FOUR DAYS LATER:
I woke up to the rapid knocking on my door. I hope whoever is out there has a good reason for interrupting my beauty sleep as I had barely gotten any last night in a quest to finish a painting I have been paid for. Closing my eyes again, I wished for the person outside my door to disappear, but that could only be a wish as the knock continued. Another reminder that things don't always work out the way we want them to.
"I am coming!" I yelled out of frustration as I finally managed to drag my derriere out of bed.
About five unfamiliar faces curtsied as soon as my door opened, "Good morning, your highness." They chorused.
"Good morning. How may I help you, ladies?"
"Your presence has been requested at the dining room as soon as possible." One of the maids was fast to reply with her head bowed.
I looked at them as I took time to process the information, "Um, why?" At my question, they started rambling, making it hard for me to understand a word, "Calm down, you all!" I subtly yelled at them and jerked my head towards the eldest lady among them. "Please, can you tell me what is going on?"
"Thank you, your highness. The Prince has arrived and is currently in the dining room. The king has ordered that you make yourself presentable and join them at the dining room to welcome him."
Upon the maid's explanation, I felt my brows draw together, "Eh? Which Prince? Nicholas? He is not supposed to be back till next week, and when did they start inviting me to the dining room to welcome their son?"
All the servants exchanged looks of confusion, making me feel like I missed something, "Is there something I am missing?" I asked the lady again, who graced me with a small smile.
"Your Highness, no, it is not Prince Nicholas," The lady stated firmly, her head still bowed.
"Um, what prince are we talking about then?"
Once again, they all exchanged looks, "Your husband-to-be." The woman stated firmly, and for a moment, I didn't understand what she meant until she added, "Prince Gerald."
At the mention of the name, pin-drop silence settled in the hallway before an 'Oh,' slipped out of my mouth without my permission.
"Does any of you know the reason why he is here at this ungodly hour? Did something happen I am not aware of?"
The maids shook their heads as some of them looked clueless while some looked like they knew something. "So to join them at the dining room to welcome him?"
At my question, the maid graced me with answers by either nodding or saying YES.
"Your Highness, please, may we come in? We have been instructed to make you look your best." The young maid to my left added with a bow.
Blowing out a hot breath, I stepped out of the way for them to come in. I regretted that decision when my eyes fell on the hideous gown and pieces of jewellery they brought in with them.
Two maids immediately rushed to my side to help me remove my clothes, but I stopped them, "Don't worry, I got this." They nodded and took two steps back to give me space. Not being used to people seeing me undress, made me nervous as I took my sweet time unclothing myself.
They all waited patiently or maybe anxiously watched me dip myself in my medium size tub and cleaned my body as much as I could before drying myself to my satisfaction. I tried to reach for my usual undies but was stopped by one of the maids, "The queen has instructed you to wear this," She held out a matching set of undies and corset.
"Of course, she did," I rolled my eyes and tossed them to the bed before reaching out for my comfortable undies that hung on the rack. Ignoring them, I reached for my sea-blue gown.
"Ahem! My princess, the king has instructed— No, it was an order that you wear this particular gown for breakfast." One of the maids stopped me midway of pulling my dress above my waist.
"But they look pretty uncomfortable. How am I supposed to walk or eat properly with those things that look like death traps?"
"It's a sacrifice you have to make," The eldest maid from earlier added with a small smile dancing on her lips.
"A sacrifice I am to decide to make or not. It is supposed to be Comfort before Beauty! Do you hear me? Comfort before beauty! Not like they understand the pain we ladies have to go through to look what they usually tag as 'presentable,' Can you imagine?" At my rhetorical question, the maids exchanged looks of confusion, making me let out an exasperated sigh. Of course, they don't understand my point.
"Ahem! But your Highness, it was an Order from the King. You cannot go against the King's order." One of the maids decided to point out something I am trying to forget.
An order! Of course, he would make it an order as if he knew what I had in mind. Since when did they start caring about what I am to wear and not to wear? Ignoring their anxious gaze, I zipped my dress behind me with no struggle as it is something I have come to master over the years. Going to my nightstand, I picked a hair band, ready to hold my hair together and start the day, but the eldest maid cleared her throat,
"My princess, you seem to have forgotten your corset."
"Did I?"
"Yes, my princess."
"Well, I guess that's because they make me uncomfortable." Even though they didn't say a word, I could feel their judgemental gazes piercing my skin.
"Please, at least let us fix your hair. It doesn't look its best right now." I looked at her through the mirror and caught her staring at me.
"It isn't that bad, but fine, do your thing. You have just two minutes and keep it simple."
"Yes, your highness."
Faster than one could say, Jack Robinson, the maids were by my side as I sat in front of my vanity table. The same lady cleared her throat in a way that told me she was about to say something I am not going to like. "Do you have something to say, Mrs…"
"Ms Ruth." Seeing my questioning look, she added, "My husband is dead." After a few seconds, she smiled and said, "You can call me Ruth."
I nodded, "I am sorry about your husband,"
"It's fine. He deserved it." As if realizing what she said, "I am sorry, I didn't mean it that way. It was— I thought— He—"
"Relax. If you say he deserves it, you must have your reason. Therefore, he deserves it. Please, go ahead and say that which bothers you."
"Your Highness, you seem not to be acquainted with our traditions, especially ones concerning marriage?"
"Traditions? We have marriage traditions?"
"Yes, we do, Your Highness."
"So, you mean my fiance's sudden arrival in this place is a tradition?"
"Yes, It is a known tradition. But the part of him coming this early isn't part of it."
I stared at her in confusion as I waited for a meaningful explanation.
She cleared her throat again, "Uh, it is a tradition that requires the man to spend at least three days in his wife-to-be's house before the wedding. My princess, this particular tradition aims to bond both families. At least the bride's family will get to know the man they would be handing their daughter over to better as they won't be living together. And in this case where everything is…..being rushed?" She looked at me nervously, but I smiled, urging her to continue the explanation while I cursed the makers of this tradition to the moon and back.
"Please, continue,"
"Thank you. The man can decide to cancel the marriage if he finds something he doesn't like during his stay at the woman's house."
"So, this is all about the man?"
"Um, it is tradition."
"What if I find something I don't like about the man, can I cancel the wedding?"
The lady looked at me in panic as her head shook from side to side, "My princess, it is a tradition. An old tradition. A tradition that can not be changed now."
After a few seconds of silence, I decided to make my opinion known, "It is a ridiculous tradition, I must say." The maids working on my hair paused for a second before they continued, but through the mirror, I caught a little smile that only lasted for about four seconds on Ruth's lips.
Deciding to change the topic, I decided to think out loud, "My room is a mess right now, I need to fold my clothes properly in the trunk and put away my old paintings. What is he doing here this early? It is barely morning. Is he that eager to see me?"
At my question, the three maids behind those working on my hair exchanged looks, "What is it?"
The second maid is quick to clear her throat, "Your Highness, there won't be any need to bother about your clothes or the room even. The King has prepared two rooms for you and your fiance on the second floor, east wing.
I rolled my eyes at them, "Of course, he has,"
"And ahem! The Prince looked displeased to be here."
How do I explain to them that my comment was sarcasm?
Though I had given them two minutes to work on my hair, it took longer than that to comb out the tangles that had formed over days of not caring for it. So, it took about five minutes to get everything done, and I was ready to start the day by welcoming my obnoxious husband-to-be as tradition demands.
Reaching the dining room, I plastered a smile on my face. I can do this.