Blaire(Working Title)

Chapter Three

Word Count: 2338

Adri and I appear in my mother's chambers, ready for our escort, and I shall forever cherish the pissed and disgusted look on her face as her eyes land on my dress. "What in the hell is that?" Her eyes then travel to Adri who is now clad in full armor. "And darling please pick a real guard. I don't want you having any bad influences around you."

I chuckle as if I find her joke funny and then smirk. "Well mother, as future queen of Ceridia it is important that I have protection and the laws of this fine monarchy state that the royal family is allowed to assign their own protection, so I pick Adriana. And mom, in the future I think I can dress myself. I mean," I let a nasty smile spread across my lips as I narrow my eyes and whisper, "the fact that you can't is kind of embarrassing." She looks as if she is about to explode and I chuckle a bit as I turn to leave, Adri in step beside me. I wave a hand over my shoulder and say in my most pleasant voice, which if I'm being honest isn't very pleasant, "Goodbye mother, I hope you have fun at the ball."

Adri, forever my best friend, and I look to each other and smile as Adri opens the doors to the grand hall and walks in ahead of me. Our golden grand ball room goes silent as I step through the shining doors. The ballroom is the colors of our banner, red and gold. The tables around the room are covered in sparkling golden table cloths, glimmering like the sun, and the thousands of lords and monarchs filling the room move to leave a path down the stairs and to the thrones.

The room is extremely dimly lit, with lights shining on only the thrones and some of the dance floor. There are red candles at the center of every table, accented with golden Lilies, only grown in ceridia. The diaz that the golden thrones sit atop is a deep red, ever so ruby bright. It is hard to see the faces of the crowd in the dim light, but I can feel the smiles radiating from everyone like heat radiating from a fireplace.

"Presenting Princess Blaire Arabella Amelia Verona, heir to the throne of Ceridia." I smile at everyone and walk down the stairs, almost running. Screw elegancy. Cheers erupt and I smile at everyone, making eye contact with everyone, shaking hands with everyone. Mother always said keep your head up and look at no one. Oops. Adri trails me and I take my seat upon the golden throne farthest to the right, smiling the whole time. I may not like being princess nor do I enjoy the honest to god worst duties of all time, but I love my people, and I like to think they love me too. Adri stands tall and proud next to me with one hand always on her golden sword. The private guard of each monarch is given their own ancient sword. Hers, named Thanos, has a hilt of real gold with one ruby imbedded in its center. The silver blade is sharpened and cleaned every night, able to swiftly behead in one stroke.

The anthem begins to play and my broad smile fades away. Adri puts her hand over her heart and everyone else in the room, along with myself, parrots her movement.

All eyes return to the grand entrance and heads bow. My mother is standing tall and proud, shameful as ever with her chin up. "Presenting Queen Miranda carly Kenzington Verona, Queen of Ceridia, widow to King George Verona The 5th, leader of the protective forces, and conqueror of Mecan." Mother smirks as she slowly and elegantly walks down the stairs to the main floor. She cherishes every bowed head and scowls at every duchess and viscountess.

The upbeat music of our country begins again and people begin dancing and conversing. Many young children are doing an ancient Ceridian jig in the corner of the dance floor and soon enough the adults have joined along with them. I stand with Adri and walk over to the drinks table, pouring myself a glass of Ceridian Wine. The grapes of it had been grown in the eastern wastelands of our country where poor farmers work to make food for the royals both in our country and surrounding ones as well.