The week was quickly coming to an end, and the charity event was also quickly approaching. During this time, Elizabella has had a few lessons on etiquette to make sure that she knew what to do during the event. The lessons were very uneventful since she had been having these sorts of lessons as a small child. So she would go and try to memorize a few tidbits on the important topics for the charity.
During this time, she has had no time alone with the Crown Prince. She would only see him at the family table at dinnertime. They have barely even spoken during those times. This did not faze Elizabella at all since she was swamped preparing for the big day. On the other hand, Prince Zander would be busy at the same time as she was with preparations for his birthday party.
He had announced that he had finally gotten a special group for the entertainment one day, and he hoped that his guests would like them. Elizabella, being a bit of an aesthete, was very curious to know who would be coming to do the entertainment. She was happy that she was not the only entertainment for his party, and then remembered that she had not even planned anything for her performance for him. This was added to her mental To-Do list, but still was not something that she really had time to concern herself with at this point. Sigh. So much to do.
Her whole outfit was picked out for her by a famous designer. Now that she was a Princess, it was looked down if they knew that she would make all of her clothes, especially since she has never had a reputation of being a fashion designer in the past.
This, actually, would not have been a problem if she had married a Prince of Edalelia since she was well known for her fashion sense. Back at home, she was well known; here in Glear, no one knew who she was.
Even as they announced who had created her wedding dress, it was considered a collab with another designer and not really her creation. Not many knew that she had designed her wedding dress from scratch, only that a designer made the base dress. The lace, the beading, and embroidery were all handmade by her. Sadly, this was a secret that would never be known to the public.
The event was considered a black-tie event, different from her wedding, a white-tie event. In a black-tie, she would have a choice between going ball gown or a cocktail dress. Givin her social position, she actually did not have much choice and would have to be in a full gown if she did not want the ball gown. The cocktail dress was not an option for her at this point. If she was not the hostess, she might actually be able to get away with a cocktail dress, but not for this event.
If Elizabella had had a choice initially, she would have made this a creative black-tie event. That way, she would have more freedom in what and how she wore her dress. The event would be held in a large fancy resort hotel in two towns over, named Viridian Castle Resort. It is located in the middle of a large lake with a private island. They would be going in the early morning but will not arrive until later that afternoon.
Why they are going early is so that they will get ready at the resort hotel. They had rented out the whole place to make it a more private setting. Basically, anyone staying at the resort hotel would be either guests or employees of the resort hotel.
On the day of the event, Elizabella had woken up early to eat as much as she could, for she knew that she would not have a decent meal until evening. She wore a formal suit dress that went just below her knees. Prince Maxen had followed her inside her vehicle with a suit and tie. Prince Zander would be heading in a different vehicle with the Dowager Queen, while the King and Queen would go together.
The whole kingdom was excited as they, too, would get to catch a glimpse of what the ball would be like. Throughout the week, they would read about what the hospital was doing in their research and the progress they have made in the years since they would start each program. Many had even looked up the hospital themselves and saw that they really did what they said they were doing.
Many were surprised to know that mental health was such a broad topic, and one sitting would not be able to learn all about the different types of illnesses that exist and their remedies. Since the start of the week, people were encouraged to donate on-site when the charity website was put up. Many people did it to feel like they were apart of something that the nobles were going to be doing.
The page even went trending the next day nationally and internationally in two days. By the time that the charity ball was going to occur, they had already reached the hospital's two-year goal. However, the charity was still going to continue, with viewers still having the opportunity to donate when they watched. When it officially started, the charity ball was already starting on a high note.
Margarette and her family had decided to attend the charity ball. She had carefully prepared her dress, a long black sleeveless dress that pooled at her feet. She did not really care about the charity part, since she found that the topic was rather boring for her. She was interested in the entertainment choice and to see if the Crown Prince would even speak to her. She had sent him a message so soon after his wedding, making her think that maybe he thought she was desperate.
She felt a little embarrassed, just thinking about it and even a little upset that he never answered her back. She wanted to see if he would say anything about that message or ignore her. Margarette felt her stomach in knots as she sat down at her assigned seat with her parents. Many people just mingled on the dance floor, and she thought that she did not want to mingle with any of the adults.
Since she was still young and unmarried, she had to follow her mother around. If she stood up to mingle with the other ladies, then she would have to follow. After greeting some friendly relations, she would be free to roam by herself, but that would normally be until at least after half an hour would pass.
Finally, the hosts appeared, linked arm in arm. First, the King and Queen made their grand entrance with the Dowager Queen strutting behind them. Then, the stars of the show appeared.
With his Crown Princess, the Crown Prince appeared with the Crown Prince wearing a formal black suit and white shirt. The Crown Princess, on the other hand, had been a little bold in her color choice. She wore a modest long mermaid dress, off the shoulder sweetheart red satin ombre. With the waistline up high, it made her look much taller. Her hair was an updo with a red matching tiara on her head. She wore some long drop diamond earrings that accentuated her neck, and she had decided not to wear a necklace.
The two seemed to radiate under the light as they walked with a smile on their face. The Crown Princess's jewelry sparkled under the light, especially her engagement ring. The crowds had politely bowed and curtsied to the Royal Family, even to Prince Zander, who appeared alone behind the newlyweds.
Margarette also curtsied but tried to keep an eye on where the Crown Prince would go. She noticed that the couple seemed to be in sync as they would greet the passing guests together and seemed to be well received by everyone there. This thought made her a little depressed as she thought that maybe she had truly lost the love of a prince. She should have just agreed to his proposal when he first asked her. Now it was too late.
They both slowly made their way to the waiting stage as they continued to pass and greet everyone they passed. From what she could hear, it seemed that the Crown Princess was addressing everyone by their name and title, leaving the guests in awe that she knew who they were before a formal introduction. This small interaction seemed to boost many of their egos as they felt important to be remembered by the Crown Princess.
Eventually, they reached the stage. The Crown Prince first addressed everyone as the Crown Princess continued to stand proudly next to him. Seeing this really made Margarette upset to know that he is getting along with a stranger.
That should be her up there next to him! That is what she wants to say, but she is well aware that she rejected that position. She has no right to complain so late into the game. The Crown Princess began to address the audience, but Margarette did not seem to pay her any attention. She only saw how the Crown Prince would smile gently at her from the side, making her feel worse. The loud applause seemed to wake her up as she followed along and clapped her hands.
A doctor was being introduced. Margarette did not care what was being said as the Crown Prince had actually looked at her. Their eyes had met for just a brief moment, but at that moment, she swore that she felt an array of different emotions aimed at her. She felt her heart skip a beat, and then it beating hard. She felt her cheeks burn and knew that she must look like a ripe tomato at the moment. The idea slowly started to fester in her head.
"Do I still have a chance?"