Three Words

Chapter One

I walk into the Great Room and gasp. It's beautiful. The palace seems to always amaze me. In the center of the room is a green tree, the greenest and tallest Christmas tree I've ever seen. It's decorated with red, white, golden, and blue ornaments that glint in the light at certain angles. Underneath it are several presents, all of different sizes. Around the tree-and the entire room-are round, white tables decorated red and green. The silverware set perfectly, the chairs tucked neatly beneath the tables. In the back corner of the room, a quartet readied to play, preparing their beautiful music to seep into my soul.

I couldn't help but smile.

I took a seat at the table where the final selected-we- were instructed to sit, to the left of the royal family. They would sit at the back of the room.

There were only three of us.

Kriss, Celeste, and me.

I pulled out my chair, sighing to myself, not wanting to sit next to Celeste, but, I wouldn't let her push my buttons, but she was getting better. I sat, smoothing down my dress.

Tonight, for this Christmas Eve, I wore a stunning gown, perhaps equal to the greatest thing I've ever worn here. My maids are amazing.

The gown is floor length and sleeveless. The palace keeps us warm. From chest to belly, it's white. Little diamonds adorn it, making it glitter under the light at my every move. Starting at the waist, the dress begins to spread out beneath me, feather like. From the icy white, it blends into green, then, a little white space, and it blends into red, ending in white. It's gorgeous.

My heels, awfully extravagant and making me taller, are solid red. Diamonds also are encrusted into them.

My hair is delicately pinned up, the white pins a stark, but beautiful, contrast to my red hair. Two curls hang around the edges of my face, and a single braid wraps around my head, much like a tiara.

My thin eyelashes have been curled, my brows combed. My lips have a faint pink gloss, and that is the only makeup I wear.

On my wrist is Maxon's blue bracelet from New Asia and Aspen's button.

Around my neck, a thin, gold chain holds a simple red ruby. Not only a Christmas color, but also my birthstone.

I smell of vanilla, just like my first time at the palace.

I find myself grinning at my memories, how much different and similar I am now.

"America?" I look up to find Kriss, gazing at what she can see of my outfit, her mouth ajar slightly.

"Kriss," I regard her, smiling some. She looks nice as well.

She wears a mixture of golden yellow and white lace. The white sparkles and, unlike her birthday dress, this dress reaches just above her knees. On her feet are strappy sandals, and her brown wavy hair hangs around her shoulders.

I stand up and greet her with a gentle hug. "Isn't this all just gorgeous?" I ask, pulling back.

"It is!" Kriss replies.

"Of course it is."

I hear the loud clicking of Celeste's heels before I see them. I lean over, getting a glimpse at her from behind Kriss.

Her dress is red silk and sticks to the contours of her body.

How can she move in that?

"Celeste," I give a curt nod, Kriss does the same. She doesn't respond, she just pulls out her chair and takes a seat. I sit back down, to the right of Celeste, and the left of Kriss. We don't speak, but quickly get up to curtsy at Queen Amberly when she enters.