"Yes, that's all I have. I... I don't own many things. It's difficult when-" she stopped herself, correcting her words, "It's difficult to travel with too many pieces of baggage."
Sierra opened the chest in the center. It contained most of her external clothing. She dug through it until she found the dress she was looking for.
"Wow! That's a really beautiful dress, Your Highness," Ida praised as she came over to take a closer look.
The dress meant a lot to her. It was a gift from her father. He had given it to her so that she had something nice to wear during the Spring Bloom Ball.
"It's a gift from my father," she explained with pride.
"From the King? Wow! His Majesty sure has good taste," Ida added.
Sierra bit her lip as she lowered her gaze. Ida's words were a harsh reminder of reality. She tightened her grip on the hanger as she recalled how she ended up here.
"Is everything alright?" Ida asked when she noticed Sierra staring into the distance.
Drawing herself out of her thoughts, she quickly shook her head and brushed it off.
"I'm alright. I was just thinking of something, that's all."
Ida offered to help Sierra get ready for the ball, but she politely declined. She wasn't used to having someone waiting on her hand and foot. She sat at the dressing table, combing her hair while looking in the mirror.
Sierra carefully braided her hair and placed star-shaped crystal pins in it. Once she was done, she put on a little light makeup and her look for the evening was complete.
A smile formed on her face but it quickly disappeared.
"If only you could see me now, father," she whispered beneath her breath.
Just then, a knock on the door caught her attention. Moments, later, Ida entered the room. She curtsied politely and informed Sierra that it was time for her to go to the ball. She got up to leave but returned to the dressing table when she forgot the mask.
Every attendee was given one as it was a Masquerade Ball. She hastily put it on and looked at her reflection one final time. It was a simple black mask that covered the upper part of her face.
Upon arriving at the main ballroom, there was a line of princesses all dressed in their finest garments. Each of them was eager to be introduced as they entered the ballroom. Sierra felt out of place but she did not let that get to her.
She was a knightess after all. Something as simple as attending a ball was a walk in the park.
"What on Earth is she wearing?"
"How disrespectful!"
"You would think a Royal would know how to dress."
Sierra did not pay any mind to any of the voices that were whispering around her. This was the best outfit she owned, not to mention the most appropriate.
"It was this or armor, perhaps I should have gone with that," she muttered to herself as she glanced over at the other princesses.
Each one of them was accompanied by at least two maids that they had brought with them from their home kingdom and a Vargos Castle maid. Sierra only had Ida.
"Your Highness, it's time," Ida chimed, halting Sierra's train of thought.
She turned to look ahead of her. The royal guards stood tall and proud at the entrance of the ballroom. Sierra took a deep breath and moved forward. The bright lights of the ballroom contrasted the dimmer hallway she was standing in.
It took her a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the lighting. What came next startled her. Accompanied by blaring trumpets, an announcer introduced Sierra to everyone.
"Presenting Princess Sierra of the Cair Kingdom, adopted daughter of King Frederick the First."
Sierra grimaced. She knew her 'adopted' daughter status would become a hot topic amongst some of the royals in attendance. But she did not care. She was here as a formality. She did not live for them.
She carefully walked down the steps, entering the dance floor of the ballroom. It was here, that she noticed there were not only young women in attendance. There were some young men as well.
"Ida," she whispered to her maid, "Who are these young men? Where did they come from?"
Based on the intel she had gathered, she was quite certain that the King of Drakin was solely interested in women. He was most certainly not looking for male companions.
Ida took a quick look around. Though she could not see their faces, seeing as everyone was wearing masks, she was able to tell by their attire.
"Some of them look to be part of the King's Shield, your Highness. The others... are likely to be their squires. Some of them look to be the sons of the nobility as well."
Sierra nodded as she walked over to the right side of the ballroom and took a glass of champagne from a passing servant. As she sipped the fizzy alcohol, she noticed everyone's attention was fixated at the entrance.
Curious, she too turned to see who it was. It was a grand entrance, unlike anything she had seen before. A beautiful young woman entered the ballroom in what could only be described as the most extravagant ballgown Sierra had ever seen.
It had golden embroidery and hand-stitched crystals. Before she could ask Ida who it was, it soon became clear as the announcer made his announcement.
"Her Royal Highness, Queen Roxine of the Drakin Kingdom."