Sparks of a flame

8. Beating Hearts

VIOLET'S POV

I barely recognized the girl staring back at me in the mirror. She looked like me, but it didn't feel right. 

My caramel-colored hair was pulled back into a braided bun, baby curls styled elegantly on my edges by Betty. The beautiful, body-hugging pink dress she had picked for me looked flawless and I knew this was the prettiest I had ever looked. The black choker on my neck made it look longer and the colored heels on my feet not only made me appear taller but I knew without a doubt I was looking ravishing. However, when I stared at the reflection of my eyes in the mirror, a dull ache spread through my body. My eyes looked so dull and lifeless, that I almost cried when Betty had shown me my reflection after she dolled me up. My skin looked pale and I felt sick.

Behind me, Lady Katherine shot displeased looks in Betty's direction as she directed some maids to carry my luggage down. "We will be waiting for you downstairs, Princess," she said curtly, definitely displeased Betty got to leave with me instead of her. Betty paid her no mind, and once she left us in the room she squealed excitedly. She had changed from her usual uniform and instead wore a plain, dull green dress with flat shoes. The color scheme here was rather classist.

Pointing to the vanity, I spoke.   "That gloss will look nice on you."

She paled instantly. "I cannot, Princess. Lady Katherine would—"

"Do nothing. She is not going with us." 

She looked uneasy and tried to protest as I sat her gently down on the vanity chair, threading my fingers through her curls. I took out the rubber band she had used to hold her hair together and run a brush through it, untangling the knots. She reddened and tried to get up, stammering incoherent words about someone entering the room.

"No one would dare enter without a knock, Betty," I said. "Besides, it reminds me of doing Lillian's hair." 

She bit her lip as she observed my less-than-enthusiastic features. Her lips opened slightly and she blinked as she spoke, "Is it Alexander you are nervous about or Prince Stephen?" 

I stopped mid-air, my hands seconds away from grabbing the hairspray on the counter. After the awkward moment that happened with the Prince, I rushed to my room and like clockwork, Betty miraculously appeared and I narrated what had happened.

She had assured me it was not a big deal and that Alexander would understand that I was doing everything I could to pretend to be the Princess. It had however done nothing to soothe my nerves. I feared Alexander would start acting cold and mean as he had done when I was with Liam, and I needed him to remain neutral toward me till we found a way to go back to campus.

"I wish I knew what he was thinking. Not that I care," I rushed the words out, scratching the back of my neck with my recently trimmed fingernails. "He probably thinks of me like some loose girl."

"Loose?" Betty giggled, her hand covering her mouth and I couldn't help but laugh too. "Come on. Let's go," I sighed and pressed the nozzle of the hairspray in Betty's hair. "Lady Katherine is waiting," I mimicked, trying to be as stiff as Lady Katherine was when she said anything. Betty excitedly picked the last bag with a delighted clap of hands and led the way out of the room.

She led the way to the large fountain in front of the palace. I craned my neck around Betty to see if it was the limousine we were going to be sitting in, and my jaw dropped when I saw two ash Cadillac Xt5's and a white Mercedes AMG parked glamorously by the fountain. 

I gasped in wonder, a wide smile falling on my face as the excitement of seeing the luxury cars for the first time took over my features. 

I could see the King, Queen, and Lady Katherine standing by the cars, the king and queen engaged in a conversation. Lady Katherine moved away from them and I saw her approach Louis, who was leading Prince Stephen, both of them coming from the direction that was opposite us.