Enchanted Royalty

Chapter 9

Madeline-

I hate that he did this to me. Why does he have to come in my life and turn it on its axes. I shouldn't be thinking about a stupid comment he made when we were a little bit tipsy on the wine. 

"You look beautiful, Your Highness." Meredith said, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked at her through the mirror and smiled. It was my father's 40th Jubilee, he had been serving a King for 40 years now, and we needed to celebrate it. I wore a long single strap midnight blue dress that covered my silver heels. It was embroidered with the tiny diamonds making the top of my dress look like it had falling stars. My hair was done up in an exaggerated bun, with several loose strands of hair that Meredith curled, along with a large white diamond crown that rested on my head. I wore a small silver necklace that was encrusted with silver diamonds chain and a dark blue rhinestone surrounded by smaller diamonds. It had matching silver diamond earrings that were so heavy I was convinced my ears were going to fall off. 

"Thank you," I breathed as the door opened and Grace walked in. She was wearing a white dress that had blue gems embroidered into it. She was wearing a smaller crown, it wasn't as large as mine because she was the heir, but she looked stunning.

"You ready?" She asked, I nodded spraying myself with my favorite perfume before turning to face her.

"Yes." I grinned, I thanked Meredith, before I looped my arm through my sisters. This was our first jubilee, and we were both excited. Our father has been king since he was 18 after his father died from a surprising heart attack, he died on the spot before any ambulance could get there, and my father was crowned King the next month. 

"So, I heard you come in late last night. Where were you?" My sister asked, I shrugged a shoulder.

"I was with my friends. Daphne and Theo just got engaged." Grace raised her eyebrows,

"Really? Oh, I can't believe it! I knew they were going to last." 

"Yeah, I know. It was so cute. Daphne and I cried almost all night." I said, 

"Wait, how did you hear me come in so late? I came well after 1am." Grace pursed her lips shrugging. 

"I was looking for some food, I didn't want to wake up Abbie." She answered, staring at a painting as we walked past. We walked downstairs to where everyone was waiting for us, Elijah and our father were dressed in white dress pants, with a silver coat, and several badges strapped to their chest, there crowns shinning on their heads. Mum wore a silver dress, with both blue and white diamonds on it.

"Everyone ready?" My siblings and I nodded.

"Okay, let's run through this one more time. The army's going to go first. Then Queen and I will be next on a carriage pulled by a horse. You three will be behind us sitting on your own horses, with Madeline in the middle, Elijah on the left, and Grace on the right. Everyone got it?" 

"Horses? We really have to be on horses." Grace asked, she swallowed nervously, she gripped my arm, staring at the doors behind my parents. She was terrified of horses ever since she had fallen off of one when she was five years old.

"I'm sorry Grace, but we have to it's tradition. It won't be for very long, okay?" Mum said, Grace let out a shaky breath and nodded. Michal walked in with little Will behind him, he jumped on his heels looking around excitedly.

"Dad, there's the Princess. Do you think she remembers me?" I could hear him say,

"Hi Will," I laughed, he jumped surprised, I heard him. I unlopped my sister's arm from mine, as my family walked to speak with the head guard and make sure everything was set. I kneeled down, my dress puffing out making it look bigger, and spread my arms out. He ran into my arms, giggling as I stood up and spun us around.

"How can anyone forget you?" I asked, kissing his cheek, leaving a red lipstick imprint on his cheek. 

"I just wanted to make sure."

"You ask me that every time." I laughed, he leaned towards my ear, cupping his hands over his mouth. 

"Princess Madeline, I have a question." He whispered, 

"Yes?" I whispered back.

"Can I be on the horse with you?"

"Ah, I don't think your daddy is going to let you. How about this? Next week, come back here with your dad and we can ride some horses? Okay?" He pursed his lips, thinking it over, but nodded.

"Yeah, okay."

"Princess Madeline. We need to go now. It's starting." My father said, I looked over my shoulder and nodded.

"I'm coming." I said, 

"I have to go, but I'll see you after all right?" I said, he nodded. I set him down, messing up his hair, before I walked over to my family. I got in step next to my father, heirs always had to be in front, so I needed to be next to my father. My sister and brother stood next to my mother behind us. 

There were people lined up the palace walls, they started cheering as we walked outside, my father and I raised at the same time, and waved. The crowds started cheering even louder, as my father got into the carriage.

Jackson helped me on the middle horse, I needed to lay down my dress, and ride the horse with two legs on one side. I hated riding like this, but it was easier when with a dress this large. I never understood the horses and carriage tradition. My father told me the carriage was to symbolize the current King and Queen, and the way they've led this country, the horses are still what's going to come, the heirs that are going to lead the country in a new era maybe good or bad we still don't know. The horses all had to be related, the mum or dad pulling the king or queen, there kids following it.

"Open the doors!" One of the guards shouted.

"Breathe Grace, it's okay." I said through my smile.

"I'm trying." She hissed; she squealed once the horses started moving. 

"I wish I could see you fall. That would be the highlight of this Jubilee." Elijah said.

"Shut up, Elijah! Don't say that when she's on the horse already." I muttered; Elijah chuckled. The horses walked through the gates, people started cheering, throwing flowers at us. It was going to be an hour-long ride throughout the city, and my legs were already hurting from the horse. 

Then we heard it, half an hour in, at first, I thought it was fireworks, but no I was wrong it wasn't fireworks but gun shots.