The Kings Mistress Chapter 101

[ … words ]

“Burn it, bury it for all I care. I want you to get rid of it. Apart from you and I, no one will know of its existence until the time is right,” Sierra explained.

“Do you want to retrieve the dress in time, Princess?” Ida asked, wondering what her plan was.

Sierra shook her head, “No. It can never be found ever again.”

“I’m on it, princess.”

To avoid any unnecessary suspicion, they kept the dress in the room for the time being and headed downstairs to join the rest of the princesses for the showcase. When Myra and Taita saw Sierra in her gown, they were impressed.

Though they knew immediately that this was something she had worn before, they did not mind it at all. Furthermore, they were impressed by the additions she made to make her outfit a little more unique and to her tastes.

“You look wonderful, Sierra,” Myra praised, as Taita nodded in agreement.

“Wonderful? It looks like she simply patched her outfit together,” Agnes scoffed in the background, making sure her voice was loud enough for all to hear.

Cassandra did not even glance over to take a look. She was looking in a different direction altogether. When Sierra glanced over to Agnes, she smirked. True to her prediction, the culprit who took her dress chose to wear it for the art showcase.

All to rub it in her face. Sierra could tell the dress had been tailored to fit her figure, not Agnes’. Since she was a little more muscular than the average princess, the dress had to be held together on Agnes with well-hidden pins and clips.

Sierra walked over to Agnes with a bright smile and circled her while praising, “Princess Agnes, I have to say, this dress you’ve got is simply a sight to behold.”

Alistair had picked the most beautiful fabric she had ever laid eyes upon. Under the light, the dress shimmered and dazzled. Sierra wished she had the dress on, but having seen it on Agnes, she liked it a little less.

“Do you like it? I had it made just for me.” Agnes boasted as she turned.

Everyone came forward to see it up close. Sierra took note of everything about the dress. She also noted how Agnes had it held in place. Apart from that, she did not say anything else and went to join the rest as they headed towards the venue for the art showcase.

The Fleur Theater situated in the castle was chosen as the location for the art showcase. Similar to the riding test, nobles from all across Drakin were invited to attend and watch the spectacle.

All the princesses and their attendants were ushered to the backstage of the theatre to make final preparations. It was all a mad rush from there on out as everyone prepared for their segment and made final adjustments to their outfits. Myra was nervous, but Sierra was there to calm her down.

“Don’t worry Myra, you’ll do great,” she supported her friend as she held her hand.

“I… I don’t know Sierra. What if I play the wrong note? I…” she whispered to her anxiously.

Sierra placed both of her hands on her shoulders, “Look at me Myra, look at me. Trust yourself. You’ve prepared for this moment and you’ve prepared well. You’ll be alright.”

Hearing Sierra’s encouragement, Myra calmed down a little and nodded. She squeezed her friend’s hands tightly, grateful to have her by her side. Without Sierra to assure her, Myra didn’t know what she would have done.

Taita came over to them and wished them the best of luck too. As they continued to chat for a little while, an announcement on the main stage cut short their conversation, the art showcase was about to begin.

Everyone was excited to watch the performances, wondering what the princesses had in stored for them. As soon as the announcer took to the stage, the audience quietened down and the lights dimmed.

Princess Cassandra was the first to perform. As the curtains were raised, the audience applauded for her. Music began to play and Cassandra sang a song from a famous opera. It was well known throughout Gaeia. Sierra had never listened to it before, but from the looks on everyone’s faces, it must have been super popular.

Everyone was so engrossed in listening to it, that the hall was silent apart from the music and singing. Cassandra flawlessly delivered the aria, a highlight of the song she sang. The look on everyones’ faces was clear for all to see.

They loved it. As soon as the last note was sung, Princess Cassandra received a standing ovation from the audience. All the princesses and servants backstage were clapping for her too.

Yet for Sierra, she felt as if something was off. Though she clapped, just like anyone else, she knew something wasn’t right with the way Cassandra had sung. It had no soul in it.

“Singing comes from the heart,” a bard once told her.

She sat around a crackling fire with some of the soldiers in the army barracks when a bard came forward, offering to play her and the soldiers a song. Sierra, amused by her request, took her up on it.

The bard strummed her lyre and sang a classic folk song. It was about a country girl’s longing for her soldier lover to return home. Sierra, along with the others, was entranced by the song. They listened in silence and intoxication as the music filled the air of that chilly night.

Sierra never forgot that performance. When she asked the bard what made her sing so well, that was what the bard replied.

Singing comes from the heart.

It was as simple as that. Sierra brought her hand up to her chest and curled it into a fist. When Cassandra sang her first notes, her confidence in her own singing wavered. But remembering the words of the bard, Sierra’s confidence was renewed.