“Nothing really,” he said with a small smile. “As always, I like the view of your legs. But I think it’d be better if we carried the weight of our full royal status when staring down Ysabel and Edria. You, come here.” A servant passed by and immediately came to a halt at Dorian’s command. “Take the Queen of Rowan and Thorn to someone who can dress her properly. Then bring her to the east room when she’s ready.”

“What about me?” grumbled Jasmine as she and I followed the servant. “He doesn’t care how I look, apparently.”

I patted her back. “You’re already in gentry clothes. Besides, if you want something nicer, I’m sure they can rustle a dress up.”

We were escorted to a group of maidservants who were all too eager to dress Jasmine and me. I didn’t know if they were in the service of some noblewoman in Dorian’s court or if he just always kept them on hand to beautify women passing through. I decided it wasn’t worth pondering too much.

I traded my jeans and T-shirt for a long dress with a lace-up V neckline. It had short sleeves, which I preferred to the latest gentry trend in bell sleeves, and was made of a light material perfect for summer. I kept calling the color “lightish greenish,” but Jasmine and the maids kept correcting me and saying it was “celadon.” Whatever. My hair was pinned up in a simple bun—nothing like the crazy towers of hair from the Yew Land—and I had to admit the final result was rather queenly. Jasmine wore a similar dress in dark blue.

Dorian nodded in approval when we were taken to him. “Celadon. Excellent choice.”

He was also in regal attire. He’d traded his traveling clothes for a robe of black with silver embroidery. His attire usually consisted of pants and linen shirts, paired with rich, flamboyant cloaks. Apparently, he’d been serious about throwing around his royal status.

“That’s a badass robe,” I said as I sat down. “Dorian, Slayer of Souls.”

“Well, I did tell you I was envious of that nickname,” he said, stretching back in an ornate armchair. “You two are lovely, as always.”

I glanced around. “Aren’t Ysabel and Edria here yet?”

He waved dismissively toward the door. “Oh, yes. We found them right away. I just like making them wait. Like I always say, the more you can unsettle someone, the better.”

“Oh? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that,” I remarked.

He flashed me a smile. “That’s because I’m usually practicing it on you, my dear.” Jasmine rolled her eyes, and he turned toward a sentry waiting near the room’s entrance. “All right. Go fetch them.”