Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(36)

“Eat up. You are coming with me.”

His eyebrows shot up as I practically dragged him from the guesthouse. He was due to go on stage in a matter of hours, and I couldn’t let him do it in filthy clothes. In stark contrast to Luca’s finery, I’d never seen Cynder in anything more special than a palace uniform. I knew he had one in his bag. The uniform of the Castle in Thalia, but I didn’t want the public’s first glimpse of him to be anything less than Luca. He might not be a prince, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t dress like one.

“Are you going to tell me where we are going because people might begin to ask questions if they see me like this and you like that.”

I looked down. In my haste to see Cynder, I was still in my nightclothes. I’d not even noticed. At least, I was wearing a robe over the top, but he was right. This would not look good on the front cover of the papers. I led him straight to the huge dressing room in the hopes that Xavi would already be there.

She was poring over a wedding magazine as we entered. As she took in the sight of us, she frowned.

“I’m going to have to get the whole team in, aren’t I?” she asked in a resigned voice, wrinkling her nose at Cynder’s messy attire to really put the point across.

“I want Cynder to get the full works. He needs to look like a prince for the interview this afternoon.”

Xavi arched an eyebrow as she made her way over to us. Taking a lock of Cynder’s hair in between her fingers, she grimaced.

“At least, you are a good-looking chap. All hope is not lost.”

“Thanks, I guess,” replied Cynder, casting his eyes over to me. I shrugged. I should have warned him about Xavi. Between her and her team, she could make a prince or princess out of anyone. After all, she’d performed miracles on me, but she did it without grace. When she thought you looked a mess, she’d certainly make it known.

“And do you want us to dress you up today?” she enquired as though, dressing me would make her day infinitely harder.

“Just give me the same look the same as yesterday, please.” Let them work on Cynder. The public had seen enough of me already. I’d been dominating the front pages for the best part of a year, but this was the first time they were going to see Cynder, and I wanted them to take him seriously.

I wanted them to love him, I thought to myself. I didn’t need to add the ‘as much as I do.’

Xavi ushered him into the marble room for a thorough wash. Heaven knew he needed it.

Xavi clapped her hands, and like magic, her whole team came running into the room and lined up as they always did. I often wondered if Xavi was actually a Mage, the way she got her staff to just appear like that, but perhaps they were all waiting outside the door for her command.

I was given three of the twenty staff, while the rest worked on Cynder.

A plain, but smart, blue dress was handed to me. I used the third room at the end to get dressed in. Usually, I had no embarrassment in getting changed in the main dressing room in front of all the staff, but as Cynder could come back into the main room at any moment, I didn’t think it would be the best idea. My helpers lowered the dress over my head and let me twirl in front of the ornate gold-framed mirror. I looked very plain. Perfect. Cynder couldn’t shine if they decorated me in diamonds to stand beside him.

“What clothes do we have for men?” I asked, glancing down the rows and rows of fancy dresses, all hanging, waiting for the right occasion to be worn. On a shelving unit at the end, hundreds of pairs of shoes filled the walls, and next to that, was the jewelry. The most expensive jewelry was kept in the vault down in the basement, but there was plenty here to choose from. Rows and rows of tiaras featuring every color of jewel imaginable twinkled in the dim light as did the countless necklaces, bracelets, and pairs of earrings. I hated to think just how much money they all cost when there were people still struggling to feed their children outside the palace walls.

My eyes skipped over all the pretty dresses, to see if there were any mens’ clothes. I couldn’t see any at all.

“Your father kept his clothes in a wardrobe in his room, Your Majesty,” replied one of the dressing staff.

“What about clothes that didn’t belong to my father?” I asked. My father’s clothes wouldn’t have fit the slim body of Cynder in a million years. While my father had enjoyed substantial meals throughout his life and had a portly stomach to reflect this, Cynder had to forage where he could. As a result, he was skinnier than he should have been. If there was one thing that made me happy about Cynder being here in the palace, it was that he was going to be fed well.

The young dressing maid shrugged her shoulders.

After having the full Xavi treatment, I couldn’t let Cynder wear his filthy clothes for the interview. I thought of all the men in the castle who were a similar size to him. There were two I could choose from.

I thanked the dressers and ran out of the room, forgetting to choose a pair of shoes. As it was, my plain blue dress was currently matched with a pair of old, fluffy, pink slippers.

I found Luca still at breakfast, chatting with my mother. He was discussing the upcoming interview whereas she was talking about the wedding. Neither was actually listening to the other. The day’s newspapers were spread out on the table, but I ignored them. Whatever they had to say could wait. Dressing Cynder could not.

“So there you are, sweet pea,” Luca kissed my cheek and dropped the newspaper he was holding. “I wondered where you had rushed off to. I was just telling your mother that you might have run off with that Cynder chap. I take it he’s arrived?”