Chapter 13
2738 Words
The cherry blossom petals were breathtaking with their mesmerizing colour and beauty.
Just by the looks of it, anyone could think that those petals must be really soft.
During the spring season, the bloom of the trees was an incredible spectacle to see if anyone were lucky.
The small and delicate pink flowers would capture your heart like nothing will. They had a beauty that would rival a woman’s beauty, keeping you in their t****l, weaving its magic over you.
These trees were not just trees for her and her people. They symbolize their culture, custom, and feelings.
People mistook them because of these trees, thinking them gullible and easy to fool. Just because their country was named Cherry Land and full of cherry trees, they were not all fools who loved peace. They were famous for their war weapons, after all.
Their country faced many battles and had come out victorious every time. They bury their enemies by digging up the land, and after that, they plant cherry trees over, making the enemies to provide nutrition for their trees.
Not many knew about their custom. In fact, it was offensive to give anyone in their country a cherry flower as it meant death, victory, and blood to her country’s people. Giving a cherry blossom to a person indicated that the giver has no good intentions towards the receiver.
That’s why it was offensive in her country to give anyone a cherry flower; at the same time, people wear it when they go to war or something important, indicating that they had come to win.
There was so much history and blood the trees had witnessed for generations.
But, that didn’t reduce anyone’s admiration for those flowers.
“Your highness…”
She opened her eyes and glared at the maid for disturbing her.
The beautiful image of cherry trees on the riverbank disappeared from her mindscape. She had imagined herself standing near her favourite place in her country.
Now her imaginary scenario vanished as soon as she had opened her eyes.
She was not in Cherry Land; she was in Avera, where her beloved resided.
She turned away from the maid that dared to disturb her, but looking at the clock, it seemed she would get late if she didn’t hurry up her preparations.
She decided to let the maid go as she was trying to remind her of the time.
She looked at her figure in front of the mirror. She was gazing and admiring herself before her mind decided to create her favourite scene behind her eyes.
But, looking at her reflection, she was reminded of the cherry blossoms again with how her dress was of the same colour.
She had brought this dress when she looked at it the first time in some shop during the cherry blossom festival. She would never buy anything from the shops as her dresses were always customized specially for her from the royal tailors.
But, she couldn’t look away from this dress; that was why she had brought this one from that cheap stall. She wasn’t guilty about ordering the guards to imprison the tailor of that dress so that he would never make any dresses like this. And if in prison, he could make dresses only for her, it was all even better. Not that the life of that designer mattered now when she had important meetings to attend.
It was simple but elegant, unlike any gown she usually wore, as her taste always leaned towards grand and extravagant.
Her choice for today was a trumpet gown in the cherry blossom pink colour.
She loved how the dress had a straight-lined skirt that flared up at the hem. The gown’s fit and flare style hugged the bodice till mid-hip and then flared just below the hip in a dramatic way.
The gown was of a crepe fabric with a satin weave. It had a low back and a modest neckline as she didn’t want to scandalize the guests by dressing sensually. She already had enough attention as it is, many people trying to court her.
What was unique about this was that the gown had cherry blossom floral appliqués, rose quartz, and sequins adorned the bodice and trailed along the illusion sleeves of her gown. These were alterations done by the royal tailor to enhance the beauty of her dress.
Let it not be said that Stella Preston was wearing something simple.
Stella looked once more at the mirror, admiring her beauty, and decided to finish her look with a pale pink lipstick.
Just as she put her tiara that consisted of numerous twirls and floral patterns resembling cherry blossoms, another maid entered her chamber. She ignored her maids and traced her finger over the pink sapphire and pink opal over her tiara.
When she looked at the maid, she was handed the cherry blossom flowers she had ordered her servants to deliver for this occasion.
She watched the maid arranging the flower in her floral hair bun.
She had put her country’s flower on her hair, indicating that she had come to win this today.
It’s win or death to her enemies.
That was line her family used against enemies when they dare to go against them.
She got up and moved away from her room, deciding to attend the party arranged by the King.
She was not early, yet, not fashionably late either.
Perfect balance.
She had done her best to be even more stunning if that was possible for the sake of one person.
Ryan Burton.
Her beloved…
She had come to win him over.
~~~~
The great hall was filled with laughter and excitement.
The great hall was enormous even for a person like her, the crown princess of Cherry Land.
There were numerous round tables all over the great hall for the guests to sit comfortably.
Thousands and thousands of candles were everywhere around the great hall, along with rushlights and decorative lanterns to provide light for the evening and servants nearby to maintain it.
The golden plates, along with a set of spoons, knives, goblets, and glasses, were glittering under the candlelight, creating an illusion of a fairytale dinner.
The King had already given his speech, and the great hall came alive with food, alcohol, music on the side, and a whole lot of gossip among the people gathered here.
Stella had never seen a gathering of royals this big. Granted, she was a Princess of Cherry Land, but it was a small country compared to Avera, but that didn’t mean they lacked when it came to wealth.
Stella’s eyes had been searching for him throughout the evening.
Where are you, my Prince?
Stella had come to Avera for the sole reason of being courted by Prince Ryan.
She had grown up hearing stories of him. She had loved the stories of how he had thoroughly annihilated the bandit groups roaming around Avera and how he was a master in both sword and arts.
She had always been fascinated with the stories sung by the poets in her country about Prince Ryan. She had wanted to see him so; her father had given a portrait of him when it felt like she wouldn’t eat unless she got to see him.
And, with just a portrait of him, she had fallen in love.
She had loved him ever since.
His bravery,
His status,
His handsome face,
She loved everything about him.
God! She cannot wait to be his wife.
Where are you, Prince Ryan?
Her maid gave her a plate of her favourite things from the buffet arranged by His majesty as she didn’t have time to go and look around the vast buffet. That was why the guests were allowed to bring one or two servants of their choice for this event.
She moved away from where she stood and walked towards one of the numerous tables with empty chairs, not in the mood to chat with anyone.
Stella had come to impress everyone and grab the attention of everyone gathered here with her stunning dress.
But her entry was spoiled by someone who entered the hall at the same time as Stella, stealing everyone’s attention on her instead of Stella.
Haley Elltore..
The mermaid princess was beautiful, which even Stella cannot deny.
The way she walked over from the grand entrance of the great hall, enthralling everyone in the web of her beauty, stunning every man speechless.
The way her exotic green eyes highlighted by the kohl would definitely draw your attention, and Stella’s black eyes paled in front of hers.
The green colour mermaid gown of the Mermaid Princess overshadowed her pale pink trumpet gown, making Stella a pretty background for her entry.
Mermaid Princess was wearing a mermaid gown.
She had humour; Stella would give that to Princess Elltore.
The intricate beading and the embroidery work with a very unique scalloped neckline gave her a royal look, making her stand out amid the crowd.
Her eye-catching fabric made people wonder what all the fabrics available on the mermaid land were.
She walked across the hall as if she owned the whole world while her maids trailed behind her, keeping her skirt safe from people’s feet.
Compared to her, Stella’s entry was nothing in front of her entry. Stella cursed the mermaid princess silently. But, Stella knew that she was of no competition, even if she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Because a mermaid can only marry a merman, for their body was made by nature like that.
Just as she was giving up on looking for Prince Ryan in this crowd, she was startled when someone sat near the chair on her table.
She looked up with a polite smile that slowly morphed into a genuine one when she saw who was beside her.
Lady Elvira Burton, wife of the King’s brother who was the chief minister of Avera, and most importantly, mother of Prince Ryan.
“Your grace.”
Stella stood up and gave a bow to her, trying to win her over with her behaviour and etiquette.
“Please, Princess Preston, no need to bow.”
She hugged Stella in greeting.
“Please call me Stella, Lady Burton.”
She loved how she behaved with Stella like a mother. Stella had been without a mother as she had passed away years before and grew up under her father’s guidance.
So, it felt nice to be with a mother-like figure.
As they chatted about the event and general topics, they ate lightly from the plate with a variety of foods their maids had gotten for them.
“If it’s not inappropriate and bold, can I request you something?”
“Of course, Princ…. Stella.”
She replied with a warm smile, looking beautiful even at this age.
Stella twirled the curl of her hair, styled neatly on the sides of her face in a nervous habit.
“Can I call you mother?”
Stella looked at the shocked face of Lady Burton, wondering if she would deny her and think that Stella’s request was inappropriate.
She didn’t expect Lady Burton to lean forward and kiss the crown of her head.
“Of course, Stella.”
Stella closed her eyes in happiness, never felt anyone who did this to her.
She then conversed with Lady Burton about her country, and each complimented their looks and dresses.
She cannot help but glance around once in a while, amusing Lady Burton.
“Who are you searching for?”
She asked Stella with a teasing smile.
Stella couldn’t help but blush as they both knew who she was waiting for.
“Don’t worry. He will arrive in few minutes.”
Stella’s tensed shoulders relaxed. So, he hadn’t arrived yet, and she was worried about how some girl must be conversing with him.
Stella felt irritated when he became even more popular among the girls by saving some maids.
Unlike everybody else, she didn’t swoon over that news. She was irritated that he had saved some stupid girls. She didn’t like it when his attention was elsewhere from hers.
“How is he, Mother? I heard he got fever recently.”
“It was a week before Stella. He is fine now.”
Like that, they talked about inane things after that, and Lady Burton left after a while, wanting to socialize with other people, so she let her go and decided to walk around the hall in search of him, abandoning the plates her maid brought for her.
Stella ignored men trying to catch her attention, not wanting to even glance at them and searched for her beloved Prince Ryan.
Just as she saw him, she was called by Lyara Triston.
Stella would have groaned if she was a commoner without etiquettes.
She was one of the people Stella socialized with when she came to Avera, wanting to measure people.
Lyra Triston was not of her class, being a lady of the Triston noble house and not a princess of some country, but she kept her near to use her in case she needed someone to do something.
She would have liked this girl to be her friend if not for the fact that she also had an obvious and enormous crush on her beloved Ryan.
Usually, she tolerated Lyara’s presence but not now when she had finally seen him.
“Princess Preston, your dress was the best one I had seen all this evening.”
Flattery, huh!
Stella knew that the best dress would definitely go to the Mermaid Princess without a doubt.
And she cursed Haley Elltore, the mermaid Princess who was near her Ryan.
She would have glared at that haughty Princess who thought herself above humans if not for the fact Prince Ryan’s eyes never once glanced at her like other men who were sneaking glances at her.
God!
She loved him even more now…
It felt like her heart would burst out, keeping all the love inside her. She wanted to speak with him.
She decided to politely avoid Lyara Triston with small talk, all the while looking at her Prince.
Prince Ryan looked happier than the times she saw him ever since she came here.
She saw him from the corner of her eyes at how happy he seemed and smiled once in a while.
Why was he smiling alone?
No…
Not smiling alone.
For every few minutes, he glanced at someone else, and she followed his line of sight…
There she was…
A plain-looking girl with a blush whenever Prince Ryan smiled at her secretly, conversing with their eyes silently...
Stella watched how he glanced at one particular dessert and how after few minutes, that girl grabbed the plate he glanced at, tasting it and glaring at him, for it seemed she didn’t like it from the looks of it.
Stella watched how Prince Ryan hid his laugh and raised his eyebrow at her in a challenge.
Stella had seen enough to understand the closeness between them.
She clenched her fingers tight enough that her nails digging on her palm would draw blood in few seconds.
Ryan was hers…
Hers…
Stella’s…
He had been Stella’s ever since she had been a child.
No one else’s, especially a maid’s of all people.
No…
She cannot let that happen.
She had spent nineteen years of her life dreaming about him. She cannot let him go.
Never.
She was from Cherry Land. She doesn’t shy away from battles, especially personal battles.
She had been worried sick about him, and looking at him now, laughing with some low-class maid, made her blood boil.
Blood, death, and war were her country’s motto.
If someone touched what was hers, she wouldn’t hesitate to bury them under the ground and plant a cherry blossom tree over their buried dead body.
- Writer
