After Joy woke up, her maids dressed her up, and she proceeded to the dinning room where her parents were already there, having their breakfast.
She sat down like the Noble Lady she was and joined her parents.
It was only silence that enveloped the trio at the dinning room.
Soon, the trio finished their breakfast, and the dishes were packed by the maids.
" You are already eighteen years old now. This is the perfect time to get a man."
Duke Damon dabbed his mouth with a thin soft tissue and cleared his throat.
" And he must be rich, dignified, and noble."
Sophie added indifferently to her husband's words and stared at Joy.
Joy rolled her eyes at her mother's words and didn't care one bit.
" What of a Soldier?" She questioned and hoped to get a positive answer.
Sophie frowned instantly and asked back in a classy voice, " Is he rich?"
She wondered why Joy asked that kind of a question, and what was going on in her head.
Joy kept quiet and lowered her head.
"You better make sure you get a man that fit into those qualities or consider your title as a Lady stripped. And don't even think of acting funny, or it won't be easy for you. I cannot harbour a stubborn and disobedient child."
Damon knocked the dinning table to get Joy's attention and expressed fastly whilst gazing right into her eyes calmly.
After that, he stood up and left the dinning room.
Sophie also stood up and straightened her gown before leaving with her husband.
Joy clenched her fists and closed her eyes. She inhaled quietly and tried to hold down her anger.
She was hurt, because she knew her parents could never accept Eris, and the worst part was that Eris didn't even acknowledge or like her. So, the both sides were really hard for her to take in.
"Even though, Eris will be Alina's new personal guard,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, "
She thought and paused, then she suddenly cursed loudly, " Shit!"
She just remembered it was Alina's birthday today, and swiftly she stood up and bounced to the castle.
When she arrived at the front of Alina's room, she stopped and took a deep breath. She tried to calm herself down, so Alina won't suspect anything, and then she opened the door.
"Ali, am really sorry. I should have been the first one to wish you or probably the second." She hugged Alina from the back and poured out cutely.
She didn't mean to forget her best friend birthday, other thoughts just occupied her mind and clouded her thinking, which she had pushed aside , before she entered Alina's room.
Alina smiled. " It nothing Joy, I understand."
"Happy birthday Best part!" She shouted and kissed Alina's cheek.
"I will give you your birthday present by tonight."
She said immediately and winked at her friend.
" In that case, I will be expecting it Jo."
Alina sessed and laugh heartily.
************************
It was evening, and time for the birthday party.
Everything was already set now.
Foods of assorted flavors and designs were spread on the guest tables. Wines of different colors and flavors were standing beside each eye catching food.
The fountains of various fruits juice around the hall were not left behind.
They all added a look of elegance and wealth to the hall.
When the guests arrived at the hall, they were blown in awe.
The guards and ushers guided them to their various seats.
They were mostly aristocrat, wealthy, and dignified people.
The decorations were splendid and appealing.
The hall illuminated and scintillated a beauteous glow.
The host stood at the center of the hall and cleared his voice loudly to gain the attention of the guests.
Then, the party started!
The King, Queen, Princess, Council, Sorceress, invited Dark faes, and Dukes were yet to arrived, but it was part of the party procedure.
At this moment,
Alina was in her room been bath by Agatha and Mira in the local big tub. Her bath water was mixed with Jasmine oil, and petals of rose were flowing above the water.
They wanted to make sure she gave out a nice and refreshing scent.
After her bath, the makeover artist arrived and put a local makeover kits in front of Alina and smiled at her.
" Your Highness, it time to doll you up."
Then, she started her work.
Ten minutes later, she was done and turned Alina around to face the mirror.
Alina's maids gasped, whilst Alina herself didn't believe she was the one in front of the mirror. She looked more like a doll and too real.
She didn't fancy makeovers, but she always knew she look good in makeovers.
She couldn't wait to see how Joy will react.
"Good Job." She muttered to the makeover artist and nodded proudly.
"Thanks your Highness." She replied and started to arrange Alina's hair.
Her Hair was interlocked together and arranged in an all back style. It was then rolled into a doughnut shape, with few strands of it hanging down around her ears and neck.
She didn't look like the warrior she was but like a beautiful cute Lady.
The artist left, and now it was time for her to put on her dress.
Agatha and Mira gently helped her with it, and now she was fully dressed.
She was wearing a golden Halter neck dress. The dress had a taffeta ball skirt at the waist to the ground. The top of the gown dress had an halter straps that runs from the front part of the garment to surround the neck whilst leaving the upper back bare.
Attached all around the dress were pieces of tiny jewels featuring beadings, embellishments and laced with embroidery.
The designs were undescribable.
The dress was a top notch design!
Finally, she wore a silver coloured belt around her waist and a silver coloured 4-inches heel to highlight the dress, and it was simply pleasing.
She was afraid to look at the mirror in front of her, which had vines that curled around it.
She thought, she might fail to recognize herself.
Mira already left, but Agatha been the head of Alina's maids, stayed in the room.
" I guess you are nervous."
She sensed Alina's nervousness and whispered to her, but she knew the Princess might deny it.
But.....
Surprisingly, Alina admitted it. " Yes, I can't help it."
Then, she laughed awkwardly.
"I understand, but you are the most courageous person have ever met in my entire life, not to forget beautiful also."
She gave Alina a proud smile and expressed how she sees Alina, and her personality.
Alina was moved and smiled back gently at Agatha.
Agatha has always been like a mother figure to her, and she was deeply grateful for having someone like Agatha beside her.
"Hush, don't try to cry, so your makeover won't be ruin."
She patted Alina's back and nodded gently at her.
~~~~~~~~~~