I sat on the small chair in my room with my chin propped up against my palm as Linda and Rachel scurried across the room gathering the last items to complete my outfit for the evening. Pulling my fluffy robe tighter I threw my back against the chair as the lights of the arriving vehicles flashed inside.
The clock struck 9:35 pm as Linda broke out into a panic. Her head franticly turned left and right as she searched for my missing left shoe.
"Oh my god! Where is that bloody hell shoe?!" Linda screeched as she looked under the bed once more.
The honking of the cars and the wailing voice of the royal announcer added to my growing headache. My brow twitched in irritation at the disturbance. Releasing a frustrated breath, I tried to drown out the panicking duo and the chatty guests arriving tonight.
My foot bounced in one place as I chewed on the tip of my finger. Reality slowly settled inside me as I knew the day I dreaded was finally here. The beginning of a new chapter in my life.
I was scared and nervous at the thought of who I will become.
At the early age of seventeen, I will be the wife of a king and a Queen of a kingdom. It was a frightening thought. Yet, I knew in my heart I could no longer fight my fate. Like a heroine on the verge of discovering her strength, I must continue on this path to find my strength.
The room grew quiet as Linda and Rachel settled down. My dress for the evening was neatly laid out on my bed. Their styling tools and makeup covered my entire vanity.
Doing a once over of the layout she had prepared Linda said, "We have a little over two hours to get you ready in time before Prince Arthur is here to escort you to the ballroom. Once you have arrived you will enter with Prince Marcus where the guests are awaiting the arrival of the new royal couple."
She paused for a second before she continued. "Although I'm happy for you Becca, I feel as your friend and a concerned maid assigned to you, that I should remind you not to let your guard down tonight. There will be a large crowd surrounding you and some may appear to be friendly while others may seek to harm you in any way possible. Be it physically or emotionally. The rumors from the past have not dissolved. Not to mention the accomplices involved in your sister's death could be lurking in the shadows. So, please I beg of you, be careful and have your guards stationed close by. And if you feel like you need to rest, Rachel and I will be helping the servers. Feel free to call on us if you must. We will come to your aid."
Her concerned yet sincere smile brought comfort to the nervous wreck that I was.
"I'm aware of the dangers. No harm will come to me. The guards in the palace have increased and will not let any suspicious characters come near me." I assured her. Her shoulders sagged in relief.
She clapped her hands together before turning to Rachel. "Well, then Rach let's get our lady dressed for the ball. Her prince charming is waiting for his princess." She winked at me.
I blushed as I rolled my eyes at her playfulness.
Rachel grinned as she held her styling tools in her hand. "I'm up for the challenge, Lin."
Shaking my head in amusement I said, "Well ladies, shall we begin."
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I stood before my mirror speechless. My freshly painted lips were a jar at the woman staring at me. Her bright blue eyes sparkled like the stars in the night sky. Her strawberry blonde hair cascaded down her back in perfect waves. The midnight blue off-the-shoulder gown complimented her complexion as it flared down from her waist into a silky flow of fabric onto the wooden floors. A simple knee-high slit at the side revealed the miles of legs hidden beneath. The tiara worn by the crown princess sat in the center of her head. The golden crown made with the finest rubies provided the air of royalty and power around her. Her makeup was professionally done with dark red lipstick and soft brown eyeshadow around the eyes. Her matching diamond shoes completed the outfit.
Overall, it was beautifully done. Their hard work paid off as I admired my reflection. The woman staring at me was the opposite of my usual self. She was stunning. The perfect example of simple yet elegant.
The creak of the door startled me as I stubbled backward and I placed a hand over my racing heart.
"Rebekah?"
"You startled me. Why are you here prince Marcus?" I inquired.
"I'm here to escort you to the ballroom." He simply replied as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
He avoided my gaze as I noticed his attire matched mine. From the flawlessly tailored midnight blue royal blazer decorated in military medals to the golden crown on his head. His hair was surprisingly not styled back but was down.
"What happened to Arthur? I was told that he would be the one escorting me there."
"He was meant to be here, but I told him I will be coming instead. Besides our last conversation was rudely interrupted and I strongly believe it should be put to an end as soon as possible." He said. His tone was serious.
I slowly nodded as I blushed at the memory of my behavior that day. The vulnerability I felt and the way he comforted me had given me strength during a moment of weakness.
His confession had lingered in the air as I stayed quiet. Had it not been for the commander of the guards requiring his attention I do not know what would have happened.
Would I have confessed my love for him?
Yes.
A part of me knew at the time I would have accepted his feelings for me while basking in the delight it brought me that my love was reciprocated. While another part of me reminded me of the heartache I felt when his marriage to Scarlet had been fixed. The pain of watching the one you love be with another was unbearable. It was a pain I would never want to experience again.
And yet I knew it was unfair for me to ignore his feelings.
"About the other day when you said you love me, did you mean it?" I shyly asked. My need to confirm that it was true was embarrassing.
"Yes, I meant what I said." His eyes locked with mine across the room.
"I know it may be hard for you to believe, but surely you remember there was a time when you and I were closer than anyone else in the kingdom. Our bond was greater than many expected, until that day." His voice grew smaller.
"The day they announced my sister as the crown princess," I muttered under my breath. That was the day I had to let him go.
In a few strides, he closed the distance between us. My head tilted up to look into the eyes I love.
"From the moment your tiny fingers gripped mine with that toothless smile of yours I knew right then and there that you would have my heart. The extent of that feeling had not been discovered until that unfortunate day. The dreadful feeling of knowing I could no longer go on long walks through the garden with you or listen to your complaints after Arthur had relentlessly teased you throughout the day was a luxury I had lost. Watching the distance between us grow wider by the day as I let myself be buried in duties as the crown prince was my only escape from the pain. And even though it meant I could never have you as mine I still could not rid myself of these feelings. As difficult as it was to move on, I was grateful for the chance to have you in my arms once more. Your sister's mistake was the opportunity I didn't know I was waiting for."
My eyes softened at his declaration. My heart ached for him and the struggles he had to face.
While I had thought my love was one-sided, I was oblivious to the fact that he felt the same pain I did. I wasn't the only one suffering in silence and tucking away their feelings. He had done the same.
I gently stroked his cheek with my thumb as he leaned into my touch. His hand on my waist pulled me closer.
"And here I thought I was the only suffering because of love."
His eyes snapped open, wide with surprise as I giggled at his reaction.
"Are you saying you love me?" he slowly asked.
"I might be." I grinned. My chest felt lighter as I took one step closer to moving forward. Taking a risk of being with him even if I knew I could get hurt again.
His smile grew as he gave a big, warm hug. I buried my head into his chest as I listened to his calming heartbeat.
A few minutes passed as we held onto each other.
"I was beginning to think I would have to beg you to love me." He jokingly said as he let me go.
Rolling my eyes I said, "You may very well have to since I am risking my heart and sanity by admitting I love you. I do not wish to be cast aside like my sister."
Choosing not to wait for his reply I quickly dragged him out of the room as the clock neared 12:00hr.
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Releasing a shaky breath, I placed my hand on prince Marcus's extended hand as we stood before the door leading into the ballroom. The announcer prepared to make known our arrival as we stepped through the open doors.
"Presenting his royal highness, pride of our kingdom and the future of these lands, crown prince Marcus Lucien Kingsley and her royal highness crowned princess Rebekah Amelia Northwest."
The crowd gathered around the staircase as we made our descent. The judging stares and hushed whispers were directed at me as I tried my best not to step on my dress. My stomach was in knots as my anxiety increased. I forced myself to remain elegant and calm. My shoulders were squared, and my head held high as I searched the crowd for a familiar face but could find none.
My sister and mother sat in a prison cell while my father had not returned from his business trip.
"You're doing fine. Once the dance is over, we will greet my parents and you can rest on the upper platform until you are ready to meet the guests." Prince Marcus whispered as we reached the center of the room.
The lights dimmed as the crowd gathered around us. The slow melody of the violin flowed through the room. The golden rays of the light surrounded us as I held his gaze. My heart beating to its own rhythm. His enchanting eyes held me captive as my smile turned into a cheeky grin.
For a fleeting moment, I let my lingering worries go. My fear of the unknown washed away as I lived for the present. It was him and I. Nothing else mattered. Not the fear of the future or the lack of family support this night. What mattered was that I was in the arms of the man I love.
His gaze was on me and me alone. My suppressed feelings soar through the sky as I let the serenity of this moment devour me.
My heart skipped a beat as he held my hand in his, giving it a gentle kiss as he bowed, and I curtsied. Taking one hand in his while the other rested on my waist. Bringing me closer to him as the murmurers of the foreign visitors faded into the distance.
Our steps coordinated as we glided across the dancefloor performing the royal dance of eternal love. A tradition passed down by the first rulers, King Lucien the first and Queen Veronica. It is said that this was the dance performed to display their love and trust in one another. Which was then later performed by their son and his wife and so forth.
A beautiful dance with a meaningful background.
"I must say you look rather dashing this evening, Rebekah." Prince Marcus playfully whispered, his warm breath fanning my ear as he leaned closer. My breath hitched at the feeling of him so close.
"Thank you, Prince Marcus." I breathless replied as my cheeks flushed red. He smiled a pearly white smile as he twirled me twice. The happiness I felt increased with each stride and turn we made.
My body felt lighter. Free. Relishing in the moment as the music began to slow.
The heels of my diamond-covered shoes clicked with each step. My hands wrapped around his neck as he drew me in closer. Playing with the ends of his hair. His forehead rest against mine. The tender look in his eyes filled me with the need to be closer.
As if on cue for the end of our dance he lifted me into the air as my hands gripped his shoulders. Turning once as he held me there for a second before gracefully bringing me down. His eyes never left mine as we drowned in our own world of happiness.
The pant of our breaths and the cheers of the crowd were the only signs of the intensity of the dance we shared.
Straightening our stance, he kept us pressed against each other. One hand tangled in my hair while the other rubbed away the small bead of sweat. My eyes had closed on their own.
"It seems my fiancée is quite the dancer." He breathlessly said. His hand traced my lips. My eyes opened as he leaned in. Before I knew it his lips had captured mine in a gentle kiss. My mind went blank as I returned his kiss. My eyes closed as I savored the feel of his lips on mine.
But as quickly as it came it ended, leaving me breathless. My eyes widened ever so slightly as he placed a feather-light kiss on my forehead. "I apologize for kissing you without your consent, but I just could not resist."
The happiness in his eyes and the dreamy sighs of the crowd made me shy as a thought crossed my mind. My face was a bright red.
He took my first kiss!