Princess of Dawn: Book 1 of The Crystal Crown Trilogy by Megan Gilbert

Author:Megan Gilbert [Gilbert, Megan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780645855319
Publisher: Crafted Press
Published: 2023-09-25T16:00:00+00:00

21

Galdinia stared at herself in the mirror of her dressing room. She ran her hands down the sleeves of her gown, not in order to smooth them, but out of nervous compulsion. The confidence she held hours earlier in the wood had worn off as she contemplated the evening ahead. Neryda tried to distract her with a long afternoon routine, including bathing, scrubbing her nails, pinning her hair, and trying on dresses from a selection that Madame Moya had made for the occasion. Finally, Neryda convinced Galdinia to wear the most illustrious of them all.

The ruby-red dress hugged Galdinia’s frame, accentuating every curve of her figure. It clung to her arms, waist and the top of her thighs. From there, it fell loose around her feet, circling behind her in a subtle yet elegant train. The dress rested just atop her shoulders, leaving her collarbones bare, which was more revealing than her usual attire. Galdinia felt a strange mix of self-consciousness and elation. It was an exact replica of the dress her mother wore to the Royal Feast after the king’s mother died. It was a celebration gown, a gown to remind everyone in the room who was in charge. Galdinia didn’t know if she was worthy of wearing such a garment.

“Honestly, Gal, you look beautiful.” Neryda sat behind her, admiring her friend in the reflection of the mirror. “And stop fiddling with the sleeves. They’re fine.”

“Are you sure it’s not too much for such a sophisticated evening?” Galdinia asked, turning to look at her back where the dress dipped low, hugging each curve along the way.

“Absolutely not,” Neryda assured her, now standing by Galdinia’s side in her own shimmering gold dress. “It is simply perfect. You look like a true ruler… almost.”

Neryda walked to the glass cabinet on the opposite wall. Inside were the jewels left for Galdinia by her parents, including her royal tiara. Neryda opened the doors and considered the pieces of jewellery; she was a child in a sweet parlour.

Neryda stood once again by her friend and handed her two golden earrings studded with clear luminescent crystals. The next piece of jewellery was a complementary necklace, which Neryda hooked around Galdinia’s smooth neck with ease. Galdinia continued to stare at herself, feeling the weight of the accessories she now bore.

“And finally…” Neryda trailed off, lifting Galdinia’s tiara to her head. She secured it in her silky, golden hair, careful not to ruin the delicately pinned arrangement of curls at the nape of her neck. Galdinia’s gaze rested on the tiara, its crystals glinting in the setting sun that trailed into the room. The jewels sent shards of rainbows across the walls as she moved her head slowly to inspect Neryda’s final work.

“You’re a princess, my friend—a queen!” Neryda beamed in the mirror.

Galdinia was used to wearing her tiara, but the jewels on her ears and neck were especially heavy. “This feels both strangely natural and beyond uncomfortable.”

“It will just take some getting used to,” Neryda assured her, gazing at her friend in the mirror.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.