Alora quickly got ready for the banquet in the gown prepared by Lothar. She was doing her hair when there was a knock on the door. She looked at the door which didn't open so she proceeded and opened the door.
She saw a maid lowering her head as though trying to bore herself into the floor. She heard an adorable exclamation, "Woah…"
Lowering her head to the source of the voice, Alora saw a young girl smiling brightly before her lips curled into a wide O. The girl held her skirt and curtsied, "Greeting to Your Highness, Princess Alora."
Alora was surprised the little girl wasn't scared of her. Looking at the little girl's outfit and grace, she didn't need an introduction.
When Anne lifted her gaze, Alora tried to be humorous with the little girl, "Greetings to the third princess of Hamilton, Princess Anne." She curtsied too.
The lady-in-waiting was shocked that the redhead lady was aware of Anne without the need for an introduction. She bowed and stammered, "Gr-greeting to Y-your Highness."
Anne ignored her lady-in-waiting and giggled without a hint of fear, "Sister… Your Highness, I am younger than you." Other than maids, nobody ever curtsied to her. So she was kind of happy to receive it.
Alora smiled as she pointed inside, "Then may I invite my little sister to my chambers?"
Anne wasn't allowed to call sister to Cathrine's daughters hence she addressed Alora as Princess. Thus Anne became visibly excited to hear, 'sister,' from Alora.
"Then may I call you Sister Alora?" She asked for permission without forgetting the etiquette she learned.
Alora liked the little girl more and more as they exchanged greetings and pleasantries, "That would make me incredibly pleased." She would rather prefer to be a sister to her cousin than being called 'Your Highness,' which sounds distant.
Anne went inside the chambers. Her lady-in-waiting was scared to death but she couldn't leave Anne alone with Alora either. So she entered, trembling like a drenched cat whose life wouldn't last long.
Alora closed the door and turned to Anne who immediately complimented, "Sister Alora, you are so beautiful." Her eyes looked at Alora in admiration.
"Anne is prettier," Alora expressed, leading them to the couch. "Would you like to have some refreshments, Anne?"
Before Alora could complete her words or Anne could respond to her, the lady-in-waiting blurted out, "No."
Realizing her impudence, she kneeled on the floor immediately and started stuttering each word in fear, "Your Highness, mercy on me. Princess Anne just completed her food." In reality, she was afraid of Alora doing something to Anne.
Alora could understand it so she didn't want to force them. Nevertheless, Anne looked at her lady-in-waiting in displeasure. She quickly flashed a polite smile to Alora, "Sister Alora, I would love to have some refreshments with you." She learned to be always courteous to the elders.
Alora fell into a dilemma, she didn't want to turn down Anne or ignore the lady-in-waiting who was panicked. Taking a seat in composure, Alora poured some tea into an exquisite porcelain cup and approached the lady-in-waiting, "Rise."
The lady-in-waiting stood up and saw the tea being presented to her. Her eyes widened in horror, her knee went weak, her legs wobbled, "You-Your highness, I didn't…"
Before she could go back to her knees, Alora held the lady's arm and calmly spoke, "You did nothing wrong. Why don't you try the tea first? Then I will serve Princess Anne."
The lady was surprised Alora didn't get angry. Her soothing voice calmed her a bit but it wasn't enough to calm her erratic heart looking at the red hair and eyes.
She took the cup in her shaky hands, highly doubting poison in the cup. "Pardon me for my rudeness." She turned aside and sipped the tea.
Her face instantly glowed. She forgot she was in front of a princess and exclaimed, "This tea is so refreshing." Then her eyes widened and slapped her mouth.
Alora smiled as she returned to the couch. She poured a cup for herself and another cup for Anne who was confused, without understanding why the princess was serving a lady-in-waiting.
"Anne, could you handle the hot tea? Should I cool it for you?" Alora asked in her mellow calm voice.
"Sister Alora, I am a big girl. She got off the couch and extended her hands. Receiving the cup, she blew it a few times and sipped slowly.
Anne's face brightened at the rich taste in her mouth without a hint of bitterness, "Sister Alora, this is so palatable." She quickly tried to drink the hot tea.
"Anne, be careful," Alora cautioned.
"Princess Anne…" The maid rushed up to Anne, afraid she might burn her tongue.
Anne requested after finishing her first cup, "Sister Alora, may I have more?"
Alora left her cup down and nodded, "Sure." Standing up, she looked at the lady-in-waiting, "Please help yourself." She gestured towards the table. "Anne, enjoy yourself, I will get ready."
Anne looked around to see Alora alone without any help. She quickly finished her drink and rushed to Alora with her lady-in-waiting who didn't fear Alora as much as before.
The lady-in-waiting gave in a hand while Anne pulled a stool and stood on it, passing earrings, pins, and tiara to Alora as she spoke with Alora.
"Sister Alora, Anne also wants long hair like you. It is so silky and shiny." Anne stood next to Alora, forcing her hands at herself to avoid touching the red hair.
"True, Your Highness. Your hair is lustrous." With tiny pearls and stone accessories, even she was envious of Alora's hair. She started to doubt why people get scared of red hair and Alora who was courteous of servants like her.
The lady-in-waiting took a black thick liquid cup from the dressing table and asked for permission, "Your Highness, if you may allow me."
Alora would prefer to do it herself. But seeing the lady's anticipation and hardly any fear left in those eyes, Alora nodded in acknowledgment. It was very rare that people get along with her so easily. Even the academy students were avoiding her like plague in the beginning. So she didn't mind getting some help.
"Please don't move." The lady-in-waiting said and tried to apply eyeliner.
'Knock, Knock'
There were knocks on the door, to which both tried to stay motionless. The door opened and a grim voice resonated in the room, "Stop there."
The lady-in-waiting was scared and stepped away hurriedly.
Freya rushed to Alora's side and gazed suspiciously at the lady-in-waiting, "Who are you?" She fiercely demanded a response.
Anne, who was on the other side, stepped away and saw Freya in dove grey hair. She guessed who it was. The princess who her elder sister Briana admired. Anne curtsied immediately "Greetings to Your Highness, Princess Freya."
Alora also quickly spoke to avoid any misunderstanding, "Freya, relax. She is Anne's lady-in-waiting. She is helping me out."
Alora apologized turning to the lady-in-waiting, "I am sorry for frightening you. Freya didn't mean it. She is just protective of me." She justified Freya's actions.
Freya calmed down visibly and glanced at the youngest princess of the Roosevelt family. Anne smiled but Freya was indifferent, turning back to the lady-in-waiting.
Anne: 😕
No royals were trustable other than their grandparents and parents so Freya didn't let her guard down. She hadn't expected a maid would be daring enough to get close to Alora. Freya wouldn't let anybody fool and harm Alora.
The lady-in-waiting found Freya fearsome but Alora. She bowed and greeted, "Your Highness, Princess Freya." Her hands started to shake without knowing if she should help Alora or wait for their instruction.
Freya dismissed them decisively, "You two may leave. I will prepare my sister for the banquet."
Alora was helpless against her sister. She turned to Anne, "Anne, come to my chambers whenever you would like to have some tea with me." She warmly invited the little girl.
Anne's smile returned, as she fathomed that Princess Freya was strict. She held Alora's forearm, liking her appearance and sweet personality. "Then pardon me, Sister Alora for the trouble. I will see you at the banquet." She curtsied again and left with her lady-in-waiting.
Freya looked at Alora's outfit and questioned, "Sister Alora, this dress?"
Alora smiled looking at her dress, "Grandfather has arranged this for me." Then she focused on getting ready quickly so that she could be more presentable without embarrassing her parents in any way.
Freya had a complex expression. She looked at Alora who was happy so she remained silent. She passed Alora the things she wanted as she had no idea how to do such delicate things.
"Sister Alora, I, our parents, and grandparents might not be able to stay next to you throughout the banquet. Please make sure you are safe and comfortable. Maintain distance with everyone. You might be asked for a dance, don't dance more than a minute, excuse yourself…." Freya nagged for the rest of the time.
Both went out when a maid delivered a message about the banquet.
Both the princesses walked side by side, making their way toward the banquet. The guards who feared Alora, couldn't help peeking at her, again and again, hence Freya often shot glares at them to keep their eyes on the floor.