The Princess's Revenge Chapter 86

Valencia’s POV

I stepped away from Amara's bed with everyone else.

"Why are you here? Are you hurt?" Elias concerned.

"I brought someone to see Dr. Vance," I said, pointing toward the other side of the stone house. "Echo got hurt. She's resting now."

Echo was lying on one of the treatment beds, her bandaged arm resting on her chest. She'd fallen asleep after Dr. Vance gave her something for the pain.

Elias's eyes moved over my torn dress, noticing the missing fabric at the bottom and the dirt stains. "What happened to your dress? You look like you've been in a fight."

My stomach clenched. I didn't want to explain about the captain. Not yet. "I... I tripped on the stairs. Caught myself on the wall. It's nothing serious."

He didn't look convinced, but before he could ask more questions, Delphine walked through the entrance carrying a wooden box. Her face brightened when she saw me.

"Valencia!" she said, then noticed the curtains around Amara's bed. Confusion flickered in her eyes. "What's going on? Why are the curtains drawn?"

"Delphine," I said, trying to sound normal. "You're back."

She nodded, still looking at the curtained bed with curiosity.

Elias was still studying me with those sharp green eyes. "You know, I know Aldric pretty well. He manages the castle's clothing stores. I could ask him to get you a new bliaut."

"Oh, you don't have to—"

"Valencia." His voice turned serious. "Tonight is important. This is your first time officially facing everyone as Luna. You need to look perfect."

He was right. I couldn't face the pack in a torn dress. Not when they already doubted me. "I... thank you, Elias. That's very kind."

"I understand what this means," he said, his voice gentler now. "The ceremony tonight. How the pack sees you matters. Let me help."

My throat felt tight. "Thank you. Really."

He nodded. "I'll have the dress sent to Alpha Logan's room. Thomas!" He called to one of the warriors. "Go to Aldric. Tell him we need a noble woman's bliaut. Red or purple. The best he has."

Thomas nodded and hurried out.

Elias looked at me one more time. "Be ready for tonight, Valencia. The pack needs to see strength."

"I will be."

He turned to his remaining warriors. "Let's go. We still need to search the eastern perimeter."

After they left, Delphine immediately moved closer to me. Her eyes darted between me and Amara's curtained bed. The curiosity on her face was almost comical.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the entrance, trying not to laugh at her expression. Once we were far enough from Amara's bed, I leaned in close.

"Amara was found tortured near the eastern border," I whispered. "Elias's team brought her in. She was naked, covered in blood. Someone wanted information from her."

"What?" Delphine's eyes went wide. "Tortured? By who?"

"We don't know. She passed out after saying something about not knowing anything."

"Oh my god." Delphine shook her head. "That's... that's horrible. Even for Amara."

"I know." I looked down at my torn dress. "I need to get ready for tonight."

Delphine's face brightened. She lifted the wooden box she was carrying. She opened it carefully.

Inside were small clay pots and glass vials, all nestled in soft cloth. I could see white powder in one pot - probably crushed chalk or lead for skin whitening. Another held what looked like red ochre for lips and cheeks. There was a pot of kohl for the eyes, and several small vials of what might be rose water or other fragrances.

"Where did you get all this?" I asked, amazed.

"These were my mother's," Delphine said softly. "She saved them for special occasions. There's pearl powder here for highlighting, beetroot stain for the lips, and even some precious saffron dissolved in oil for a golden glow."

"Delphine, I can't use your mother's—"

"Yes, you can." She closed the box firmly. "Come on. We'll go to Logan's room. Once the new dress arrives, we'll make sure everything matches perfectly." She grinned at me. "I'm going to make you look so beautiful tonight that everyone will forget you're wearing that collar. They'll be too busy picking their jaws up off the floor."

"Delphine!" I felt my cheeks heat up.

"What? It's true!" She linked her arm through mine. "Trust me, Valencia. When I'm done with you, the entire pack will understand exactly why Alpha Logan chose you."

"I hope so," I said, feeling my cheeks warm at Delphine's confidence. "Right now I just feel like a mess."

Delphine squeezed my arm gently as we walked. Her eyes moved to my torn dress. "Valencia, what really happened? This doesn't look like you tripped on stairs."

I sighed. She knew me too well already. "There was... an incident."

"What??"

"The captain of the pack guard and three warriors came to Maya's room." I kept my voice low even though we were alone. "Echo's sister Maya was dying in the workshop making soap and candles. The chemicals were destroying her hands and lungs. I got her out, along with two others."

"Oh my god." Delphine's eyes widened. "The basement workshop? That horrible place?"

"You know about it?"

"Everyone knows about it. It's where they send servants as punishment." She shook her head.

"He wanted to drag them back. Said I was a thief for taking servants from their posts." My hands clenched remembering his words. "He cut Echo's arm when she tried to defend me."

"He hurt Echo?" Delphine gasped.

"Yes. Then he... he tried to..." I couldn't finish the sentence. "Let's just say things got violent. I fought back."

We stepped out of the stone house into the afternoon sun. It hung lower in the sky now, maybe three or four hours until sunset. The ceremony was getting closer.

"You fought four armed guards?" Delphine asked as we crossed the training ground. A few warriors were still practicing, but they didn't look up.

"I had to. They were hurting Maya and the others. The captain said it wasn’t over."

"That bastard." Delphine's face flushed with anger. "How dare he threaten the future Luna?"

"I'm not Luna yet," I reminded her as we entered the courtyard.

"Not for much longer."

We climbed the stairs to the fourth floor. My legs were tired from the day's events. When we reached Logan's room, I pushed open the door.

Two plates of food sat on the table. I walked over and my heart sank. The portions were noticeably smaller than yesterday. Just a small piece of bread, maybe three ounces of dried meat, and a withered apple. That was it.

"The food shortage is getting worse," I said quietly.

Delphine noticed too. "Alpha Logan must be desperate if he's hunting personally."

"You should eat some," I said, gesturing to the plates.

"I already ate."

"Delphine..."

"Really, I'm fine." She set down her wooden box and started pulling out the cosmetics, arranging them carefully on the table. "You eat. You need strength for tonight."

I sat down and ate quickly. The bread was stale, the meat tough and salty. The apple was soft in places.

"Alright," Delphine said when I finished. "Let's make you beautiful."

She pulled a chair near the window where the light was best. "Sit here."

I sat down and she studied my face for a moment. "Your skin is actually quite nice. Just needs a bit of evening out."

She dipped a soft cloth in water and gently cleaned my face first. Then she opened one of the clay pots.

"This is white lead mixed with chalk," she explained, using a small brush to apply it to my face. "It'll make your skin look porcelain pale. Very fashionable."

The powder felt strange on my skin, slightly heavy. She worked carefully, blending it down my neck.

"Tell me about Isaiah," I said as she worked. "How was he?"