She woke up with a yawn and then stretch, she remembered what her father told her yesterday, there is no way she would go for the ball. She looks up to the ceiling and thinks of a way to escape before the ball starts at 6:00. However, she won't know if it will work unless she tries.
She rings the bell which makes the servants aware that she is finally awake, as her maids walked in with a smile on their faces. "Good morning, lady Natasha. It is time for you to get ready." said one of the maids. On the other hand, her butlers prepared her bath, then several hours later, her maids helped her to go and take a bath. After minutes passed, she finally finished. Her servants are helping her brush her hair.
"Oh, Natasha, your hair is truly pretty. I wish I have a hair like yours." Said, her friend, Anesha. She is working as her maid. They grew up together.
"Why, thank you for the compliment, Anesha, I like yours more, it's very pretty," she said with a smile, they begin to twirl her hair to keep it curly and bouncy. Natasha looked at herself in the mirror before getting off her seat and heading for her dress; It was so white, there was nothing more but white. "What is this? Is this supposed to be my dress? Not being rude but this looks like a wedding dress."
"oh my god! We are so sorry, lady Natasha. We didn't think it through." they bowed down as they apologized. Natasha let out a sigh and pat their shoulder, telling them it was alright. "It's fine, don't worry about it." Natasha smiled again. "Just get me another dress."
"Yes, lady Natasha."
As they left, Natasha sat on a chair while waiting. Anesha opened the door, carrying a beautiful dress with Natasha's favorite color. "This would look good on you!" Anesha happily showed it to me Natasha gasped when she saw the dress. Her eyes lit up with excitement, it was indeed beautiful. "It's perfect! Well done, Anesha."
"You have good taste in fashion, Anesha, my mother would be proud of you."
"Well, I learned it from your mother."
"Good."
It's finally done and finished wearing the dress, as Natasha goes downstairs with the servants behind her. Hearing her mother across the room, yelling at another maid again. She's about to go berserk, but Natasha quickly goes to her and calms her down. "Mother calm down."
"How am I supposed to calm down when she ruined my gown for the ball? It got stained."
"We can just buy a new one."
Her mother calmed herself a bit. "Buy a new one? This dress is so expensive and you are telling me to buy a new one? I cannot just buy a new one."
Natasha simply nodded, "Yes and you got no other choice, or we can just pick inside your wardrobe."
"Hmm, I will just buy a new one. And, before I leave. Make sure to study, Anesha will keep you accompanied." Her mother said before she turns around to Anesha. "Keep an eye on her." Mrs. Cromwell left with the guards. And there goes, Natasha.
She couldn't escape studying. Anesha let out a small laugh, "It's okay, I'll come and help you with reading."
"Really?!" her eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, of course, that's what we are friends for!"
Going to the study area, Anesha carried ten books and could barely see. It's rude of Natasha not to help her; She stopped walking before she speak.
"lady Natasha, is something wrong?"
"Forgive me for not helping you, Anesha, it's so rude of me for not helping you. Let me help you"
"Oh no! You don't have to, I can handle this. Just lead the way."
Natasha kept on quiet and grabbed 5 books before placing them on the table."There we go," she said with a smile. "You don't have to do that, Natasha, I can handle it."
"Aren't friends helping each other?"
"Yeah, but you don't have to force yourself to help me."
"I'm not forcing myself, it's my job to help my friend."
"Right."
Natasha simply sat down and grab one book then starts to read, Anesha pours tea into her cup and handed it to her. "Thank you, Anesha." she smiled again.
Anesha smiles back and took a glance at what was she reading. "Shouldn't you study how to dance and practice dancing for the ball?" she asked before sitting down next to me. "I'm not interested, I'm not good at dancing."
"Well, do not blame me if someone chose you to dance."
"That was not going to happen and if it is then I will politely decline."
"Suit yourself."
Several hours later, Natasha ended up falling asleep on the table as she slowly woke up from someone calling her name. She rubbed her eyes and saw Anesha rushing towards her, panicking she said. "Natasha! It's time for you to get ready for the ball!!"
"Huh?!"
Because of that, Natasha is fully awake. It turns out that she has been studying got hours and ended up falling asleep. She panicked as she quickly gets off her seat and quickly gets dressed.
At the ball, turns out that her plan didn't work. She was at the corner of the room, casually watching everyone while staying quiet as someone walk up to her, holding a glass of wine. "Hello miss, why so lonely?" he asked as Natasha awkwardly stared at him, what a fine handsome man, although she would not fall for him so easily besides they just met.
She does not trust him, just looking at him, she can see his evil side. She glared at him. "Miss, are you okay?" he asked as he is about to touch her when Natasha instantly moved back a bit, scared. "Do not touch me!" she panicked and yelled at him as everyone across the room look at her.
She was so embarrassed as she can feel their gaze upon her. Her parents worriedly came rushing to her, her father put his hand on her shoulder to feel safe and comfy. "We apologized for what happened earlier, Duke Howard. My daughter doesn't like crowded places such as these." Duke Howard looked at Natasha for a while before looking back at her parents with a smile on his face. "No worries, totally understood. Please enjoy the ball, as for your daughter. We can go outside to get some fresh air and have a little chat." He said.
Natasha and her parents were both shocked at the same time. Her mother simply nodded and responded, "Sure why not, Duke Howard."
"Huh?" Natasha looked at her mom in disbelief but Mrs. Cromwell is telling her to go so she had no choice once again but to go. Her parents bowed as a shown respect towards the duke.
Duke Howard and Natasha go out and get some fresh air, it's night and cold outside. While walking, she found herself staring at him, and he seemed to notice as he stopped walking and turns around to face her. She was confused and just stood there, putting a nervous smile on her face. I swear there is something behind his smile, he is probably a two-faced person or the devil himself. He gives off that vibe! Duke Howard let out a small chuckle. "I can sense that are staring at me earlier, Lady..?"
"Natasha, lady Natasha. Was I staring? Forgive me."
"Mhm, why bother to come to the party when you don't want to?"
"My mother convinced me to come so I got no other choice but to attend."
"Ah, I see."
Then curiosity hit Natasha, asking. "Say, do you have a wife? I mean you seem so lonely."
"That is rude of you to ask someone if they are engaged to someone, can't you see if there is a ring on their finger or not? I'm not interested in dating someone right now. I'll look for one if I wanted to. Anyways, want some desserts?" he asked as he summoned his servants behind him carrying a bunch of delicious desserts. Those are so yummy although Natasha isn't hungry anymore as she shook her head and politely replied.
"No thanks, I'm full." she awkwardly smiles again. "Hm? But a while ago, you look like you are starving."
"Well, that is because I'm no longer starving. Duke Howard"
"Please just call me, Francis."
"What an ugly name."
"Pardon?"
"Apologize for my rude behavior." she tried to hold her laugh even though it isn't funny.
"Let's go back before people are started to worry if I get kidnapped."
They went back and saw people dancing graciously on the floor. People saw us and bowed down after seeing Francis, he look at me and smiled before putting his hand out, asking to dance. "May I have this dance?"
"What?! No- I cannot dance, why me?" asked panickily as Francis chuckled before saying anything. "Don't worry, I'll teach you. Just follow my lead; dance to the music and feel it." she looks at his hand, hesitating at first before holding his hand. Smiling, Francis placed his other hand on my waist.
As we started swaying slowly as the people kept on watching us, she can see her parents are looking so happy and proud of me.
When suddenly, the room, everything, and the memory is slowly turning into pitch black. Leaving Natasha all alone, as if she was in space. But still, keep on dancing.
.
.
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