Chapter 257

I laugh, opening my eye. “Don’t let them hear you calling them cute.”

“Oh, Jesse would kill to hear me call him cute,” she says, her voice heavy with the understatement, which just makes me laugh harder.

“And what about you?” I ask. “What can I do to have your back?”

“You’re already doing it,” she says cheerfully. “I mean, you’re brining me to the palace for winter break, Ari! People would kill for that.”

“It’s just my house,” I say with a sigh, rolling my eyes, wanting to do more, but she laughs at that.

“Well, you’re wearing my clothes,” she says, gesturing towards the dress.

“That’s a favor you did me –“ I protest, confused. “My mom makes sure I have probably the biggest wardrobe in the country besides hers, and here I am, stealing your dress –“

“No, Ari,” she says, laughing, “you’re like…wearing my designs.”

“Oh,” I say, looking down at the dress anew, “oh, like, you made this!?”

“Of course I did!” she says, grinning at me.

“Daphne!” I gasp, amazed. “This is like, a beautiful dress! This is amazing!”

“And think about the gift you’ve given my mom, who will get to hear about you wearing it,” she says, laughing with me and turning me towards the mirror so I can take in the whole picture. Me, again a girl, again a Princess, standing with my friend in the dress she designed. I suddenly feel very warm, and very, very happy.

“More people than that will see it,” I murmur, tilting my head to rest on her shoulder. “After all, the palace steps are going to be flooded with paparazzi.” noveldrama

“What?” she gasps.

“The crown Prince and the Duke returning from their first successful semester at the Academy with Luca Grant in tow? Not to mention the missing Princess, who has suddenly appeared in this carriage?” I burst out laughing at the shock on her face. “Yeah, Daphne – there’s going to be press.”

“Oh my god,” she says, giving me a little shove. “I have to get changed! I can’t show up like this!”

I grin, taking in her Seamstress uniform, the only thing I’ve ever seen her in except the pretty floral dress she wore to our party the night before the Examination. “I think you look great, Daph!”

“Out, out!” she shouts, flapping her hands at me. “I need quiet! I need to think about this! Tell the boys still no more bathroom, because I need to plan and plot what I’m going to wear!”

“Yes, ma’am!” I say, shaking my head and refilling her glass of wine, sensing that she’ll need it, before I head out the door into the carriage.

When I step out into the main room of the train car, I stop a little when everything goes silent. My eyes go wide as I instantly whip my head around, looking for threats, but then the silence is split by Jesse’s impressed whistle.

“Well look at you, cousin!” he shouts, laughing. “It’s a girl!”

I burst out laughing, blushing and giving a little curtsey as I realize their shock was just seeing me out of my Academy clothing for the first time in months. I smile at Luca especially, realizing that this is the first time he’s seeing me really in girl clothes outside of the dream state.

“Who are you,” he says, his voice mock threatening as he slowly gets to his feet and narrows his eyes. “And what have you done, with my mate, Ari Clark?”

“Aw, I threw him off the train,” I say, twisting my lips in mock apology as I gesture over my shoulder with my thumb. “Decided we don’t have use for him anymore – at least not for the next couple of weeks.”

“Awesome,” he murmurs, crossing the distance between us in two long steps and wrapping his arms around me, laughing. Behind us, Ben, Jesse and Rafe laugh and continue their conversation, giving us a second mostly alone.

“So what do you think?” I ask, wrinkling my nose as I look up at him. “Do you like me all girly?”

“I love you all girly,” he says, grinning down at me as he strokes a hand over my hair. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like you all tough in Cadet Black too –“

“Thank you!” I say, quite pleased.

“And I like you all stressed out in your pajamas, moaning in agony over a chemistry textbook –“

I squeak a little, liking this one less.

“And I like you when you’re asleep on the couch cushion, that cute little line of drool dripping out of your mouth –“

It’s a full on shout of dissent now, even as I laugh, smacking my hands against his chest. “Rude!” I snap, though I can’t help my smile.

“I like all iterations of Ariel,” he murmurs, pulling me tighter, and I drop my head back on my neck so that I can grin up at him, at his beautiful face, at the way his eyes crinkle at their corners when he

teases me like this. “But you look very beautiful today, and I’m excited to see this side of you along with the rest of them.”

“Good,” I murmur, standing on my toes and pressing a kiss to his mouth. “Because this train just started slowing down – and you’re about to walk into the Capital with the Princess on your arm. Are you ready for it?”

“Oh,” he murmurs, his voice a low, eager growl. “I’m ready for it, Ariel Sinclair. You just lead the way.”