To Win the Prince's Hand

Chapter 10

10.

I fidgeted nervously in my seat. Abigail clucked her tongue at me. “Stay still, I’m almost done.”

 “I’m about to meet the king and queen!” I squeaked. Jasmine, who was sitting in the chair beside me, began to laugh.

“Calm down,” she advised. “You’re going to scare them.”

“Finished!” Abigail announced. “Now, to finish up on you.”

She moved over and began to mess with Jasmine’s hair. “I love that we’re matching, but why is she gold and I’m silver?”

Abigail began to laugh. “Silver brings out the blue in your eyes,” she admitted.

“I think you’re sending a message that she’s better than me,” I accused. She didn’t respond, just laughed with Jasmine. “You are!”

“Well, I mean, it is true…” Jasmine teased. I began to laugh as well.

“Are you done giggling yet? I’m hungry!” Ethan complained from the door.

“Nope,” I laughed. “We’ve got to pretty up your sister! “ He groaned and walked away.

“You don’t need to,” she protested. But we didn’t listen and put her in a bronze colored dress.

“Triplets!” I joked as we finished her hair. She laughed.

“Now I look like I’m the least important!” she complained.

“You are,” Jasmine and I said at the same time as we all laughed.

“We’re coming to drag you to lunch!” Mark and Ethan yelled as they burst into the room. Abigail looked like she was about to faint.

The boys were both dressed up in their evening wear, in honor of the royal family, and they looked good. I chuckled, elbowing Abigail in the side. Jasmine began, who had already found out, began to laugh a little bit.

“Don’t worry, we’re finished,” she quickly said to cover up her laughter as Abigail glared at us, a light pink covering her cheeks.

“You all look great,” Mark announced with a smile towards Abigail. She blushed even more and Ethan began to laugh, quickly covering it with a cough.

“Let’s go, then,” I pushed, trying to save Ethan from his twin’s wrath. I grabbed Ethan by the arm, dragging him outside. Jasmine ran after us and we ran down the hallways a little ways before they lost it completely.

Ethan was nearly rolling on the ground, while Jasmine held the wall for support. Luckily, her dress hadn’t been laced tight, but even so, she seemed to be quickly running out of air.

“Stop it, both of you—before they get here!” I hissed at them and they quickly composed themselves. Only moments later, Abigail and Mark showed up, laughing and talking, and she sent us all a death glare.

Soon, Mark had her attention again and we were joking and laughing our way down the hallway. But that all came to a stop as we reached the door.

Jasmine, Abigail, and Mark walked in without hesitation, quickly fixing their posture and attitude. Ethan held it open, waiting for my entrance, but I stood, frozen in the hallway.

“I can’t go,” I protested with wide, nervous eyes. He let the door shut and walked over.

 “You need to,” he said. “It won’t just be you. We’ll all be there.”

“What if they don’t like me? What if I ruin my family name?” I worried. He wrapped his arms around me and I let out a long sigh.

“You’ll be great. The King and Queen are very nice,” he promised. I pulled back, straightening back up.