Victoria came into Arielle's room and she met her daughter still sitting on the bed.
"What's wrong my dear?" She walked towards the bed and sat beside her daughter.
"Nothing mother. Just worried." Arielle replied.
"Don't think too much about it and get ready alright?" Victoria said to her daughter.
Arielle stood up and Victoria helped her with the corset, "You are going to be fine my dear."
Arielle held her breath and nodded her head, while she held the table.
"Is it okay?" Victoria asked.
"Yes mother. It's tight."
Minutes later, Arielle got ready and finished doing her hair by curling her it and packed it into a ponytail.
She wore the green that fit her perfectly and had a zip by the side.
It was an off-shoulder A-shaped gown that was full sleeved with stone works at the chest area.
"You look beautiful my dear."
"Thank you mother."
Nat entered the room and was astounded, the girl in front of her did not look like her sister at all.
"All the men might ending up choosing only you. You are looking alluring girl."
Arielle just smiled at her sister's words.
"Ari my dear, you are are looking very pretty."
Edmund said to his daughter as she stepped into the parlor room.
"Thank you father."
"Enough with the talking, we have to leave now." Victoria said to her family.
"Why do we have to leave now mother." Arielle asked with a slight frown.
"There is still enough time before the ceremony."
"It is mandatory for all the girls turning eighteen to be present before the ceremony starts." Victoria explained.
"Okay."
The family of four got into their carriage and were on their way to the palace.
As they neared the castle, they were able to see glimpses of it from afar, and they continued to ride in the carriage.
When the carriage passed through the big gates which had leaves and creepers on them, Nat and Ari looked at the vast land that was decorated beautifully.
The carriage finally came to a pause, and the family of four came down.
Arielle was nervous as she kept squeezing the sides of her gown.
"You will crumple the gown if you keep squeezing it that way Ari."
Arielle heard her mother say behind her.
"Relax my dear." Edmund said and stretched his hand for her to take. Arielle placed her hand in his, trying her utmost best to relax.
"Shall we?" Arielle nodded at her father.
Arielle was led away by a guard to a room she would be until the ceremony would officially start while Nat and her parents were led to the hall to sit until the ceremony would start.
The hall was a big room.
On entering the hall, a red carpet was spread out, down to the other end of the hall but stopped just above a small staircase.
Above the staircase, a brown colored throne was placed in the middle and five chairs arranged on either sides.
Chairs and tables were arranged on either sides of the hall to accommodate the guests.
Natalie and Victoria found a place to sit while waiting for the ceremony to start.
Over at the King's study…
"Your highness, the king of Wolfdale is on his way, our spies just informed us." Bernard reported.
The king nodded his head. "Are all the kingdoms present?"
"King Raphael is present but the east kingdom sent a representative as the queen could not make it." Bernard replied.
"I wonder what it is with the east kingdom, always so mysterious." King William wondered.
"Alright. Is everything prepared?"
"Yes, my king." Bernard replied.
"Go and welcome the north king." King William ordered.
Bernard bowed to the king before exiting the study.
Away from the palace, the sound of pounding hooves could be heard, as seven men rode through the forest.
"Are you sure about this your highness? I mean…" One of the men said only to be be interrupted by another man.
"Where is your brain Gayle? If his Majesty was not sure about it, we would not be half way there already Gayle."
The man said pointing out to Gayle's stupidity.
Gayle scratched his head as if just realizing.
"Did you have to insult me Brian." Gayle questioned unhappily.
"Not my fault you don't have brains." Brian said smugly.
"You…"
"What happened to me? Am I wrong?" Brian asked with a smirk.
The both of them started bickering. The other men just shook their heads not bothering to stop them as they were always at loggerheads with each other.
If not that they were on their horses and they had somewhere to be right now, they would have fought right then and there.
They bickered all the way to the palace gates. Gayle and Brian immediately kept mum when the king turned to face them.
"You're welcome King Adrian. It's good having you here."