It was getting dark, the queen mother came into my room, and she stood at the door asking if she could come in. I rose from my bed and quickly went to where she stood. "Your highness, please don't insult me like this, my room is open for you always".
"I have no right to enter your room without permission," she said.
I stared at her, what a woman with so much discipline. She had a big heart, one which was made of gold. "Don't say that queen mother". I ushered her in.
"I will, please do call me mother when next you want to address me", she took my left hand.
"I brought the Royal makeup artist here. I want you to be ready on time. The Emperor does not like to wait. He works with time".
"Okay, your... Mother" I stammered. I was not used to calling anyone's mother. My Mum died when I was five. All my life I have addressed people as your highness, majesty, or my princess. She smiled and let go of my hand.
I like this woman, she was friendly and cool. I wonder how come she gave birth to a cruel son like the king or did they switch him at birth?
Yeah, it was possible. This woman's traits didn't match his. He adopted bad behavior from God knows where. Or was I exaggerating this? What if the emperor was the opposite of what I heard about him? I was going to confirm this tonight, our wedding night.
Makeup was applied to my face by the royal artist, and everything I needed for the party was available. "So this is what it feels like to be royalty," I thought to myself.
"My Lady, what color of dress would you like?" Anne asked.
"Which color will suit me the most?" I asked her back. I didn't know which to choose. Back at home, I wear anything I want without checking if it is torn or colorless. The color left my life the day I lost my family.
"Put on Red, it's the Emperor's favorite color". She picked up the dress from the wardrobe and took it to where I was sitting. It was truly a beautiful dress with diamonds attached to it.
"The dress looks expensive," I said.
"Yes my Lady, the Emperor ordered it himself. That's why I suggested you should try it on".
I looked at the wardrobe, I saw three different dresses hanging. If the Emperor had ordered this one, then who brought the others?
"Anne, who ordered the rest?"
"Queen Vida did," she said.
"Who is that?" I was curious.
"She is the Emperor's youngest wife, when she heard you were coming, her face was full of happiness".
"Why was she excited, Anne?" I was confused as to why a king's wife would be happy to receive her rival.
"She is from the southern part where you come from. I thought you knew each other".
All of a sudden, a cold shiver ran through my body. Anne could see that I was frightened, someone knew me! This was indeed my end. How was I going to explain myself? I was sure this woman would recognize me and be able to differentiate between princess Eva and me.
"Are you alright, my Lady?"
"Yes I am. Give me some privacy". I stood up from the chair and went into the bathroom. "You need to calm down, Ariadne, or else this makeup will be ruined," I told myself.
I was hoping by the time I was out of the bathroom, there wouldn't be anyone in the room. I was still trying my best to calm down when I heard someone shouting my name.
"Princess Ariadne... Princess..."
Quickly, I adjusted myself and went out to see who it was. She was a young girl about my age, short, fat with brown skin. She wore a green sleeveless dress. With her were three other maids. She kept on searching as her eyes darted back and forth.
"Let the gods be praised" she hugged me tightly for about thirty seconds, and I had to shake my body to let her know that I wasn't comfortable with the way she held me.
"Don't you recognize me? It's me, Princess Vida. Get away from the darkness, let me see your face". She took a step back, paving the way for me to move forward.
I was afraid she was going to expose me to the Emperor. Once I stepped into the light, she was going to see that I was not the princess of Camelot and for sure they wouldn't spare me. "Was this life for me?" I asked my creator silently.
"Step out of the darkness please, why are you standing there?".
"Are you okay my Lady?" Anne asked. She was still standing where I left her. All the maids who came to dress me up were still there. None of them went out of the room, while I was in the bathroom. I lacked what to say at the moment, this was just my first day at the palace and I had messed things up already. The gods were the only ones who could save me from this one.
I thought of a prank I would use to clear this woman from my sight. Maybe fainting will help calm the situation, but for how long will I be able to pretend? What if she tells everyone the truth when I am down?
I have to think of something and act fast before she exposes me. There it was! The perfect plan for this.
I came forward, my eyes met hers, and she screamed like I was the goddess of Fortune who came to reward her. I asked her politely "I hope you are fine, Queen Vida?"
"I thought you were not going to recognize me, I am happy you did," she said almost dancing. This woman was talkative, I would have to control her if she knows too much.
"I did, though it has been a long time" I smiled.
What was I saying?
"How are your parents? I haven't seen them for like eleven years" she said.
So she wasn't even a close friend to Princess Eva. No wonder she couldn't recognize me.
Eleven years ago, I was still in my village. I haven't moved to the palace yet. We were all kids then. I was sure that's why she couldn't recognize me.
"You have changed so much, Ariadne, even your name what happened to it?" She was confused this time around, I could tell it.
"I…my g-grandmother changed my name. That's why" I lied again. Maybe there was no difference between Queen Celesta and I. We were both liars and traitors.
"I prefer Ariadne, it suits you better" she added. I smiled at her, if only princess Eva was here, she would have her hair burned in the kitchen. Eva never had mercy on anyone who offended her, she made sure that her parents punished her no matter what. I still carry the scars she gave me three years ago, the day I forgot to clean her shoes. Hot coal was placed on my back as a reminder not to disobey her again, in this life or the next. Finally, I left Camelot. Going back there was the last thing on my mind!