A Strange Feeling

16| Masquerade

Chapter 16: Masquerade (Ana's POV)

The past two weeks were exhausting. We were preparing for the upcoming masquerade, and everyone was in a rush. I always thought that royals don't bother preparing everything, instead I thought they would call a company that will plan everything for them. Apparently, they do not.
I haven't been annoyed like this since my mom made the two of us prepare the whole high school graduation party for me that was years ago.

I hate planning such things. Even when I was decorating the club I called a company, gave them some ideas and they prepared plans for the interior.

For the masquerade I chose to wear a long, brown gown with high slit and bronze face mask decorated with small snakes. The life at the palace was too peaceful to be true. No one said a bad word to me in the past two weeks, nor anyone gave me any bad looks. Just in case, I will be careful tonight. The dagger that's been siting in my locked drawer will finally lay on my right thigh tonight.

I went to the garden to take some air. While I was walking the queen called my name and jogged towards me.

"Hey dear" she smiled, her dimples made her face lit up a bit more.

"Your majesty" I smiled back.

"Please, call me everything but majesty"

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable enough" I giggled.

"You should be. Frank and I aren't like other royals" she raised her eyebrows and gave me a ~You know who I'm talking about~ look.

I like her.

"We haven't had an opportunity to talk. I don't count those small talks during meals" she cleared her throat "I would like to know what exactly you and Erik are planning. If I ask him he will say that you two will get married but he can be selfish at times. I want to know if you actually want to marry him, to live here among us."

"I want to marry Erik, I really do. But to be honest, living here in this palace, even in this kingdom gives me a lot of anxiety. I miss managing my business and being present there. I miss staying up till 5 am cleaning the club and joking with my employees while music still plays in the background. The club and the café are who I am. They are my independence, my identity. Here I feel like I'm wasting every day doing absolutely nothing" I sighed.

"I understand. Royalty is boring and incredibly difficult at times, even I who was born a princess sometimes can't deal with it. But you have to decide what you really want, because there's not much time left" she rubbed my arm "Whatever your decision will be, I support you"

"Thank you" I smiled.

"I have to go now and get ready for tonight, see you later" she turned towards the palace.

"See you."

Her words made me fall into deep thought. What do I really want, my independence that I fought for my entire life or a prince for a husband? What was more worthy? Is a man worthy leaving everything behind? My only answer NO. But is Erik worthy? Maybe... I guess not, but that damn love. The thigs we would do just to feel loved. The things we would give up just for our hearth to be full...

I went inside. If I continued thinking I would have gone crazy. I rushed upstairs and found Erik in our room looking at couple of suits.

"The third one" I said

"You think?"

"Yes it will go well with my dress" I giggled.

"A prince should always be in tone with his princess" he pecked my lips.