Note:
I've been away for an awfully long time, and I'm really sorry about that. I know this chapter's super short, but you guys wanted one really badly. Hope this satisfies for now, and look forward to more chapters soon.
The strings tightened, digging their way into Celaena's back. She gasped, her teeth clenching in annoyance as her maid laced up the corset. Confounded thing. It was unpractical and, in the wrong situation, could even put her in danger. Not to mention the aching pains it sent up her back. She straightened, trying to release the tension, and rolled her shoulders back.
The maid smiled apologetically at her, eyes flashing with worry. Celaena wasn't sure how she felt about this newfound respect from the servants. She had always commanded a certain fear from those beneath her, but it had been more of the scuttling away kind, and less of the caring kind.
But she supposed that she owed her subjects some appreciation. She forced a smile through the pain, and gave the maid a wink. Beaming shyly, the maid tied the last ribbon tightly, causing Celaena to gasp, and scuttled quietly out of the dressing room.
She strode over to the mirror, and observed her hourglass frame with pleasure, clutching the sides of her corsets in an effort to look thinner. A smile rode up on her lips. She was damn sexy, and she knew it. Rowan knew it, too, but it was less fun and more... torture for him. Bending down, she puckered up and rubbed a rich burgundy cosmetic onto her lips. She gave her reflection a wink, and ambled out of the dressing room, to pick out some shoes.
Dinners at the castle were a fresh hell. A room full of mustached men with bulging waistcoats who each thought that their duties were cause for her attention wasn't exactly her idea of a fun time. But she couldn't say she was disappointed. She'd never expected being queen would be a lark, and she didn't intend to start now. The people of Terrasen needed her, and whether she wanted to do the job or not wasn't important.
She sighed. It had been almost three months since she'd started her training sessions with Rowan, but they'd been left on hold in lieu of more pressing matters. Such as the state tax, for example. God, she'd never thought there would be a more boring subject after practicing the multiplication tables with Arobynn, but it turned out that there was a first time for everything. Rowan had been gone for a few days, but he was expected to return tonight. And she couldn't wait to see him again.
Sucking in her stomach, she once again inspected herself, this time in the closet mirror. Her slinky black dress curved softly around her hips and breasts, and the hidden inlays of shaved silver twinkled when they caught the light. Her cleavage swelled as she took a deep breath, and she readjusted the neckline to sink just a little bit lower. She had no intention of being a prude tonight, since teasing Rowan was the only fun to be had.
A glossy pair of silk flats caught her eye, laying on the shoe racks. Slipping them on, she sighed in relief as the cool cloth kissed her skin. Weeks of wearing high heels had left its mark, and she couldn't give less of a fuck if she didn't seem as tall as usual tonight.
She walked over to the door. Her fingers grazed the doorknob, and she smiled, throwing it open. The dining room awaited.