And with this new Hell came a new kind of torture.
The maids returned to the room at five-thirty to find Adele sobbing hysterically into her feather pillows. When they approached her, she screamed like a madwoman, throwing the pillows at the maids with surprising force. They attempted to calm her as objects began swirling around the room, which grew dark under Adele's command. A guard was summoned to Adele's room, and she overcame her anger and distress only when the man threatened to subdue her with a countering charm. The room lightened, the flying objects fell to the floor, and Adele wiped her tears as the blue flames in her irises dulled away to despair and sorrow.
Several servants went about cleaning the nearly destroyed room, while the two maids led Adele away to a second room.
"What exactly is going on here?" Adele demanded as the door was shut and locked, leaving her alone with her two maids and the guard who'd been told to keep her in control.
"You must be dressed for dinner," one maid explained hurriedly, placing a bundle of clothes on a chair in the corner.
Adele's eyebrows shot up, and she glanced at the burly man which stood in front of the door, watching her with a steely eye.
"In front of him?" She demanded, anger flaring up again. The guard cast her a warning glare, and she fought the urge to melt his eyes out just be looking at him.
"Unfortunately so," the second maid said impatiently, "As you have proven to be quite a trouble for us. Now get out of that hideous dress."
Adele was forced to obey, and with shaking hands she stripped down to her undergarments. The maids and male guard watched her constantly, making her feel increasingly uncomfortable. She threw the sun dress at one of the women and crossed her arms over her chest, averting her eyes. She heard the door open and close, and the room was silent for several moments before it opened and closed again.
She stood in the center of the room, and was dressed as though she were a little girl. A white slip was pulled over her head, and a corset was fastened around her torso. She gasped and shouted in protest as the horrid thing was laced as tightly as could be managed. With each tug on the corset strings her mind whirled as the breath was squeezed out of her. At last this torture was over, leaving her breathless, uncomfortable, and looking alarmingly slim.
A crinoline was tied around her waist next, designed to make the frilly navy blue dress that had been chosen for her sweep out elegantly. But before the dress was put on, she was swept over to a vanity, forced to sit down, and asked to sit still as her face was painted like a porcelain doll.
Her face was powdered, her lips were colored, and her cheeks blushed. Dark colors were caked onto her eyes, making it awkward and uncomfortable to blink. And as her face was distorted like this, the second maid pulled painfully at Adele's hair, twisting it up into a classy style that was common among most girls her age.
She was allowed to look into the mirror when the whole ordeal was complete. When Adele looked upon her own reflection, she very nearly let out a scream of horror.
The girl who looked back at her was not Adele. This girl was not the daughter of the great wizard Howl and the kind Sophie Hatter. This girl was a different person altogether. Adele didn't recognize herself, and was sure not even her parents, Markl, or Calcifer would be able to recognize her either. Her pretty face had been completely masked by makeup.
You bear a striking resemblance to your father...
She understood now. When the prince looked at her, he saw Howl, the man who had stolen his true love from him. So, naturally, it had been ordered that her face would be altered as much as possible, so the prince would not have to look upon the man he hated every day.
Adele became aware that the pendant Howl had given her was being lifted away from her neck. With a shout of protest, she leapt to her feet and snatched it back.
"Please," she begged pathetically, "Don't take this. This was a gift from my father! Please let me wear it!"
"It does not match the dress," the maid explained softly, gently taking the necklace away from Adele, "I'll see to it that this is brought to your room, and placed in the personal jewelry box on your bureau."
Adele gave in unwillingly, making the woman promise that the necklace would be returned. The simple pendant was replaced with a heavy necklace of sapphires and silver that clung to her neck like a collar.
Lastly, the dress was pulled over her head carefully, so as not to mar her make-up or hair. The bodice was fastened securely to her torso, and the dust was brushed from her skirt. The dress was an elegant gown of deep blue fabric, crisp white lace, and white and blue silk ribbons. Similar ribbons were tied into her hair, and a pair of white gloves were pulled over her hands, up over her elbows. A bracelet that matched her new necklace was then clipped around her wrist, and a pair of blue high-heeled shoes were placed upon her feet.
She looked into the mirror again, and Adele felt miserably out-of-place. She was accustomed to simple, breezy dresses and free-hanging or braided hair. The corset made breathing more difficult, and the necklace was heavy. She felt smothered beneath the folds of her dress and crinoline. She willed herself not to cry, knowing it would make her makeup run down her face.
She was led out of the room, and into the hall. Outside her door she saw that a second guard, the same young man who had escorted her to the palace, was waiting to escort her to dinner. He took her arm, and the pair started walking. She found it difficult to move on the high heels within the ocean of fabric that was her dress. When she stumbled, her escort caught her effortlessly, and waited before she regained her balance before they began to walk again.
"If it isn't to bold," the young man spoke, "I'd like to say I think you look lovely in that dress."
"I do not," Adele argued firmly, "I look like someone else. I want to go home."
"That's understandable," he replied, his voice very soft and calm, "This place may not be entirely desirable, but it is the safest place anywhere."
"I was safe at home," Adele continued arguing, managing somehow to keep her eyes free of tears, "I was safe with my mother and father. I was safe, and I wasn't lonely."
A long pause.
"My name is Arden," the young man finally spoke again as the pair neared the dining room, "If you're ever lonely, you can come find me if you want. Or you can find Rosalie, one of the maids. She's my sister. And if you can't find either of us, look for the gardener, Jessamine. I hope to be married to her soon, and she will be more than happy to keep you company."
Adele stopped, and turned to look up at Arden quizzically. Then, gratitude and hope sparkled in her blue eyes. "Thank you," she said with a brief nod, before going into the dining room.
Once Arden left her side, Adele felt immediately uncomfortable again. The prince was already seated at the head of the table, and a place had been set for her at his right hand. There were no other people in the room, save a few statuary servants near the doors. The prince stood as she approached.
"That's much better," he remarked upon studying her appearance, "You look like a dignified, noble young lady."
"With all due respect, your highness," Adele replied coolly, "I believe I looked like a dignified, noble young lady before. Now, I feel much more like a decorative china doll."
"Such is the way of royalty," the prince replied smoothly, and both of them took their seats, "Tell me, how is your mother doing?"
Adele took a small sip of the water that had been placed in front of her before answering. "She's doing quite well," she responded, "She and my father are very, very happy together."
Adele enjoyed a small victory to watch the prince's face fall. He didn't press any further questions, and she eagerly began to eat her soup. Trying to ignore the corset that was currently crushing her ribs.
"How am I, you ask?" Adele inquired after a while, though the prince had said no such thing, "I'm not doing so well here." She laid down her spoon and folded her hands before going on. "I miss my home; my mother, my father, and my friends. I was forced to undress in front of a strange man today, and was put through unspeakable tortures just so I could 'look nice for dinner'. And now, I am eating soup with a man who tried to have my father executed, and unjustly murdered the very woman I am named for."
The prince stared at Adele for a long moment, slightly taken aback. He recovered his shock after a moment, and was able to reply.
"I see you never learned proper manners," he remarked snidely, "But what can I expect, being raised by that wizard in such a place as that."
"If you ever insult my father," Adele warned, getting to her feet, "I will transform your head back into a turnip, and see to it that it is eaten by crows."
The prince stood as well, looking angry now. "You will not threaten me," he raised his voice, "I will not be spoken to in such a way by an arrogant, foolish little girl. I never wanted to bring you here! I only did it for two reasons. One, because I care deeply about your mother. And two..."
He hesitated for a moment, and Adele tried to storm away. But before she could, he caught her by the wrist. When he spoke again, his voice was frighteningly calm and serious.
"The second reason was because I hoped, for the good of the kingdom, to make you my bride."