A Crown Divided By Loyalty

4

"Could you please take a picture of me?" Carolina asked Bodil, a maid from her house, and handed over her phone.

From the moment she, Vivianne and Leonidas had arrived in London, they went straight into the preparations for the birthday ball of England's Crown Prince Matthew. This event was probably the year's event for England and the world's monarchies. This was the moment to represent your country and your family.

"Of course, Ma'am." Bodil took Carolina's phone and waited for Carolina to pose. "If you don't attract a handsome prince now, they must be blind."

They looked at each other, sending a look only they knew. Bodil only said this because there were other people around; meanwhile, she knew Carolina only had an eye for one man. Carolina held her hands in front of her stomach and correctly smiled like she was thought by the royal training. Bodil handed the phone back to Carolina.

"Thank you."

"Ma'am."

Carolina looked at the photos. When she picked her favourite, she sent it to Vincent as she had promised. The stylist adjusted the final touches to her dress when her sister and brother entered the dressing room. Leonidas was wearing a dark blue tuxedo with white and red details, representing their county. Vivienne was wearing a deep red dress, her hair up, and her makeup neutral.

"Can we move to the wall, please? That way, we can take a photo for the press," the press officer mentioned. "Prince Leonidas in the middle, Princess Carolina on his right and Princess Vivienne on his left."

Vivienne smiled when she looked at her big sister. "You look stunning. It's even better than the pictures," she complimented.

Carolina was wearing a gown designed by a former maid of the palace, which made it special. The dress was dark blue, with a few red and white touches representing her country. The fabric hugged her upper body, accentuating every curve, while its round neckline and long sleeves balanced the allure with grace. The bodice featured delicate, embroidered patterns of vines and leaves, giving the gown a natural, earthy charm.

A fitted belt cinched at the waist, adding structure and drawing the eye to the wearer's form, while the full skirt cascaded to the ground in gentle waves. The gown's sheer, layered train followed in a trail of mystery, fluttering softly with each step, reminiscent of shadows moving through the twilight.

When she wanted to put away her phone, a message came through. It was a selfie, a reaction to the photo she had sent, in which he looked amazed. The way his eyes gleamed with pride and awe sent warmth through her chest. For a moment, everything else faded: the ball, the pressure, the responsibility. His message below the picture was short but enough to make her blush.

You look so stunning. So beautiful. I will be thinking of you❤️

A smile curved on her lips. She didn't have much time to reply, so she returned a red heart and put away her phone. She stepped to her siblings and followed every instruction she got. The siblings got their photos, and they were asked to leave.

The car ride to the palace was filled with excitement and tension. Leonidas sat comfortably, his arms resting on either side of him as if this were just another ordinary event. Vivienne, however, kept fidgeting with her dress, glancing out the window every few seconds and adjusting her makeup in the reflection.

"Stop fussing, Viv. You look great," Leonidas said, shooting her a reassuring smile.

"I know, I know," Vivienne muttered, unconvinced. "But this is huge. Everyone will be watching us, not just Matthew's people but the entire world."

Carolina, seated next to Vivienne, wasn't immune to the nerves either. She clutched her small evening bag a little too tightly, feeling the weight of what the evening could bring. But unlike Vivienne, her anxiety was more contained, hidden beneath her calm exterior. Her thoughts, however, kept drifting back to the photo she had sent Vincent. That one selfie and his reaction was a small comfort. It grounded her amid the chaos of the evening ahead.