Even though princess Lola was immensely tired, she did not have a lot of time to rest. As soon as the prince left, a milk bath with rose petals was prepared for her.
"Please follow me your grace." Said one of the attendants named Kari, appointed by prince Valentine to princess Lola. She led the princess to the bathing area designated to her room. At that point Lola learned that in Dali a bath was called a marble pool the size of a house. Her jaw dropped. She wondered how many cows did they have to milk dry to fill this huge lake?
"Ok calm down. Don't embarrass yourself, and try not to drown, or just finding my body will take a day and a half for them." Thought Lola to herself. she stoped herself from the urge to run away and acted as though this was what she expected in the first place.
The attendants started undressing her.
"What are you doing?" Said Lola scared yanking away her clothes from their hands.
"We were ordered to serve you your grace." Said Kari condescendingly. She knew very well the kings decree, about not touching the Crown princess to be. But she had her masters backing behind her and that made her arrogance show, in front of someone she thought to be unworthy of the prince.
"There is no need for that, i can bathe myself ." Said the princess.
"As you wish your highness." Kari and other attendants bowed and were about to leave. "O One more thing Kari. Never touch me without my permission again. Ever! Do i make myself clear?" She would never talk this way to the attendants her fiancé gave her, but the line had to be drown. No one was allowed to touch her.
Her tone made Kari shiver and made her step back on instinct . "How dare she?" Thought Kari to herself."Shes just to ugly to even be touched and that's why shes so worried. No wander the prince dose not like her. Lady Acacia is a much better match for him."
She bowed again and said. "Yes your grace. Please forgive my incompetence." Kari quickly gestured to the servants and everyone immediately left.
Lola sighed, she felt so alone and unprotected in this foreign land. She undressed completely and entered the bath. Suddenly all her worries washed away. This was truly a majestic feeling. The milk was a perfect temperature and the rose petals gave of a magnificent aroma that filled the entire room. After such a long journey this was truly a blessing. She went swimming in the middle of the huge pool, everyone insisted on calling a bath. While laying on her back her thoughts raced. The meeting with the prince would not leave her mind. looking at well crafted naked statues on the ceiling, Lola could not contain her happiness and giggled out loud. Yes what was the use of being pessimistic. The prince seemed a perfect gentleman and just a few people's hostility should not define a whole country for her.
After the bath, food was brought to her quarters and while she ate, the lady's in waiting were unpacking and preparing her dresses. Soon after Lola was being dressed in a beautiful black outer dress with Pearls sewn into it. It looked like a thousand stars were shining in the darkness of the night. The dress was cascading down, sleeves were cut in the middle and it was completely open in the front like a mantle. Inside she wore a bleck dress completely covered with gold embroidered petals. The neck of the dress was high and the outer dress made it completely impossible to see her body's contour. Her white veil was covering her entire had, neck and chest. She looked elegant end tasteful, yet vary mysterious at the same time.
When the evening drew near, an attendant knocked at the door. "Announcing the arrival of his highness prince Valentine Lechium Ushgul."
Princess was a little flustered. She quickly straightened her dress, took a deep breath and waived to let the prince be let in. The door opened and in walked in the prince... He was dressed in a formal blue uniform with red strings, golden buttons and with gold embroidery on the collar. He looked as handsome as ever. His beautiful stern black eyes that shone with intelligence, stopped there gaze at Lola. She felt as though in the entire universe all she could ever need was in those eyes. He smiled and the world got clearer and more colorful. It took her breath away.
"You look beautiful princess Lola Malat." Said the prince and kissed her hand softly. Thou sweet he was still vary formal and distant.
"Thank you your highness prince Valentine Lechium. Please let us seat and enjoy a cup of tea, with some cookies before the gala. I let my handmaiden buy it in the city. She said it was a vary glamorous shop, so i think it will be delicious." She was speaking a little nervously and ordering the handmaidens with her hands to bring in the cookies she spent a lot of time getting.
"Im sorry, but i Don't think we have time for that. The gala has already started, so some cookies can wait. For future reference, i do not eat any food outside the castle or prepared by a person i don't Trust, for safety reasons. Now please get ready. I don't know how it is in Ujarma, but here it is rude for an honored guest to be late."
Princess was a little surprised. Valentine seemed so different from this morning.
"I apologize. I had no idea it had already started." How could she. She was only told to be ready before the evening, which she was. Lola could not understand. He himself agreed to have a private talk with her not to long ago. Why would he act this way now. She had a lot of questions, but there was no way she would ask him. Her pride would not allow it.
"Well if you're ready let us go." Said prince Valentine with a smile. He was acting sweet again. Princess Lola took his outstretched hand without saying anything. She never had any romantic relationship before and only possessed book knowledge on this matter. The way prince Valentine acted confused her and made her unable to respond.
They walked out of the room and down the long beautifully decorated hallway. They went to another wing and then to the garden. After a long walk in the extravagant garden, they reached a great chamber where the gala was being hosted. Joyous lights were coming from the windows. From the inside beautiful classical music could be heard. Prince and the princess walked up to the entrance and reached the stairs going down to the gala. There arrival was announced.
"Entering Prince Valentine Lechium Ushgul and princess Lola Malat Dumil."
Everyones attention was turned towards the staircase. There stood a handsome prince and well dressed princess who hid her own face. Thousands of whispers filled the beautiful room, with golden chandeliers and gold sculptures on the ceiling. All everyone talked about was princes Lola. People here wore different kinds of masks. The kind that hid their bad intentions with fake smiles. Lola did not care about any of them. Why would she? Her life goal was not pleasing each and every insignificant individual, by stroking their egos. No, she had much greater plans. The princess of foreign country streitend, her already streit posture and with the handsome man by her side she walked down the stairs. Slowly and elegantly. The moment her foot touched the floor of the great chamber, people swarmed her from all sides.