That evening, Katherine stood in the glow of a dozen flickering candelabras, watching her reflection in the tall mirror that dominated the far wall. Shadows danced over the polished hardwood floor and gilt-framed tapestries, catching here and there on the silver filigree of the dressing table. She was already clad in a delicate chemise of pale linen, its neckline gathered with fine lace. Yet it was only the beginning.

Rose, standing at Katherine's side, gestured to the two maids who hovered by the open trunk of gowns. "Bring it out," she instructed softly. "We'll start with the petticoats and underskirts."

One of the maids—a girl with wide, blue eyes and curly hair that tumbled out from under her bonnet—reached into the trunk and carefully lifted a voluminous underskirt of crimson satin, its hem embroidered with twisting vines in gold thread. She spread the fabric before Katherine like the offering, the fabric catching every flicker of candlelight. "This first, my lady," she said politely.

Katherine braced her hand on Rose's shoulder for balance while the other maid helped guide the petticoat and underskirt into place. Its weight settled around her hips—heavier than expected. Even through the linen chemise, she could feel the satin's cool slide against her legs.

Rose then turned to the second maid. "Fetch the gown."

Carefully, the maid unfolded a breathtaking dress made of light green silk, its sleeves puffed at the shoulders, tapering into long fitted cuffs adorned with freshwater pearls. Along the bodice, gold thread curled in elaborate scrollwork, while jeweled rosettes adorned the front seam. The lower portion of the gown split to reveal the vivid crimson underskirt beneath. In places where the gown parted, the same delicate embroidery continued, as though leaves and blossoms were winding their way through the fabric.

"Look at this, Katherine," Rose exclaimed in delight. "I've never seen anything quite like this. His grace must be absolutely taken with you to gift you lavishly, Katherine."

"I doubt that, Rose," Katherine said, keeping her voice low.

"Oh, come on, Katherine. If a man, prince or not, sends you gifts like these, you know he's about to lose his mind over you. Now, put it on."

Katherine gave a nod to the maid who stepped forward. Holding out her arms, she let the woman dress her. Once the gown was settled around her torso, the maids laced the bodice from behind—so tightly that Katherine was sure she would suffocate if she tried to run.

"You look breathtaking," Rose whispered excitedly. She smoothed the gown's bodice and adjusted the velvet trim around Katherine's neckline.

Katherine allowed a wry smile at that, despite the tangle of nerves swirling in her stomach. "Breathtaking indeed."

Rose's eyes flicked up, meeting Katherine's in the mirror. "He wishes you to shine," she said simply. "So we'll let you shine."

At that, one maid produced a matching belt—narrow but heavily ornamented, with red stones that echoed the hue of the underskirt. She secured it around Katherine's waist, fastening it with a gold clasp in the shape of a coiling dragon. A slight shiver ran down Katherine's spine, remembering the prince's own crest. Even in moments like these, there was no escaping the subtle reminders of his dominion.

"The jewelry, my lady," the second maid said, nodding toward a small casket on the dressing table.

Rose crossed the room and gently lifted the lid of the intricately carved box. Inside sparkled a wealth of treasures: a necklace of emeralds and rubies, a delicate gold chain set with tiny pearls, and an ornate pendant shaped like a fleur-de-lis. "Oh, he is in love with you," Rose remarked, lifting a short string of rubies, testing its hue against the green of the gown. "Gorgeous, but perhaps too bold?"

The maid with the gentle eyes nudged a longer necklace that caught the candlelight in shimmering flashes—a piece composed of filigreed gold leaves interspersed with rubies stones. "You might want to try that one, my lady," she suggested, voice hushed. "It'll match the color of the underskirts perfectly."

Katherine reached out to brush her fingertips over the piece. She glanced at Rose for confirmation.

Rose nodded. "Yes. That one."

The maid reached for the necklace and then placed it carefully around Katherine's neck, fastening it at the back. The filigree goldwork felt cool on her skin, though it quickly warmed to her body's heat.

"What about the hair?" Rose asked, looking expectantly at the maids.

"This was brough along with the dress," the first maid replied, producing an embroidered hair net from a satin pouch—a fine mesh of silken threads woven with tiny pearls and gilded ribbons. "Freshwater pearls, just like those on the sleeves."

"Look at this Katherine," Rose explained, reaching for the delicate piece of jewelry. "Oh, I love it."

Rose leaned in and gently gathered the top layers of Katherine's dark curls, pinning them in place and allowing a few loose strands to frame her face. With deft fingers, the maid nestled the pearl net over the styled hair, securing it with minuscule gold pins. The result framed Katherine's features like a portrait, every detail meticulously polished yet still evoking a softness around her cheeks and jaw.

She swallowed, unsure whether the thrill she felt was from the dress's beauty or from trepidation about what this grand display meant. Either way, she couldn't entirely deny the near-sensual pleasure of the silk's rich texture against her skin, or the subtle weight of the jewelry reminding her of her transformed appearance.

A long mirror in the corner revealed the full effect. The green silk shimmered with each slight movement, the red underskirt peeking through like a tantalizing secret. Gold embroidery traced her bodice, leading the eye upward to the delicate net in her hair. The necklace's matching glow caught and reflected the warm candlelight, casting faint, dancing patterns on her collarbone.

"Breathtaking," said one maid, a soft flush coloring her cheeks as she studied Katherine's reflection.

Rose nodded her agreement. "Yes. That's precisely what he wants." Her voice remained gentle, but Katherine sensed the weight of those words: a reminder of just who all this opulence was for.

Katherine let out a steadying breath. "Thank you," she told the maids, dismissing them with a smile. She waited for them to leave and when the door closed behind them, she turned to Rose.

"So... this is it."

Rose offered a faint, supportive smile. "Yes," she whispered, smoothing a wrinkle in the gown's sleeve. "This is it."

"Part of me is frightened to go there, Rose."

"Don't be. Remember who he is. He can take as he pleases, and yet he does not. He is wooing you."

"I don't want to be wooed. Not by him."

"Are you sure about that? Or are you just saying that because it easier to deny him than to admit that you're not quite as immune to him as you claim to be?"