"Lumi! oh, where could she be? Find the princess and get her ready for tonight. Her father will be disappointed if she isn't there on time."
"Yes, your highness."
I saw my mother, the queen walks away. Sarah turned and saw me and gave a shake of her head.
"Princess, you mustn't run off every time your mother appears."
"I can't help it. Mother is always lecturing me the same thing over and over again. 'A princess shouldn't do this, A princess shouldn't do that.' At least I take my classes. I'm always inside these walls."
"Come, let's get you ready and continue discussing this in your room. Someday, princess, you will travel to your heart's content."
"How will I? When my parents want me to marry someone."
"Here, put this on. You never know who you'll meet. So let's cross our fingers and make sure that he will be a fine prince."
I put on a black and green dress, where it's short in the front and long on the back. I sat down to get my hair and make-up done. A simple half-up hairstyle with flowing waves and a crown of crystal flowers decorated my hair. And light and simple make-up to go with it. I slipped on my black suede lace-up platform heels and stood up. I walked to my full-length mirror and stared at myself in awe.
"Thank you, Sarah." I turn around and hug her.
"You're welcome, princess. Come, we must go. They will announce your name. All the princes are there already."
"Okay."
Sarah gives me her arm and I grab onto it and walk alongside her. We get to the doors and a guard is standing outside.
"Remember princess, the princes will be wearing masks and have numbers pinned to their suits. There are 30 of them. You will get to dance with them and decide if you want them to stay or leave."
"30? will I have time for all of them?"
"No. So they will stay until you have met them all until one is standing."
"So... no pressure?"
"You can do it, I know you can. Ready?"
"As I'll ever be." I face the guard and nod at him. He goes inside and comes back out. Then I hear someone speaking inside.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess of Niveous, Lumi Morningstar!"
I breathe in and slowly let it out. The doors open and I start walking.