The Lost Princess

IV

Bailey
Two Weeks
I sigh as I brush the glass shards from the floor using the broom. Deliah got mad and went off on me, then threw a glass of whiskey at the floor. She ordered me to clean it up and drunkly walked up the stairs to sleep. I hear footsteps and a creak from the floor. "Bailey? Is everything alright?" Rose asked softly. She was wearing her nightgown with her blonde hair tied into a bun.

"Everything is fine Rose," I mumble. She walks towards me and looks at the glass and whiskey on the floor.

"Did Mother do that?" she inquired. Her eyes were filled with worry and a bit of understanding.

"Yes," I whisper, "It started after you left for boarding school. She has hit me and thrown things at me. She hates me!"

Rose looks down, "It's not just you."

I look at her, "What?"

"It isn't just you she's abusing. The day we left, Lily and I wanted to say goodbye to you. She said no and wacked us with this pole she found. She told Lily and I to never bring you food and that we should be rude to you. That's why Lily acts like that, she really does like you, but she's acting so she doesn't get wacked," Rose explains.

"But why does she hate me?" I ask.

Rose sighs, "Because she believes that you are prettier than us. She wants us to be the most perfect beautiful girls. I don't want to look like a doll, but she wants me to look like doll."

"Oh," I whisper, "I'm sorry."

Rose shrugs, "It's alright. Mother can't know we talked. Goodnight." She walks up the stairs and into her room. After cleaning up, I go to my room. I set up my cot, lay down, and sleep.

The next morning after cooking breakfast, Deliah had me sew dresses. Rose had a light blue dress, Lily has a light pink one, and Deliah had a dark purple dress. I already completed all the orders to go to the ball, but I had to sew my own dress for the ball. Rose and Lily worked on the braces while Deliah slept on the couch.

Lily came up to me while I was working on her dress, "Hi. Um, Rose told me you two had a talk about Mother. I hope you and I can get along. We only put on a facade because of Mother. Don't take offense."

I nod and continue working on the dresses until Deliah woke up. She walks over to the girls and then walks over to me. I'm sewing the two pieces of cloth together for her dress before I feel a painful slap on the back.

"Don't scrunch the dress," Deliah growls before giving me another painful back slap. I continue to sew the dresses before realization dawns on me.

The ball is tomorrow.

Lily, Rose, and Deliah's dresses are all done, but mine is only halfway. Deliah goes to sleep after sending the girls out to get shoes. I run and get my dress from the box I hid in a drawer. The dress is peach and their is an old brace hiding in Rose's closet that she is letting me use. I sew the last stitch up before neatly folding the dress back in the box.

Amelia
Mother and I are tasting the snacks that will be set out for the ball. We were choosing which ones would be served, and which ones wouldn't. We had decided on the pulled pork on bread, bleu cheese on cracker, and grapes on crackers. Aaron and Father are discussing the structure of the ball. My handsome fiancé, Prince William of Lander is coming to the ball and I couldn't be more excited. It takes two days to get here from Lander, so he hardly if ever visits for something like a ball.

After, we had a dress fitting. I was going to wear a yellow dress with my hair braided in a long side braid. Mother was wearing a white dress with her hair down to her shoulders, as usual. Father and Aaron were wearing traditional blue dress-suits. I was excited for the ball as was Mother.

Peter
"Ouch," I muttered.

"Sorry prince," the fitter said before continuing with my suit.

Tomorrow was the choosing ball for Prince Aaron. The kingdoms are really friendly with each other. Amelia was going to marry me, before she met Prince William of Lander and everything changed. I was going to be king in a year, since my father had died in winter. My mother wasn't around either, she died of childbirth. My father was more focused on kingdom affairs than his own son, so he wasn't there either. I was basically raised by Sedrick, my father's best friend and advisor.

Sedrick came in, fixing his suit that was always messed up, "Prince Peter. I still do not understand why I found on the road many weeks ago."

I sighed, "I was just stretching my legs, Sedrick. The castle is to congested these days." Sedrick nodded before talking to the fitter. I looked away, thinking about Bailey.

Her brown hair and sea blue eyes mesmerized me. She lit up a room, and it was terrible to hear of her abuse. The thought of not being able to help her, angers me. I can't do anything but tell King Edward and Queen Victoria, since I am not the monarch of their kingdom. I hope she will come to the ball, but at the same time I don't. If she comes and recognizes me, our friendship could end. She's to wonderful to lose.

I want to marry her one day. Then after we wed, I'll be official crowned as King of Amster. I stare out the window, seeing the lush hills of the Virgin Isles. The peak of their castle is visible, it's blue accents highlighting the top. The fitter stabs another pin in my side.

"Ouch," I mumble again. It was going to be a long day.