After breakfast, Alaric did not let Daphne slip away to her duties.
Instead, he stayed with her, calling for her family to join them later that morning.
By the time noon neared, Daphne stood before the mirror, her breath caught at the sight of the gown laid across the bed.
It was unlike anything she'd ever seen...and she'd seen a lot...a rich red silk that shimmered like fire under candlelight, scattered with diamonds stitched in the shape of tiny blossoms, each one catching the light like dew on petals.
She turned to him, wide-eyed. "You designed this?"
Alaric, who was adjusting the clasp of her necklace, met her gaze in the mirror.
"Every detail," he admitted softly.
"From the fabric to the placement of the stones. I wanted you to wear something no queen, no empress, no rose in all of Eldoria could rival."
Her throat tightened. "Ric… this is too much."
