[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: DON'T STOP ME NOW ~ QUEEN]
Bessie laid out on the bed the best dresses she thought would suit the princess, choosing calm colors and preparing her shoes.
Oriana sat on the other side of the bed, humming a song known only to herself, her leg moving to the beat.
"Princess Oriana, here are the dresses I think would fit your personality," Bessie said, moving aside for the princess to see her selections.
The young princess hummed in approval. "I think this title fits you more than me," she said with a serious look on her face, prompting the maid to bow deeply.
"I wouldn't dare to agree, Princess Oriana," the girl said, afraid of losing her head.
Oriana nudged her. "Fret not, it's just you and I here," the princess reassured her. She pointed at the dresses on the bed. "But none of them fits my personality," she said, sucking her teeth.
Bessie got down on her knees. "I'm sorry, My princess, I'll quickly get you something better. I only started today, and I'm yet to know the standard of the royal family."
Shaking her head with pity, Oriana sat on her heels and touched the girl's shoulder. "Are you sure you can serve beside me? You seem too...fragile," she said, moving her hands away from the girl's shoulder and holding them to her own chin, as if deep in thought. Her index finger pointing forward.
"You're a woman! Don't always panic at every situation. I didn't say your taste for dresses was bad, did I?" Oriana asked, standing up and walking towards the closet.
Bessie raised her head, her hands folded close to her gown. "No, you didn't, My princess."
"Good. I only said they don't suit my personality. Yes?" Oriana brought out a dress and shook her head, throwing it behind her for it to bounce on the bed.
The maid nodded. "Yes, My-"
"Exactly," the young princess interjected. "It means I have exactly what would suit me. Tundun tada!" she exclaimed, bringing out a bright red gown.
The maid gulped, this was her first day but she could already see herself kicked out with the horse skin bag she left home with promising to return with wealth. "T-hat is..." Bessie stuttered, unable to find her voice.
"Is fabulous! I think so too. You don't look like it, but you have a unique taste like me. I just know we will both get along, Bessie. Stand up, quick let's get me dressed, that cranky governess hates tardiness." Oriana clapped her hands together, turning her back for the maid to help her in changing into the dress she had picked.
Bessie felt her throat dry up with taste, her brows furrowed with worry. The colour red and other bright colours were only associated with Hetera and courtesans, not one for a woman of royalty.
"I know you're dumbfounded at the sight of this beaut, don't worry I'll let you know where I bought it from." Oriana said seeing the delay in the girl's step, and the look of horror on her face. Which was no where because of her admiration for the dress.
The maid raised the dress, if she wasn't shocked before she was now. It was even ten times more, the dress had no sleeves and it had a slit in front which looked like the tailor abandoned the work because of family issues or had to rush it that she forgot to use all the materials.
"Princess Oriana...this is..." The maid cried, now she wanted to really go back home. If she had known that her first day in the palace would be her last, she would have just stayed back home.
Oriana ignored the maid, taking the dress from her and deciding to wear it herself. The red dress looked in no way something a lady, let alone a princess, should wear, making one wonder where exactly Oriana got it from. The sleeves of the dress were missing, revealing her chest, and the slit in front trailed dangerously, stopping on her laps.
"Now what do you think?" Oriana asked with a bright smile, turning around for the maid to see.
Bessie held her neck, still too young for this. She had barely turned twenty, and her blood pressure was rising. "My Princess, you..."
Oriana twitched her lips. "Bessie, is it just me, or does my beauty make you speechless? I totally understand," the princess nodded, walking past the maid and going to stand in front of the mirror.
"Now, would you look at that," Oriana's smile broadened. This was going to drive not just her family, but her governess, to the edge. Another season for her to be entertained; oh, how Oriana loved to see those expressions, especially on her sister's face.
"And for the final touch," Oriana said, looking at the mirror. She pulled out the hairband, letting her hair flow freely.
This was the last straw for Bessie. As she held her hand over her mouth, a princess's hair must never be left to bounce freely. Looseness and dishevelment were not considered appropriate for a lady, especially royalty.
"I know you love it!" Oriana grinned, seeing the maid's hand over her mouth. She took it as a look of amazement. "Now we are ready, let's move. Oh, wait, shoes."
Oriana ran back to her closet and picked out boots instead of silk shoes. At this point, the maid had exhausted her surprise subscription.
"These feel more comfortable than those silk pointed shoes," Oriana said, sitting on her heels and pushing the boots on that she almost lost her balance. When she was done, she stood up and dusted her hands on her dress. "Shall we?" she said with a smile.
Bessie's eyes followed the princess who stepped out of the door. She raised her hands and prayed to heaven to grant her grace in controlling her blood pressure, which was rising slowly.
Oriana walked straight to the room where the governess was sitting, waiting to get her polished for the suitor who would be joining the royal family for lunch.
Lady Adeline sat gracefully with her legs closed together and a teacup held in her hand, which she didn't drink immediately but inhaled first, closing her eyes to relish the aroma of the fresh tea. Everything about the governess screamed charisma, as she was the best in her field, known to train only people from the royal family and charges incredibly high.
"Welcome back, Ms. Adeline. Seeing you here again means you didn't give up," Oriana said from behind, referring to the last time the governess had come to tutor her, getting Oriana ready for her suitor only for her to show up fully drenched after playing under the rain.
Lady Adeline smiled at the girl's words, turning her neck elegantly to see the princess. The smile on her face dried up, leaving her with a blank look that was transcending into shock.
"What are you wearing, Princess Oriana!" The woman got on her feet with anger.
Oriana swirled, showing the woman the full design of the dress. "A dress. Do you want one?" she asked nonchalantly.
Lady Adeline inhaled deeply, counting in numbers as she had learned to do after becoming Oriana's tutor. Every elite daughter she tutored had excelled and become great wives to prominent men. But there was Oriana, who wanted to soil her years of hard work.
"This childish act of yours won't do you any good unless you don't want to marry and move into your husband's house like other maidens. A woman is like a flower-"
"She blossoms for a short time, only to wither for life," Oriana completed, nodding her head as she was already used to the phrase the governess used every time.
Lady Adeline sighed. "If you know this, why then do you make things difficult for you and me?" Her voice now lowered to one of plea.
Oriana positioned herself on a seat and picked up a teacup. "I don't want to marry a man who doesn't know what he wants and who would only see me as a tool that makes children and stays at home performing bed-warming duties. Not me!" The princess shook her head, raising the teacup to her lips she took a large gulp and spit it out without swallowing.
"It's hot!" Oriana exclaimed, lifting up the jar of cold water and gulping it down, as the water dripped down from her mouth down to her dress.
Lady Adeline held her hand over her mouth. "Oh my!" The woman shook her head. This princess was a lost race.
Bessie, who had been standing in a corner, ran quickly towards the princess, getting a dry towel she used to clean her dress. The maid was glad she wasn't the only one suffering because of the princess.
When Oriana finally calmed down, she fanned her mouth with her hand. "How do you take it like it's water?"
Lady Adeline walked tiredly to sit on her chair. It was almost time for lunch, and they had not done anything. And not like the princess was willing to learn, even if she tried. "Please, Princess Oriana, can you help me keep my job? I promise to retire after you. Maybe heaven is trying to punish me for a crime I don't remember," the woman muttered the last words to herself.
Oriana shook her head. "Mmhm, you're the best governess there is. Don't worry, it's not raining today. I'll be on my best behavior," she said, flashing the woman a smile.
Though skeptical, the governess took what she could get. "Please..." she begged.
A maid walked in at the same moment. "It's time for lunch."