The Villager

3

THE COURTIER
ʚɞ Ruth ʚɞ

"Excuse me, pardon me, hello!" My smile beams throughout the palace as I wave through the people of the palace that are moving through the halls with much haste for a wedding that is to be held soon.

Bells of the church are heard, letting everyone know that it was time for a royal wedding and it has my nerves racking by the minute. A huge cake sits in my arms as I move through the palace and into the ballroom where tables are laid out for everyone after the wedding ceremony is over.

"I wish for everything to be perfect, do not ruin this day, got it?" Beth, Josephine's sister tells other maids whom nods their heads in fear of her words, running off to finish her orders. She turns, gripping the other side of the cake for me. "Ruth, you are here early."

"Thank you, and yes, I wish to help Josephine get ready for her big day. Did you help with all the decorations? They look wonderful."

She nods. "It will be a wedding that will have everyone in Lockwood envy my sister."

"You are sweet." My hands squeeze her arm, and she sends a smile. I excuse myself, wiping my hands and making sure I look presentable for the royal wedding. My dress is light blue with the sleeves of the dress being dark brown, diamonds are engraved into the dress all over- Arabella wished to make everyone a dress for the evening and it makes me wonder how they all look.

Especially Josephine.

My hair is down, half up- half down with curls. I was proud of myself for finally getting out, showing the ton that I did not care for their gossip about my scandal of my divorce.

There were so many maids and servants that worked for the palace, I was squeezing in between the crowd of people just to get to the staircase.

Arabella makes her presence known, her hair is also pinned half up-half down and she is wearing a light blue dress along with mine, but it is all blue with gold shapes in the cloth, the shoulders of her dress are large, and the chest of her dress is open. She was beautiful, I knew Jaxson would not hold back once he saw his own wife.

"You must see her, she is breathtaking." Arabella bites back her smile, leaning over the railing, looking down at me from the bottom of the stairs. "I knew that dress would suit you. You look beautiful, Ruth."

"It is all your hard work. Thank you again for the dress." I lift the dress from any dirt as I walk up the stairs and meet her in the hall.

She smiles. "Your beauty brought the dress to life, that is all." She takes my hand in hers, leading me to a far room and the door opens, revealing Serena behind Josephine whom is dressed in all white, her hair pinned in a bun with a few loose curls around her face.

Feathers are in her hair if you look closely, and she looks at us through the mirror with her face flushed. Gasping at her dress, it is white- short sleeved and down at the middle of the dress starts with a lace cut that just screams the perfect fit for Josephine. She has on see through gloves that end at her wrists, and her veil goes in with her feathers.

She looks like a doll. A beautiful doll that you wish to place in a museum to see.

Arabella covers her mouth as tears break through her eyes. "My gosh, Josie... You look..." She was at a loss for words on how mesmerizing Josephine looked as a bride. "You were made to be his bride."

"Do not make me cry," she lets out barely, choking up on her words as she breathes in her tears to keep them from falling. She turns back at the mirror, sliding her hands down the dress.

Serena grips her shoulders, smiling at her. "You truly are the prettiest bride."

"Do not make us cry, Josephine. Ugene is going to go insane at the sight of you," I say aloud, earning a soft smile from her.