Anastasia beamed with yet another smile. She didn't know that Adrianna liked yellow. "Thank you, but will she be able to finish stitching the dress by tomorrow?"
Adrianna nodded. "Yes, Ana. Remember she is a witch seamstress. Her hands have the finest magic to weave the best dresses. Also, your wedding will take place in the morning in the palace premises just before the first rays of sun come up. It will be followed by a feast and then the elders of the wizard kingdom will come to bestow their blessing upon you in the evening. You must have at least five dresses ready for all the occasions." She pointed towards the pedestal and said, "Go, she is waiting for you."
While Adrianna busied herself in a document that had magically appeared on the table beside her, Anastasia stood up and went to the pile of fabrics that were placed on a nearby couch. Silk, tulle, satin, gossamer, velvet and hundreds of others waited for her. Not ever given the choice of making one dress for herself, Anastasia was at a loss. In her growing years, it was Maple who decided what she had to wear, and Maple—she didn't allow more than a dozen dresses for her in a year. And if she got an extra, it was a luxury. The entire palace, its treasure and everything else in Vilinski was owned by Anastasia, but she didn't have access to anything. Maple not only decided what she had to wear, she made sure that Anastasia never selected a dress for herself. In fact, ever since Anastasia had come to Eynsworth, her wardrobe was a thousand times better even though Ileus had bought it all for her, and he bought a lot. She never complained and loved whatever he had offered her.
Seeing so many clothes, Anastasia was confused as hell. She looked at Darla for help.
---
After hearing what Kaizan had to say, Ileus hurried to go towards the north wing, but Kaizan stopped him. "Don't go now, because then your importance is going to go down very easily. Go when you are called. And then—"
Ileus raised his eyebrow again. He didn't like the idea of waiting for he wanted to go and be with his wife at this instant. He growled in frustration as he pounded his fist on a nearby column, making a crack in its granite.
"Come on Aly," Kaizan grated. "It's not that you haven't stayed away from her!"
Ileus gave him a dark look and then set off to his bedchamber. The memory of how Anastasia vanished from right in front of his eyes, made him impatient. Tossing his clothes in a pile on the floor, Ileus went to the bathroom for a bath. The maids were waiting for him to help him out. Quickly, he took a bath and dressed. Without glancing in the mirror, he came out. Kaizan was sitting in the room like his personal guard. "Did they ask?"
Kaizan had picked up a book from his bed and was turning the pages, his eyes glued to the images. This was the same book Ileus wanted Anastasia to read. When he didn't answer, Ileus grabbed the book and tossed it on the floor. "Have they asked for me?" he snarled.
"They haven't!" Kaizan replied with his brows creased. He got up to take another book.
"That's it! I am going to find her," he said and strode towards the door.
"And where will you find her?" asked Kaizan. "Do you know in which room she is? Even if you can sniff her, do you think the queen hasn't camouflaged her smell? She could be in a room hidden from you."
"Fuck!" Ileus shouted and picked up a candelabra from the side only to toss it on the floor.
As for Kaizan—he simply turned another page and went back to see the images. "Can I take this one from you?"
"No!" came a sharp reply. It had been almost an hour and he was growing restless. He had thought to continue his deed in the bedroom when his mother threw her orders like cold water on his face.
Suddenly, Darla appeared in their room and Ileus swirled to face her. Ah, this was the time. He took a deep breath to show that he was very cool about all this but his impatient golden eyes that were staring at her, really gave away his charade.
"We need you," she said.
Chin held high, his lips tugged up at her request.
He looked at Kaizan and asked, "Are you coming?"
"Nah!" he said without looking up. There were so many of these magazines he had to read.
Darla held Ileus' hand and they immediately teleported to a corridor he thought he had never seen. But he knew that it was just an illusion. His mother had altered the place completely, just so he would never find his way back.
The maids scurried out of the way as he pushed towards the room Darla was leading him to. When they reached the threshold of the room whose heavily crafted wooden doors were ajar, he paused at the sound of laughter. Curiously, he peered inside and found his lady love on a pedestal right in the center of the room. An older woman, Mrs. Babette, the finest seamstress of Draoidh and Silver Vales was crouched by the hem of her skirts, pinning them in the front. Anastasia was wrapped in a pale-yellow silk gown that cinched at her waist and flowed up to her chest. The long gossamer sleeves were covered in detail. The golden embroidery towards the center gave it exquisite appeal. It was one of the most beautiful works he had ever seen in Draoidh, and he watched, stunned, his Anastasia. His mouth opened to form an O.
"This looks lovely, Mrs. Babette." Anastasia bent over and ran her hands over the fabric. "We can have the same style in sky blue too."
"Very fine, m'lady," said Mrs. Babette cheerfully.
"Mother was right about you that you are indeed the best designer here. I think we are going to have more sessions together now that I have caught sight of your works. You are truly talented."
Mrs. Babette giggled. "You are too generous, m'lady." She stood up to fetch more swatches of other materials and her eyes met that of Ileus who was watching them from the door. She immediately bowed and added, "We were waiting for you m'lord."
Ileus blinked his eyes as if coming out of a trance. A deep rumble formed in his chest and he walked inside. Not able to take his gaze off Anastasia, he sat on the couch opposite her. Where was his mother? "I hear you need my help," he said, keeping his hands wide on the backrest.
"Aren't you a charmer, Aly?" said Anastasia as she smiled at him. Little did she realize that she sent embers along Ileus' rib cage, setting his heart in flames.
"That I am, love," he replied arrogantly. "I am the fae princess in my control."
Anastasia narrowed her eyes and before she could speak, Darla said, "Please unshackle her wings. Mrs. Babette here needs to take her measurements. We have four more dresses to go!"
"What?" he asked, very lazily and picked up a grape from the fruit tray on the table.