between us | klaroline (book 1)

Chapter 2: The Royal Gala Ball

-Amanda's POV-

Marriage was so very sacred in my family and in my head. Once you're married then you must stay together forever. Which made this whole entire predicament I was in, that much harder due to the short amount of time that I had to find my husband. My stomach twirled with excitement and nervousness because the gala would be starting in approximately half an hour.

"Princess, your gloves." One of my helpful maids reminded me, holding out my white gloves for me to grab. I remember this maid, we have plenty of maids in the palace but now that I saw this maid up close I remember back to the day I saw her face brighten when she saw who appeared to be her boyfriend in the kitchen. He was a dishwasher for the castle and she was a maid, which probably made seeing one another very difficult because they live on different floors.

Maid's all lived on the second floor whereas kitchen staff lived in rooms on the first floor. The castle definitely had enough rooms, about 80 rooms to be almost exact. "Thank you." I nodded at the maid as I reached to take the gloves from her. My thankfulness made her smile before walking back to the other side of the room with my makeup designer who was to put on all my elegant makeup for the eventful evening in store.

To think that I would meet my future husband tonight, made my heart flutter. I've never once had a boyfriend in my life let alone a fiancé. I huffed aloud softly as the makeup designer brushed makeup on my face. Nerves ran through my body, I was very anxious, causing me to fiddle with my fingertips under my gloves.

"Princess, time to go." My maid for the night spoke to me gently as one of the other maids helped me put on some of my fine jewelry. "Alright, let's go." I insisted, getting up once my necklace was on properly. I took one last look in the full-body mirror in my gigantic room to see how I looked. A smile gently tugged at my lips because I realized how splendid my maid's helped me look. I stepped out my room into the corridor and walked to the main staircase.

I heard loud classical music playing downstairs as I walked alone carefully down numerous amounts of stairs from the forth floor. I walked quietly with my hand on the railing and my heels clicking and clacking. I've always loved the sound of heels on the marble flooring.

"Princess, guests have already arrived. Your mother asks you to meet her inside with the king." Mother's personal assistant said to me at the end of my walk down the stairs. I nodded, turning left and walking to the grand ballroom.

As I got closer the music was more louder and clear. I softly smiled while entering the ballroom and walking next to my mother. "Amanda, there you are love. You look just divine." My mother took my hands to grasp and smiled at me. My father came to give me a huge hug and I placed my hands around his back. Mother wore a gold-sequined ball gown and father wore his king's suit. I believe his army badges were on it. I let go of my father and stood around, looking at everybody dance and talk.

"Darling," My mother whispered, gesturing me to come towards her face. "That's one of them. Charlie Hillington." She pointed across the room. I looked where her finger pointed and stood with straight posture. Finally, I caught eyes with a handsome man wearing a lovely suit and white bowtie. His hair styled perfectly and he smiled faintly at me. I blushed and he walked towards my family and I, making me breathe in sharply.

"Prince Charlie Hillington. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." The prince spoke out beautifully with a nice flowing British accent. I held out my perfectly manicured hand downward and he held it in his comforting grasp, bringing it up to his mouth and placing a kiss on it. My cheeks flushed and I smiled without my teeth at him. He smiled and went to do the same to my mother's hand and he shook my father's hand.

"Prince Charlie, we are pleasured to have you here. Thank you for coming." My mother spoke formally with a gentle nod at the end. "Yes, thank you for being here Prince Charlie." The king said as well. My heart was racing at how handsome he looked.

"Princess," Charlie began, looking at me once again and extending out a hand. "Could you show me around?" He asked me. I smiled and placed my small hand in his. "Yes indeed Prince Charlie." I answered him. I could see my mother smiling at us from the corner of my eye and another person approached them.

"This way." I suggested, showing him out the grand ballroom and down the massive hallway that leaded into the lounge area. "I must say, Princess, you look so beautiful." He spoke again when we entered the lounge area with couches everywhere and a large television.

"Thank you Charlie. You look so very handsome yourself." I answered him as we separated and wandered around the lounge room. Guards stood by the front entrance so we weren't alone.

"Thank you. Tell me, how's it like to grow up in this gigantic castle?" He made conversation as we both looked around at all of the countless books stored on the grand book shelves. "Well, very lonely. I have no siblings so I had to wander by myself. It's quite quiet around the palace usually. I like some noise, like tonight." I smiled across the room at him. He looked so surprised that we had so many books. I wondered where he grew up.

"I understand." He said in a calming tone and looked over at me with his lovely eyes. "I have 7 other older brothers whom are to take the thrown. I must marry into another royal family like yours. Now that i've met you although, I don't understand how you've never had a relationship, you're so incredibly beautiful, Princess."

I blushed at his kind words. "Ahem." I heard somebody clear their throat at the door to the lounge. I saw a man that i'd never seen before, approach me.

"Princess, I'm Prince Damien O'hare. Pleasure to meet you." The dark-haired Prince spoke in a British accent as well as Prince Charlie. He was so very handsome. I placed out my hand and smiled at him gently. He picked it up and kissed it twice.

"Lovely to meet you, Prince Damien."