章 9: Something's Not Right...

Myra ponders on this answer, nodding in acknowledgement to this. Waving her fingers through the air, she beckons for them to follow her so they can re-do her hair for the night.

"Does Cole not need to get married to inherit the responsibilities of the Ruskin name? He definitely has to be more important than me if Father was confident enough to send him to the front lines," Myra says, twirling her hair with her fingers. She admires herself in the mirror, pressing her cheeks here and there to make sure her face doesn't look saggy.

Myra notices how being drop-dead gorgeous has brought on the issue of being constantly worried about ruining the softness with everyday rigour.

Jen's face brightens at the mention of Cole, which Myra clearly notices in contrast to her nervous expression only moments before. Cheeks dusted with pink, it's as if she has looked up to Cole for an unthinkable amount of time. Myra simply averts her gaze, paying no heed to the over-excited reactions she's managed to earn.

"Master Cole is very charming and charismatic. I've always believed that my lady took after him," Jen compliments, gently undoing Myra's braids and letting her hair fall back along the length of her back. "The Duke is not very strict on marriage but is looking into it now that Master Cole is reaching the appropriate age for it."

Leia unravels the pins and lays them out against a silver platter, working to tie her hair into a single braid so her hair doesn't get in her way while sleeping. She does this efficiently and without moving Myra's hair much to avoid causing inconvenience, wrapping her braids with a flexible silver clip-on with a vine-like pattern.

"Is that so," Myra replies calmly, adjusting her dress.

"Have you thought of marriage, my lady? Surely some man would've caught your eye, and you are approaching a ripe age which is perfect for searching for appropriate suitors," Leia fawns excitedly and Myra's face darkens at the thought.

She begins to question if it's one of those forced royal marriage stories, where she's to be stolen and swept off her feet by a handsome gentleman from a noble family.

Myra finds the thought revolting and much too typical for her liking, only being able to hope that her protagonist-like life will play out to be more interesting than she expects.

"It is best that I focus on returning to tip-top shape before I consider marriage, no? I'm sure no man would be willing to take me as his bride in my current state," Myra responds, feigning disappointment as she tugs at the skin underneath her eyes. Leaning forward, she notices eye bags she didn't catch earlier, put off by this sight.

Jen shakes her head vigorously in disagreement. "That's not the case! I'm sure any man in the land would be extremely lucky to have my lady's hand in marriage. If I may, there are some rumours I would like to bring up to you. The Duke may not enjoy such suggestions but I felt that you would like to consider this," she asks for permission, inching closer to Myra's ear.

Myra nods in approval, closing her eyes as she calmly twirls her hair.

"News has been spreading from the Viscounts' that the crown prince is looking for his princess so he may take the Emperor's place on the throne," she whispers and Myra's eyes open wide in surprise.

She snaps her head in Jen's direction, shock plastered on her face as she looks to verify the news. 'Does the crown prince have something to do with me?' And when Myra feels something warm within her chest, she realises that her baseless suspicions might not all be mere assumptions.

"He's searching for a bride?!" Myra sputters. "Did he send out a marriage proposal to the woman he wishes to marry?" she questions, trying to hide the excitement in her tone. Leia, noticing the brightness in Myra's usually indifferent eyes, softens as well, a warm blush creeping up to her cheeks from second-hand joy.

"We should be hearing a public announcement from the royal family soon. Even before that, I'm sure a private letter would be sent out to the noble families of Fleurette," Leia explains, finally standing back to admire her work.

Myra pulls her braid over her shoulder, stroking it to feel the softness of her hair. Her heart bursts with a simple joy, yet enough to feel like she's standing on top of the world, the last piece to make herself feel complete all over again.

Given the assumption that she's written into a story that used to be her own, it's safe to guess that she's the main character. With this, she can't do much more than to expect a private letter from her prince, a ticket to a secured future and her very own happily ever after.

"Get Frederick to arrange for a trip to the public. I'll tell my father that it was necessary so I could check on the citizens and listen in on any rumours which may have been spreading amongst the commoners," she stands, unable to hide the creeping grin on her face. Jen obliges and Leia reaches out a hand to help her up.

"You look much brighter, my lady," Jen compliments, scurrying in Myra's shadow as she's led to her bed, hand held awkwardly mid-air by Leia to ensure that she is able to walk in case she is fatigued.

Myra, though not quite used to luxurious treatment despite an entire day of being surrounded by needless comforts and a spoon of gold hanging readily at the tip of her tongue, could undoubtedly get used to this.

"Do I?" she smiles, politely sitting against the mattress. "You may leave now. Rest well and thank you for answering my questions today," Myra says sincerely, aware of the glow on her pale face. Jen and Leia's faces brighten with joy at the brief appraisal and it looks as if they're about to explode from uncontainable happiness.

"We will do our best!" they exclaim in unison, to which Myra finally smiles warmly, deciding that her cold attitude may take a break once in a while.

Only once Jen and Leia have stepped out of the room, shutting off all the lights in the room except a number of wall lights on the other side of the room—easily ignorable since it's too far from Myra's peripheral vision—does she slump against the sheets.

Myra lets out a sigh of satisfaction as she feels her back sink into the voluptuous mattress, properly tucking herself under the layers of woolen blankets when she realises than a second of not moving is going to send her off into a deep sleep. Staring up at the curtains surrounding her bed, Myra finds her vision faltering.

'Ah, reincarnation could not have been easier.'