Resistance (Ilyon Chronicles Book 1) (19 page)

This tall
lady stood with a palpable air of authority and dignity. Dressed in a deep gold gown and black bodice, she reminded Kyrin of Master Zocar, but female. Her honey-brown hair was gathered up in an impressive arrangement of curls that Kyrin could never hope to duplicate, and didn’t reveal any hint of graying with age. With a close look, she spotted the fine lines in the woman’s face, but a thick layer of cosmetics hid most of them.

“This is Lady Videlle, head mistress here at Auréa,” the escort introduced. “She will show you to your quarters and prepare you for your meeting with the emperor.”

Kyrin glanced briefly at him before her eyes went to Collin. He grinned and winked at her as the escorts led him away down the hall. She almost wished he could stay. At least she knew him. She wasn’t used to meeting strangers without Kaden.

With a convulsive swallow, she raised her eyes back to the tall, commanding woman in front of her. Lady Videlle had rigid features, yet not as harsh as the head mistress at Tarvin Hall. One blessing to be thankful
for.

“Come with me,” she said, her voice crisp, though
not unkind.

She swept off and practically glided across the polished floor. How could she be so graceful? The only thing to prove she wasn’t floating was the sharp click of her heels on the tile. Kyrin’s own steps felt clumsy in comparison. She glanced over her shoulder. The servant girl followed a few yards behind with her eyes down. Kyrin’s attention swung back to Lady Videlle at the clear ring of her refined voice.

“As you can see, Auréa Palace is large and can be confusing to navigate, but given your abilities, you should have no difficulty once you’ve been shown around.”

Just how much did these people know about her?

“The stairs to the servants’ quarters and the kitchen are down that hall, but you’ll have no need to go there.” She waved her hand as they passed. “Your quarters are in the advisors’ wing, along with mine and the other members of the emperor’s cabinet.”

Lady Videlle looked back at Kyrin, face pinched. “I am to make it clear to you that, while relationships of any type between the staff here at Auréa are not expressly forbidden, it is not encouraged and must never interfere with your duties. Marriage and children
are forbidden without the express approval of His Majesty. Should you, at any time, find yourself with child, you are required to see the palace physician to have it dealt with promptly, and it will be at your own expense.”

Kyrin almost tripped over herself, and her mouth dropped open again before she snapped it shut. Everyone knew women often took certain drugs to end their pregnancies, but they never openly discussed it at Tarvin Hall. She swallowed on the repugnance of it.

In a wide corridor, Lady Videlle paused and pushed open one of many doors. “This will be your quarters.”

Kyrin followed her into a room twice the size of the one she’d shared at Tarvin Hall, and her eyes rounded.
Such finery! A large bed and wardrobe drew immediate attention. No more small, claustrophobic bunk or shared cabinet. A dressing table, writing desk, and several other, smaller furnishings filled the space—luxuries she’d never had before. Gold paper covered the walls, warmer than the stark and plain colors of a Tarvin Hall dorm, and a black and gold circular rug lay in the center of the dark wood floor. For the first time since childhood, she had a room to herself, and an impressive one at that.

“Far different from what you’re used to, isn’t it?”

Her attention shifted back to Lady Videlle at her first attempt at casual conversation. “Very much so.”

“Well, in a few days, it will begin to feel like home.”

Home.
A twinge passed through Kyrin’s stomach, but she hid the discomfort behind a slight smile.

“Now, there is much to see to this morning,” Videlle went on. “Tonight you will meet the emperor and dine with him and his family, though typically, you will dine with the rest of us. Before that, however, you have a guest to see this afternoon.”

Guest? What guest? How could she have one already on her first day?

Videlle did not pause long enough for her to voice these questions.

“First things first, your appearance.” She faced Kyrin again, looking her up and down as an artist might scope out her canvas. Her thin, elegant eyebrows slowly dipped down, and Kyrin fidgeted.

“Well,” Videlle said at last. “You’re very plain.”

Kyrin winced. She’d learned years ago to be content without the flawless ivory skin, full lips, and rich, flowing curls so many girls seemed to have. Nonetheless, Videlle’s harsh assessment stung.

“Your hair will need work
…”

Kyrin glanced at her dark, nut-brown braid resting over her shoulder. It certainly didn’t match the luxurious sheen of Videlle’s hair.

“…and you are slender enough, but you’re not the shapeliest girl. Perhaps you will fill out, but we shall see if our dressmaker can’t do something to enhance you in the meantime.”

Kyrin’s cheeks warmed. She had no desire to look like many of the women she regularly encountered with their revealing gowns and tightly cinched bodices.

“You do have pretty eyes,” Videlle added, almost as an afterthought. “Yes, we will try to draw more attention to them.”

No one had complimented Kyrin’s eyes before. Compared to Yara’s striking green or Meredith’s darker indigo hues, she never considered her dusty blue particularly attractive. But they were her father’s eyes, and that made them special to her.

Videlle crossed the room to the wardrobe. “I will help you this morning, but after this, Holly will assist you.” She gestured to the servant girl standing ready at the door.

Kyrin glanced at her again, and the young woman curtsied.

“She is familiar with the morning routine and will be your personal maid.”

Kyrin had to stop herself from gaping. First this extravagant room and now her own
maid. Hadn’t she just been on her hands and knees scrubbing Tarvin Hall’s courtyard? She needed a moment to process this, but Videlle seemed determined to forge right ahead with her duties. She pushed back the wardrobe doors. Gold and black fabric filled the inside, but a few other splashes of rich color peeked out. She withdrew an article of clothing.

“Put this on first and we shall see to your hair and cosmetics.”

She handed the white linen shift to Holly, who helped Kyrin change out of her uniform and into the close-fitting, short-sleeved garment. Once it was laced rather tightly in the back, Lady Videlle indicated a chair at the dressing table. Kyrin took a seat, and Holly loosed her hair to brush out the tangles. Despite being in a braid most of the morning, it hung limp and straight.

Videlle held her elbow in her hand and tapped one finger against her chin. “Doesn’t look as though it will hold a curl well,
does it?”

“No, ma’am,” Holly answered quietly.

“Well, you will just have to do your best with it.”

Kyrin almost laughed. The poor girl would have quite a challenge. She watched in the mirror as Holly reached for a tall glass bottle of clear liquid. She sprinkled a little of it into her hands and worked it through Kyrin’s hair. Whatever it was transformed the dull strands to a rich, shiny brown. So that’s how women did it.

Next came an abundance of hairpins and thin, flexible rollers, with which she arranged the top layer of Kyrin’s hair up around her head. She used heated rods on the bottom layer to create the perfect, long curls women so coveted. After all, long, elaborate hairstyles were the height of women’s fashion. To have it cut any shorter than waist length was a sign of terrible shame. Though Kyrin always found working with her hair a frustration, Holly turned it into what equated to a work of art.

As fascinating as it was to watch, Kyrin focused on Lady Videlle, who used this time to inform her about her position here at the palace. “You will be allowed to come and go as you please as long as you check with either
myself or Holly. We will know the emperor’s schedule and whether or not you are required.”

Kyrin’s heart gave a leap. She would still get to see Kaden. Already she wanted to know when she’d have a bit of free time, but she refrained from interrupting.

“For your service, you will be paid a generous monthly sum based on the performance of your duties.”

“What, exactly, are my duties?” Kyrin asked as she looked at her in the mirror.

Lady Videlle frowned. “To read people, of course.”

“And how and when will I do this? What type of situations?”

“Well,” this seemed to be Videlle’s favorite way to begin a statement, “no one has ever held your position until now, but from what I understand you will be present at most of the emperor’s meetings and important gatherings. You will watch discreetly from the background and relay any pertinent information to the emperor’s assistant, who will then give that information to the emperor. Obviously, your main objective is to recognize any threat to His Majesty.”

Kyrin was about to nod, but thought better of it since it could mess up Holly’s work.

It took close to an hour before both Videlle and Holly found satisfaction with Kyrin’s hairstyle. Would they spend every morning in this manner? What a waste of time. But she didn’t dare breathe a word of this, of course.

Now Lady Videlle took over to show Holly what she had in mind for cosmetics. At this point, Kyrin could no longer watch the progress in the mirror as the women fussed over her face. Videlle applied generous amounts of cream and powder to Kyrin’s skin, much like an artist now with all her brushes and cosmetic palettes.

After a variety of colors and applications, Videlle stepped back to examine her handiwork. “There, you see that, Holly, how the blue and brown brings out her eyes as well as complements her hair?”

Holly nodded studiously.

“That’s what I want you to go for.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Can I see?” Kyrin asked. After all that painting and powdering, how must she look?

“Not just yet. Let’s first get you into your dress.”

Videlle went to the wardrobe again. This time she withdrew a long, gold linen gown similar to her own. It had an attractive cut, and the neckline was not too low, thankfully. Actually, it was quite plain except for the embroidered black ribbon sewn down the length of each sleeve and around the bottom hem.

Holly helped Kyrin into this dress and laced up the back. She also tightened laces on either side of the dress’s bodice so it fit as snugly as the shift. Over the dress went a fitted black, suede vest. Kyrin smoothed her hands down the front. She had only worn dresses on special occasions. This would take some getting used to, but the dress was pretty. Maybe dressing up would have its advantages.

This thought vanished the moment Lady Videlle produced a pair of black shoes. Heels. Her shoulders sagged. Only once had she ever worn heels, and it ended in disaster. Of course, it hadn’t been purely out of clumsiness. She had been tripped, deliberately, but still. She grimaced at the memory of the ensuing chaos when Kaden had jumped in to avenge her.

“Do I have to wear heels?”

Lady Videlle looked at her aghast. “Well, of course you must. What is a gown without appropriate footwear? Besides, it will add a couple of inches to your height, and that is always a good thing.”

Kyrin winced. Five foot seven was just fine. She didn’t need to be five foot ten. Now she understood why Videlle was so tall.

“Well, for pity’s sake, at least wear them today and when you’re with the emperor. If you wish to go without them on your own time, very well.”

Kyrin accepted this agreement and stepped into the shoes Videlle set on the floor. Holly buckled them, and Kyrin took a couple of uncertain steps. The instability made her nervous, but she had no choice.

With a final inspection, Lady Videlle smiled. “Well, considering what I had to work with, the outcome is quite satisfactory.” She gestured to the full-length mirror in the corner. “See for yourself.”

Kyrin stepped carefully to the mirror. She sucked in her breath at her reflection. No
more plain, simple Kyrin. Layers of cream and powder smoothed and lightened her skin tone. The pale color brought out the deep crimson of her lip paint and the dusty blue and brown on her eyelids that did indeed draw attention to her eyes. She was beautiful, at least according to the standards of society. Despite how plain she’d been, Holly and Videlle had transformed her image into one any girl would envy.

And yet, Kyrin’s heart sank. This
would now be expected of her—this painted girl in the mirror. Suddenly, she desired more than anything to be plain old Kyrin.