Chapter four 

The night before had passed like a dream for Clover, unlike her sister who had stayed up worried, only thinking of the worse senorios. Basil had been unhappy but assured Aster that Clover would be alright. When she had come back both flooded Clover with questions, she only but sighed like a lovesick girl and floated away to her bed, humming a song they often sung during midwinter at the temple, she could only think of when she was going to see Cyrus next. 

“By the goddess look at her,” Aster spoke in disdain, “it is as worse as when she thought the king had winked at her. I am sure he had only a bit of dust in his eyes.”

“She is alive,” 

“Oh so as long as we’re alive that's good enough for you. I swear sometimes Basil you can be a real prick.”

Basil shrugged, “don’t you want a chance at a better life?” 

“Who gives a shit about a better life when you’re moments away from being hung.” she fumed silently for a few seconds, “i have money,” she whispered, “saved every spare coin i could through the years, it’s enough for passage to Calvon, for the three of us. We can run, never look back.” 

“There is a chance we’ll always be discovered,” 

Aster sighed, looking sadly over at her distracted sister, “better from strangers, then from someone we care for,” 

Basil turned towards the door, “I'll think about it, we’ll need to meet him first of course.” 

Aster snorted, “like that’ll change my mind.” 

Basil smirked leaving his sisters heading to his own room, he would sleep on it, the goddess only knew he needed the rest. 

Will sat up on his bed as Basil entered, he smirked at Basil, “how does it feel to have a king as a brother-in-law?”

Basil craned his neck at Will gazing with a blank stare, that shut him up as both boys got ready for bed. 

The following morning, both Basil and Aster would not take her mooning anymore, and demanded some answers. Clover happily explained, sighing dreamingly. 

“A king?” Aster spoke shocked, 

“Yes, a king, can you believe it, i always knew i was meant for a better way of living,” 

“Clover,” Aster said hurriedly, taking hold of her shoulders, “you need to be careful, higher folk, aren’t like us and what if he discovers our secret.” 

“It won’t matter, he’s my soulmate.” 

“Won’t be saying that when he tosses you away to hide in some manor whilst he marries some forigen princess.” Aster remarks nastily. 

“He wouldn’t!” Clover shouted, “you don’t know him,” 

“Clover,” Aster sighed losing her patience,

“No, Clover’s right,” Basil spoke, “we Don’t know him,” 

Aster's face nearly went red, as Clover jumped with joy, running to give Basil a hug, “why can’t you be happy for me like Basil is?” she said, turning to look at her hot faced sister, who was glaring daggers at their brother. 

They were all interrupted by clicking of heels, turning to see the housekeeper, her expression was of utter displeasure, “I have been ordered by the king to have you moved to the guest apartments.” 

Shee looked about the small box-like room with disdain, “I am sure it will not take you long to gather your things. I will wait in the hallway for you.” 

“By the goddess she’s a bitch,” Aster grumbled. 

“She’s not wrong,” Basil spoke, 

“Guest apartments,” Clover gasped giddily, “we have to hurry, I can't wait a moment to see our new rooms,” she squeals, rushing about the room, placing clothes into a brown sack in the corner. Aster and basil shared a look but said nothing, as Basil headed out to his own room to collect his things and Aster helped Clover shove as many things into the bag, which wasn’t a lot. 

Cramped in a thin hallway that seemed always devoid of any colour, the housekeeper kept her lips curled downward her face in a permanent scowl. They were led to the upper palace, through widening corridors , till finally arriving at the east wing. It was spacious, the windows shining light, the red drawn away drapes, paler creams and gold glistening, with tapestries hung from walls, depicting the kingdom's great history, aswell, Basil and Aster saw grimly the eradication of all magic users. 

They were encouraged through two double doors, leading to a large lounge-like area. It was as big as Clover remembered the room she shared with the other children in the orphanage, but the housekeeper carried on to make her way past them, opening up another set of doors. All three of the siblings' eyes widened at the sight of the room, it was lavious and large, larger than anything they thought they would see, as big as one of the halls Aster and Clover often had cleaned. 

They stumbled in, in awe, “This is our room?” Clover spoke as she walked to the canopy bed, which she reckoned could fit at least five. 

“No, this is your room,” the housekeeper answered in a exceedingly tired tone, 

“You mean we’re not sharing?” she turned looking to the woman rather than her sister, trying to mask her upset on her face.  

“Would you like to?” the woman asked with a brow raised. 

“No-i mean-it’s just a surprise that’s all,” Clover stuttered. 

“Yes, well these rooms will have all you need, those doors led to the bathing area,” she pointed to their right, “and those led to a study or tea room,” she gestured to the left. 

“If you two will follow me, I'll show you where you’ll be staying,” she muttered in annoyance to Aster and Basil. 

“Will they be far?” Clover piped up, feeling out of place in her new room, not liking at all that her brother or sister would not be a short second away from her tonight, 

“They shall only be in the quarters next to you,” the housekeeper answered in impatience, “now please hurry, I have no time to deal with the likes of you, not to mention all the things I must deal with now because of you.”

Aster frowned, “it’s not as if we asked you,” she muttered darkly, as she and Basil followed. “Besides we’d rather not have to deal with the likes of you,” she said miniking the housekeeper's tone. She snapped back to Aster briefly, glaring, how she wished to wring that stupid girls neck. She turned from Aster, rushing as she showed them their rooms happy when she finally got away. 

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A senior maid and an attendant strolled in the room, by the time half an hour had passed. The attendant, a pretty auburn haired girl, with rosy cheeks, and a friendly smile, inspected the three with keen eyes, taking in their attire. She hummed in consideration. Aster finally asked the girl who she was. The attendant giggled charmingly at the question, happily explaining the housekeeper had sent her and a senior maid to help dress them the best they could. For it would not do to have a king's soulmate walking around in a scullery maid uniform. 

It didn’t take long, as servants upon servants of people came into Clovers chambers carrying an assortment of day and evening gowns, as well as other types of attire. 

“We had not known what your sizes would be,” the attendant spoke, a middle aged maid standing beside her a step back, both Clover and Aster recognizing her immediately. She often was the one who ordered the girls about if the housekeeper wasn’t there, though they knew her better due to her harsh discovery of their feeding the rats and mice of the kitchen, the senior maids face had gone red with anger when she discovered the two, and had forced them to put down traps and dispose of the mice and rats who fell victim to it themselves. Clover had been angry when setting the traps but when she found the first dead rat she had sobbed all the while as she placed the rat in the trash.  Both Clover and Aster glared at the senior maid completely ignoring her existence. 

“Can I pick any?” Clover asks, 

The attendant nods, “of course, king Cyrus had me inform the seamstress that all would be paid for and that any was for your choosing, as many as you like, he wants you looking your best when arriving in Spendia” Clover spun to look at Aster and Basil with a grin. “Besides you must look your best for dinner tonight,” 

“Dinner?” Basil said in a bland voice, 

“Yes, with the two kings, his majesty king Goerge had it arranged so, he seemed rather eager.” 

“And we have no choice whether to attend or not, do we?” Aster added, 

“It is a great honour to be invited to dine with his majesty, many would be envious to be in your shoes.” she smiled as if she knew nothing else, something about it annoyed Aster. 

“I’ll take theses,” Basil's voice cut through the room, everyone turning to see he had picked out three jackets, shirts, breeches and shoes as well as a coat and gloves. He moved to go and sit by the empty fireplace. 

“Oh, that was quite fast my-” the attendant stopped herself, “sir,” she corrected, “but are you sure you would not want more, i was told you would need a new wardrobe internally, or at very least the basics.”

“It’s enough,” Basil said as if that were the end of the conversation. The attendant didn’t look satisfied but snapped back to the two sisters, “may help you to pick out your gowns?” Her question which was light and sweet became one she regretted as they both fell into a frenzy of trying all available clothes. 

Aster was reluctant at first, but began to enjoy dressing in rich fabrics, there were so many she found it hard to choose. Clover felt as if she were a princess twirling around, it took most of the day to go through the day gowns, and by the time they had finished choosing their dresses, it was near time to have their evening meal with the two kings. Many colourful spring flowers displayed in the verses in the room bloomed vibrantly with the siblings' contentment. 

The senior maid had the bath filled for Clover, as were Asters and Basil in their own rooms. The bathing chamber had no bath to speak of, at least a traditional bath, it was more of a pool, filled to the brim with boiling water, dried fruits and flower petals, and soap that smelled like lavender and vanilla. 

Clover sighed, falling further down into the water, she had only but dreamt of having a bath like that, she had only ever had cold quick baths, with dirted water, from the previous use of the other children in the orphanage, she was only able to bath once a week or two, at the palace it was no different, it was cold water from a basin to quickly risen herself with in the mornings and a copper bathtub shared between ten girls, each taking turns through the week. 

The bathing chamber was filled with steam, the foaming bubbles, drifting around her. She played with the water, collecting droplets and swirling them around her hand and in the air. None of the maids had stayed in the room with her waiting for her to call for them. She grinned when fish formed water, lept up from the water and back in, swimming by her legs. “Show off,” Clover snorted. She could not stay in the water for long, for the senior maid barged in, urging her to hurry. She was quickly pulled out from the bathing pool, and into a long soft robe, maids immediately began to dry and brush her hair. Clover was surprised by the layers and layers they dressed her in, before her actual gown was placed on her, her corset was tight and ill fitted, the attendant had told her as much as she said some would be made for her, which shouldn’t cause any discomfort. With her petticoats, chemise, stockings and stays (corset) on they fitted her into her gown. 

It was the most beautiful thing Clover had seen and when she saw it she knew she had to wear it. The dress was made from stain with cotton, a creamy white, with gold embellishments and embroidery. It was low cut as was custom for an evening gown, her breasts pushed up due to the corset, she had puffed short sleeves, with pieces of lace decorated on top. The gown fell around her legs slightly outward, elevating her hips nicely. The maids dressed her hair into ringlets resting on her shoulder, with pearl pins scattered on her head. 

When clover saw herself in the mirror she did not recognise herself, the attendant beamed at Clover, “you are most stunning, my lady,” 

Clover blushed not knowing what to say to such a thing. She was surprised when she saw Basil and Aster, they both looked as lovely as Clover, Aster in a deep sapphire blue gown made from chiffon, more reserved in styling with less emphasis on her breasts. Basil wore a black breeches, with a white shirt, and a red leather doublet that was lace up at the front. 

“I feel as if I'm gonna fall over from all this weight.” Aster grumbled. 

Basil looked her over, “don’t be so shy.” 

Aster stuttered, her face going bright red, her eyes widening, “I'm not” she practically screamed. 

Basil smirked softly, “you both look very nice.” he offered. 

Clover smiled proudly, “you’re looking very princely yourseself Baz.” the three chuckled quietly to themself. They held one another's hands, their eyes facing down the corridor, they took a step together, readying themselves to go have dinner with two kings..

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