A rolled-up canvas lay on the table of her father, King Idriz. Princess Ivy, who saw that, looked around carefully. She had heard the name Prince Theodoric mentioned by her father.
After making sure that no one or the maids had seen it, Ivy unrolled the canvas. She read the contents and was flabbergasted with a smile.
"I have to come!" She said to herself, full of hope.
Ivy hastily rolled up the canvas again and she came out of her father's room.
Her heart was pounding as she presumptuously opened the canvas. She had to open it, as she remembered, as, in previous years, Buckingham Palace was always hosting a Christmas Ball.
"Ivy! Where have you been?"
Lily's scream took her by surprise. She stopped when Lily shouted at her. "I'm from the garden, Lily."
"Huh? Do you think I trust you? Well, instead of that ... you better pick a dress for me to the party! I know your choices are always good. So, go to my room now!"
Lily's orders left Ivy speechless. Her hands were clenched into fists because Lily still considered her an illegitimate child. Their father had told Lily to accept Ivy as the only Princess from the first wife that King Idriz married.
"What are you staring at, huh?" snapped Lily.
"Are you going to the party?" Ivy asked, feigning ignorance.
Lily smiled as she tossed a strand of her hair to the side. "Of course! I'm going to meet Your Majesty, Prince Theodoric. You know, the Christmas Ball is held every year at his Palace?"
Ivy nodded. "Can I come with you?"
"No, you are not!" Lily answered quickly. "A low-class woman like you doesn't deserve to enter that Palace!"
"But I'm your father's daughter too, Lily!"
"You forgot, your mother is from the lower class? Ha ha ha ... shame! How dare you live with your father!"
Ivy held back her tears so they wouldn't spill. Her body shook, then she immediately turned and ran towards her room.
"Hey, Ivy! You brat!" cried Lily angrily.
Ivy locked her bedroom door. Just as she was running, she almost fell because she stepped on her dress.
There was a soft knock on the door to her room. She knew, if the sound was low, it was her father, King Idriz.
"Oh, my Princess Ivy, what are you doing, my Dear?" asked Idris.
Ivy immediately hugged her father. Crying in his arms. Right now, only her father loves her. Her family didn't even consider her, let alone her stepmother and stepsister.
"I miss mother, father. I want mother here," said Ivy in tears.
Idriz knew that he could not grant his daughter's request. Melanie always told him not to take her to the Palace, considering the Idriz family didn't like Melanie, who came from the lower class.
"Ivy, you know, I can't grant your request. But I'll let you meet your mother," said Idriz.
"Ah, all right, father. Now, I want to see mother!" Ivy said excitedly.
"Wait in your room. I have to write a letter to your mother. The maid will help you get ready."
Idriz passed in front of his daughter. Then soon a maid named Rula came to help Ivy put on her go-to dress.
Rula was the only maid who specifically accompanied Ivy. She and Ivy were like friends because Ivy didn't have a friend other than Rula.
"Are you going to the Christmas Ball, Princess?" Rula asked.
"I want to come, Rula. Can you prepare a dress for me tomorrow?"
"With pleasure, Princess."
"Hmm ... don't let anyone know that I'm on the show, ok?"
"Alright, Princess."
***
The journey to East London by horse-drawn carriage takes quite a long time. Ivy fell asleep several times and fell asleep on Rula's lap. Then she wakes up when she finally arrives at her mother, Melanie's house.
The small house with the chimney visible in the air convinced Ivy that her mother was inside. She then knocked on the door with a round piece of iron attached to a special door for knocking.
The door opened and revealed Melanie in her simple dress.
"Oh, my daughter!" Melanie exclaimed.
"Mother, I have missed you!"
Melanie smiled and immediately ushered Ivy inside. She offered her the food she had cooked and sometimes she cried looking at her daughter.
"My Princess is all grown up and grown-up. Are you all right, my daughter?"
Ivy nodded. "I'm fine, Mother. Oh ... Father left this for you. You should read it when I get back."
Melanie took it and immediately put it on the table. She stared at Ivy long enough to be moved because Idriz finally really kept his promise to her, to raise Ivy with love.
"Mother, tomorrow I'm going to the Christmas Ball at Buckingham Palace. But no one knows. Including father. I mean, just Rula," Ivy explained as she looked at Rula who was sitting beside her.
"Oh, I've made you a pretty dress. I'm pretty sure they'll have it again. Wait a minute!"
Melanie went to her room, took her homemade dress, which looked very shiny and luxurious. Ivy didn't even think that her mother would arrange this.
The dress was a fiery red and Melanie had deliberately chosen a color so bright that everyone could see her daughter. That her daughter is not just an ordinary Princess, but she is a Princess who deserves respect like the others.
"Rula, please, tomorrow, help her put this on," Melanie ordered.
"With pleasure, Your Majesty."
Only Rula called her 'Your Majesty' and appreciated her. Of course, Melanie felt respected as the legal wife of King Idriz, even though his family didn't think so.
"Mother, this is too fancy. And why red? Don't you know that Princesses and Queens always choose colors that don't look flashy? W-what if I don't deserve it?"
"My daughter will deserve this, and of course, Prince Theodoric will glance at you. Trust me. Because I have already put my magic on your dress that will catch his eyes on you. Even if I don't say it, he will like you. " and besides, I want everyone to know that my daughter deserves the same respect as the other Princesses," Melanie said with a beaming face.