Just like that, she was surrounded by a plethora of people, their sole purpose to make her fit for a celebration. Most of the girls were no older than the late years of youth, with only a few that were older than she. Simprina stood tall at the back of the room while the rest fussed over her, washing her hair for the second time that day to make it act as they needed and wished. Occasionally, another would knock and beg her attention away, for which she’d leave for but a moment and then return as though nothing had happened.<br/><br/>Maria didn’t pay much attention, though. No, while her body was in the bath with a battalion of women around her preparing for what was to come after her bath, along with those washing her, her mind was elsewhere. So far elsewhere, in fact, that she missed when Simprina was dictating they were to remove her from the water. The lack of warmth encompassing her was missed, the pulls from people to move her were missed. Only when Simprina splashed her face and snapped in front of her did she rouse, looking up at the woman’s face with a slow coming understanding.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Right…I have to move now,</span>she told herself, standing as towels were wrapped about her, drying her off before the soft robe was about her, replacing the now wet towels. From there, she was ushered over to the vanity where the primping began.<br/><br/>“Maria, you’re awfully quiet,” Simprina started, watching her charge from her place behind her, eyes trained on the mirror’s reflection. “Are you not excited for the celebration tonight?”<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Speak, Maria, speak,</span>another thought commanded, her lips parting as she shook her head to buy herself more time. “Of course I am excited, Simprina,” Maria sought to assure her, the smile on her lips small but as genuine as she could muster. “I am merely consumed with thoughts of what the…baby will be like, what needs to be done before they get here…things of that nature, I assure you.” It’d taken everything she had in her to call it a baby, and not a thing like how she currently thought of it. No, there was no love for this child or the man she assumed it came from, dreading it with all of her being already.<br/><br/>“Of course,” the woman replied with a kindly sort of smile. “I should have guessed you’d be thinking ahead, like any mother to be would.” She wasn’t convinced, though. It took more than few words and a kind smile to sway her impressions, impressions that were to the contrary of what the Princess had replied.<br/><br/>Nothing more was spoken, not to her, anyway, allowing her thoughts to resume their pattern. It was a pattern of hate, of loathing and disgust, both at herself, at the baby, and at the man who put it there. She may have been married to Ivor, but she was, by no means, happy to be carrying his child. If she had a miscarriage tomorrow, she’d not lament the loss; she’d be glad of the reprieve. More than anything, though, outside of those emotions…was a sadness, a despair that this union would take her one step closer to Ivor and the strength of the two kingdom’s bond…but another step away from Brádach.<br/><br/>So, she remained silent, allowing them to get her made up and dressed for the auspicious occasion that evening.<br/><br/>The only good thing to come out of this whole thing? Now that it was confirmed…there wouldn’t be a corset in sight for months to come.