Kalia is a modern day princess. Living with her parents and three sisters in their royal kingdom in London, she had convinced them to let her go to a normal school and live a normal teenage life. And apart from the occasional ball and family dinners...
There were literally only hours until the arrival of the King, Queen and Prince of New York, and only recently had Kalia learnt that they would be staying in London for the few days that follow, in the palace. Lisa figured that worked better with Kalia's plan, so that brought her to ease from her previous chaotic state. Now, all that was left were formalities.
Kalia sat at a makeup booth alongside her sisters that had been setup by the artists that her mother's right hand and practically assistant, Lola, had hired for the next few days. Kalia didn't really need makeup to enhance her already dark features, in the most-humble sense. Her dark eyes, rosy full lips and thick black lashes usually stood out pretty well against her light canvas.
Her eyebrows were being threaded to perfection, and once they were done, the makeup artists had started on her light, golden dewy look for the evening. Kalia was stressing out, because she still had one detail to take care of to ensure the smooth running of the plan. Ophelia's dress.
Queen Lania had picked out her dress, which was plain in comparison to Kalia's, along with her other sisters – but she somehow doubted that the Prince would be interested in her ten and fifteen-year-old sister, as beautiful as they were young. Kalia decided that she had to sneak into Ophelia's closet and hide the dreary piece, so that she would have to opt for a grander one.
She had felt a tad wicked about involving Ophelia into her plan without her consent or knowledge on the matter, but fear had taken over her sense of reason. She knew for a fact that her sister, in contrast, would love to move to New York, and the way she'd been talking about that particular prince, Kalia knew that Opehlia fancying him wasn't an issue she had to dwell over.
They had finished pampering Kalia's face before the rest of the girls, for the sole reason that her mother ordered that she met Nathalie for her final fitting, but Kalia had more important things to take care of.
She had managed to sneak up into Ophelia's bedroom, finding her dress and shoving it – gently – into a bag before sneaking back out into her room without leaving a trace of evidence. This was the plainest dress that Ophelia would have ever worn, or would have worn, Kalia thought as she examined the dress. Their mother had made sure this would be her attire and everyone else's similarly for the evening - everyone except Kalia. Though Kalia didn't doubt she would stand out on her own; her sisters were all beautiful as they were graceful. If Kalia was in her mother's position of power, she would have done the same. But of course, she had been one step ahead.
Kalia: 1 Royal Kingdom: 0.
An hour or so later, Kalia was getting fitted into her stunning dress in the company of her mother, Nathalie and Lola when Ophelia hauled herself over, looking rattled.
"Mother, I can't find my dress."
Queen Lania looked like she was about to go into hypovolemic shock. I was so going to hell, Kalia told to herself with sureness.
"And you've searched your wardrobe?"
"Yes, mother."
"Thoroughly?"
"Twice."
Lania turned to Kalia. "Have you seen it? Maybe Cahtya placed it in your closet by mistake?"
They both knew Cahtya, their best maid, would never make such a mistake. But Kalia didn't dare bring that thought to the table.
She shook her head 'no'.
Her mother throws her hands up in exasperation. "You're just going to have to wear something you already own."
Crap, crap, crap. Do something, Kalia!
"No!"
Everyone turns to stare at Kalia at her sudden outburst. Crap, she thought.
"I mean... she can't dress in something she has already worn, mother. What will people think if she is seen by someone wearing an old outfit? We have to be at our best if we are to impress our guests."
Something akin to pride crosses her mother's features and nods in agreement, probably surprised that Kalia seemed to care so much. Little did she know...
"Here," Kalia says, motioning toward the rack that held the anything-but-plain gowns that she chose her own from only a few days ago. "You can wear one of these, they haven't been worn yet and we are basically the same size."
Her mother, too disconcerted to pay attention to the details, agreed and shoved Ophelia toward the rack to take her pick while she left to check on the dining room. They were to have dinner first, and then attend the welcome bash that was only obligatory to properly appreciate their guests. Relatives, royal families and friends-of from all over were coming down to join in on the festivities, and Kalia could not wait for Lisa and her two other girl friends to arrive for mental and moral support. She decided long ago that she could not endure the Prince and his dreadful reason for being here alone, and she wouldn't, if only for a night. They wouldn't arrive until after the dinner party that only Kalia's immediate family and the Prince's were to attend, so she would only have to bare looking at his face and endure listening to her parents cajoling his with Kalia's impressive achievements and up-talking her beauty for so long.
"Thanks, sister," Ophelia takes the velvet sapphire gown with gratitude. "Sorry to cause stress."
"Don't be silly," Kalia smiled, nervously counting her blessings. Nathalie narrows her eyes at her suspiciously, and Kalia tore her gaze from her before she could figure out her little plan. Nathalie's voice sounded out to Ophelia, "Come back if the dress doesn't fit well." She nods and disappears behind the doors, and Kalia silently rejoice in her little success.
***
Standing at the steps directly before grand entrance, Kalia's stomach churns into tight knots. The Royal Kingdom of New York were due to arrive at any minute, and she couldn't hold her nerves in place. She grew anxious waiting.
She had taken care of the smaller details of the plan, but now it was game time. Kalia had to take advantage of every opportunity, and had to make sure that she wouldn't let the obedient little princess out of her cage, locked up within her.
The sound of the door bell ringing throughout the house pulls Kalia out of her thoughts and into reality, where her real worries lie.
Queen Lania and King Ateli stood before it, ready to welcome another set of His and Her Majesties. The guards started to open the doors, and so Kalia did the only thing she thought to do in the small window where her utter insanity reigned above any rational thought.
She ran.
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Ha!! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :D
Today I'm uploading earlier than usual since I forgot yesterday's chapter, sorry, I've been moving!
By the way, do you guys like the story in third person/different point of view better than how it was before?
