Ruby of Ratnar

Chapter One

Royal ball. The most important one yet. Or, so my mom says. It's the last one before I become queen. Queen on Ratnar. It is tradition in my kingdom that the oldest daughter becomes crowned on her eighteenth birthday. I haven't been looking forward to my birthday. I don't feel ready to be queen. I wish I could live a life like a commoner, instead, I have two months to prepare to run an entire kingdom.

"Ruby! What is taking you so long? You need to be in the ballroom!" That was my mom, the current queen. She's been putting pressure on me about this ball. Which I really don't understand, it's just a ball.

"Sorry, mom! It's this dress! I'm really struggling with it!" My mom enters the room right when I finally finish putting it on. "I got it."

"I thought I told you not to wear red," my mother scolded.

"You know how I feel about that silly rule." I stated clearly to my mother.

She sighed and replied, "Whatever. At least your dress is...big enough." She looked my dress up and down. Big...enough? What does she mean, enough? I can't even put my arms by my side it's so big. I have to walk out of my room sideways, it's so big. "Let's go. We need to be in the ballroom," my mother snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Yes, mother." We walked to the ballroom and once we got there, I started to regret wearing red. All of the guests stared at me and whispered amongst each other with shock in their eyes. In Ratnar, red is believed to be the color of danger. If you wear red, it is believed something bad will happen afterwards. I've never believed this. I'm not a superstitious person. Besides, I can't help it. I've always been drawn to the color red. It's my favorite color.

"Welcome, everyone of Ratnar and our surrounding kingdoms. As you all know, my daughter Ruby will be crowned queen in two months. Today we hold this royal ball, so that you all can get to know my daughter. Your next queen, your next ally. I have raised her these past years to become a phenomenal queen. Please, enjoy yourselves, and enjoy the refreshments," my mom announces to the guests, and of course, that's my que to go and mingle.

"Mom, can I stay off the side for a while and just watch everyone?" I ask her, I don't like mingling with others.

"Fine. But if someone approaches you, you must talk to them."

"Of course, mother. Thank you." I watch as she walks down the staircase. I shortly follow suit. Once I get down the staircase, I go over to the refreshments and grab a plate of sweets. While it doesn't seem like refreshments royals will provide, we are providing them because they are my favorite. Cupcake and cookies. I tried to convince my mom to do red icing on the cupcakes, but she believes that silly superstition and refused. She did, however, make the icing pink. I view pink as just a light red, so I am fine with this decision.

Music is playing and everyone is dancing around the ballroom, everyone except for me and one other guy. The guy approaches me, "Good evening, your highness. I'm Prince Royce of Pavlood Kingdom. I thought Ratnar had a thing against wearing red?"

"Its just a superstition. I don't believe anything is going to happen from me wearing red. I want to break the stigma on the color red, I mean it is such a beautiful color." I had to stop myself there, or else I would be going on for hours about how I feel.

"I understand. Well, your highness, the real reason I have come over here, is to ask if you would dance with me," he said to me as his bright blue eyes stared into my dark blue eyes. I would be insane to say no to him. He is incredibly handsome. The AC blew his brown locks just enough to get his hair out of his face. He holds his hand out to me, and I take it. I let him guide me onto the ballroom floor. "I never see you dancing at any of these balls," he states as we sway to the music.

"Well, Prince Royce, I am not much of a dancer. I don't like to dance. So, consider yourself lucky to dance with me."

"Well, I do feel quite lucky. Thank you for the honor."

We dance to the music for a while before we part ways. I start mingling with the other guests, as much as I don't like it, it is my duty as future queen. I got asked many times why I was wearing red, "It's a beautiful color," I replied every single time. My mother instructed me to not tell anyone my beliefs about the color. However, I let it slip with Prince Royce. I'm not sure if it was a good thing yet or not.

The ball ends just before I hear a sudden scream...