299: Won't Let You Fall In The Wrong Hands

Won't Let You Fall In The Wrong Hands

"Oriana, go and try any of those gowns. Xena will help you."1

Oriana unwillingly stood up as it was the order from the Queen. 

"Miss Oriana, do you have a color or style you prefer?" Seeing her reaction, Xena explained, "You and Her Majesty almost have the same build but you are a little taller. This is also a good chance to see if your choice will fit you well. We still have time to send it to the tailor in case we need to make last minute adjustments for your gown."

Oriana could only helplessly agree. The Queen was lending her clothes to her. It would upset Seren if she were to refuse her at this point.

"Please this way," Xena said as she pointed towards the side chamber. It was the wardrobe room. 

After carefully choosing, with Xena's help, they decided on two gowns. One was olive and the other was light blue in color. 

Entering the wardrobe room, Xena spoke, "You can take your clothes off, Miss."

Oriana hesitated for a moment. Xena smiled, "Shy? When you were brought here last time in an unconscious state, I was there. The white sleeping gown you wore was mine."

Oriana understood what Xena meant. She had seen Oriana without clothes on and there was no need for her to feel embarrassed about it. Oriana quietly started removing her clothes one by one. 

It was the first time she would be naked in front of a person. Though Xena was a woman, Oriana felt her cheeks flush hot, self-conscious about her body.

Oriana also had no choice but to undo the chest band she tightly wrapped around her chest to make it firm and flat like a man's. 

In the end, Xena lent her clean set of undergarments to be worn under the layers of clothing which Eva and Marie helped Oriana to put them on. 

After almost two hours, they were done putting on the olive green gown which shimmered like gold depending on the angle of light. The combination of the corset and the layers of skirt were restrictive and stuffy, despite the fabric themselves being of the highest quality. 

Xena gave some comments about the gown, and then the process was repeated with the light blue one.

Oriana felt physically tired even though she did nothing other than standing. Seren's servants were helping her with everything. After what seemed like an eternity of torture, Oriana changed back into her attendant uniform. It did not even take her five minutes.

'No wonder noblewomen take ages to prepare. How much time did I waste simply smoothening the second layer of skirt?'

"Your Majesty, I have a little trouble," she said the moment she stepped back into the main chamber. "Aside from your people, though no one knows I am a woman, my face is recognizable enough as His Highness' aide. People will surely recognize  me if they see me in women's clothing. I think we should drop this idea."

Though Arlan knew she was a woman, she hoped that no one else would learn of the truth. It would prove to be a scandal if the public became aware of it. It was already bad that she had a terrible reputation for being the prince's pretty boy who spends the night in his chamber. 

'If it worsens…'

"Oriana, do not worry. I have a solution for that as well. No one will recognize you."

Oriana appeared puzzled, but Seren replied with a vague, "Trust me."

Oriana could only nod, but then heard another shocking thing from the Queen. "With the attire covered, next, let's talk about dancing."

"D-Dancing?" Oriana exclaimed. "Oh, no. I can't dance at all. I don't even know how—"

"Xena will teach you the basic steps and practicing now is better than not at all." Seren offered her a comforting gaze. "When a lady attends a ball, it is normal for us to get asked for a dance. It's rude to decline one, but it is possible especially if you have a partner or an escort. However, to decline all invitations means to insult those in attendance."

"B-But, Your Majesty. I am not comfortable interacting with some random man." Her last words showed nervousness.

"Do not worry, I won't let my lady-in-waiting fall in the wrong hands. You can trust me."

Oriana could not go against the Queen's wishes. She could only be swept away by the situation.

After a short but intensive dance lesson, Oriana returned to her own room in the servant quarters absolutely exhausted. She could only lay in her bed like a puppet with its strings cut.

'The lifestyle of a noble lady is surely tiring. I shall thank the Spirits that I was born a commoner and not a woman from a noble family. I pity those noble women who need to doll themselves up, learning manners and skills to impress people they don't even like. If I were to be given the chance to be reborn and choose, I would once again prefer the same life- herbalist living as a man, over a noble lady from a prestigious family.'

After she rested for a while, it dawned on her that she had something important left to do. 

While Arlan remained preoccupied with his official duties, Oriana took this chance to return to her room and inspect the honeysuckles she had set out to dry near the window, among a collection of other fragrant plant leaves and stalks. 

'The flowers dried well and the scent can stay preserved for about six months.' 

First, she took the buckwheat flowers requested by Yorian, pairing it with carnation and baby's breath. She applied preservative oil, making sure to coat everything, before leaving them to dry again.

After putting those aside, she gathered the honeysuckles for Arlan, taking time to choose which dried herbs to pair it with. 

'To not overpower the smell, I'll only add a small touch of lavender and baby's breath.'

After she coated it with oil, she also left it aside to dry and began to make a brooch out of twigs which took almost half an hour. As an herbalist, cutting and twisting plants were no difficult task. She finished making two pin holders without any mistakes. 

With her knife, she began to carve small grooves on the twigs, where she deftly inserted the herbs to keep them in place. An elegant-looking brooch was crafted, one which would look good if a man wore it on his coat lapel. 

Yorian's was finished in less than ten minutes, while Arlan's took her almost half an hour. 

'I will give this to His Highness tonight.'

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