This is not fair!"
"Weren't you the one most excited about this?" Ceron asked while fixing the clasp on his collar.
"But how come Brother Ann gets to skip the jewelry, and I have to move around with all these…things!"
Covered in laces, jewels, gold, and silver, the youngest prince looked much like a living display case.
Ceron was no different, but as the eldest, he couldn't go whining about it like Adonis. As the firstborn, he should be standing out anyway. Then again, the finery would at best make him look fancy, not like an over-accessorized mannequin. The 14-year-old Adonis alone was bearing that burden as a punishment for not yet looking mature.
Behind the silver-embedded wooden screen, Reis couldn't care less about their complaints with a much bigger problem at hand.
|Do not tie it like shoelaces.|
'Shut up.'
He had barely managed to get the collars to close. Who was going to notice the strings under this much ruffle anyway? As long as it didn't slip, why did it even matter?
In reality, the ruffles had no relation with the ribbon, but Reis refused to accept that.
This was the first time Reis had the urge to ask servants for help. And this was the only time when it wasn't allowed.
It was a custom. They had to get ready on their own for the whole banquet, with only each other for help.
Starting two days ago, servants stopped providing help other than serving food. It wasn't too hard; it wasn't like they had a lot to do other than preparing fancy things that didn't really count as working.
They also spent most of their time in the main palace. While the banquet was being handled by the king and queen, they still had to show up and stare at everyone solemnly.
This must have been an attempt to strengthen the bonds among the siblings; at least that's what Reis thought.
Once the heir took his title, only distance would follow after that. Maybe these last few days of only having each other to depend on could serve as a lesson. Who knows?
Reis made a few discoveries.
This banquet was quite important. Every side task he received was one way or another connected to that. Better than having to go hunt monsters a day after waking up in another world. Attendance of the direct royal family was a must, even if it was through kidnapping or in a wheelchair.
And that the original, Ann, did not want to perform. Or even attend. He still wasn't sure about what exactly went on before, but Ann's relationship with his family and high society was not so simple.
Reis didn't hate the 'other option' though. Until he had full access to this character's memory, he was stuck. If he had to perform after all, better to pick an option he could work with.
Everyone else was happy with it too. But now, Adonis didn't like it all that much.
All because they didn't have the liberty to wear whatever they wished. Freedom. Such a flimsy notion.
Reis sighed with sympathy for them. And himself.
Technically, they could dress however they wanted.
Their mother didn't like that technicality, nor did she trust them with it. So only the queen's handpicked things were handed to them to choose from. Picking one from the other within the selection didn't really make a difference.
At least the princesses were happy. Like mother, like daughters.
Since they didn't have the numbers to protest, cause even Reis wouldn't join it no matter how ridiculous he found the outfits, the princes didn't have much of a choice but to accept it.
Even if the clothes were too lavish. Even if it looked like they were dressing for a concert.
At least he didn't have to dress like a jewelry shop like Ceron and Adonis. That was good enough for Reis.
"You don't look that bad," Lorcán tried to assure the youngest, by two minutes, earning a frown in return. The timid boy who had an outfit similar to Reis, albeit with better ribbon lacing, could only avoid the accusing gaze.
He didn't look bad. Just something like an over-accessorized doll.
"Are you alive there, Ann?" As the world would have it, his new siblings couldn't go ten whole minutes without suspecting him.
"Why wouldn't I be?" A wrongly tied-up ribbon could hardly cause him any harm.
Reis couldn't wait for this to be over. The last few days were practically torture. As soon as the future heir was officially appointed, they could finally breathe in peace. It didn't seem like Ceron was someone who would try to harm his brothers and sisters for no reason.
Reis was sure he'd be fine as long as he didn't stir the lava.
"Your Highnesses, are you ready? The princesses are waiting." The attendants' voices rang through their ears like warning bells.
Believe it or not, it was utterly embarrassing to be still getting ready when the sisters were already done. It was a common understanding that didn't require words, not in any timeline.
So they hurried, like life depended on it, adding the last piece of brooches on, throwing the coats over them, ignoring the strings, whatever it took.
"We're done." The door flew open at the attendant's face, in a matter of a minute, as if they'd been long since done.
But to their luck, when he had said the princesses were waiting, he meant it quite literally. They were waiting right outside the door.
"You sure didn't spare any expense," Lunive said, gliding her hands in an eerie wave. Even without the obvious hand gesture, anyone could guess she was trying to spite them.
Avena's eyes had landed right around Reis's collar. She blinked a few times, but didn't say anything.
They couldn't do anything to worsen the problematic third prince's mood.
Reis didn't know one thing yet.
This family would have even allowed him to attend in his pajamas, given that he would attend. Good thing he didn't know, though, cause he really would have shown up in a childish floral shirt just to ruin the mood.