The Taste of Seduction

"Princess, so good to see you again. How are you?"

She said sweetly.

"Never better. You?" Meredith asked robotically, stepping aside so she could enter the room.

"Fine, fine." She said, sweeping into the room.

When Meredith shut the door, she turned to face her.

Katrina grinned at Meredith.

Meredith raised her eyebrows, "What?"

"Oh come on…are you not excited to try on the dresses I have brought?" Katrina asked, waving the garment storage bags in front of her.

"Oh…I forgot about that." Meredith replied.

Katrina sighed and laid the dresses on the bed.

"Don\'t worry, you will love the dresses I chose. They\'re all so beautiful! I can\'t wait for you to try them on."

"Please tell me you\'re not going to dress me up," Meredith said, the moment Katrina grabbed a dress and held it up.

"Of course not!" She said, giving her a look that

screamed of her plans to do the exact opposite.

******

"I can\'t reach the zipper," Meredith huffed after trying out the fifth dress.

Katrina gasped when Meredith turned around to face her.

"I know. I look awful-" Meredith said and started to pull down the off-the-shoulder straps.

"No no no!" She stammered, coming over, and

stopped her. She grabbed her shoulders and looked at her with a gentle expression.

"You look absolutely magnificent," She insisted.

Meredith looked down at the dress and then back to Katrina.

"Don\'t believe me?" Katrina questioned and turned

her around so she was faced with the full-length mirror.

Meredith gasped and froze in shock at the sight in front of her

She almost didn\'t recognize the girl standing in front of her. The fiery red and contrasting dark red of the gown accentuated all her curves and the bare back design featured a side cutout and a high slit that highlighted Meredith\'s leg.

"When Marcus selected this dress I wasn\'t so sure but seeing you in this?! Gosh I can\'t wait for his face tomorrow!"

Katrina said excitedly.

"Marcus?" Meredith questioned. She hadn\'t seen him again after yesterday when he chased after Arya but he had helped pick her gowns?

"Yes, he accompanied me to collect the gowns and personally chose this for you. He said the dress represents power, boldness, and confidence."

Meredith was stunned and she didn\'t know what to say.

"Oh."

"Yes, he is a sweetheart isn\'t he? Behind all those coldness and indifference." Katrina grinned.

Meredith\'s lips pulled up and she nodded, "guess he is."

"Now we will let your hair down and give you a bold makeup to complete the look!"

"I don\'t know... Isn\'t it a bit… Provocative?" Meredith said, turning to the side. The slight was too high and all her back was showing.

Even her marks which had been her greatest insecurities were on display. She was waiting for Katrina\'s remark but surprisingly she didn\'t even comment on it.

She laughed. "I forget that you haven\'t done any of

this before. Trust me, you\'ll fit right in and your marks are beautiful. People will go crazy seeing it!"

"What do you mean?" Meredith asked, furrowing her brows.

"Oh! We mystical creatures have lived for so long so we are a little bold and daring. You will see!"

Meredith hands brushed the dress and nodded absentmindedly.

"Okay now that we have found the perfect dress it\'s time time to go over the customs of the night"

"Go over what?" Meredith asked in confusion. Katrina helped her out of the dress and explained.

"Tomorrow you you would be introduced as the lost princess and Marcus\'s betrothed. It\'s the first night the kingdom gets to meet you. This ceremony is about you just as much as it is about Marcus,"

She told her her seriously, keeping her eyes on Meredith\'s almost like she wanted to make her point clear and make sure she she understood.

Nerves fluttered in Meredith\'s stomach.

"You\'re to be beside Marcus all night and he would introduce you to the influential people from other regions of the city of Arkaans.

You and him will have to dance in front of the whole kingdom and only then can others ask you for a dance."

She stopped there even though she sounded like

she had more to say. Her eyes glanced over to

Meredith and she smiled at her.

"Do you have any questions?"

Meredith shook her head, "No."

Her thoughts were jumbled out the moment.

"Alright let me take you through what to expect."

Karina suggested.

**********

"Wait here. They\'ll announce you in a few minutes,

at which time, you will make your appearance and

descend the staircase.

When you reach the bottom, people are going to want to meet you. I know it\'ll be a bit overwhelming, just do your best. Marcus, Timothe and I will all be there if you need us.

These people have been waiting a long

time to see you. They have a great amount of love

and admiration for you, so try to keep that in mind,

okay?"

Meredith swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded stiffly. She couldn\'t believe the day had finally come.

How she wished Atlas was here. Shit she had forgotten to spy on him using her magic mirror. She never got the chance with Maria and Katrina preparing for tonight.

What if they didn\'t like her? Or try to kill her? Or what if….

"You look perfect." Katrina said, bringing her out of her trance.

"Thank you,Kate.…." Meredith whispered, nerves fluttering in her belly

"See you down there." She winked at Meredith and

turned, disappearing around the corner of the

hallway which led into the main entrance and

grand staircase of the ballroom.

Meredith heard a voice behind her and her heart jumped in her chest. Taking a deep breath she turned to face the person.