Chapter 16

Rika didn't wake until mid-morning the next day, with something soft and cuddly in her arms. "Mmm... What's this?" She rubbed her cheek against its fur and opened her eyes. "Oh, when did you get here?" Rika played with the teddy's ears, bow, and then hugged it. An image of it in the store flashed through her mind. Dryden. It had to be him.

"I guess he was right about the bear," Celeste said as she wheeled in Rika's breakfast on a cart.

"What do you mean?"

"That you'd like it."

"Of course I do. Look at how cute he is!" Rika held up the bear to Celeste.

"He?"

"Don't they look like a he? I should name him." Would feel more like one thing I truly own here.

"Eric? Honey? He's puffy and white like a marshmallow, so how about that?"

"Too long... How about Duke?"

Celeste's eyes widened. "Duke? After our very own Duke?"

"It matches where he came from." Rika shrugged and brought him over to sit next to her at the end of the bed as Celeste served her breakfast.

"If that's what you want to call it, go ahead, Saint Rika."

Rika cringed. "I know it's my title and all, but please, can you stop calling me that?"

"No."

"Not even while no one else is around?" Rika pouted, her eyes downturned.

"Oh fine," Celeste huffed. "But only when it's just us."

"Thank you."

Celeste shook her head, a small smile forming as she set up Rika's morning tea.

"Mmm, delicious as always."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"You made this, too?" Rika asked.

"The staff is busy setting up for the welcoming ceremony later today, so I thought it best to take over for your meals."

"Thank you."

"You don't need to keep thanking me; this is my job."

"Still better to say it than not." Rika polished off breakfast quickly, being hungrier than she realized. "So, what's on the agenda for today? Is there something I need to do to get ready for the ceremony? I'm getting butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it." This will probably put all my meetings and public speaking gigs to shame.

"I think you staying calm today would be for the best. From what I know, your powers tend to unleash wildly according to your emotions, and we don't want that. We want a stable saint to help us. Do what Ferran taught you when it comes to the orb, and Dryden for the dance, and table etiquette."

Somehow, I think I'll forget everything once they look at me like their saviour. I'll have to put my work face on for this. Rika nodded. I can't mess this up, or they'll probably turn into a mob and chase me out.

"How about we get you ready?" Celeste motioned to the closet.

"Sure..."

"Did we really need to go all out like this?" Rika admired herself in the vanity mirror in her room after an excruciatingly long routine Celeste put her through.

"Of course, we did. This is an important ceremony to introduce you to the public. All eyes will be on you, expecting you to look extravagant to match your title. Don't worry, Rika; you're beautiful."

Would mean more if this were my body, but she's right. Rika stood and took a few unsteady steps. "How about shorter heels? And a lighter dress?"

"No." Celeste shook her head. "This is what we had prepared for you to wear to it. Think of it like a ceremonial outfit."

If anything, it looks like a wedding gown, and is certainly heavy like one in every way.

Celeste held her hand out to Rika. "How about taking a few steps around your room until your escort arrives? It'll help you get used to the shoes and the dress."

Not like I have much of an option. Rika took her hand and walked around the room a few times.

"See? It's not so bad."

"But don't I have to walk upstairs, too?"

"Not alone. Your escort will be all you need to make it through the ceremony."

Rika sighed and sat down, staring out her window. "Do you hear that?"

Celeste stepped closer to the window. "That, my dear, would be the sound of the crowd showing up for the ceremony."

Unable to fight her curiosity, Rika went out onto her balcony and strained her neck to look out to the side at the flood of people entering the palace grounds. "Is everyone invited?"

"That's how it works. It wouldn't do well to have only nobles show up for it, though most of them would love that." A look of disgust crossed her face for the briefest of moments. "It is open to all who would like to join, but we do have increased security during this time."

Rika nodded.

"Would you please stop stretching out past the railing like that? I'm afraid you might fall."

"Right, sorry." Rika came back in, closing the balcony door behind her. "But this isn't the best spot to see the crowd from."

"We didn't want you to have a view from the front where people might try to spy on you. This room by the gardens is the best we decided on."

"We?"

"Yes, we. Alric asked for my advice, so I gave it to him." Celeste couldn't stop a small smile from forming. Even if it was for something small, Alric turned to her for help.

Knock, knock.

"One moment." Celeste answered her door and stood back out of the way, bowing, as Alric strutted in wearing his red royal garb, with Wolfe in his military uniform instead of his knights' armour, waiting in the hall. "Your Highness."

His eyes widened slightly when he saw Rika. "You look radiant today, Rika." Alric gently took her hand and knelt down in front of her, his eyes shining.

"T-thank you." Rika cleared her throat and looked around the room. Damn, this is a bit much. How am I supposed to react to a prince kneeling before me? And in that outfit...

He kissed the back of her hand and stood, still holding her hand. "Are you ready for the welcoming ceremony?"

"As ready as I can be, I suppose."

Alric chuckled. "That's all I can ask for. Shall we?"

Rika nodded, and he moved her hand to wrap around his arm.

"You'll be alright, Rika. I'll be there beside you the whole time," Alric whispered as they headed out.