They Call Me Princess

Chapter Thirty: The End

I stood on a pedestal while Mr. Leroy made some finishing touches to my dress. I watched Ruby walk in with some more thread followed by Mrs. Jones who was carrying a box full of gemstones. "Here ya go!" Ruby exclaimed before looking at me with a bright smile.

"To think that last time I thought you were having a once in a lifetime opportunity! Now here we are dressing you up all over again!" I chuckled and looked at their familiar faces. "You're telling me."

Mrs. Jones gave me a quick hug, despite the complaints of my old boss working on the hem. "Oh shush! We haven't seen her in nearly a year." He continued grumbling while the three of us chatted away.

"Ah, look who's back." I watched as Paul entered with a smile on his face. "Paul!" I wanted to go hug him, but the impatient man sewing my dress glared at me every time I moved. "Five more minutes, I swear I'll be done in five more minutes."

Paul hugged me anyway, causing him to groan some more. "To think I have to do this again when you get married. And I am SO designing your daughter's dresses. If you have one... which I bet you will." I blushed while crossing my arms.

"Get your own." I pouted, but the thought of Mr. Leroy having a daughter didn't phase me in the slightest. It seemed fitting.

"I just might." He muttered before standing up with a sigh. "Done! Finally!" He groaned and sat in a chair, happily accepting a bottle of water from Mrs. Jones. I looked in the mirror and smiled. All of the chatter seemed to stop for a moment while everyone looked at me.

"Since when do you smile? Especially when you're in a newly designed dress looking at your reflection?" I glared at my old boss and shook my head. "I don't know, it just happened." I heard him groan in annoyance.

"Ugh, another love sick puppy."

"Hey! I-"

"Can I come in?" Alexei's knock on the door broke the conversation. "Yeah, we're just talking." I responded, still glaring at Mr. Leroy. He entered with a small smile on his face, holding his hands behind his back.

"Don't you look lovely." He walked up behind me, admiring the dress. I hummed in response and played with the fabric on the skirt. "But I think something is missing." I watched as Mr. Leroy began nodding his head rigorously. "Yes, I do too!"

I raised an eyebrow at the two and turned to face Alexei. He had an innocent smile on his face, but his eyes held a mischievous glint. Before I could say anything else he held out a square box with a jewelry brand listed in silver print on top.

"Alexei..." My voice was between shock and a groan, I don't know why he thought that I needed such an expensive gift. He quickly opened it, revealing a gorgeous necklace, the diamonds cascading down at a V-angle.

"You're a Princess, and even if noone else accepts your title, I do. So you're going to put on this necklace and show off about how wonderful I am and how much you love me." I scoffed but couldn't wipe the stupid grin off of my face.

I shifted my hair off of my neck and watched as he carefully hooked the necklace on me and smiled. "The necklace is on, what's next?" I gave him a mini glare. "Oh wonderful Prince of mine! How I adore you!"

He smiled through my sarcasm before kissing my cheek and helping me step off of the pedestal. Through the corner of my eyes I could see Mr. Leroy and Ruby gushing while Mrs. Jones grinned widely. "Well, off you go. You don't want to be late now do you?"

I rolled my eyes at them, but nodded nonetheless. "I suppose it is required that we attend." Alexei smiled at me and gently tugged my hand, leading me out of the room. "Sneaking out is easy," he stated once we reached the hallway. "Staying hidden is harder."

I lightly hit his arm, but the thought didn't sound too bad. Being in a room filled with people of 'purer blood' was not all that it was cut out to be.

We slid into the limo a little while later, not surprised to see the other three and their dates already lounging around. "Ah, Isabelle, you look as lovely as ever." I smiled at Jacques and muttered a quiet thank you.

Their dates, though still spoiled, were much better than the last ones. They could each hold an intelligent conversation and didn't pout when they were addressing me alone.

In no time at all I was whisked into the ballroom with Alexei by my side. I stood next to him while he greeted people, smiling politely the whole time. "I don't think I knew half of those people's names." He muttered when we finally found alone time in a corner. "Probably not." I responded quietly, the both of us laughing soon afterwards.

"Ah, Miss Richards!" I looked behind me to see a man I've never met before smiling widely. "I've been meaning to speak with you all evening, my sister was the Prince's original date but she dropped out, so in return, I would be honored if you'd save the next dance for me."

I opened my mouth, but Alexei beat me to it. "Lord Bartholomew, I am sorry to say that all of her dances have been taken." The man's smile dropped and he awkwardly bowed before walking away embarrassed. I followed him with my eyes to see a girl- who I assume is his sister- whisper yell at him and hit him with her clutch.

"What a pity, he ruined her chances." I let out a 'tsk' and chuckled at the siblings arguing. "What chances?" I looked up at my Prince and smiled. "Exactly. Keep thinking like that, okay?"

He smiled before grabbing me by the waist and leading me through the crowd. "Well then Miss Romonofski, I absolutely insist that we dance this fine evening." I smiled up at him and nodded. "Of course Mr. Vitsins, it would be an absolute pleasure to dance with you."

We danced and danced and danced until my feet were sore and we were out of breath. "I hope you know how much I love you." He whispered in my ear as we began to exit the party.

"I do, and you should know that I love you just as much."

"I know." He pecked my lips before leading me out into the crowd of reporters.

Yes, I knew.

~~A Few Months Later~~

So many reporters...

I squeezed Alexei's hand while people filled the large meeting room in the palace. While waiting, I absentmindedly fiddled with the ring on my finger.

Nicholas, who was sitting on my left, grabbed my hand to stop me while giving me a smile. "You'll do fine." I smiled back and felt Alexei tighten his hold on me. The doors closed and all of the constant buzzing seemed to die down.

The usual greetings began, and the topic was introduced- peace between families.

"Your highness, were you aware of Miss Rich- Romonofski's identity at the time?"

"No."

Pens scratched against paper while hushed whispers began. "If I may ask Sir, what is your plan of action to provoke peace?" The dreaded question. I knew that it was coming.

Alexei looked at me and cleared his throat, his eyes showing both anxiousness and excitement. "The easiest route to take appears to be a marriage between families, leading to both sides being in power."

I looked down to my engagement ring in nervousness, a blush slowly spreading across my cheeks. "Are you implying an engagement between yourself and the Romonofski Princess?"

We looked at each other, before nodding. "Yes, yes I am."