyes widened and her granddaughter just continued to stare deep into her eyes. Braids meant a lot in their culture in the past, especially for the royal family, before her grandfather killed them all and established something new. Queen Florence had certainly taught her son everything about that – and he would notice if he saw that in her.
"Coraline," she breathed. "Don't push your luck."
"It's not luck, grandmother," she affirmed, confident. "I know what I am doing, and I know you know the braids from when Queen Philippa was still a princess."
They continued to exchange looks in a silent battle, something her grandmother always pointed out reminded her of Cora's mother when she was still alive.
"Give me a silver string," she requested, finally. "Don't underestimate the man King Leonard has become, Cora."
She held back a grin while she walked to her dresser and complied, sitting right back down.
"I would never."
Anne's fingers moved through her hair with confidence and spend even though the time she'd been serving Queen Philippa were long gone. Some things are unforgettable.
"A golden string was for the heiress Princess," she explained. "Or prince. Or the spouse of the heir or heiress. Those who weren't destined to the throne would wear a silver string."
Cora wanted to point out how they both knew she was going to be queen, but decided against it.
When she was finally done, she put herself on her feet, just in time for a knock in the door to get their attention.
"Lady Anne," one of the staff members called. "His Majesty has arrived."
Cora's eyes moved to her grandmother, and Anne rested a hand on the end of her back.
"Wait here," she instructed. "I'll send him up."
She complied, waiting until she had left the bedroom before looking for a mirror, checking herself out and pulling her breasts up just a little bit higher to make her cleavage look a little bit more appealing.
Her hair looked good and her dress was beautiful. He'd certainly like it.
"Lady Coraline," she heard, and turned to the door just in time to see him walking in. "His Majesty, the King."
Her heart raced in her chest and Cora only waited for King Leonard to stop in front of her before taking a deep curtsy, silently waiting for his command to rise.
"Stand," he instructed.
Cora complied, waiting in silence and realising he didn't close the door, and frowning when men came in with a big chest that seemed very heavy, resting it in front of her bed.
"Go now," Leonard instructed when they were done. "We want privacy."
Cora waited and watched while his shoulders tensed when he head the slam of wood.
"Good morning, your majesty," she finally said.
"Good morning, Coraline," Leonard breathed out.
There was an uncomfortable silence between them, and he cleared his throat.
"Why don't you open the chest," he suggested. "I want to know what you think."
She obeyed, walking to where his men had left it and pushing the lip up, jumping in surprise when he assisted her.
"Thank you," Cora whispered.
King Leonard reached out inside for the velvet cloth right on the top, unrolling it and exposing fine jewellery pieces to her gaze, making Cora's eyes widen.
"What do you think?" he asked, running his big pointy finger over the necklace that first caught her eyes, a piece made of diamonds and sapphires, delicate but absolutely beautiful.
She breathed in deep. It was beautiful, much richer than anything her late grandfather had ever given her.
"I've talked to your grandparents and searched around about you, Lady Coraline. You're very loved for someone who was locked in her room most of the time."
Her cheeks warmed and her eyes couldn't look away.
"The people were always very kind to me, your majesty," she said simply. "I didn't know they saw me as more than an orphan with a strange family situation."
"Many people saw your father as their salvation from your cruel grandfather's reign. When he died, they transferred that hope to you."
She finally turned to him, and he picked up the necklace.
"Turn, Lady Coraline."
She rose to her feet and turned around, looking at him with expectation.
"You know why I'm here."
"I'm sorry, your Majesty, I don't-"
He stepped close to her and Cora took a deep breath, inhaling his scent and feeling her heart racing even more.
"I know what you want, Lady Coraline," he towered over her. "You have made it very clear."
She panted, swallowing down after realising she was salivating while looking at him. Leonard was so big he dwarfed her – even though Cora was a tall lady, like her grandmother and mother before her.
"Your Majesty," she breathed out.
He didn't look away from her eyes, raising his finger to brush her hair out of her face and running them over her braids.
"If it was for you, the string in your hair would have been gold," he called her out, and she inevitably swallowed down again. "I'm not as stupid as you may think I am, sweetheart. My mother taught me everything about the old customs, and I know the intention behind you games. You want to keep your kingdom even though you're not destined to it any more, and you want me, but you're too stubborn to straight up say it."
She didn't answer, still staring at him, and shivered while his fingers travelled down, brushing against her delicate skin and resting under her chin.
"So why don't you stop delaying the inevitable, Lady Coraline," he said her name with a touch of pleasure. "And just say yes to my proposal?"