Reign [ h.s. ]

04

Lina.

"Cara, I need help." I said, as I struggled to close the back of my dress.

"That you do, my friend." Cara mumbled, paying attention to her nails not even bothering to take a glance at my struggle.

"Cara!" I whined, bobbing on my feet as I continued fumbling with the hooks of my dress.

"Fine, fine! I'm coming. Dear, you are so high-maintenance." She teased as she made her way over to me. She grasped the back of my dress and attached the hooks together. I massaged my left hand that had been holding together my dress with my right, relief washing through me as the tension built up in my hand washed away.

"Don't you have the help to assist you with all of this? Where are they?" she complained, as she perfected my dresses, smoothing out any crinkles.

"They are most likely with my mother. If you think I'm high-maintenance you obviously have not seen my mother before an event." I told her, my voice sounding like I was joking, but we both knew it was nothing but the truth.

Cara stepped back and admired my dress.

"You look perfect, Lina. I know your mother is going to hate that the dress is black, but with the white accents on it, and with your matching mask, oh, Lina, you are going to look absolutely gorgeous. Just wait until H-" and then she paused, as if she was about to say something she shouldn't have.

"Just wait until what?" I prompted, my suspicion increasing.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it. I actually have a surprise for you!" she announced, clasping her hands together with a smile on her face. Excitement surged through me. Most people say that they do not like surprises, when secretly they crave them. I, on the other hand, am not afraid to admit my liking towards surprises.

"What's the surprise?" I asked her, my excitement showing as well as my lack of patience.

"Well, that you are going to have to wait until tonight for. But I can assure you that you are going to love it." She said giving me a devious smile.

"You're not planning on dethroning my mother are you?" I asked in a serious voice, but I was completely joking.

"Oh no, but you sure would like that huh?" she joked back. She took a look at the pocket watch sitting on my bedside table and her eyes widened.

"Oh dear..." she mumbled. She got up from my bed quickly, smoothing out her day dress and looked up at me. "Well Lina, I have to get going. I have important duties to attend to. Do your makeup well, which I have no doubt you will. I'll be seeing you tonight." She said as she headed for my chamber's door.

"But wait Cara, where are y-"

"Oh!" she said halting by the door and looking back at me.

"Happy Birthday, Lina."

Cara.

"What took you so long!" Harry huffed at me, exasperated, as I descended from the carriage onto the dirt and cobblestone ground.

"Calm down, Harry. I was busy attending to the princess." I told him as I walked to stand in front of him.

"Well you could have told me that before I waited out here for two hours. I have some last minute icing to do for tonight's event for your princess. You told me you were going to be here at noon, and it's 2 o'clock!" he notified me, still clearly angry. His curls were a mess which indicated to me that he took his frustration out on his hair, and his eyes were dancing with panic, as I'm assuming his mental agenda was overwhelming him.