The sunlight peaks through a sheer white curtain. It slowly dances over the floorboards, over the rug and then slowly creeps up the bed. A young woman lays deep asleep in a warm nest of blankets and pillows. She gently stirs as the light caresses her face slowly waking her up. As she opens her eyes for the first time, the sunlight blinds her completely. Moving the blanket over her face to shield her eyes from the too bright daylight, Katerina let out a deep sigh and sunk back into the blankets.
'I'll rest my eyes for just a moment and I'll be up' she thought to herself. Her bed was so comfortable and warm, and she loved the way the linen caressed her skin so softly. When she started to drift into sleep again a loud knock was heard on her chamber door.
"Miss? Miss? Are you awake yet?" A chambermaid asked through the door. "I need to get you ready for the royal dance and your majesty told me not to let you sleep a stone past seven!" Katerina didn't respond. She thought about all the preparations she'd been through in the last month to prepare her for this night and yet she still felt unprepared. The door creaked open. "I'll run the bath for you my love. Would you like any special scents for today? I was thinking maybe Gladiolus and rose quartz." She looked at me " Gladiolus to protect and rose quartz so we can get you ... a man" she laughed. "Come now, get out of bed now, we must get the day started before it ends." She happily chirped before going to fill the bath. Katerina wished it was the end of the day. She fought with the blankets, won, and then made her way to the steaming tub. The tiles were harsh against her feet and her night gown refused to come over her head. She struggled for a minute and then threw it to the floor. The water harshly greeted her skin and Katerina let out a long sigh as she sank into the water. She looked down at her distorted limbs. The scent of gladiolus helped relax her mind but she couldn't help but think about what was to come tonight. First would come a long lecture from mother about not sticking to the meal plan for the last month. Then would come for her to basically be sold off to a random prince. She sighed. Love was not supposed to come to her this way. She wanted to fall in love and have babies with someone she chose not someone her father decided. But princesses don't have a say and just like her mother and her mother before her, it was her destiny to be in a forced marriage.
Katerina didn't notice the maid come in and was startled by her reflection in the water. Katerina shrieked and turned away splashing water all around the room. The maid looked down "I am very sorry miss I didn't mean to frighten you." "I am fine and you are fine." Katerina rose from the tub " I am ready to get dressed now." The maid quickly dried Katerina and then left to grab the dress.
Katerina waited on her bed for the maid to come back. It seemed like hours but eventually she heard foot steps and then a brief knock. The maid entered again and began to unwrap the dress. "Your dress is stunning Miss, I think you'll look amazing tonight." She showed Katerina and her eyes widened. She had not been able to see the final product, just snippets of what the tailor had her customize. Katerina let out a breath. The maid helped her into it and then buttoned up the back. Katerina stared at herself. Who was she? She did not recognize this woman staring back at her. The dress was beautiful pale pink color and it flowed down over her body in ways she didn't realize fabric could. The top was tight and fitting and accentuated her already spilling bust. Her curves were showing in all the right places and she knew she was going to attract a lot of attention today.
The maid finished with Katerina's long blonde hair and began to paint her lips a light red. Her tiara was nestled into her curls, and for once she truly felt like a princess. Katerina smiled at her maid and then dismissed her. Watching the maid leave and close the door Katerina leapt into action. She opened her cabinet and reached far into the back until she felt something sharp. She pulled it out and set it upon her bed. This was her secret box. She quickly opened the lid and unwrapped a small red lace garter. Quickly pulling it up her leg and fixing her stocking, she knew that no man would be able to resist that temptation.
{several hours later}
The air hung heavy with excitement. Katerina felt that it was so thick she could barely breathe. She looked around at her overly decorated sitting area. Her mother was over in the next room speaking with her father. She heard the chairs push back across the floor and she took that as her cue to straighten herself up and pretend to smile. The doors slid open and her mother greeted her with a frown. "Stand straighter. You look like you're with child when you stand that way" Katerina gulped and stood straighter. Her mother was cruel. "Come now and sit." Katerina took a few steps and the door slammed shut.