Gowns, perhaps, were one of the things that Lexa had always wanted most as a kid. There was truly nothing like that feeling of seeing those flowy, silken material that made people so beautiful, and then not having anything like it for yourself. She recollected the time she as a child had cut apart her own rags, so that she could patch something together like what she had seen on a noble girl. Lexa had thought that somehow if she put it together right, then the color would come, and the material as well. She did not understand back then that what she had and what the noble had was different down to the very seam, and that no amount of stitching was going to produce a gown like the ones that she had seen. Lexa had ended up completely demolishing the few dresses she already had. She could still remember that look of disappointment plastered over her mothers face.

Now, a legion of dressmakers stood by to prepare her wedding assemble. Golden lace spilled from her hips, converging with a white silken top. Golden jewels dangled from her every surface, from the droppling earrings to the gems weaved throughout an elaborate braid. She was a delicate portrait of a princess in the reflection that gazed back at her, perfect in appearance to every inch of skin she wore.

"You look beautiful, Princess Adelaide," Cleo chirped.

The rest of the girls, seated like porcelain dolls to the left of her dais, responded with nods and comments of agreement. They were all afraid of Cleo now, from what Lexa could tell.

It was the day before the wedding, and one of Catala's traditions was about to take place in
the palace gardens. The day of determination, it was called. The groom would wait for his soon to be bride in her wedding gear, and they would spend a day together, where at the end of it the groom would choose if the woman was suitable enough to be his bride. It was a tradition to provide the groom with the chance to make sure that the woman he was receiving was what he wanted in a bride, but it was more now another long part of celebration for the upper class. Some said that the tradition originated when a groom would pick from a multitude of woman in early Catalan history, but she supposed years of necessary alliances built into weddings weeded that out.

As the servants pulled at her corset, it seemed as if she would never be able to escape the time constraints of this event. Lexa's days were now filled with preparations for the wedding. Bridesmaid dress shopping with Cleo and her ladies in waiting. Pastry and cake testing. Even the ceremonial feast had to be planned meticulously, as it's Catalan traditions were possibly more important than the wedding itself. Hours upon hours spent by the prince's side, smiling dutifully and agreeing to his every whim.

And stitched between the past days of planning were the plots of her own, errands that she achieved in the small hours she already had. Her legion was coming together quite cohesively now, and excursions like these to converse with the rebels were now a daily event.

Even Garrison had been replaced. She, of course, had no choice in the matter of her official guard. The one she had received this time was much more astute than any she had had before, yet that didn't stop her from finding ways around him. He may have been a smarter man, but she was smarter. Somehow she managed to escape his watch, finding the books and crannies of time to flee the palace walls.

Throughout all this, Bennie seemed to be having a field day invading her mind with his thoughts. His newly gained power might have been great for her attempts for the throne, but at the very moment it was more of an annoyance above everything else.

Or at least, that's what she thought for most of the time he pestered her. She wouldn't admit to herself that perhaps she enjoyed having him by her side in spirit was perhaps more enjoyable than she thought.

And that perhaps, just maybe, she noticed that absence when he was gone.

Things were changing for Lexa. Ever since Bennie had become high sorcerer, he had become less clingy, more sure of himself. She started to notice things, like the little twitch of his mouth when he was jealous, and how it was very similar to the one when he wanted her attention.

She didn't let her think of what that meant, however. Or about that warm feeling in her chest when she thought of him. It was just a consequence of a new magical aura around him, after all.

Besides, she had much more important factors to concentrate on. While she was dealing with the rebels, Cleo had managed to gain control over all of her Ladies in waiting, and the alliances that came with that. Not to mention that the wedding was only a day away.

And this tradition would be the start of it. This tradition would make her queen.

As she stepped of the dais, prepared to meet the day, a servant called; "Lady Adelaide, wait!"

Her head swiveled, turning to the mousy voice of the maid Lila. As Lexa prepared to respond, she was acutely aware of the gazes of her ladies in waiting, including Cleo.

Attitudes towards maids were always a changing thing, inside the court, usually displaying the opinions of those with influence.

It was why she broke that code now, replying sweetly as if the maid was a dear friend. Cleo would have never done such a thing, and the action was taboo to the other girls because of it.

But Lexa was the princess, and she was soon to be queen. And Cleo was best not to forget it.

"Yes, Lila?"

The girl stepped up, speaking as she handled Lexa's wrist. "You forgot your bracelet." The maid slipped the diamond jewels onto her wrist with a telling glance.

When Lexa bid farewell to the ladies in waiting and the maids, she finally gazed upon the real reason Lila had caught her attention. The price of paper that she had slipped into her hand upon the guise of a bracelet.

It will come soon. Have him distracted, and be prepared.

-The Lotus