Chapter 9.
The rays of the sun fell across the room. It shone on my face yet I did not care much. What woke me up from my sleep was the banging on my door.
It was not locked but they were scared to come in without my permission. No one had the right to enter my room without seeking permission.
"Come in, please" I shouted and the door flung open. Seven maids walked into the room and my cousins followed. My stepmother was the last person to enter the room.
I was surprised to see everyone in my room this early. I wondered if something bad has happened. They were all dressed up in simple clothes. Maybe nothing happened.
The maids bowed and started with their work. As for Hazel and Ember, they greeted me and ask what dress I was wearing.
"We should go to the tailor's room. They said our dresses for the evening are also ready" Hazel was excited. She could barely hold herself. If only my aunt was here, they won't behave this way.
Ember was going through my wardrobe to see if I had another dress made. She has seen me as her biggest competitor. If only they knew that I was not interested in finding a husband. This was happening because of my father.
I was going to marry any man they chose for me.
"Get ready, my princess," My stepmother, queen Ivy told me. She had the sweetest smile I have ever seen. "Come to the tailor's room downstairs. I will be there with your cousins."
I nodded and they left the room. Instead of standing up from the bed, I fell back with my head landing on the soft pillow. I wished we could go back in time. The ball was the last thing on my mind. They were going to be so many visitors and most of them were princes.
The funniest thing was that all eyes were on me. They were all targeting me as if I was some sort of medal to be won. I felt so cheap.
At last, I straightened up from the bed and went into the bathroom. The maids joined me. My stepmother asked them to add milk to my water. Incents were also burnt in the room.
I finished my bath and they helped me comb my hair. One of the maids perfumed it with herbs. I looked in the mirror. My red hair which sometimes looked wine-coloured was straightened. I could see the steam coming out of it. The herbs were working.
I wore one of my green dresses and went downstairs to join them. Breakfast served soon. I walked passed a few doors and stopped in front of a black wooden door.
My cousin, Hazel's laughter travelled out of the room to meet me I wondered what made her laugh so much.
The door was half opened so I stood by the side. I was too afraid to veer closed. My aunt's voice commanded the maids to bring out the dresses.
I lowered my eyes so I only hear my cousins admiring the beauty of the gown. Ember was not content as usual. She wanted to see mine but queen Ivy insist that I must be present before my dress will be revealed to anyone.
I took a deep breath and exhaled. With one hand resting on my waist, I used the other to open the door. Everyone bowed as I entered the room. Their once happy faces changed to surprise ones. Nobody expected me to show up now without announcing my presence.
"There you are" Queen Ivy smiled as she walked to where I was. The maids understood her sign language. They quickly brought out my dress. I was to wear it this evening. "Is it lovely?"
My breath stopped. It was very beautiful. I was speechless when I saw it. The seamstress must have spent days and nights coming up with this.
"Thank you, queen Ivy. I love it" I said.
My cousins stared at my dress for more than five minutes. Their eyes did not blink. Even though theirs were beautiful too, the girls still wanted my gown.
It has always been like this for ages. I found out that they were not the only ones that behaved like this. Girls from other noble families admired and wanted anything I wear. When they were invited to the palace, I tried not to dress too much.
But it didn't work….
"Come on, girls. We don't have time" Aunt broke the silence. She urged my sisters to try on their dresses. I watched as they did. Ember looked very pretty in that green gown of hers. "it doesn't matter if you wear only gold to the ball. The most important thing is to be there and get the attention of a good man."
"How will you know if a man is good?" Hazel asked as she walked to the mirror admiring herself. Her yellow dress made her look like a sunflower placed in the middle of a green garden. But I dare not say anything to her. There will be a fight.
"A good man is a gentleman who makes you happy. He holds power yet he is at your service when it comes to love" She replied.
"What an explanation, mother" Ember rolled her eyes. She called on a maid to help her take off her dress. "I will attend the welcome party and see if anyone man catches my eye."
"Good, you know that the beautiful thing about this is that you get to meet the young men first," Aunt told her. She was talking indirectly to me. I understood perfectly. My father refused that I get to meet the men later…this evening at the ball.
"What about a Duke or a Viscount?" Hazel asked.
"It will still do, my love" Her mother replied. I wished my father would say that to me. She understood her children and did not force them into anything. Maybe if my mother was alive, she would have given me the best advice or even stopped my father from marrying me to any man of his choice.