Someone Else's Shoes by Alien Aldrea

Author:Alien, Aldrea [Alien, Aldrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thardrandian Publications
Published: 2021-11-25T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Alla remained silent, unsure of their destination, as the princess escorted her through the blue curtains and down the same corridors she had previously walked with the palace servant. The princess was far better company, walking at her side with their fingers linked.

Alla’s shoes dangled in her free hand, enabling her to enjoy the rich sensation of the carpet upon her soles. She had thought use would’ve robbed the threads of their plushness, just as what had happened at home, but she was able to dig her toes into the pile at every languid step. It was like walking on moss.

The walls of the corridors opened out into the hall dotted with portraits.

Even here, with its cool air and the abundance of seating before each painting, Princess Viktoriya showed no hint of stopping. But there was an absence of urgency in their passage.

Alla’s stomach knotted as they strolled down the middle of the room. She glanced at the portraits, trying not to see the poorly hidden elven qualities. One thing she did notice was that a lot of the portraits had one of the couple wearing a key. Sometimes, it was the tsar, other times, the tsarina, always peeking out from within their jewels.

Princess Viktoriya wore the same key around her neck or at least a replica. She toyed with it as they walked, delicately twirling the shaft between her thumb and forefinger.

“So…” Alla drawled, trying to fill what had been comfortable silence before they had entered the hall. “If I have this right, your parents threw a massive ball, inviting all of the nobility, because they’ve accepted you are a woman?”

The princess’ lips flattened. “Not entirely, but close enough. They accepted the fact years ago, but my father has worried himself sick about the court’s reaction and my safety amongst them. Needlessly, it would seem.”

“I would’ve thought they would have insisted your heir coronation some time ago.” Alla surreptitiously eyed the princess. She looked older than the usual eighteen-year-old human.

Princess Viktoriya giggled. “My first appearance as a prince and their future tsar was done when I was twelve. So yes, I guess thirteen years ago is a while back.”

Peering off into the distance, vaguely aware they were leaving the hall for another corridor, Alla’s thoughts crackled and buzzed with questions. The heir coronation was always performed before the court. They would know who was next in line. “Then, I’m afraid I don’t understand the need for another debut? Aren’t you the same person?”

Princess Viktoriya chuckled. “I’ve asked myself the same question.” She shrugged. “I could’ve done without the ball, but my mother was adamant I get an introduction as befits a princess, rather than some dry announcement. She says it’s more fitting. Although, I’ve never been all that good at the whole court mingling side of things.”

Alla thought of the way the princess had floated around the ballroom, of her strength and poise then and even now. “One would be hard-pressed to realise that. You’ve done a marvellous job of it tonight.

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