"No," Sorana said decisively. "I can't wear this!"
There was a chorus of disappointed groans that echoed from the throats of every Markazian in the room, even the two dutiful attendants.
"What's wrong with it now?!" Princess Amira demanded, her foot tapping as her patience wore thin.
Sorana turned to her friend, uncowed by her look of annoyance, "It still shows way too much fur," she began vaguely. "It's just too… embarrassing."
"Oh, that's a load of-" The princess began, but before she could finish, Fernando stepped between the two of them and gave her a stern look.
Amira reconsidered her wording, but she didn't relent with her argument, "You didn't seem to have a problem stripping down for your fitting," she pointed out.
"That's different," Sorana insisted defensively. "It's not like I'm in public and it's just girls in here."
The princess raised an eyebrow at the defiant Lombax, "What about Fernando?" she pressed.
Sorana shook her head and waved her hand dismissively, "Fernando doesn't count, he's clearly-"
But Sorana trailed off, suddenly feeling the four pairs of eyes that were watching her curiously.
Amira fought a smile and eyed her friend mischievously, "Fernando is clearly 'what', Sorana?"
From her peripheral, Sorana could see Fernando grinning and fluttering his eyelashes at her in anticipation, curious to hear her answer.
The young Lombax cleared her throat and brushed her hair from her face elegantly, "Fernando doesn't count because he's clearly a 'professional'," she answered in a dignified way.
From her side, Fernando began to laugh, "Hahaha, oh Sorana! As 'professional' as I am, I find myself falling more in love with you every moment."
But the mirth quickly subsided from the tall Markazian's features and his face became serious again, "However, I'm afraid I must agree with our esteemed Princess here," he continued. "Forgive me, but I don't believe this is simply a matter of embarrassment."
"O-of course it is," Sorana insisted. "Not as embarrassing as half the things I've tried on so far, but it's still too much."
Fernando stood up to his full height and tutted in disappointment, "Come now, my dear, give me a little more credit than that. While my more 'risquê' ensembles did garner a few rather emotional reactions… we both know that the only one to make you blush was the wedding dress."
Sorana's face warmed at the memory and she looked away from Fernando's gaze before she could stop herself. She glanced back nervously, knowing that she was trapped when she saw the perceptive Markazian's lips curl in vindication.
But instead of pressing his 'gotcha' momentum, Fernando instead kneeled down to Sorana's level and gave her a disarming look of understanding, eye to eye, "Please, tell me what's really bothering you, sweetheart?" he asked gently. "Is there some other reason you have for refusing my choice of outfit? You can tell me if they are simply not to your taste," he added, trying to sound slightly hurt to garner sympathy.
Sorana looked into the man's eyes, knowing what he was doing, but feeling a little guilty all the same.
Finally, she let out a sigh in defeat, "I just don't like… this!" she answered, gesturing not just to the dress she was wearing, but to the room as a whole. "I don't like using my looks to manipulate people, and especially not the boy I like!"
The princess and Fernando's attempt to clad Sorana in revealing dresses was not the young Lombax's first encounter with seduction. In high society, where power and wealth can be tossed around as easily as the frills of a loose mini-skirt, the 'art' of gaining favor with one's appearance and promiscuities was all too common.
She had always hated the idea, however. It felt so shallow and superficial, similar to the act of judging someone based on their family name, or coercing someone into a relationship that they don't even want to be in.
"If any kind of romantic relationship between me and Kaden is possible," Sorana continued firmly, her tone gradually becoming more sure of herself, "I want it to be built on more than just hormones! I want it to be something we both want."
"Ugh!" gagged Amira, the young royal looking thoroughly disgusted by what she'd just heard. "What's even the point of this dinner date then? If you won't force him and you won't 'appeal' to him, then your only option is to just straight up confess your feelings and hope for the best!"
But, Sorana shook her head, "No, I can't just tell him how I feel either," she said flatly. "Not while there's even a chance that he might-"
The princess suddenly stopped looking frustrated and her eyes narrowed, "Fine then," she said softly, but with a hint of danger. "If you won't make a move on him, maybe 'I' will. He's some kind of boy-genius right? I'm sure mother would approve our marriage just for the technology he could provide."
Both Fernando and his two assistants reacted with shock at Amira's words. Part of it had to do with the fact that their future ruler had just announced her intention towards someone, meaning that this man might one day become their future ruler as well. There was also the concern for what the princess had said about marrying him for his technological knowledge and of the repercussions this might incur from the knowledge-restricting Lombax people.
Mostly, though, they just couldn't believe she was threatening to take another woman's man!
It took all of Fernando's poise to not gasp aloud and shout, 'no she didn't'.
Sorana's reaction, however, was calm and without animosity, "You don't mean that," she said softly, with a knowing shake of her head.
But this only seemed to anger the princess more, "Oh, but I do! I've always wondered what a Lombax is like in the sack. Even if he's no good, once I'm queen, I'll have a harem to choose from for when I get bored. He can be my toy for whenever I get a taste for the exotic!"
Fernando stood back up to his full height and eyed Amira, "Your Highness! I believe you've said enough!" he asserted brusquely.
But the hot-tempered royal didn't seem to have heard him, as she continued her rant "At least then 'somebody' will get a bit of use out of him," she pressed bitterly. "I bet it won't even be all that hard either. If your timid attempts are the only thing he knows, I bet he'll fall at my feet when he sees what a 'real' woman can offer!"
"Mira! That's enough!" Fernando suddenly barked in anger. The sharp, unexpected tone demanded the attention of everyone present. "Any more of this and I will sew extra fabric to the mid-sections of every dress that I'm currently holding for you!"
Amira's eyes narrowed even further and her jaw tightened, "I'll have you tried for treason," she hissed. There was not even a hint of a bluff in her threat.
But Fernando sneered back at the princess without worry, "I accept your punishment and I gladly go to the gallows knowing I leave you in the capable hands of the 'official' Valentulus royal tailor."
Amira ground her teeth in frustration, but, with great effort, she held her tongue, yet again knowing that she would lose a great deal without Fernando's magic sewing needle on her side.
Nodding at her silence, the surprisingly fierce shop owner leaned back down until he was eye level with Sorana again, "Please don't take offense, my dear," he said, noticing the hurt in Sorana's expression. "Our princess is just a little… excitable."
However, he was taken by surprise when the young Lombax simply smiled back at him comfortingly, "I know, Fernando. Mira is just being Mira."
The princess huffed loudly at the comment and turned away like a child throwing a tantrum. Sorana reflexively turned her gaze and gave the haughty princess a smile as well.
In all the time Sorana had known Princess Amira, the young royal had 'always' been self-centered, tactless, and borderline bratty. But, deep down, like 'really' deep down, the young Lombax knew that her friend was only thinking of her and that the future Queen's cruel words were merely born out of frustration with her indecisiveness.
Sorana 'knew' this because she too felt that same frustration with herself. But, as she'd told the princess… she 'can't'. There was simply too much risk involved.
Fernando, seeing that he'd misread the young Lombax, tried putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, "My dear Sorana, I know the fear of rejection must weigh heavily on your mind, but... confessing your feelings could lead to the true happiness that you seek. Take it from someone who knows. Sometimes, in love, one must simply take a chance."
However, yet again Sorana just smiled and shook her head, "I'm not afraid of being rejected, Fernando," she said honestly, taking the room by surprise.
The young Lombax studied the confused look on Fernando's face, as well as those of everyone else in the room. Even the princess had not expected to hear this and her anger was momentarily forgotten as she shot her friend a questioning look.
She knew that the princess did not understand, that no one understood. Just as they all wished, for her sake, that her romance would blossom, she too felt pained every day that she and Kaden weren't together.
Ever since the young Lombax had come to terms with her own feelings, she'd wanted more than anyone to express them and she desperately wanted Kaden to look at her, for any reason. But... the situation was more complicated than that.
"But then, why?" Fernando asked. "If you are not afraid then... my dear, please, tell Fernando what is troubling you. I'm sure your reasons are as personal as they are valid, but it seems your heart is ready to burst."
Sorana looked up into Fernando's confused eyes and sighed. She wanted to tell the kind dressmaker of her woes, but she didn't know how to properly explain her and Kaden's unique relationship.
"I'll wager you only imagine two possibilities when you think about confessing your love to someone," she began suddenly. Her tone was melancholic and her gaze drifting. Everyone eyed her with a curious intensity. "When you confess, either the feelings are mutual and your love is reciprocated, the two of you begin to date and marry, then live happily ever after… Or, you find out your love is one-sided, your feelings are rejected and the hurt you feel strains the friendship that rarely ever truly recovers."
Sorana noted the few reflexive nods of agreement from her audience. While everyone held back their reservations about the 'happily ever after' part, they all agreed that this was usually how things went.
But that wasn't how it went with her crush.
Sorana shook her head, "If I told Kaden how I felt…" she began hesitantly, still unsure of how the words would sound to anyone not familiar with the situation. "If I told Kaden that I loved him... what if he didn't feel the same way, but agreed to go out with me regardless?"
The young Lombax was not surprised when her words garnered more than a few confused looks, even from Fernando.
"Why would he do that?" questioned the princess in disbelief. "He doesn't seem like the type to worry about hurting someone's feelings."
Sorana nodded at the comment with a solemn smile, "No, he's not, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care."
The young Lombax waited a moment to gather her thoughts, thinking back through the long relationship she'd had with Kaden, "One of the things I've always… loved, about Kaden, was that, deep down, he always wanted to help. So many times he told me about experiments and inventions that were designed to make life easier, everyone's, not just his. Of course, they often failed spectacularly, so very few people got to see the part of his efforts that I saw."
The listening Markazians all wore a look of concern, as if they were hearing the delusions of someone with Stockholm Syndrome.
Sorana noticed this in their expressions and smiled despite herself. Her friends at Nova had all worn that expression as well.
"It was the same with me," she continued, smiling more cheerfully now as she reflected on fond memories. "In all the time I've known Kaden, he's never once completely refused a request from me. Sure, he groans and grumbles whenever it's something he doesn't consider important, like having a birthday party, or behaving in class. He's impulsive and forgetful too, but no matter what it is, if I persisted, he always gave in eventually."
The expressions on her audience softened slightly as they began to see a little of what she saw. Fernando even nodded his head several times in approval at how well she seemed to know how to get what she wanted from a man.
Sorana held back a laugh at this reaction and continued, "This was even more true of things that were important. Kaden readily agreed to help me with studying, or figuring out some new digi-pad function, and if he ever even suspected I was in trouble, he didn't even hesitate to do something about it."
"Well, that sounds useful," noted the princess, thinking about how much a genius childhood friend could come in handy with the many 'problems' of her lavish royal lifestyle.
"Heh, not always," Sorana laughed, smiling on fond memories, fond in hindsight at least, "I even had to start being careful about which of my problems I told him about, for fear that he might try to do something about them in his own, extreme, way."
"Actually, it might have even helped me growing up," the young Lombax continued as she thought about her own words. "Whenever I was upset about something, I reflexively wanted to tell Kaden, but then I would stop and consider what he might do if he found out. When I thought about his reaction, whatever I had an issue with suddenly seemed insignificant and not worth complaining about. I think that pushed me to face my own problems more, while at the same time it made me feel safe knowing that he'd be there if something serious actually did occur. At least, that's how it felt from a child's perspective."
Sorana had been lost in her own thoughts so deeply, that she hadn't noticed looks of adoration she was getting from her audience. Especially Fernando who had his hands over his heart and was staring at her longingly.
"It sounds to me like you already have your answer, my dear," the doey-eyed Markazian swooned. "What kind of man would go to such lengths for just anyone?"
Sorana's smile dimmed a little and she slowly shook her head, "No, I don't think that's it," she said quietly, having considered the same thing every time Kaden did something seemingly romantic, before contradicting himself a second later. "As I said, Kaden's methods were often 'extreme' and his experiments ended badly more often than not. I think I was just the only friend he had. Throughout the entirety of our childhood, I never knew him to have anyone else he really got along with, and he's never shown any interest in anything like romance or girls."
The young Lombax hesitated a moment as her own words reminded her of Varin and the painfully casual way she'd seen him get along with her.
"My point is," Sorana continued, shaking the thought from her mind, "that if I asked Kaden out, right now, I'm not so sure he wouldn't agree to it simply because I asked him."
There was quiet after this.
"W-would that be so bad?" Fernando asked innocently.
Sorana shook her head, "Kaden has never really understood anything that wasn't scientific. I doubt he would even understand what dating someone entailed if he agreed. I mean, would he even care? What if all he really understood was that it was something I wanted and just said yes for that reason alone? What would be the point if he himself didn't want to be with me as well?"
The eyes continued to stare at her, but she had a hard time reading their expressions as they all processed what they'd heard.
The young Lombax looked away from them, slightly embarrassed. She'd always believed that she could handle being rejected outright. It would hurt, to be sure, but she knew she would persevere. Maybe even try again.
Much, much worse, however, was the possibility of believing that she'd gotten everything she wanted, that the person she loved actually loved her back, only to find out that Kaden's heart had never really been hers to begin with.
"That's why I don't want to manipulate or force him," Sorana continued, looking up directly at the princess as she said these words. "Or 'entice' him," she added, with a glance back at Fernando. "Before I do anything like confessing my feelings, I want to know for sure what it is that 'he' wants."
"Oh, sweetheart!" Fernando cried, almost literally as his eyes misted. The tall Markazian was practically on his knees as he wrapped his arms around the young Lombax before she even knew what was happening, "I had no idea you were holding so much in! Or that you had given your future so much consideration. Just let it all out, tell Fernando your pain!"
Sorana cocked an eyebrow in surprise at the emotional Markazian, who, despite his 'professionalism' was technically hugging her while she was almost nude through the holographic dress.
"It's really alright," Sorana insisted in an effort to calm him down.
But Fernando only tightened his grip, "No, it was callous of me to push such a dress on you when I knew so little… no matter how 'fabulous' you look in it."
"Uh… there, there," Sorana said hesitantly, patting the large Markazian's back and wondering how 'she'd' ended up consoling 'him'.
Unable to hold back any longer, Princess Amira rejoined the conversation, "I think it's stupid," she grumbled angrily. "How are you supposed to figure out what a 'guy' wants? They always think they know what they want, but then when they get it, they're never satisfied! You should just go out with him and then 'make' him want you."
Sorana glared at her friend from over Fernando's shoulder, "Well, that's just your opinion," she countered dismissively, still patting the tall Markazian's back comfortingly.
The young Lombax then felt Fernando's grip relax and the emotional shop owner finally released her. She waited as he got back to his feet and wiped his eyes with a ridiculously extravagant handkerchief.
"It 'is' her opinion," the man repeated, before pausing to blow his nose. "But, I'm afraid, my dear, that I must agree with her majesty on this… for the most part at least."
Sorana was taken aback by the sudden change in allegiances, "What do you mean by that?" she demanded, looking up at him with betrayal in her eyes.
Fernando shook his head, "Sorana, sweetheart, your ambitions are noble and pure... but they are painfully naive, and flawed with idealism. The princess is right, for once-"
"Hey!" Amira shouted indignantly.
But Fernando disregarded her and continued, "No matter how hard you try, you will never truly understand young Kaden's mind," he added, reiterating the princess' words with a bit more tact this time. "Few people understand even their own feelings and desires, and I'm sure any boy lucky enough to have caught your eye, must have a mind as deeply rich and complex as it is beyond fathom."
Fernando paused to let his words sink in, his eyes never breaking contact with Sorana's, "You've known him for most of your life, watched him grow alongside you as a close friend, so, I ask you: how many more years will it take? How many more precious moments lost, or time that could have been spent together wasted, before you will know your answer without even having to ask the question?"
Reflexively, Sorana opened her mouth to retort, but she suddenly found that she had no words to argue with. Everything Fernando had said was logical and his words struck a nerve with her.
The young Lombax's jaw clenched shut again and her facial muscles tightened, "But…" she began through her teeth, still unsure of how to respond.
Fernando placed his hands on her shoulders again and smiled warmly at her, calming the turmoil that was brewing inside, "Sorana, listen to me. Men are like my dresses: they should make you feel beautiful and strong, keep you warm when it's cold, and always be there to hold you in a secure embrace. To find the right one, however... You can measure and sew a dress to perfection, look at yourself in the mirror with it on, and even have the assistance of a dashingly brilliant and skilled tailor to help you find the perfect ensemble. Alas, the only way you will ever 'truly' know if a dress is the proper 'fit' for you, is to wear it out on the town, go dancing with it, and sleep with it… on, that is."
Sorana slowly felt the will to argue drain out of her as she began considering the insightful tailor's point of view. It was true that she'd come to Markazia with Kaden intent on finding out if he was even capable of having feelings for her, but she'd known him her most of her life. If she didn't know by now, would she ever?
Fernando smiled as he saw the thoughts churn in her mind, "It also doesn't hurt to have a large variety to try on," he added with a sly smile and a conspiratorial wink. "Maybe even keep some in your collection for when your mood changes. There's a 'dress' for every occasion you know..." but he trailed off as he noticed Sorana's face darken slightly
The mischievous grin that had grown on his face vanished as he cleared his throat, "Ahem, yes! My point is this: You can never truly know if you and Kaden will work out together, not until you actually 'try' to make it work. And, while I know that the rambling clothing-based metaphor given to you by some random, yet impeccably-dressed stranger, whom you only just met, might not persuade you to confess everything right here and now, perhaps my words could help you realize something: That being wanted by the man you love, for whatever reason, doesn't have to be a bad thing. At the very least, it can be a start."
The tall Markazian emphasized his point by moving out of the way and gesturing to the mirrors behind him. In their pristine, crystalline surface stood a young and beautiful Lombax girl in a fiery red dress. The girl's expression looked undecided, but her posture, built from years of practice and complemented by the dress, looked confident and powerful.
Seeing the hesitation in Sorana's expression, Fernando saw an opening, "Mutual love and understanding? Those are things you'll have to work on, but right now you are young! Let your passion guide you... and let your body guide him. Even if all you do is light the spark, it may very well be enough to ignite! Besides… 'all's fair in love and war'," the tall Markazian reminded her with a grin and a wink.
But instead of taking the push as he'd expected, the young Lombax surprised him yet again when a sideways grin slowly spread across her lips, before she let out a quiet laugh.
Fernando looked confused, as did everyone else, but Sorana couldn't help herself. The tall Markazian's final words would have, she knew, pushed her over the edge and sealed her course, had they not been said by someone else very recently.
"Haha, you sound just like Varick," she noted with a shake of her head. Though, she was less offended by the sentiment than she thought she'd be.
"Pardon... me?" Fernando asked, still unsure of her reaction.
Sorana shook her head again and returned to admiring herself in the mirror, with a more cynical mind than a moment ago, but a more open one than a few minutes before that, "He's a powerful student at Nova Academy who likes to meddle in other people's lives," she explained offhandedly. "Mostly, I think it's just for personal gain, but I know that deep down he enjoys it. And, just like you, he 'also' said that I should try being more aggressive. It was even 'his' idea for me to take Kaden on this trip in order to get closer to him."
Fernando nodded his head thoughtfully, "Sound advice. This 'Varick' boy sounds like he has some good sense."
Sorana sneered at the reflective glass, immediately seeing her own ugly expression, but knowing it was warranted and almost laughing at it, "Oh please, he's more of 'dictator' than a 'president'. He wanted me to use Kor as a way of making Kaden jealous! He said that twisting someone's feelings with envy was the best way to get them to notice you."
"Sounds about right," chimed in the princess, who was tired of not being at the center of the conversation. "I may not like your faceless bodyguard, but I'm happy to know he has a purpose, at least."
Sorana glared at her friend, "You're missing the point!" she shot back. "Varick is a manipulative, scheming sadist. He learns everything about a person and then uses his knowledge and power to play with their emotions as if their feelings are nothing more than a toy for his amusement. He figures out your weak spots and presses on them just enough to get you to do what he wants."
The young Lombax shook her head, feeling previously buried anger start to bubble up from within her, "You can't do anything about it, either! Even when you know he's getting 'exactly' what he wants, he makes it so that giving in to him is your only option and worst by far... he does all of this while wearing a sly, knowing smile on his stupid, handsome face that says he can give you what you want, but only if you obey him!"
As Sorana took a long breath to recover from her sudden outburst, she heard a loud gulp emanate from her side. She then turned an inquisitive glance that ways only to find the tall Markazian dressmaker fanning himself with his hand and eyeing her intensely.
"Th-this man... 'Varick', was it?" Fernando began hesitantly. "You don't… happen to have his link address, do you?"
Sorana squinted at the nervous Markazian in confusion for a good few moments before she finally realized what was being asked, "Oh! Oh no… Well, I mean 'yes', Fernando, I 'do' have his link, but I don't know if…" but she trailed off as she reconsidered the request.
"Actually, sure," she said a moment later with a sudden change in tone. "I'd be happy to give you Varick's 'personal' NID link address."
"Ooooh," Fernando squealed excitedly, "This day just keeps getting better and better!"
The tall Markazian then clapped his hands twice, signaling his two assistants to wrap up the session.
"I will have your dress ready in a just a hot second, my dear," he assured her, before Sorana was even aware of what was going on. "I promise that you won't be disappointed with the… results, either."
And before the young Lombax could argue that she hadn't actually agreed to wear the red dress, Fernando had dashed out of the fitting room.
Sorana was left there, standing dumbfounded in her photonic red dress, her hand outstretched in an attempt to grasp Fernando's after image, and a perplexed look on her face.
Realizing that her fate had been sealed, she then let out a sigh of resignation and her expression drooped.
Princess Amira watched him go as well, before turning back to Sorana, "I still think you need to show a bit more fur," she insisted yet again "But at least you're starting to see reason."
Sorana's glum look turned to one of mild irritation, "I haven't decided on anything," she countered, her mind still processing everything Fernando had said. She wasn't completely convinced of the tall Markazian's advice just yet, but she had to admit that the idea was starting to sound a bit more enticing.
For the short term, however, there was a more pressing matter. Sorana turned to look at herself in the mirror once more, scrutinizing every inch of her holographic dress.
To her side, one of the attendants remained waiting patiently with the holo-projectors' controller in her hand. The other attendant had left and this remaining woman clearly intended to remove the holo-projectors before she left as well.
"Don't tell me you're going to back out after all that?" the princess asked, seeing the way Sorana was judging the outfit with trepidation.
"I won't be rushed into doing anything I'm not comfortable with," she asserted firmly.
That being said, however, the more she stared, the more she liked the outfit. It was beautifully designed. Simple, yet elegant. Alluring, yet tasteful. Her only concern, however, was still what Kaden would think of it.
She knew how he was with anything that favored form over function. She couldn't stomach the idea of the guy she liked looking at her like she was illogically superficial. She knew the look very well and couldn't help but imagine it. The one he wore when he was studying something that he found curious, but also repulsive in its illogical existence.
"What if he doesn't like it," she whispered to herself, but loud enough that anyone else in the quiet room could hear it.
The princess scrunched her face and open her mouth to say something, when a small attendant with heavy glasses walked through the holographic entrance and into the dressing room.
Sorana recognized this attendant immediately as the girl that had accompanied Violet, who should be fitting Kaden right now.
The young Markazian stood nervously at the entrance, too shy to approach.
"What is it, Ellanor?" the princess demanded curtly.
"P-p-p-pardon me, your elegance," she stammered fearfully, "b-b-b-but Kaden's finished with his fitting. I-I mean, M-M-M-Mr. -"
Ellanor was so nervous that she struggled to say Kaden's formal name, but the princess became impatient.
"We get it, El," she said, and the young attendant breathed out a sigh of relief.
But then a sly smile came across the Amira's face, "Hey, I know," she began mischievously. "How about we just go and show Kaden your dress and see what he thinks right now?"
Sorana turned and looked at her royal friend confusion, "What do you mean? Fernando just left. I don't even have the dress yet."
The princess simply nodded to the holographic gown she was wearing, "You have that."
Sorana's expression immediately became appalled, "This is just a hologram!" she pointed out, hoping that the only explanation for the suggestion was that Amira had forgotten this fact.
"Think about it, Sor," the princess pressed knowingly. "If Kaden sees you wearing the real thing and doesn't like it, you're trapped. But, if you go to him with just the hologram, you can play it off like you were simply looking for a second opinion and hadn't made a decision yet. There would still be time to change and no harm, no foul."
Sorana's features tightened as the prospects of the idea started to become real. She still wasn't mentally prepared for this, but Amira's logic was sound, surprisingly, and through all the fear that Kaden wouldn't like the dress… there was a slight feeling of hope that he would.
"I'm sorry, ladies," interrupted Fernando's attendant, speaking for the first time since she'd entered the room. "But I really must get back to the couturière. He will be needing my assistance if we are to finish this dress in time."
The woman held the controller to the holo-projectors and gestured to Sorana, indicating that she still needed to remove the straps from her body before she could leave.
The princess frowned, unhappy about this little hiccup in her plans, but then she turned to the newly arrived attendant, "Ellanor will take over," Amira said authoritatively, as if she were in charge. "She's trained with the controller and can remove the straps when we're done. Plus, she's free now that Kaden's finished his fitting. Right, El?"
The timid attendant nodded vigorously, almost shaking her thick glasses from her face as she desperately sought to please the princess.
"See?" Amira said, turning back to the other attendant.
Fernando's assistant stared at the princess suspiciously. She knew to be wary of the mischievous young royal, but also feared the consequences of disobeying her. Not for the first time she wished she could understand how Fernando had tamed her.
However, she did have to admit that she felt better about handing the job off to another attendant rather than the princess herself. Even if the other employee was Violet's attendant.
"Alright, fine," the woman conceded. "Just don't do anything reckless with it, or else Fernando will throw a tantrum." The older attendant said this part as a warning mostly to Ellanor, but also for the princess. She then walked over and handed the device to her younger colleague, who almost dropped it as she took it nervously.
"Your Highnesses,'" the attendant added, nodding to Sorana and the princess, before promptly leaving the room.
Sorana, still lost in her thoughts, snapped out of them just in time to say, "Oh, I'm not a…" before the holographic curtains fell shut and the woman was gone.
The young, well-dressed Lombax frowned at the curtain for a moment, before turning a worried eye to the widely grinning face of the princess.
Amira was looking thoroughly eager for what was to come next, "Shall we?"
AN: Alright, sorry to keep you waiting for this chapter, it's been a busy few weeks. Unfortunately, this just goes to show that I am no longer able to keep up with my one chapter a week schedule.
I like having a schedule because it keeps me focused on writing, but I don't like the feeling of being rushed to finish something or risk posting a chapter that I don't believe is the quality it could be. There's also my editors to consider and the stress I put them under when I dump my hastily finished chapters in their inbox a day before it's set to release.
For the time being, I'll just write at my own pace and release chapters only when I feel like they are well and truly finished. Don't worry, though, I will definitely finish out this arc before I start any other projects.
If you'd like to keep up to date with new releases, be sure to 'follow' the story to receive email notifications on new chapters. As for everyone who has 'favorited' Younger Days, please make sure you also 'favorite' The Beginning of Days, as that is the favorite count that potential new readers will look at when deciding whether or not to give the Days Past series a try.
Thank you to Spriggs272, MyrTech, DragonMan2000, SJDvor, Munscroft, and especially vengal22 for all the reviews and comments on the story so far.
If anyone has questions about the story (no matter how technical), writing in general, or maybe just wants to say hi, feel free to message me anytime.