"There!" Mira said proudly, as over eager as ever. "Don't you just GLOW." She stepped back admiring her work, and turned the young woman towards the mirror. She gasped. The face staring back at her was still her own, but different somehow... other-worldly. Gold leafed lashes with crimson a shimmering gold dust pigment adorned her eyes, her dark hair was done up; intricately woven into a series of elaborate overlapping rolls, with satin ribbons of white, gold and red spun throughout. Her lips painted with a complimentary blood-red stain that shimmered in the low light of Princess Mira's room. Her silken scarlet dress was of a comparatively simple design flowing easily into a high empire waist under the ornamental armor that wrapped her arms and chest. It rippled like a liquid when she moved, light, smooth and impossibly fine. Angelina turned slightly, admiring the dress, and the whole ensemble.
"um. Mira?" She turned looking a little perturbed. "This is amazing… but isn't this a bit…Much?"
"Pshh." Mira waved her off absently, adjusting a ribbon in her hair. "Everyone will be dressed up tonight!" The festival of Ifrit is an important day for my kingdom. Dignitaries from all over will be there!"
Angelina frowned silently into the mirror, thinking about something.
"Including…." Mira said absently, "a certain sharp-tongued general from Gramenia."
Angelina turned wide-eyed, and caught a glimpse of Mira's smirk before she breezed away.
"I'll be back to get you shortly. I need to go squeeze into my own dress" She said in an almost sing-song as she glided out the door to meet her lady in waiting.
If Angelina hadn't seen her with a sword in hand just days earlier, she'd never have guessed that the headstrong princess was a fighter. Mira was fierce, and ruthless. A fiery woman with blades that burned with the magic of her soul.
She sighed and sat down, remembering the day well, and the snarky general that had in no uncertain terms saved her life (twice) that day. She groaned. Great.
And now? She had to face him again. She wasn't looking forward to it, she already on edge being dolled up for Mira's silly party. It was pretty, she had to admit. Finer than anything that she had worn in her life up to this point. She adjusted the under bust of the armor self-consciously.
She thought back to the man's fierce green eyes, boring into hers... the bizarre interrogation in the woods, the monsters... Him calling her names and then-
Shielding her with his own body.
Must just be how he is… She thought. Being a noble and all... They're supposed to just to things like that. She lied to herself. She had felt his weight sag against her after he took the blow that would have ended her life. He staggered, bloody, but fighting. He had taken out every goblin before Mira's entourage even showed up. Handing her off to a knight before collapsing to the ground half-dead—
"I'm Baaaaack!" Mira twirled into the room floating like a goddess. Angelina's flashback was interrupted. She gasped. The princess looked like something from a fairytale; elegant and shimmering in a dress as white as the first kiss of winter's snow in much the same style as Angelia's own. Empire waisted with glided ornamental armor crusted with rubies that glittered in the low light. Her hair was pulled up into a "genie" style ponytail with pearled ribbons of snow white and bejeweled chains of gold that delicately braided throughout her hair. She wore a simple gold circlet upon her brow. Mira's eyes were painted with a pearlescent pale shimmer and the same gold leafing that she had. She too, wore ruby lips. What a sight she was to behold…No man would stand a chance against her charms...They'd simply evaporate into steam.
She noticed Angelina staring and struck a pose, pouting her crimson lips. "I know," She said coyly, "I get that a lot!" She gave a wink and tossed her hair in a sparking cascade over her shoulder.
"C'mon, lets go break some hearts!" She said mischiefiously, and took the younger girls arm before she could protest.