Time for the evening ball came.
Palace Servants were running here and there putting things in order. Guest had also began to troop in from corners of the five plains. Unlike the party at Greecia, this ball was even grander. Rylica after all was a very popular country and had a lot of allies so no doubt there would be guest coming for the marriage ball of its Prince. Especially the Seventh Prince.
Amongst all this restless and running around. Gwen was one of the few sitting still. Seated in front of the dressing table, she sat still, Albeit with more than a lot on her mind and quite a lot on her head. One ornament after the other, the maidservants allocated to her were busy dressing her hair with what might seem to be the whole Palace treasury.
She thought Greecia was worst but it's clear she was wrong. She could barely move her head and she had been sitting at that dressing table for hours but those maids weren't close to being done. Her neck felt like it would snap.
Even Amelia could only stand at the side and helplessly watch the princess hair adorned with tons and tons of jewelries.
"Wow she looks really beautiful" when they were done Gwen heard the maids murmur amongst themselves. They also turned the mirror on the table and finally allowed her look at herself.
She wouldn't lie, the hair adornments made her really look like an esteemed and flamboyant Princess. With all the adornments, she gave off a different vibe and aura, it was different from the heavy makeup and dress that was usually given to her in Greecia but it didn't feel any different. They were both heavy, heavy enough to make her lose her steps.
"Princess do you like it?" One of her maids asked with a bright smile. Others looked on with an expectant look.
Could she say no?
"Yes... It's lovely" she replied with a forced smile.
A knock resounded on the door. Amelia walked out of the room to go answer it. She came back few minutes later with a cape embroidered with the Kingdom's royal crest and a crown shimmering in bright silver light.
"I was asked to give this to the princess. It's a gift from the King." she placed it down on the dressing table. Everyone's eyes sparkled from the beauty of the crown. It's edges were imbedded with gem stones. There was no need to ask, the crown was made from pure silver and the stone were real no doubt. So much money was wasted on that slim piece of metal but who was there to bother about that. It meant nothing to these royals.
"Oh my God, it's beautiful!"
"Isn't that the crown meant for the Crown Princess?"
"yes it is! Clothing's with such crest are only ever worn too by royals directly in line with the throne. The Princess must really be favoured by the King. I hear it took the Queen quite a few years before she was bestowed with these same gifts by the deceased king. It must also mean that Prince Arvcan is next to the throne." The girls giggled lovely as they narrated it to her.
Gwen was less concerned actually. Being the crown Princess would only call for more troubles and more problems. So why should she be excited especially when she might never live to enjoy it. Crown princess or not, everything would be left back here when she really does run away in future. She wouldn't give up on her plans because of that.
"I was also to inform that the ball starts in twenty minutes..." That was not the last of the message "and that Queen Eleen asks for The Princess presence"
The giggles abruptly died down. Like an obvious scratch in a cassette.
The Three maids in waiting, Ophelia, Yvonne and Louisiana glanced at each other cautiously after hearing the Queen's request. A complicated look in their eyes. it could be described as the look one gets after hearing a bad news. Gwen frowned slightly. There was something she didn't know about, she didn't want to ask too cause it might look desperate and nosy.
No matter how, their cautious look unsettled her, she kept her questions and curiosity to herself and waited till the crown and cape were added to her dressing before going to find the Queen...
...
"Your Highness" she bowed as she walked into the room. The Queen signalled and one by one the maids in the room began to leave, leaving only the two of them in the room.
The displeasure on Queen Eleen's face grew after she saw Gwen all dressed up in the cape and crown. She sneered "Isn't he being too obvious with his intentions?"
Giving her the crown princess crown and the royal family crest. Even a blind man would know the meaning behind his intentions. It was quite obvious that the King was making use of Gwen to announce that he was going to make Arvcan the next king.
"You must be elated. From a princess to soon becoming Queen. You must think the world is a playground for you. Don't you?"
A playground?
Gwen felt like laughing. Yes it was indeed a playground to her but she was just a pawn in this playground. The pawn everyone wanted to use and the type of pawn that played the game and always got played, never with the chance to enjoy the game.
So yeah this world was a playground. Not a lenient one though.
Queen Eleen frowned when she got no reply. She sauntered down her sit and walked to Gwen.
"I have no problem with you, what I have is an issue with the person you're equipping."
equipping? Why did that sound crude?
She walked round her as she said this. "Marrying Prince Arvcan was a mistake on your part. One that I plan to correct for you. If you are wise enough to accept my alliance"
Gwen became confused.
Why was Queen Eleen speaking as if she was enemies with the Prince? He was her son, so why does her word hold great animosity against him?
Was she perhaps testing her?
"Join alliance with me, help me get what I want and I would also help you get all you desire. You can either do this or become my enemy" Queen Eleen offered.
Gwen showed an amused expression. "Your Majesty's words has got me confused. It makes no sense to me, I see no need to form alliances behind closed doors as Greecia and Rylica had already formed one right before the eyes of the world. I am married to the Prince and that is more than enough Alliance I can agree to."
She bowed "My apologies if my words are disrespectful but if Your highness do not mind, I would like to return. I can't dishonor the King by being late to a ball he had so organize in my honour" without even waiting for the Queen to give her reply, she turned and walked away but as she left she couldn't help but be puzzled by the Queen's words.
What was she to make out of it?
Something didn't seem right, the look her maids had given to her when the Queen's name was mentioned was an evidence that there was something happening in this Palace that she did not know about.
"How was the meeting with the Queen my Princess?" Amelia asked when she left the Queen's quarters.
"Confusing" Gwen replied then held Amelia back "Help me find out the situation between Prince Arvcan and the Queen. Something doesn't seem right" she whispered.
Amelia nodded and the two ladies continued on their journey.
Once they got to the Halls entrance. Gwen stood and arranged her facial expression then the door to the hall was pulled open.
First it was the blinding light and then the eyes of multitude in the room. Her while body was shrouded with both. She was no stranger to this feeling of being a display object before people, maybe she has gotten used to it that it no longer bothered her. With slow elegant steps, she made her way into the hall.
Courtesy demands she pay the King her respects first, so she walked up to him, coincidentally Arvcan was standing just right next to him.
"Greetings Your Majesty" She bowed, the tips off her fingers slightly lifting her gown.
"Greetings to you too Princess Guinevere. I'm delighted to see you excepted my gifts" He replied Calmly, like always.
"I should be the one showing gratitude for receiving such gifts from Your Majesty. My deepest appreciation for honouring me" She made a slight bow again.
Amongst the Solemn sounds from the instruments playing in the room, whispers could be heard here and there. Everyone was talking about Gwen's attire.
The Crest shone boldly under the Yellow bulbs and so did the Silver crown. Their meaning was obvious.
All hail the Crown Princess!
Arvcan would be King.