Hazel's Royal Plight

Chapter 18

"It's....it's....it's you," Said Elaine. "You're the mysterious princess."

"Please don't tell." I said looking at her with pleading eyes. "I don't want special treatment."

Elaine only nodded, still looking at me. "Do you need any assistance with your hair?"

I smiled "Yes, I would like that." I quickly pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Beautiful." She then got straight to work on doing my hair. She pulled it this way and that way her fingers were quick and tender at the same time. Elaine had created a beautiful Celtic knot leaving most of my hair down and around my shoulders, she also made little ringlets. "I declare you ready for the last magical night this kingdoms will have for a long time."

I smiled and thanked her turning to leave the kitchen threw the back door. "Poppy, follow me," she went to my sleeping pantry opened a door I never saw. "This leads to a window upstairs, there is a curtain hiding the door. Others just think you were looking out the window, instead of being a very late princes. You don't want to be known as a Cinderella."

I smiled at her comment and followed her up the stairs to the window she was telling me about, it was in the ballroom. "I wish I knew about this door last night." I smiled. Elaine giggled and nodded.

"I will cover for you in the kitchen until one." She turned to leave, "Poppy, thank you for trusting me."

I turned to look at her, but she was gone back down the stairs I just came from. I peeked around the heavy velvet blue and gold curtain at the ballroom. Couples were dancing, Prince Sterling was waltzing with his mother and Princes Jasper was with the spoiled girl I met last night.

Tonight she had on a red strapless dress. It was slim and tight to her body. It hugged all the curves she had. A slit in one side went to her knees, showing off her gold shoes. She wore gloves and jewelry in gold also, all but two items did not matched her elegant dress, the silver ring and a bracelet of pearls. She took them right off me last night.

I had a mad idea to rush out and take them both back, but I decided to be the better princes and not. Instead I slowly walked out from behind the curtain to the window. I saw a chair near by and sat in it, drawing my attached to the world outside. The stars and moon shone so bright the gardens outside were beautiful.

"Princess Hazel?" I turned in my seat to see a handsome gentleman. He held out his hand to me, "May I have this dance, Please?"

"Yes, I would love to." I smiled placing my hand in his. Together we walked to the floor, all eyes fell on me one again. The music started and we danced. I tried to keep my eyes in my partner, but they kept trying to find Jasper. My heart yearned for him. When the song ended, I curtsied. "Thank you for the wonderful dance."

"The pleasures was truly all mine." He then smiled and offered me his arm, I took it. But he did not take me back to my seat, he took me to Jasper. "Your Majesty I found her. Please forgive me, but I danced with her."

"Thank you Fredrick, did you enjoy the dance?" Jasper said asking him and not me.

"Sadly, yes. She is very light on get toes." He smiled, bowed and left me to face Jasper ?

"Good evening." I said on a smallish voice.

"Where have you been?" Jasper was all smiles. "Did you know that I had to dance with Miss Allan."

"I'm not sure who that is, but if she is the one who practically pulled my finger off last night, then I am so very sorry."

"Strange that is not what she told me." Jasper took my hand and we walked around the room heading to the gardens out sides.