chapter nine

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"A gathering?" Dallia quizzed, watching as her father nodded from the top end of the table

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"A gathering?" Dallia quizzed, watching as her father nodded from the top end of the table. "Isn't 'party' the correct term?"

"However you may put it," the king huffed as his eldest daughter sunk back in her chair. "Birthdays are to be celebrated."

His words echoed the room, bouncing off each wall as they sat in silence.

Birthdays were never a special occasion to anyone within the family, but her fathers age was reaching a milestone, so Dallia guessed this one would be different.

"You could have given us more time to prepare," Dallia grumbled, slouching as her father raised an eyebrow - signalling that she should sit properly.

"What could you possibly need to prepare for?" The king chuckled, and truthfully to Dallia - it felt nice to hear.

She expected an uproar from her father, harmful words which he would shout so loudly to embarrass her in such a way. She needn't get used to it, though, she knew this spark of energy was from the fact it was so close to his birthday.

"To pick something to wear," she spoke finally, as Areum turned around in agreement, nodding her head.

"We will have that all sorted for you both," her fathers retinue spoke, as Dallia mostly ignored him.

"Thank you," she said in a monotone voice. "Am I free to go now, father?"

The king bit his tongue, an attitude like this from anyone was enough to make him snap, but he continued on the happy streak that he promised he would be on until the day came that he turned sixty.

"All of you can," he announced, motioning to the doors as the guards opened them up. "I expect everyone to be on their best behaviour tomorrow."

"Never," Dallia muttered to Areum as they walked out arm in arm, a spring in their step.


The next night came quicker than expected, considering the princess stared at her ceiling up until this point. The dress which lay hung delicately across the chair at the other side of her room was calling her name.

She would never usually be excited for such things, but she knew that it was rare she got to feel this pretty.

"Dallia?" Kevin's voice rang from outside the door, making the girl freeze as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"Yes?" She called back, fixing a section of her hair which was no different than usual, just sections pinned back out of her face, twirling at either side until they reached together.

"Whenever you are ready," the prince said, making the princess draw in a breath.

It wasn't that she didn't feel beautiful tonight, she somewhat did. It was more the thought of the event that was trudging her downwards.

jilted ↠ lee hyunjaeWhere stories live. Discover now