Returning Reign

Chapter 26

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After last night's events unfolded I went and told Lizzy that Nathaniel was not going to be helping me. She was confused at first but I explained everything that happened between us at the library last night. It was kind of ironic that we argued there the first time and that's also the place we fell apart.

Today is Saturday morning and no matter how shocked and hurt I am by the turn of events last night I need to focus. Today is the day where I will get to the bottom of this and get my parents. Today is sort of an ultimatum, I have no reason to believe I will actually find my parents. Only loose ends and coincidental evidence but I am not going another day with my parents missing. I will find them.

Lizzy knocks on my door and I let her in. She is carrying a giant bag with my gown inside and a bag full of makeup and hair styling tools.

"Goodmorning!" She greets me cheerily. Despite everything going on she finds a way to smile and make the best of our situation.

"Goodmorning," I tell her, trying to sound just as cheery as her.

"Gosh, that was awful. We are going to find your parents today okay?" Lizzy squeezes my shoulder gently and I nod in agreement. I smile at the thought of being reunited with them.

The process of getting ready for a ball is already long, but when it is the final ball it is even longer. This is supposed to be the most extravagant one of them all.

Lizzy does my makeup beautifully. She gives me some natural light brown eyeshadow and some light glitter on my eyelids to make my eyes pop. She topped my eyes off with a small dainty wing and she added bronzer and blush to my cheeks and gave me a natural pink lipstick that enhances my own lip color. She curls my hair perfectly and adds some hairspray to make sure they hold for the entire night.

"You outdid yourself Lizzy," I gush at her skills.

"Thank you, but you are already beautiful." She compliments me back. "Well, we must hurry and put you in your ballgown!" Lizzy ushers me to the giant bag laying on my bed and I unzip it.

A small gasp leaves my mouth when Lizzy slips the gown out of the bag. The gown is a deep blue, not quite navy yet. It is made of the softest tulle material and at the end of the skirt it has a light layer of silver glitter. The back is like a lace up corset and the front was strapless sweetheart neckline.

*The dress is the one on the book cover!*

The dress was everything I wanted, beautiful and classy without being too over the top with gems and glitter.

"Your mother is amazing, if I ever can, I will repay her." I tell Lizy in awe of the gown.

"Nonsense! Plus being my friend is good enough for her." Lizzy replies as a joke.

I put on the ballgown and have Lizzy help me with the corset in the back. I step into nude heels and spin around in the beautiful sea of tulle. I spray myself with my signature vanilla berry perfume and just as I was about to head off Lizzy stops me.

"Wait, here strap it on your leg." Lizzy hands me a small sword and a strap to strap it to my leg. I eye her wearily but do it anyway.

"Why?" I ask her breathless.

"Just in case you need to be safe. You never know what youre getting into." Lizzy seems worried for my safety. I nod and agree for her sanity and give her one last hug and leave my room.

I decided to walk the long way to the ball I could use time to think over our plan one last time. I am basically in disguise and no one who knows me will be able to recognize me. The long way is the main corridor opposed to the maids corridors I always use.

As I make my way to the ballroom I hear the excited buzz of people socializing at the Ball and I pick up my speed. I dont want to waste any more time. The long hallways have dozens of doors on either side. As I pass one door in particular it opens quickly and a strong hand wraps around my waist and pulls me into the room. I try to scream but the strangers other hand is covering my mouth.

The door is shut and the lights turn on revealing a very familiar handsome face. Nathaniel.

"Was that really necessary?" I asked him annoyed that he almost scared me to death. He smiles sheepishly at me. He is wearing an all black suit that makes his tan skin look beautiful. His hazel eyes glimmer with the light in the room and his brown hair is slicked back neatly.

"Sorry, I needed to talk to you and I saw an opportunity." He apologizes. I looked around and noticed that we were in one of the many guest bedrooms prepared for the foreign royal guests.

"I dont have much time to talk but I wanted to make sure I apologized to you. No matter what happens tonight I want us to still be able to be friends." Nathaniel apologizes for yesterday and he seems sincere. Hes back to being Nathaniel and not the prince.

I just noticed that he never let go of my waist and that the tips of our feet are touching beneath the tulle skirt of my gown. He looks so handsome right now. His eyes wander slowly to my lips and a bad idea comes to my mind.

What if I kissed him right now? It would be a farewell kiss before he proposes to another girl in a few hours. Its only one kiss.

Im a few inches taller than normal right now because of my nude heels so I stand on my toes and grab Nathaniel gently by the base of his neck. He leans down to me until his lips are millimeters away from mine.

"May I?" I whisper to him. He nods with hazy eyes and I take that as my sign.

His lips and mine meet and they move slowly. My body feels like it's floating and I am buzzing with electricity. His hands wrap around my waist and mine around his neck. I wish that this moment could last forever but this is a goodbye kiss and we both know that. The kiss is so tender and pure and the butterflies in my stomach make me feel like a love sick fool.

When the kiss ends we both rest our foreheads together and stare into each other's eyes.

"You look so beautiful Cartia," Nathaniel whispers to me. We're both in a high, feeling as if we are living in a fairytale at this moment. We let our moment last a little longer with one more kiss.

Our last kiss.

Authors Note:
Next update will be on Monday!! Have a nice weekend. :)