I walked around aimlessly for an indeterminate amount of ti as I pondered my predicant.
One of my maids managed to track down before Al did, shrieking about how there wouldn't be enough ti to beautify for the ball. Joy. More of the Barbie doll treatnt.
My stare was blank and my expression emotionless as they stuffed into an even larger cage than usual and an elaborate sky blue gown studded with jewels that trailed down the skirt from a large cluster around the bodice.
It was so heavy I could hardly breathe.
My hair was twisted into an intricate series of braids, leaving just enough space for the tiara that boasted a sapphire in the center that matched my dress.
I had never worn a real tiara before. Wearing a fake one and prancing around in a princess costu with Abby one Halloween as kids had never seed farther away.
Mariela wouldn't look in the eye when the royal family gathered together in front of the grand ballroom to make a dramatic entrance.
She pointedly clung to her husband's arm and ignored . He noticed and shot a confused look before smiling softly down at her as she gazed up at him.
Rosenia looked as excited as she was capable ofusually she had such a bored, disdainful expression. Of course. This was her chance to show off in front of everybody.
She stood near her husband but did not speak to him. I couldn't help but wonder if those two had any sort of relationship at all or if it was entirely political.
Al approached hesitantly, looking every bit the dashing prince in a formal blue coat that went well with my dress.
"Are you alright? I haven't seen you much lately."
"I'm not but now isn't the ti or place to discuss it," I sighed.
I didn't have an adequate explanation for why I had been so distant. At this point, I didn't know anything.
Should I just give up and accept my fate in this fantasy world? Could I afford to?
"Butyou are willing to discuss it?" His gray eyes t mine earnestly and my heart sunk.
He looked so hopeful but that couldn't overshadow the sa despair that radiated from him when we first t. How one pair of eyes could express so much at once was beyond comprehension.
"Yes," I said quietly.
It wouldn't be so much of a stretch to put it down as nerves, would it? Didn't everyone get cold feet before they got married?
Especially since I was becoming a princessthat was a lot of pressure. Al would probably buy it.
My guilt increased. He didn't deserve to be lied to like this. He trusted . Lying to soone who trusts you is worse in a way than lying to soone who doesn't.
Al gave a sad sort of smile before offering his arm. "It's starting."
I took a deep breath and placed my hand daintily on his inner elbow. Show ti. The herald announced the king and queen first and descended by order of rank until it was our turn.
"His Highness, Prince Alpheus Randolph McLeod of Annalaias and Her Ladyship, Catherine Arabella du Pont, future princess of Annalaias."
My grip on Al's arm tightened as we stepped onto the dais. Hundreds of eyes were on us. I got the vibe that he wanted to comfort sohow but couldn't since he was frozen in position with everyone watching.
We descended the grand staircase slowly so I wouldn't trip in my many layers of skirts and high-heeled dancing slippers.
Everyone wanted a piece of usit wasn't every day a ball was held in honor of a new princessbut thankfully a familiar face got to us first.
"Eddie!" I cried with delight, about to go in for a hug before I realized Mada Chalaise was probably watching from sowhere and would kill for breaching etiquette in such a way at my very first outing as part of the royal family.
Instead I opted for reaching out and clasping his hands in my gloved ones. "I thought you were at school!"
"Well," he said with a teasing glint in his eye. "When you get a letter that says your sister is about to beco a princess certain exceptions get made. You should have seen the dean's face when I told him! You've been the talk of Calabaster Academy. I even got to miss exams for this!"
"Of course that's all you care about," I said with a laugh.
Since I left Edmund honestly believing we would never et again, this was unexpectedly nice.
"Oh, where are my manners. Eddie, this is myfiancAlpheus. Al, my brother Edmund."
Al stuck out his hand to shake. "I've heard a lot about you."
"And I've heard almost nothing about you but it's nice to et you anyway," Edmund said cheerfully as he accepted it. "I still can't believe you of all people ended up with a pri"
"Edmund." Percy's curt voice cut him off. "I believe you are holding up the line."
I frowned. I wasn't nearly done talking with one of the only people in this room I actually knew and liked.
It was a bit awkward seeing Percy after all this ti. The countess had taken full advantage of visiting with the queen on a regular basis under the pretext of wedding planning but Percy was too busy with the earl trying to learn the ropes for when his day in court ca.
I had only seen him once since the day I arrived at the palace. It didn't help that I was basically being held hostage. I hadn't left the palace at all since security was so tight.
"Percy, I only talked to him for a minute," I complained.
He gave a wry smile. "It is nice to see you too, Catherine."
It almost sounded like he was blaming for our lack of contact. I pouted.
"Hey, I haven't been able to leave. You could have co to see if you wanted."
"That is true," he conceded. "But really, you have many more people to talk to. Edmund is staying with us until after the wedding. I can bring him by to see you tomorrow if you have ti."
My lessons were virtually over. I had nothing BUT ti. "Please do."
"We could all play cards," Al suggested, finally rejoining the conversation. He was so quiet I had nearly forgotten he was there.
Edmund grinned. "So she taught you too, huh? I look forward to it. See you Katie! Your Highness!"
Al sighed as we moved on and grumbled under his breath. "You get to be Katie but I'm stuck being Your Highness."
I gave him a strange look. "You realize that less than ten people in this entire country call Katie. I'm just as sick of being called 'Lady Catherine' as you are of 'Your Highness.'"
"At least you'll be joining the ranks soon enough."
The reminder of our impending marriage made my expression darken ever so briefly before we were greeted by the next set of guests. It seed like we were stuck talking to people for a lifeti before the music began.
As the engaged couple, we started off the first dance of the night.
"Can you talk now?" he asked as we began whirling around.
I shook my head. "Too many people. Sobody might hear us."
"Can you at least tell if it's because of sothing I did? I've been worrying about what I could have done for days."
There was that wounded expression again. It cut to the core.
This wasn't really his fault. How could I bla an incredibly bored, lonely person for latching onto the first one to show them fun? My mistake was getting involved with him in the first place.
I gave him a reassuring smile. "It's nothing you did, promise. Sorry for worrying you."
He practically wilted with relief before resuming his dance posture. "Thank goodness. I had to wonderbut why were you avoiding then?"
"I needed so ti alone to figure things out," I admitted. "Can we not talk about this here? The last thing I need on my plate is more gossip."
"Alright, what do you want to talk about then?"
I don't know! I'm barely trying to get through this ordeal, okay?! "Do we have to talk?"
He squinted at in concern. "My Katie, not wanting to talk? That's new."
"Who's yours," I muttered.
"Look around us. This whole ball is to celebrate that you're mine," Al said almost smugly.
I wanted to protest but the song ended and it was ti to change partners and he disappeared into the crowd.
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