The Prince's Wedding

The Ball. 9.

“And a one, two, three! One, two, three! One, two, three! One, two—— No, no, no, no, no!” She says as she marches to me from where she was standing.

With the ball fast approaching, Felipe had signed me up for dancing lessons in the castle with a lady that moved like she floated on air.

Not like the Prince will ever dance with me….

When we started a couple weeks back, she had placed three books on my head and taught me how to waltz without any of them falling.

The second week, I was down to two books and she taught me how to tango…even though I told her I didn’t think any of us would dance tango at a ball.

It’s the third week now and I’m down to one book as Bella teaches me the traditional dances and the songs they go with.

We’re in the castle’s ballroom and it appears to be the biggest room in the entire castle, decorated with portraits and artifacts, marble floors and gold doorways.

“It’s right foot forward, left hand out before you switch. Repeat.” She says and I sigh, taking the book off my head.

“It’s just one mistake I made the whole dance. I really can’t keep repeating this much longer.”

“Your Highness, please. The ball is only a few days away. You get this step right and we’ll be done for the day.” She pleads patiently but all I can think of is seeing Halley.

“I get it, okay? Right foot forward, left hand out, switch.”

I drop the book and start heading for the door but I can hear her following me from behind.

“But it’s my job to make sure your moves are perfect for that day—”

“Goodbye, Bella.” I say without turning around and I hear her stop.

“Very well, Your Highness.”

And just like that, the urgency leaves me as guilt hits.

I didn’t expect her to agree so quickly.

I stop walking and turn around to see Bella packing up the books and I sigh…

That was insensitive. I was insensitive. I didn’t mean to sound so rude and be dismissive of her efforts…and somehow it’s becoming harder and harder for me to notice.

Coming here at first, I could only relate to the servants and staff…but ever since the poison incident and Halley, I found it impossible to even smile with most of them.

And it may feel justified… but it’s not fair.

“Wait a minute, Bella.” I say as I walk up to her and she looks up at me, surprised.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so insensitive and ungrateful.” I place the book back on my head.

“Let’s repeat.” I say and she smiles.

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

And we do the dance one last time, with Felipe observing me from the doorway.

“That was quite a moment.” He says to me as I leave the ballroom after the lessons and I giggle.

“Well, dancing hasn’t exactly been my strongest talent.”

“On the contrary, I think you’re a beautiful and graceful dancer. But I meant the moment when you actually put Bella’s feelings ahead of your needs.” He says and I slowly stop walking as I turn to him.

“You saw that?” I ask and he nods in satisfaction.

“I’m guessing I wasn’t meant to call her back?” I ask, a bit fearfully and he just chuckles.

“Your Highness, it’s one of the most admirable acts I’ve ever seen. It’s like with each passing day, it becomes more and more clear to me why King Russel chose you.” He says and I smile.

“Thank you, Felipe.”

“I know you want to see your sister again, but there’s still one more thing to be done as part of your preparation for the ball.” He says as he gestures to some maidens that approach me.

“Your Highness, it’s time for your fitting.” One of them say and I turn to Felipe.

“Fitting?”

I’d never had a fitting before…

“You want a ball gown, don’t you?” He asks with a smile and walks away before I can even think of a reply.

I’m immediately ushered into another room with mirrors where there should be walls. I can see myself from every angle…

“Madam Felicia will be with you shortly.” One of them say as she helps me up a small platform and they all stand aside.

“I’m going to dress you…” Madam Felicia, a black-haired middle aged lady says, walking into the room with a beautiful, peach silk and lace material,

“In peach, like the sunrise. Beautiful enough to compliment your skin but not take away the attention from your hair.” She says, smiling proudly as she stands in my front and gently I tilts my chin up.

“With sapphire jewelry to bring out the sea in your eyes.” She adds in a fierce whisper and I turn to my…reflections.

Everyday, the gowns and dresses I got dressed in were always breathtakingly fancy, each looking more expensive than the next.

And she’s telling me it can get even better…?

“A new ball gown isn’t always necessary for a ball….is it?” I ask and she just giggles.

“Your Highness, just stand still and trust me.”

*****

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***

**

*

ALEXANDER

“I’ve spoken with the council and we decided to get started on building bridges first. The easier it is for us to reach to the outer kingdoms, the better.” I say to Caspian as we both walk down the hallway together.

“Noted, but Your Majesty—”

“The expansion of farmlands, I know. We’ll discuss that later. Where’s Felipe?” I ask as we get into my room and Caspian sighs.

“He’s with Lady Melissa.”

I pause, digesting the information.

“Right.”

Melissa.

Felipe had been spending a lot of time with her lately, trying to make her feel welcome and somehow it was working.

She didn’t have an angry face when she came to dinner anymore….although I wouldn’t have noticed recently. I always came to dinner after she was done.

Flowers for the ball were enough, I don’t owe her anything or any kind gesture. I don’t have to start dining with her so soon or spend unnecessary time with her. The less said, the better.

“……which is what I’ve been trying to tell you, Your Majesty.” Caspian says and it dawns on me that he has been talking all this while.

“What?”

“The ball, Your Majesty. It’s time to get ready.”

I frown.

“I thought it’s still two days away.”

“It was…two days ago, when I told you. But now it’s today, and it’s a two hour ride to Greenland, so it’s best I get you ready now, Your Majesty.” He says and I look outside at the setting sun, flooding the sky with peach and orange colors.

“I see….”

I am not ready…not the slightest bit.

How am I supposed to spend all this time with her? Doing what? How do I even introduce her? What do I say when they ask me questions about her?

“Your Majesty?”

I turn to Caspian and he already has my coats and Nirvanian embroidered suits out.

Guess I’m doing this anyway.

“Sure, let’s get this over with.”

******

MELISSA

After my hair has been completely braided and styled, I walk towards the mirror in my flowing peach gown, the chest crested with blue jewels and a sweep of flowing silk material in waves from my waist, making the fluffy gown look like a flower.

My single necklace is gracing my neck, carrying a round, blue sapphire stone as the pendant, and matching earrings on my ear.

“His Majesty is waiting.” Cecily says, now standing at the door and I walk up to her.

“Please don’t let anyone in Halley’s room. On any occasion.” I whisper and she smiles reassuringly.

“Of course, Your Highness. The Prince and Felipe already have the place locked and guarded. Now come, you look beautiful.” She says as she gestures for me to leave and I walk out the door, down the long hallway and then down the stairs were Prince Alexander is waiting at the bottom, staring at me.

He’s dressed in a Royal blue suit, embroidered with gold at the shoulders, the belt, and the wrists, with the Nirvanian crest pinned at the heart of the jacket.

Matching trousers, and black cape and shoes.

His hair is neatly combed and his stubble beard, which seems to have grown a bit more, is shaved just bellow his cheekbones, complimenting his jawline.

I finally get to the landing and his eyes seem to be observing me.

“Your Majesty.” I curtsy and he just nods, then gestures for me to walk ahead of him. The guards open the gate and I’m led down the pathway to a waiting carriage.

And not just any carriage…One of the Royal Carriages of the castle.

How real is this?

“Wait.” Prince Alexander says, holding me back by the arm just as I get to the open door of the carriage and I turn to him.

“Yes?”

“We’re going to a kingdom you’ve never been to, especially in your current position.”

“I’ve heard of Greenland.” I say, surprised at his words but he barely even looks at me.

“Not the same thing.”

“I’ve read of them too.” I insist.

“Again, not the same thing. Listen, we’re only going there to be present and congratulate the king and queen. But everyone is going to ask you questions about you, about us, what life is like as royalty, and I need you to put aside your stubbornness and just keep shut. Eat, drink, I don’t care. Just smile and wave and nod—”

“Play dumb then?” I ask, and he finally looks at me.

“Coin it however you like, but don’t breathe a word when we’re there. Don’t get carried away or caught up talking to a servant there either.”

“Excuse me?” The insult hits hard and low, even for him.

“I don’t care if that hurts your feelings, just play the part. Let’s go.” He says and I get into the carriage, holding my gown and at the same time….my tears.

Prince Alexander gets in right after and the carriage starts moving, but the entire time, I have my eyes out the window as I dread every upcoming moment of the night.

***

Greenland is just East of the Island and we get there just as the sun disappears beyond the horizon. The doorman helps me out after Prince Alexander and as my shoes meet the soft rug landing, the Prince holds out his elbow for me.

For a second, I don’t know what to do.

This is first physical contact between us that is actually….thoughtful.

“You’re not coming?” He asks impatiently and I watch other couples going in, elbow linked and it dawns on me….it’s not thoughtful.

It’s compulsory.

I slip my hand into his elbow and as he leads me into the castle, every second of it feels like a lifetime of torture. The impatience in his movement, the blank look on his face, the way he’s struggling to prevent our fingers from touching….

And here I was worried that the guests wouldn’t treat me well when I should have been worrying about the Prince…

We get into the beautiful ballroom and I play the part just as he asked. Suddenly nothing mattered more than presenting the image I was given. Not how pretty I looked or how good I felt. With the king and queen, the prince and princess and other noble folk greeting us, all I could think of was getting it over with so I can go home.

To the castle….

So I nod. I smile.

I smile, I nod.

“What a beauty she is.”

“A quiet one, isn’t she?”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“We’ve heard so much.”

“Are you enjoying life as a royalty?” This one in particular comes from the Duchess of Greenland and I give her the same response I’d been giving to every other statement and question I got.

A tired smile and a nod.

I hate this.

Every moment of everyone speaking to me and looking at me like I can’t speak while Prince Alexander walks around with a smile, showing me off like a girl he rescued from the bushes.

I never should have come.

“Doesn’t say much, does she?” The lady says to Prince Alexander and he smiles, briefly turning to me before facing the duchess again.

“Well, she’s still adjusting.” He says heartily and it stirs up something in me that I’ve been trying to hold down all evening.

Adjusting.

He must have been itching to say that all evening.

“Oh, poor thing.” The duchess says, turning to me with a pout on her lips and pity in her eyes.

“Everything will be fine, okay?” She says slowly, stressing on each word carefully like she’s talking to a five year old.

I bite down on my tongue, unsure of whether I’m trying to stop myself from crying or shouting or even figuring out if this is real.

If this is actually happening.

“Okay?” She repeats and I clench my teeth together to keep down the rage within me before I finally give her my response.

A smile and a nod.

The duchess nods too with a satisfied smile before leaving.

“I want to be alone.” I say the instant she’s gone and Prince Alexander turns to me like I’ve grown two heads.

“For the last time, stop talking.”

“I haven’t even been talking.”

“Good, then you’re not going anywhere. You think I’m enjoying this too?” He asks and the ugly thing stirring in me gets an inch closer to its limit.

“Are you kidding me? You’ve been dragging me around like a rescued beast—”

“For the love of all things good, shut up.” He hisses at me as he turns to face me and at the same time, shield me from others.

“I want to be alone.” I repeat, and he glares at me.

“No. Now stop trying to make a scene—” he stops abruptly as the organist starts to play and couples lead each other to the dance floor.

“Oh for God’s sakes, now we have to dance.” He groans, rubbing the bridge of his nose and tears flood my eyes.

I’ve been humiliated all day and his biggest worry right now is that he has to dance with me?

“Just stick to your lessons and let me lead till the song is over.” He says, already taking me to the dance floor and everything snaps within me.

“No.” I yank my hand away and he turns to me with a horror-stricken expression.

“I want to be alone.”

“Stop, stop, stop it already.” He says in a hushed whisper as he reaches for my hand and I move back.

“I’m not going to allow you—”

“Oh my God, Melissa.”

“To keep using me to make a fool out of myself—”

“Stop making a scene, stop moving.”

“While you’re here fussing over how it’s such a big deal to dance with me.”

All the while I’m walking backwards and Prince Alexander follows me step by step, trying to shush me as he keeps reaching for my hand.

“Could you not be so difficult for once?”

“I’m difficult?!” My voice rises to a shrill, shaky sound and a few people turn to us.

“Melissa—”

“You tried to get me to play puppet and even that didn’t come close to the excruciating fact that you had to appear at this ball with me and be forced to dance with me.”

“Melissa—”

“You embarrassed me. Half of the people here think I’m an illiterate and you couldn’t care less about how I feel because I’m so insignificant. So I’m taking a decision for myself. I need to be alone.”

And I pick up the hem of my dress as I head out of the room, tears welling up in my throat.

“Melissa.” I can hear Prince Alexander call as he follows me and I don’t stop moving until I’m out of the building.

“Melissa!” He yells the moment we’re out of earshot and I turn to him in tears.

“Look at that, you’ve found your voice. You can be rude to me in peace now.” I say, hating every dreadful quiver of my voice.

“Have you lost your mind?! Your little charade in there could have raised questions and rumors—”

“You mean apart from the ones you already raised? Did you even see the way they looked at me? Is that what you wanted? For everyone to realize how burdened you are with being betrothed to a commoner and at the same time making yourself look like such an angel for bringing me here or introducing me to the Royal life?

Oh poor Prince Alexander, what a terrible thing to be attached to someone who’s so uncultured. Who can barely speak. Who has no class. But he brought her here so he’s doing his best!” I yell, already in tears and Prince Alexander doesn’t breathe a word.

He just keeps standing and staring at me.

And all I can think of is how much I want to be alone.

How I shouldn’t have come. Madam Felicia and Bella may have done their best to make me look like royalty and dance like one,….but I’m still a commoner.

So I turn around and continue walking away as the sobs escape my throat.

“And where will you go?! You don’t know anywhere here!” Prince Alexander yells and I don’t bother to stop walking or turn around.

“It’s okay, I’ll just a find a servant and get caught up talking to them!”