I nodded. "Please."
She wandered off into the bathroom, and a moment later I heard the water start. I opened the closet in my room and looked at the array of dresses.
My dark mood had me eyeing the black and blues of my wardrobe, but I couldn't be that woman tonight. I needed to show the might of a worthy queen. What dress to wear?
"May I suggest pink?" Mira said from the bathroom door. "It gives you regal beauty, and I think it's your best color."
I stepped toward the fuchsia hues and flicked through the offerings. My wedding dress hung there, a luxurious ball gown I'd never wear again because of the memories associated with it. But the outfit beside it caught my eye.
Plum patterns decorated the dark pink bodice and breast cups—the form of which would emphasize my curvy figure. It all flowed into a translucent skirt that would both hide and showcase my long legs. A matching pair of gloves finished the ensemble.
Perfect.
"I'll wear this one." I showed it to Mira, and she flashed me a playful smirk. I shook my head at her, knowing what she was thinking. "It's not like that." I didn't need to attract my husband. He came to me often enough already. But okay, maybe I wanted others to see me, too. Just to realize my potential.
Lonely indeed.
"Whatever you say, My Lady. Bath's ready."
I strode past her with my own mischievous grin and dropped my gown on the floor before climbing into the warm tub. I sank beneath the water and allowed it to wash all the evidence of my husband's lovemaking away. When I resurfaced, Mira held out the shampoo.
"Thank you." I took the bottle and squirted a healthy amount into my thick chestnut hair.
"It'll be good to get out and dance a little tonight, maybe meet some new people." Mira fetched a strawberry-smelling conditioner while I rinsed the shampoo from my strands. Then she brushed the conditioner through the long locks.
"It will be," I agreed. "I feel like it's been so long since we've had guests. The wedding was the last time, and I didn't enjoy that nearly as much as I'd hoped." I flinched when Mira found a knot in my hair and combed it with a fury. At least, I thought that was what she was doing. Unless she was showing her anger at what I'd said?
She sputtered out several words I'd not heard from her since my wedding night. It shocked me. I considered her to be mild-mannered, and she didn't know I'd overheard her outburst that night. I'd pretended to be asleep because I hadn't wanted to talk to anyone.
"Did you mention to the king about that idea you had?" she asked, effectively deflecting from her little tirade. "Rinse first," she added, her ministrations with my hair done.
I ducked under the water as instructed and then stepped out of the bath. She wrapped a large, fluffy towel around me, and I dried myself while she retrieved a deodorant from a cabinet in my bathroom.
"I've not seen him long enough to discuss it yet," I said, replying to her question. The truth was, I'd been reluctant to try to talk to my husband about any of the ideas I'd had to fill my time. It wasn't because I thought he'd hate them; it was just that, at the moment, he wanted me
to concentrate on other duties to help him as the king—namely, the heir he desired.
"It's a superb idea," Mira informed me. "Maybe if tonight goes well, you can try to talk to him. I know a lot of the demonic women working in the kingdom would enjoy it."
I sighed.
While traveling back from our shopping trip the other day, Mira and I had noticed an encampment of poorer demons trying desperately to teach their children skills to better their futures. We'd stopped to chat with them and had even helped instruct some of the children.
The women were grateful and expressed a wish for someone who could train the children so they could work and help assist their husbands with bringing money into their families.
I'd thought it was a right for everyone to have an education, but it seemed not. After returning to the palace, I'd developed an idea for a program that could assist those less fortunate than myself.
Only, I hadn't spoken to my husband about it yet.
Maybe I should listen to Mira and talk to him after the ball. Assuming everything went right tonight, of course.
I cleared my head and focused on donning the pink-and-purple dress. As with everything else in my closet, it fit perfectly.
Mira straightened my hair before adding a curl to the ends and placed a crown on top of my head. It would be my first time wearing it to a public event, something that should have excited me but didn't due to the heaviness of the solid gold piece.
I'd probably have a stiff neck tomorrow from the weight of carrying it on my head all night.
Still, there were worse things in life than being a royal.
"How do I look?" I asked.
Mira swiped around my lips with a deep purple lipstick and stepped back to admire her handiwork. "Stunning," she praised with a giggle. "You'll be the envy of every lady in the room and the object of attraction for all the men."
I bit my lip. "I'm not sure Necros will like that." And I didn't really want to be the center of attention, either.
"Tonight is all about him showing you off. He'll want every man in the room jealous that they can't have you, while he can."