The Friday that I tried my best to disregard finally arrived. The whole palace was decorated with flowers, basketry, pottery, and colourful curtains. From the morning, the musical performances had started outside the palace. A few dance performances were also going on. Flora told me these musical and dance performances will continue till the evening. Then only the event will officially start. After this, Flora, Lilly and Violet went to the chamber next to my bed chamber and started preparing the clothes and jewels for me. I utilized this time to recall the plan I devised to stop the encounter curse.
After we met with the shaman that day, Victor and I had been trying to find a way to stop Flora from getting the coin from Edward. Although there was a lot of options, Victor had been rejecting most of them. Finally, when I told him about abducting Flora, he strongly opposed it. Then as usual I had to threaten him using Flora's name again to make him agree.
The plan goes this way...
At the time of the event, no one will stay in the princess's palace. So I would send Flora to grab one of my jewels. When she reaches my chamber, Merlin will use a sedative and make her fall asleep immediately. Then Henry and Merlin will hide her in the room next to mine and will come back to the event. If everything goes well this plan would be the best option to stop her from attending the coin giving event.
When it was almost the evening, Flora asked me to bathe again so that they can prepare me for the event. I did as she requested.
The girls made me wear my corset first and tightened as much as they could. I bit my lip and bore with the pain. I didn't complain since the dress they've provided me was the best of all the dresses I wore in my life. This dress was also a ballgown but grander than my regular gowns. It was made of light pink chiffon-like material with pink and white pearls and embroidery on it. It was a full le bateau neckline, lantern sleeve and monarch train. When I saw myself in the mirror in that dress, I couldn't believe that it was me. I sat on the stool and continued to look at myself. If I was alive in my world, I am sure that I wouldn't be wearing a dress like this even at my wedding. But here I got to wear this for a ceremony of giving coins to the maids working in the palace. 'The world of the rich,' I thought once again as I continued to look at my best reflection so far in the mirror.
Flora styled my hair into a braided half up and half down coiffure. This suited my golden blonde hair with curls. I didn't even move for a while since I was too enthralled in the way I looked. She continued to apply some make-up on my face as well. Finally satisfied with her work, Flora smiled and brought a tiara to me.
A rose gold tiara! A rose gold tiara with white diamonds stone-set on it!
My eyes were fixated on it since the moment I saw it in the mirror reflection. I got to wear one real rose gold tiara that day. I couldn't even blink as my eyes widened in shock. Flora placed the tiara on my head without disheveling my hairdo.
My final look was something I had never expected to see in my life. I felt so lucky. 'If only I could live...' I couldn't help but yearn. With a sigh, I got up. I ordered Flora, Violet and Lilly to get ready and went out of my chamber. I had a kickoff meeting with my royal guard team. The location was the breeze hall.
I regretted fixing the breeze hall as the meeting venue. I had to climb around twenty-five steps to reach the breeze hall. The breeze hall was also decorated in the most attractive way possible with flower baskets and colourful curtains. It was a beautiful sight indeed. I darted to the end of the breeze hall to have a look at the surrounding. The whole area around the princess's palace was decorated with flower pots. The maids and the soldiers were wearing colourful dresses as if they are celebrating a festival. It was a blissful view.
"Your Highness!" I heard Merlin call me. I turned around to see him. He and Henry were there standing right next to each other in their navy blue tunics and white trousers. Other than that, they were wearing a white sash and a few batches. They were also provided with royal guard caps that they hadn't worn yet, but instead was keeping in their hands. caps in their hands. I understood all these fancies were because of the ceremony.
"You look extremely beautiful, Your Highness!" Merlin blabbered. Henry plunged him with this elbow to silence him. "Your Highness! You look like a queen!" he finished.
"You too look nice too!" I told them with a smile then turned around to see the other room in the hall.
Nilo was standing a few feet away from these us fully dressed from top to bottom in the same manner. He bowed in acknowledgement. "Your Highness!" he greeted. I nodded at him once then searched for the fourth person who should be there. Finally, I saw him. He was standing by the balustrade with his hands crossed and one leg on the balustrade. He was also wearing a navy blue tunic, white trousers, white sash, royal guard cap and a few batches. Still, his cap was pointing to a corner. 'Can't he even properly wear a cap?' I wondered.
He was standing even a few feet away from Nilo and looking in my direction. I never expected him to praise me, but the fact that he continued to look at me without even greeting enraged me. He seemed to have not even an ounce of respect for me. He continued to look at me for a few seconds, he averted his gaze carelessly as he stood straight and clap his hands to get rid of the dust.
For a second I've wondered whether the breeze hall was not cleaned the day before. Then I promptly remembered the servants cleaning the hall the day before. I suddenly remembered his room being the greatest mess of all the messes. 'Double standard,' I blamed him inside my head.
"Your Highness!" he muttered as he just took a swift glance at me then averted the gaze as fast as he could. I walked to him so that my soldiers won't hear me anymore.
"Straighten the cap!" I told him with a frown. He seemed extremely annoyed as he looked at me. "Should I do that for you?" I continued. He straightened the cap with knitted brows then straightened the cap.
I shook my head then ordered the others to follow me but before we could move down, Victor spoke for the first time that day.
"You three, go down first!"
I turned to look at him. The three of them followed his order since they were his subordinates. "What are you trying to do?" I questioned him.
"Do you want them to trample this?" he pointed down the train of my gown. It was indeed thoughtful of him. Since my monarch train was too long, they would've struggled their way downstairs. Also, it would have been problematic for me too if they had stepped on it accidentally. Still, I was reluctant to praise this thoughtful decision.
"Ok. You go down then!" I said as I carelessly looked at him. "Fifty steps altogether. You won't make it without ripping this dress," he carelessly said as he lifted the train in his hands. Since it was a very long train, he looked funny holding the other end of my dress's train in his hands.
"..." I looked at him speechless. 'Is he really that much worried about my dress?' I wondered internally. "You..." before I could say my next words, he interrupted.
"I don't mind helping you this once!" he said as he averted the gaze from my face to the cloth in his hold.
If he wanted to help me, I didn't have any problem with this either. It'll save my time indeed. I turned as I started walking downstairs. Still, I couldn't drop the confusion arising in my head. 'Victor seemed indeed different that day. Could it be that he suddenly feels gratitude towards me since I'm helping him by breaking the bond between Flora and Ed?'
I turned to look at him and saw him a few steps behind me, carefully carrying the cloth in his hands, without pulling it forcefully. To my surprise, his face looked a lot calmer. His eyes were clear as ever. There was even a trace of a faint smile on his lips.
'What's wrong with this guy? Is he daydreaming about her?' I wondered. Maybe because of the change in my walking pace, he suddenly looked up and caught me prying him. His dreamy expression turned into nonchalance within a fraction of a second.
"Your Highness! You must look where you're going!" he said with a frown and harshness in his eyes.
"That applies to you too!" I said then turned and hurried downstairs. After that, I didn't bother to look back at that nasty piece of work.