Freedom comes at a price and a young Earthal princess must live the life of somebody else, even if it means facing evil threats and impossible odds.
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As someone who craves freedom, Princess Clarabelle cannot just stand by and let her life be take...
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AT EIGHT o’clock that evening, the guests began arriving through the drawbridge of the palace’s north entrance.
Watching from the window in the front hallway as the caravans of lamplit carriages pulled into the circular drive, Clara shivered. The castle was warm with activity. Around her, the servants buzzed, but Clara stood still. She could feel it: a trembling in her chest as the excitement of being around people took over.
Her birthdays were rare occasions when she was free to interact with others. However, the guests had always been limited to the rich circle from Sierra and Vermont Kingdom.
The castle’s ballroom looked beautiful. Under the glow of so many chandeliers, she almost didn’t recognize the place. Tall pots of violet lilies lined the entryway, and the velvet-upholstered furniture had been pushed back against the wall to make room for the guests.
Clara dressed in a fantastic white gown with a soft silk-crepe bodice and an exposed corset back. Her vanilla hair was pinned high on her head in an array of shiny, intricately placed curls. Her diamond necklace, a gift from the queen of Vermont, shone against her pale skin, giving her such a regal air it nearly took everyone’s breath away.
“Momma, the princess is so beautiful. Can I marry her?” A little kid of no more than five looked up at her with adoration, his finger pointing at her. Clara blushed profusely and gave away a shy smile. She offered a slight wave at the kid as he was whisked away by his mother toward the center of the ballroom, which looked like a flowerbed in bloom: Extravagant, brightly colored gowns of every color, in organza, tulle, and silk, with grosgrain sashes, filled the room. The younger ladies carried bright nosegays of flowers, making the whole castle smell like summer.
More guests came through the front door in twos and threes. Bright-eyed and wrapped in white summer cloaks, the women curtseyed to the men in smart suits and waistcoats. Black-coated waiters whisked through the large open foyer, offering twinkling crystal goblets of champagne.
Heaving a sigh, Clara excused herself from greeting guests by the entrance and retired to the head table, where she swigged a generous sip of wine. She was tempted to loosen her corset and be able to feast on the mouthwatering food flooding out from the kitchen. But she couldn’t because she had to be the prim and proper princess. For all the years she had lived, this was where she always ended up. Drained and in dire need of a damned adventure.
Was it too much to dream of a whirlwind romance, of a man whisking her away into the woods at midnight, where they wouldn’t have to worry about anyone coming to find them? Scoffing lightly at her fantasy, Clara massaged her temples, groaning softly at the growing headache.
“Ah, what a pleasure to see you again, Princess Clara.”
Clara looked up at the owner of the shadow, towering over her, and was greeted by the ever-smiling face of Gabriel.
