"Do we really have to go this far? I'm sure the Imperial seamstresses can conjure something up just in time," Xanthy tucked herself deeper into her coat, thankful for the warmth the fur lining gave her. Elred wasn't kidding when she advised Xanthy to dress for the cold.

Elred glanced over her shoulder as she walked a few paces ahead of Xanthy. "Of course, The fashion exhibits are something to die for." the shard fairy said with a light bob of her head. "You wouldn't want to look like a witch at your closing ceremony. Come and enjoy Helinfirth as well."

Ah, yeah. It was Xanthy's first time in the famed Glass Mountain. She had been to Rabante, the city at the foot of the plateau, but all she heard of the Upper Cities were nothing short of what she's seeing now.

When she touched down on the glass-paved roads after being cooped up in a carriage pulled by winged animals whose wings looked like that of April's, her mouth had fallen partially open at the sight of tall buildings hewn out of glass and at the sheer amount of decorations peppering every inch of the city.

For a city who was razed to the ground during the war, they sure did their best to rebuild everything by Jered Hyngtis.

"It's a commercially active time of the year so what better way to regain the balance of the economy other than opening it up for tourists?" Canelis said somewhere besides Xanthy. She almost forgot the pixie was even with them with her silent steps and ever-present brooding skills. "You should see Yin Alora. My people have performed well in their mission."

Xanthy resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the pixie's grand statements. If not for the years of study she took under scholars, Canelis would surely be talking like the rest of them. "Stop reading my mind when you're not a thyminka, Can," she said to the pixie. Let her hope to the gods Canelis didn't mind the nickname Xanthy just called her.

The pixie's only answer was a light grunt. Her pace still matched Xanthy's whereas Elred was already miles off into the road. Xanthy blew a breath and she watched the crystallized tendrils curl off her lips. Woah. Was it that cold?

Her soles crunched against the multicolored glass lining the road before them, its noises matching the hundreds others from people who were with them. Xanthy glanced at another mound of the white stuff that fell from the heavens. They weren't quite like the ice she saw in the Ice Capital. It's ice, that's for sure, but shaved. It's as if there's a giant gadget in the air, grinding huge icicles and sprinkling the product to the earth.

"Snow," Elred was suddenly beside Xanthy, her gaze pointed at the same spot she didn't even realize she was looking at. "That's what snow looks like."

The only word that flew out of Xanthy's mouth was, "Cool."

"Now, come on," Elred jerked her chin to a specific mansion. "The Sandoxa emporium is close to opening. We would want to be the first ones there."

Xanthy raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you like royalty in this place? Shouldn't you get special privileges or something?"

Elred rolled her eyes. "We are in Xixora. The Valkalin family does not have much power here."

Xanthy blinked and Canelis put a hand on Xanthy's shoulder. "Best to not concern yourself with political matters especially during the holiday," the pixie said. "Let's just follow Elred to get this done with, do you agree?"

She stuck her bottom lip out. "Sure."

The next hour, then, was spent trekking past a road that seemed to be exploding with more and more decorations as it led to somewhere. The clothes of the people who traveled along with them changed from simple to frivolous. The slogs of boots were now replaced by the tinkle of high-pitched laughter of noble ladies and the stringent clacks of glass heels against the pavement.

Xanthy craned her neck up to the balconies lining the road, each boasting their decorations of glass leaves, flowers, lanterns, and candles. Could glass even be made into a candle? Somehow, the shard fairies managed it.

The smell of real flowers was thick in the air and tickled Xanthy's nose the moment they passed by a public park designed for tourists. There were fairies with various hair colors and complexions running around the grass-laden floor—a fitting break from all the glass around—, and compared to the mass of pale-haired and pale-skinned shard fairies, it's like a breath of fresh air. Well, fresh, cold air.

She tightened her hold on her coat and tucked her freezing hands inside it as a shiver passed through her body. Damn, she was used to the heat in Cardina so bad. She glanced at Elred to find the shard fairy walking along in just a thin, gossamer dress and a pair of thin-strapped sandals. What in Umazure were shard fairies made of?

It's a wonder, indeed, because when Xanthy looked at the rest of the shard fairies milling about or heading in the same direction as them, she found that they either dressed a lot like Elred or bundled themselves in a thin scarf laid over their shoulders. These people would definitely survive in harsh weather conditions erring on the cold side.

Then, the road opened up to a wide park filled with glass fountains of various sizes, dotting the expanse in random intervals almost as if they're circling the big pavilion in its center. Excited and hushed gasps flitted through the crowd of mostly young fairies—but really, who could tell fairies apart by their ages?—as they hobbled towards the pavilion. Xanthy squinted to see racks and racks of clothes hung on wires, each one more elaborate than the last.

Just as Elred and Canelis led her closer to the pavilion, Xanthy spied countless jewels sparkling against the setting sun and at least a dozen embroidered skirts made from threads of different colors. It was like the lights from the decorations tore off the balconies and exploded into this pavilion. Just a fraction of the clothes present here could set Xanthy up for life in the Imperial Palace.

"Try this," Elred shoved a piece of apparel into Xanthy's arms. Xanthy sucked in a breath as the cloth piled over her hands and almost dragged her down with it. What—this could clothe the entire Disfavoreds when she's not looking!

"And this," the shard fairy thrust another apparel at Xanthy. "This looks nice. Try that too."

After at least five iterations of try this, Xanthy's knees were already wobbling from the weight on her arms. No wonder she decided to stay away from these types of clothes. They must be a hell to wash and hang up to dry.

Elred pointed to a row of white doors at one corner of the park. "Go there and put them on."

Xanthy blinked. "Won't we buy them first?"

"Let me teach you about the wonders of shopping," Elred jerked her chin at the doors once again. "Put one on and come out. We'll decide, then."

"What is even Canelis doing here?" Xanthy whined as the shard fairy and the pixie pushed her past other fairies shopping for clothes. "Should she be doing something soldier-y?"

"I am here to help you pick out the perfect outfit for your closing ceremony," Canelis answered even though Xanthy's question was directed at Elred. "I hear it's quite special for an occasion."

Xanthy knitted her eyebrows as her friends deposited her in front of an unoccupied room. Special occasion? Was the end of Jered Hyngtis more special than its opening? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Well, whatever. Let her just get on with this. The more she cooperates, the faster this would be over.

Of course, that word "faster" meant three more hours of head-shaking, turning, and putting on and shedding clothes meant for Queens like they were merely tunics and trousers until Elred clapped her hands and Canelis got a dangerous glint in her eye.

"Perfect," Elred clicked her tongue at the present gown Xanthy was wearing. "Just a little adjustment on the collar. Seems like you're uncomfortable with that style."

Xanthy hooked a finger in this wretched closed-neck collar—why was this in every clothes available?—and pulled. "Yeah." she said. Damn, her feet already hurt. Good thing she wore boots today. "Are you really sure this is the right one?"

"Are you kidding me? It's great for your figure," Elred stood up from a stool she stole from a nearby waiting area and stalked towards Xanthy. "It fits you all in the right curves."

Heat rushed into her face as Elred ran a hand down her sides just like how the seamstresses did during the Imperial fittings. "That's...I don't have curves," Xanthy said through the growing awkwardness in her gut.

Elred's only answer was a muted hmm. Xanthy could only watch and nod as Elred ordered her to return to her old clothes and that they're taking this most recent dress she tried on. She blew a breath and for once didn't notice how it curled and hardened into crystals in front of her. Looks like it's another day of being in an uncomfortable collar during the closing ceremony, then.

Screw being special.

Xanthy dug around her satchel for the Imperial plaque to pay which merchant put up this elaborate display for clothes. When she got to where Elred and Canelis were standing, the shard fairy noticed Xanthy's hand inside the satchel and shook her head. "I'll handle it."

Xanthy opened her mouth. "Now just a moment—"

"Consider it my present," Elred said with a small smile. She passed a merchant dressed in colorful robes and a plain, blue turban over his head a coin in a move so fast Xanthy wasn't able to see what kind of versalis that was. "Come on. It's late. You've got an early day tomorrow."

Xanthy whirled to Elred. "What's tomorrow?"

The shard fairy raised her eyebrows as she handed Xanthy the wrapped package which contained her new dress. "The Heirs' gifting," she clasped her hands behind her and began walking out of the pavilion, forcing Xanthy to match her steps. "Didn't the Seelie Court tell you?"

Master Quinxus couldn't have told her about this earlier, now, could he? Xanthy pursed her lips. "No, they didn't."

Elred shrugged. "Well, now you know," she nodded to Canelis who walked on Xanthy's other side. "I'll have Canelis escort you back. I've got stuff to finish in Abshire and I still have to make it home to my son."

Xanthy nodded. Ah, yeah. Reza, Elred's son, who somehow survived the war and Helinfirth's destruction. It seemed like a miracle. She ducked her head and waved Elred off. "Yeah, go," she said. "Thanks for the whole day. It has been fun. Say hi to Savel and Reza for me."

Elred only smiled and seconds later, she had spread her wings in the air and was gone.

As soon as Xanthy made it back to the Imperial Palace, she thanked Canelis who flew off to somewhere as well and made for the Seelie Hall. The candles' flames flickered along a non-existent breeze as Xanthy tore through the familiar but dim corridors. Why hadn't Master Quinxus informed her first hand about the Heirs' gifting? It's tomorrow? They didn't even give her enough time to prepare!

A curse rang in the air as it left her mouth. Queen's britches. She hasn't even gotten June a present!

Her boots trudged across the carpeted corridor now. Her steps were so heavy the rugs couldn't contain the thumps that came with them. Xanthy rounded a corner and her eyes widened. She ducked back behind the bend and peered ever so slightly. She wasn't mistaken.

Indeed, June was there, pulling the doors to the Seelie Hall behind him. His eyes darted in every direction before deciding that it was safe. He ducked his head down and walked without noise into the opposite corridor. Xanthy knitted her eyebrows. What was that about? Where was he going?

She needed to talk to him.

Her feet padded on the rugs, quiet as if June's presence encouraged them to be. She reached the intersection peeling off the Seelie Hall and looked to her left. Where June was supposed to be just a few seconds earlier was replaced by the same old decorations and a space void of him.

Xanthy slammed her fist against the stone wall. So close! She was so close. She stared back at the Seelie Hall's black and gold doors. What was he doing here? Why did he feel the need to talk to the Seelie Court but not to her? Her teeth dug against her lower lip as her fists clenched beside her. Tomorrow. She'd find out more tomorrow.

Because, tonight, she has a collar to fix.