Royal Pain

9

Ella's POV

It's been a week since Prince Harry and I's garden tea. Everything has been good so far and my ankle is finally healed. I don't have a problem walking on my own around the palace grounds which was great news to me.

I rarely see the Prince, but some days he joins me for breakfast which is lovely. I get to know him more during those times alone. Then after breakfast I don't see him the rest of the day until dinner with his parents, which is fine, I guess.

Today I am meeting with Queen Anne to prepare any plans regarding my birthday ball. I was surprised at the fact that she approved of it considering I am not royalty. I got ready to meet with the queen wearing a blue dress with daisies on it. It was a very beautiful and comfortable dress. I followed Anna down the many hallways of this palace and stopped in front of two closed doors. Anna knocks on the door before getting permission to come in. She walked in to curtsy first before announcing my arrival.

I walked in an curtsied myself before looking up to Queen Anne.

"Good morning Ella, I'm very pleased with your punctuality. My son nor my daughter have that trait. Always so late." She shook her head chuckling. I chuckled a bit too before I smiled at the queen.

"Now let's go sit over here so it is more comfortable." She gestures to two accent chairs by the window where there is a small round table between them and a coffee table in front of it. On top of the coffee table is a bunch of books stacked on top of each other.

"Let's get started. These books have different topics we need to cover for your ball. From the color motif to the type of table settings and food, the flavor of your cake and how big it should be. The invitations, and of course we need to discuss your ball gown for the night, that way it can be started right away. Also you will be receiving lessons from Madam Clarice for royal etiquette and Sir Henry will be your professor regarding what you need to know education wise. Do you understand Ella?" She asked.

There was a lot to do and to discuss but I understood every word. I nodded quietly before fiddling with my fingers.

I then felt queen Anne grab my fingers making me stop, her other hand to my chin to gently bring it up and I faced her with a look of surprise. She smiles at me gently,
"May this be lesson one, always verbally respond, and a princess should not be fiddling with her fingers or anything. Confidence is beauty darling."

I smile back at her, "Yes my queen, I apologize for my manners." I say quietly.

"That's okay darling, now do you have any questions or suggestions so far?"

"If I may my queen, I am not sure if Prince Harry mentioned this but I am entirely content without having a birthday ball. I don't want to cause any stress to you. To me it's just another birthday, it's not a big celebration of anything." I say keeping eye contact with her. It made me nervous but I have to face her.

She just smiles at me before chuckling and shaking her head.
"Darling, it is another year for the celebration of your birth. Your life. It is something to be grateful for. Don't worry about me, this is what I do. I love to create beautiful evening balls or day events and one day, when you are queen, you will be doing this too. I used to do this with my daughter Gemma all the time, I even helped plan her wedding along with the mother of her Prince. It's just something we take care of. I find it fun and I believe you will too."

We both smile at each other before I finally agreed with her. She then opens a book full of beautiful colors and settings of a ballroom. As we were flipping through the pages Anna came in with tea and pastries, my eye catching the chocolate muffin on the platter. She sets the tray with the tea on the smaller table between the chairs we were sitting at before pouring the tea. I smile at her thanking her for the tea.