When Meryl found her way back to her chambers, Rangard was standing by the door. That meant he was already back from his errand. Great she thought, she could now get out of this stupid dress that made her look like some fairytale princess, which she was not. She hated fairytales, maybe because Marriane Aldain went through the pains of getting it straight to her head during her childhood days how fairytales were for people who wanted a magical way around the world rather than facing the real world. Her mum was a firm disbeliever of magic and she made her one too.
Although she had been praying for a magical way out of this situation now, if there was, then she needed a fairy godmother to magic her out of this place and people that were holding her against her will, and keeping her in the dark about why she was torn away from her life all of a sudden without any proper explanation, as if she did not deserve any.
That creepy hot wooden leather guy who came to her the last time with the DNA test did not say anything about why she was being kept at this ghost castle.
All he did was confuse her more and crushed her with that bitter truth of her boyfriend.... ex boyfriend and Hannah's disloyalty, she was not sure what to believe and that DNA test... Meryl knew she had no reason to believe a word that man said but she could not help it.
There was something about him, she could not explain what it was, maybe the look in his eyes when he bombarded her with everything. He did not look like someone who lies his way out of situation or even lie to get what he wanted, he was a prince for that matter..... she granted and held her head out in frustration, her dark hair scattering all over the place, she was going to have a mental breakdown at this rate.
Meryl did not realize she had already reached her room and that she had company until Rangard's concerned voice broke into her messy mind.
"Are you alright my lady," the vampire asked. When Meryl turned her head towards the man's direction and saw the genuine concern on his face, she knew then she could trust him, even against her better judgement, although she did not trust her judgment with people anymore, not after Brandon and Hannah.
She straightened herself up and faced him. She was a vision of calmness when she opened her mouth to answer him.
"I am perfect," she forced a smile at the man who stood in front of the closed door of the room. She did not even want to know how long he had been standing there.
Meryl turned around again and noticed the shopping bags on the bed for the first time since she entered the room, confused at how many they were. As if Rangard had read through her confusion, he came closer and explained himself.
"I did not know what exactly your type was so I got a little bit of everything," he explained with sincerity and she nodded at him to assure him she understood. Meryl though could not help but notice how hard the man was trying to please her and it unsettled her somehow. She briefly went through the bags before thanking Rangard for the clothes.
"Do you need anything else my lady?" he asked.
"No, thank you," she responded before adding her next question as an after thought.
"Is there a celebration of some sort going to take place in the palace tonight?"
"Yes my lady, the king is holding a ball in the palace tonight, his first in decades," Rangard was more than happy to inform her. Meryl ignored his excitements and continued to prod.
"What's the occasion if I may ask?"she asked.
The man seem to contemplate on whether to answer the question or not, as if it was some kind of secret.
"The reason for the ball is exclusively known to the king himself. I am certain his majesty will announce it at the ball today," he told her after some time had passed, his earlier excitement had clearly waned off.
"If that is all my lady, then I will take my leave of you," he said and made his way out leaving her more confused with his actions.
Meryl was deep in thoughts some time later, when Isla entered the room, empty handed to her surprise. Her usual displeased look though was perfectly in place. She walked to her and bowed slightly.
"The Prince requests for you to be present at tonight's ball my lady," she informed. "I'm her to get you ready."
The door opened again upon Isla words and two other servants came in with trays in their hands. One had food on it and the other had what seemed to be bottles of scented ointment and shampoo..?
The maid with the tray of scented ointment entered the bathroom and came out a few minutes later.
"The bath is ready, my lady," she announced.
Bath, for her? What was this? some royal treat or something? If it was what Meryl thought it was then it meant she had to get naked and allow them to bath her. She had read a couple of those royal novels when she was younger so she had a fair idea of hand maidens and their jobs. And for the life of her, there was no way she was going to get naked in front of a bunch of strangers as if it was no big deal. She was not used to people taking care of her.
Meryl turned to Isla, a look of displeasure on her face.
"I am sure I can take a nice and clean bath by myself ladies, there's no need for you all to be here," she told the woman.
The other two maids exchanged puzzled looks like it was their first time hearing something like that and excused themselves.
After they left Isla picked one of the shopping bags and drew out two elegant dresses from it.
One was black and the other red. She spread them on the bed and turned back Meryl who was already headed towards the bathroom.
When Meryl came back to the room sometime later, fully showered down, Isla was already gone. Her attention was drawn immediately to the dresses on the bed.
The black dress was an off shoulder twist gown tucked in at the side. It looked perfect for a wedding anniversary or first date but except she wasn't going for one.The red one was though seemed perfect, with its slippery silk. It was a figure skimming style with draped neckline, a strappy open back one sided ruching and a side cut from the tip of the dress to presumably a little above the knee level. It looked perfect for a ball gown to her so she decided on it.
Meryl got startled out of her wits when she turned around and found Isla behind her. Really, she was going to start sneaking up on her now? Meryl thought.
"The red one would suit you," she said as a matter of fact. Guests have already started arriving, let's get you ready miss," Meryl noticed her use of miss instead of her usual my lady but her mind was too occupied with the ball to actually care about a title.
She had no idea what a real life ball was supposed look like, neither did she have an idea how she was supposed to behave.
She thought of backing down but it was clearly not an option.
She sat in front of the mirror and endured the other woman's pricking and prodding for the better part of half an hour.
"Did your Prince tell you the reason for the ball and why it is important for me to go?" Meryl asked with less discontent as possible.
"The servants are no friends of their masters miss, His highness does not explain himself to anyone."
"I'm sure you can tell me a thing or two about what I'm to expect," Meryl carried on.
"Dancing miss, you should expect to dance. It's a ball," she answered cynically.
Of course she would say that, the woman hated her for some reason only known by her it seemed.
Meryl was impressed after the final touch, she couldn't even recognize herself in the mirror with all those makeups and jewelries and the dress. She looked totally transformed into a different person- like the better, womanly version of herself.
"Do you like your hair down or up?"she asked softly, breaking into her thoughts.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, contemplating what to say, her hair being up or down did not really matter to her now, but no one seemed to care "Down," she said quietly.
"You are ready then," she said and excused herself, leaving Meryl alone in the room.
She turned to the back to the mirror and accessed herself, there was no thought she looked exquisite in that gown.
But no, she was not ready- not as long as her mind and thoughts were considered; not as long as she had no idea what these people wanted from her. Being prepared was something that has been beyond her reach lately.
It would have been easier for her to play princess if she had a clue of what this cluster fuck of a mess her life was now.