GEORGIO YANKED ON the ribbons of my dress, pulling them tight as he tied a bow. I let out a wheeze, steadying myself by gripping onto Bella's shoulder. "Does it have to be... this form-fitting?"

"The Princes are coming to dinner." Bella said with a devious smile. "Of course it has to be!"

"I'm putting you in a dress fit for a nun, you minx." Georgio replied from behind me, Bella rolling her eyes.

"Please, they won't be all over me." She retorted. 

He scoffed, tugging on another part of my dress to adjust it. "Of course they will be. You are too beautiful."

Bella couldn't help but grin, her cheeks turned light pink. "Neither of them will end up in my room tonight."

"Please end the conversation here, I beg you." I said, wrinkling up my nose.

Georgio stood up, brushing a hair from his forehead as he walked around to face me. Licking his lips, he inspected his work before finally nodding his head. "I'm done."

"My man of many talents." Bella purred, wrapping her arms around his waist as she stood on her tiptoes. He smiled, resting a hand on her right cheek before placing a soft kiss on her left.

"Beautiful, it's your turn. Strip for me." He said, his voice low and deep as Bella eyed him with a wide grin.

"Behind the dressing curtain!" I added quickly, "Fates, I will not allow whatever you had in mind!"

"Yes, behind the curtain." Georgio replied, letting out a breath as he took Bella's hand in his to guide her in front of him. "I'll be waiting."

She gave his hand a squeeze before she walked towards the curtain, stepping behind it as I looked at Georgio. "Am I dismissed? I'll let you two have your fun before dinner. Just make sure the door is locked so that no one wanders in looking for a hemming."

"They wouldn't even suspect a thing if we were alone in here together." He said, picking up my new heels from one of his work counters. "Remember, they all think that I prefer men."

"You are also into men, so they aren't too far off." I flashed him a smile, earning a smug grin in return as he kneeled in front of me.

Brushing a part of my dress back, he helped to guide one of my feet into the first heel, latching the strap around my ankle with his calloused fingers. "That's the big secret. If Parisa ever found out..."

"I think it's hot!" Bella called from the other side of the curtain. "We should have a threesome with one of the Fortis men."

"Bella!" I said in shock.

"Alright, not Xavier, but we can always ask James."

Georgio turned his attention to my other foot, both my hands on his shoulders to steady myself as he slid my left foot into the shoe. "We will not be having a threesome. I'm not watching another man be inside..."

"Too much!" I hissed, shaking my head. "Do you two really think I want to know any more details? Fates!"

"You're the only one we don't have to pretend around, Cybele." Bella said, "you're obviously going to get all the details."

"Shoes are done." Georgio said, looking up to me. "Do they feel alright?"

I shifted my weight, going up and down on my toes.  "Perfect. You've done a wonderful job like usual."

He smoothed my lavender dress, adjusting it one last time before finally he was satisfied. The sound of bare feet against the hardwood made us both look up, Bella appearing from around the curtain. Her dress was a stunning emerald green that brought out her eyes, making them glitter like fireflies in a dark night sky.

She almost seemed a little shy in this moment, running her fingers along the fabric as she twirled it from side to side. "It's so beautiful. Not fit for a nun either with this neckline might I add which is good. I don't know what I'd do if I had to wear a turtleneck. Those callous ladies would have a field day!"

The sweetheart neckline of her gown dipped along the front of her chest. The dress was modest yet hugged her body in all the right places. I smiled, "Oh Bella, you look amazing! Gorgeous!"

Bella bit her lip as she looked down to Georgio, who held up his hands. "If I wasn't already on my knees, I promise you I would have fallen on them."

Her cheeks flushed as Georgio stood up, walking towards her slowly as they both reached their hands out towards each other. Their fingers brushed against the other's, running along the plane of their forearms as they came closer. He whispered something that made her smile, and I stepped off the podium to slip out the door. They needed privacy, and I would give them as much time together as they could get.

I waited a good deal longer before Bella was finally ready to go and Georgio retired back to his quarters. After I spent a half hour flipping through a newspaper, the two of us in our lovely dresses made our way down to the dining room, arriving early just as Parisa liked.

Servants were busy running back and forth with silverware and steaming plates of food while polishing and sweeping the hall until the floors gleamed. Among the chaos of tidying the dining hall, Bella plopped down in a chair, earning a glare from Parisa right as she walked through the doors.

"Can't you read, child?" Parisa snapped, picking up one of name cards on the long table clothed in expensive white linen. "You're in the wrong seat. Move to your assigned place this very instant."

"I like this seat much better than my old one." Bella replied with a cool tone, the stares between the two women making the hair on the back of my neck rise. My stomach knotted; a fight was beginning to rise from the ashes, neither of the two ready to let their hostilities die.

"You're sitting next to me in your assigned seat." Parisa responded like a snake.

Only then did Bella stand, eyes narrowed. "Well, I'm glad I decided to move then or else I'd be frozen alive after spending the whole night sitting next to the Ice Queen."

"I've been called worse by classier women." Parisa replied, making Bella roll her eyes.

"Classier women? There's a name for those ladies, but it's more fit for the kennel than the castle."

Her remark made me cringe, Parisa opening her mouth to fire back a crippling remark but I didn't give her enough time. Instead, I interjected, "please, let's put this behind us for tonight. We need to be seen as a united front in the presence of our guests, and the two of you... let's be the sophisticated women we truly are for Fortis and Athena families." I pleaded softly, both pairs of eyes jumping to me. With their wild gazes on me, I bit my lip before whispering. "We can't afford anything less."

"I don't need a lecture from you about what our kingdom can afford." Parisa said, her cold eyes making a shudder roll down my backbone. "The two of you need to close your lips, take your seats, and wait for our guests to arrive without ruining the whole evening. Isabella, if you so much as dare to open that filthy mouth of yours..."

"What are you going to do about it?" She sat down in her assigned chair, her glare unwavering at Parisa. "Are you going to stuff shit down my throat? The same crap that comes out of your mouth daily?"

I couldn't help but wince, watching the storm begin to brew again between the two women as I sunk deeper into my chair. Before they could both strike at each other like vipers, the fairy Peony fluttered into the room. "Your Highness, guests are coming down the staircase now."

"Praise Fate." I said as Parisa nodded at Peony to let them in through the door. Parisa took her seat at the head of the table as the fairy fluttered towards the doorway, ready to open it at any moment.

I sat up straight in my seat, stealing a glance at Bella who gave me an eye roll. Sending a prayer to Fate that the two women would get along, I gave her a sympathetic smile that I hoped Parisa missed. 

In this feud, Parisa didn't like to see me extend any pleasantries with her opponent even if the person she was seeking to punish was my best friend. If she saw me exchange any glances with Bella, a lecture on loyalty would be in my near future. 

The doors opened and all three of us rose from our chairs, Parisa walking towards the door to greet our guests as Bella leaned over the table. She snatched two name cards, one beside me and another at the other side of the table that she switched in a matter of seconds.

I gave her a look, raising an eyebrow to show my obvious confusion. She gave me a smile that made me suspicious, but I didn't have much time to reflect on her actions as conversation bloomed at the doorway.

Pluto and Vesta had entered, speaking with Parisa just as the two princes walked through the doorway around them. The two Athenian daughters curtsied and were met with bows, but the tension between them was unmistakable.

They exchanged weary glances before Xavier's eyes landed on me, and he was walking towards me like a conquering king ready to collect his prize. He bowed and I curtsied, Bella and James mimicking us as well.

"What a pleasure to see you again, Princess." Xavier said before turning his attention to Bella. "Xavier Fortis."

"Isabella, Parisa's adopted daughter." She said in return.

"I wasn't aware that there was a second." James said, and I turned my attention to look at him. His hair color was a dark hue like his brother's, both men looking very much alike. Tall and strong with light eyes, it was obvious that they were related.

"Cybele's the heir." Bella replied, "I'm just the runner-up so they speak about me less."

"Cheers to that." James said with a smile. "Xavier gets all the recognition for the family."

"Probably all the paperwork too." Bella said, laughing as James joined in with her.

"You aren't incorrect, Lady Isabella." Xavier said with a smile. "Cybele, I'm sure you can relate greatly to my position considering..."

There was a slam, making us all nearly jump out of our skin. We each turned around, the door to the entryway shut. Parisa and the two girls had disappeared, leaving an empty dining hall in their wake.

None of us moved or said a word before Bella let out a laugh, making me turn my head. "Yes, dinner is cancelled! James, let me show you what the runner-ups do here in Opulentia. It's no gala, but it isn't a pity party either."

The two wandered off, and I felt a knot form in my stomach, my eyes lifting up to the man in front of me. Xavier gave me a satisfied smirk, "looks like we have the night to ourselves."

I chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, you have the night all to yourself, Your Highness. It's been a delightful evening."

He stopped me before I could turn around, stepping closer as he rested a hand on my shoulder. I nearly stopped breathing, my eyes shooting from his hand to his eyes.

"What are you..."

"I don't want this evening to end so soon." He said, "if I can be so bold..."

"You'd like to escort me around in my own palace?" I couldn't help but smile, folding my wings across my back.

Xavier paused, cheeks reddening in a way that I found endearing. "Something like that."

"How about I do the honor of giving you a tour, Your Highness?"

"It's Xavier, Cybele, please." He said softly, "no titles between us."

"Xavier," I smirked, "you've said that before." He blinked at me, shaking his head as he gave me a smile. "Come on, are you ready?"

He stuck out his arm, "together?"

I felt a warmth rise on my cheeks, the gesture much more suggestive than it appeared on the surface. "Yes, together."