Klena
Human AU
"Ah, m-m-mother not so- ah, tight, please" Elena's fingers gripped onto the wooden bedside.
Her mom pulled and pulled at the corset, making sure her daughters waist was as small as possible. She was sixteen and still yet to be married, they were hosting a ball so Elena would hopefully attract a wealthy king or prince, it didn't matter so long as someone would take Elena.
"The tighter, the better, you will be engaged by the end of tonight I will make sure of it" Miranda yanked on the strings and finally was unable to pull anymore. "Even if I have to search for a prince myself, you will be married before your seventeen" Miranda tied the strings together in a neat bow.
Elena had a hard time slouching, her back was kept up straight because if she didn't keep her back straight than it felt like her stomach was going to swallow itself, there was literally no room for her lungs, everything was smashed together. Her waist was smaller and it she didn't look healthy.
She tried to speak but it hurt when she did. Her mom examined her and nodded in approval. "Yes, that's good. Now I will send some people in here to help you with your dress"
Elena stood still not daring to move. Elena needed help getting into her dress with even more tight knots and ties. The dress reached the floor with its length and the fluffy skirt made it hot underneath the dress, the long sleeves stopped at her wrists.
The women did her hair in a low bun with many pins holding it in place. A young girl came around and took out two pieces of her hair to frame her face. While they did her hair, another put on her heels, someone crushed some strawberries and dabbed it on her cheeks to give her a natural blush, they placed some black berries in a separate bowl and gently swiped it across her lips.
Elena gulped when they were finished. She looked in the mirror she did look beautiful but everything hurt her, the shoes were to tight, the dress was making her hot and extremely uncomfortable to where with the corset on, her head was being poked by the pins and finally her face was sticky from the berries.
There was one thing that was missing from her look. The crown. Her mother watched as it was placed upon her head, Elena turned to show her mother the completed look. The queen nodded in approval. "You look absolutely beautiful darling. Now come down"
Elena took a deep breath, her lungs contracting against the corset, they were being squeezed together and Elena almost broke down right than and there. She shook away her discomfort and followed her mother down to the ball.
A servant handed her mom a mask, another servant handed her a pink one, the same color to match her dress. Elena stood up straighter as she was presented in the room. People stood on both sides of the room, keeping away from the carpet that lead to the door, royals from all over would be walking through the door any minute now to meet her.
Elena took her seat in the throne next to her father, she placed the mask in her lap and waited patiently to be introduced to all of the kings, queens, princesses and princes. Elena cried on the inside, she didn't want to be here, she didn't want to do this, she didn't want to get married, not now at least.
Elena doesn't even know what love really is, she doesn't know what it's like to love someone, how can she love a stranger? She didn't want that, she wanted to lock eyes with a man and fall instantly in love with him and actually want to get married with him because she loves him, not because she has too.
They opened the doors and one by one, family after family came in. Elena saw many young girls and guys, the princes were to young for her and nor her mother or father approved of any of them so far.
