As he held her hand to his lips, Alexander kissed Corina's palm. He kept a tight grip on her hand while he looked at her. "You're beautiful, Corina," he murmured, then kissed her palm a second time, to her wrists.
Corina blushed and glanced at the hands that were connected. She wondered how he felt about the way she looked.
When she had looked in the mirror, she was surprised by how much less of a woman she appeared once her hair had been pinned up with her male clothes on her frame. While her face was still soft and feminine, she looked rather androgynous instead of girly, as she did in her dress. It was the first time Corina saw a boy looking back at her through the reflection.
Nadine had put her hair up to give the appearance of shorter hair. The full length of it, which normally flowed across her back to her bottom, was skillfully concealed in a thick, messy braid, which was tucked in the back of her shirt. It gave her the appearance of having shorter hair.
Corina would definitely never want her hair short. She felt she appeared strange without her long, blonde locks.
Alexander leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her close to his body. His lips were close enough to her ear that she could feel his hot breath. She whimpered softly in his arms and buried her face against his chest.
"You're stunning no matter how you dress," he whispered, his lips moving to brush against the shell of her ear. "I don't know how long I can resist."
"S-Sorry I'm dressed like this," she shivered and muttered against his chest. "I don't look as much like a woman right now."
Alexander smiled and let out a low groan. "It doesn't matter," he whispered. "I want you either way."
It was true—it didn't matter how she looked. His desire for her remained, growing exponentially with each moment they remained together.
When Corina felt his hips against her body, she gasped softly. She could feel his arousal press against her stomach as he embraced her. "A-Alex," she stammered as he held her lips against his in a passionate kiss.
The moan he heard Corina let out increased his excitement, but there was a huge issue.
"Ahem," Nadine cleared her throat while her foot tapped against the floor with rapid movements. "You do realize I'm here, right?"
The couple backed away from one another. Corina touched her index fingers together and looked embarrassed. She wondered what Alex had meant by the words he had whispered in her ear.
The three of them took seats. "So, how did I do?" Nadine asked the Duke.
"Corina looks wonderful," he said approvingly. "But I think she could wear a potato sack and still look amazing."
Nadine nodded in agreement.
Corina puffed out her cheeks. "Are you going to make me wear one next?"
"No," he replied with a laugh. "Not unless you want to."
"A potato sack dress may be lovely," Nadine snickered. "We could have Matilda make it."
"No thanks," Corina said with her hand held up. "I don't like the scent of potatoes. The dress would smell like them. I don't want to be a walking potato."
"But potatoes don't really smell like anything," Alexander replied, his brow raised.
"They do," Corina said, nodding. "They smell very potatoy. Kind of like dirt, trees, and dirty feet!"
"So, dirty feet smell like potatoes?" Alexander asked.
"Yes," she replied, grinning. "When you take off your shoes, I can smell your feet."
Alexander scratched his head. "My feet stink?"
"Only a little," Corina admitted.
"Gross," Nadine commented. "I can't believe the Duke's feet smell like potatoes. I'm going to tell everyone."
"Don't you dare," Alex glared in her direction.
A sudden knock caused the Duke to get up from the couch. He opened the door to see Calvin, the butler, standing there with an excited look across his face. "Your grace, the King and Queen of Crystalia have arrived."
Corina's eyes widened as she watched Nadine join the Duke and butler at the entrance to his chambers.
"We'll be back, Corina," he smiled softly. "Are you ready to speak to your parents?"
"I don't know," she whispered, looking to her feet.
"We'll be with you the entire time," he said to reassure her. "Please wait here, my love."
Corina watched them leave the room.
Her heart felt heavy as she thought of what she'd say when they walked into the room. She wondered if she should immediately bring up the subject or simply greet them. The princess was unsure what method would be best to open up the conversation.
Corina frowned when she thought about her father, who had arranged the marriage to begin with. Why would he send his daughter away to marry a man when he knew she was a boy beneath the surface? Did he expect it to go well? He surely figured it would elicit a scandal. If Alexander hadn't been the person he is, the peace treaty could have been broken and the lands thrust back into war.
Corina shook her head and groaned as she leaned back against the sofa. As she thought about her life before moving to Luminairea, her eyes closed. She tried to search her memories for any indication her father may have known.
As far as she could tell, he never once gave any indication she was anything but his darling daughter. Her mother, however, had done and said many things over the years that would have made her question her existence if Corina had known any better.
It was clear her mother did know she was male, yet she refused to let go of the dream that the princess she had wanted would have been born instead. The way the woman acted toward Corina made it clear she felt some kind of disappointment toward the person she raised as a girl.
"I wonder why Mama was so selfish?" As she sat alone in the room, Corina asked herself.
Corina looked to the window in the Duke's chambers. She felt a gentle breeze from outside and saw a small bird fly past the open window.
"I should have been born a bird. If I were a bird, I wouldn't care about being a man or a woman. If be a bird. I'd eat worms. I'd do bird things. I'd fly! I wouldn't even have to worry about boy or girl clothes. I would be free from the torment."
Corina sighed. She wasn't a bird. The thought she had was silly. She could never be a bird, but she knew she could remain a woman, at least in spirit.
As the minutes passed, she grew nervous and restless, her leg shaking.
The door to the chambers opened, snapping Corina from her thoughts. Her heart felt heavy, her stomach flipped with butterflies, and she couldn't stop her body from shaking in the seat. Her eyes slowly traveled up from the floor toward the approaching individuals, taking a deep breath as she did. She tried to focus her gaze, but her eyes darted back to her lap as she grew more nervous with each step her parents took toward her.