Two hours flew by in a blur of motion. It was already 10 AM. Daphne's hair was styled, and her makeup was almost finished, the maids continued working with concentration.
Then, a knock came at the door. Kael entered, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He walked over to her, his gaze not meeting hers.
"My Lady," he said, "I'm sorry. We couldn't find a single turquoise dress in the markets. The Empress's network must have purchased every last one."
The silence in the room became heavy. The maids' expressions remained placid, but a new tension now filled the air. Daphne was dressed to perfection from the neck up, but she had nothing to wear.
Just as Kael's words seemed to seal her fate, the door burst open. Alice rushed in, a large, flat box clutched tightly in her arms. She looked breathless and disheveled.
