Cover art by JenPotato
Please credit her if you want to post her illustration elsewhere 💙
Prince Bright Guntithanon is betrothed to Dara Kittiyangkul. Well, sort of bethrothed. She has the option to dissolve the union. But Bright is handsome, char...
The Annual Blue Hearts Charity Ball was happening in a few hours. And just like every year, I was already in my makeup chair, being primped and groomed for the festivities.
I hated all these hands on me but still, I was silently thankful I was a Prince and not a Princess.
Tia has been on her makeup chair for four hours now. She is wearing a corset tied so tight, she might as well have traveled back to the 1800s to get it fitted. And while I get to wear a standard black suit with a blue tie paired with stiff but otherwise comfortable leather shoes, my already tall sister has yet to pour herself into a form fitting blue gown and wear sky high crystal-studded stilettos. It pained me just thinking of it.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"You keep staring at my shoes," Tia teases. "Want to borrow them?"
"I cannot imagine how you survive the night in those."
"Women are strong and the world is sexist - what else is new?"
I nod. Am not questioning that at all.
"You excited for tonight?," she asks as her make up artist excuses herself to get a new set of brushes.
"Why would I be excited for this ball? We both know it's just an excuse to throw a party. The people attending could have just easily donated the 14,000 Guntis we're charging a plate."
"You're so fun. Anyone tell you that?"
"You can hardly breathe and are about to punish your feet - how is that fun?"
"Oh you never know. Balls like these, your Prince Charming may just walk through the doors."
I narrow my eyes at her. "What are you talking about?"
She huffs. "I am single, brother. And unlike you who's so scared of letting anyone near your heart, I am excited to open mine up."
I eye her, again admiring how much braver my sister is. "Even after Michelle?"
"I am not going to say that didn't hurt, that would be a lie. I had to travel the world to find myself again after her. But at the end of the day, love is worth it." She looks at her hands. Takes a deep breath. "When it was good, it was really good, Bright. I want you to know that. And Michelle wasn't even my forever. Imagine if I find my forever? How much more amazing would that be?"
"And you think the loves of our lives will walk into the ballroom tonight?"
"Anything is possible," she smiles before closing her eyes to have her eyelids dusted with a shimmery powder.
- - -
The King and Queen are in Europe. Tonight, Dara and I take their place on the throne. We are to receive the attending royals, celebrities, and honored guests as they enter the ballroom and are introduced one by one.
