Once a Princess, always a Princess

chapter 14

Chapter 14

I had been sat at my vanity mirror for hours, being tugged this way and that. My hair was being pulled and teased in all manner of directions and my face was constantly being dabbed at by an assortment of things, my eyebrows plucked within an inch of their life. The only peaceful part of my transformation has been my manicure and pedicure, though that still managed to be uncomfortable as I had to sit frozen in place so as not to mess up the varnish. At around five, the makeover was finally complete and I had time for a quick snack before I donned the beautiful dress. I stood in the centre of my suite on a small raised circular platform wearing only my undergarments, arms raised above my head. Four maids took either side of the gown and lifted it over my head and pulled it down around my body. The silk duchesse satin fabric felt soft against my skin, the ivory colour beautiful against my complexion. As I gazed at my reflection in the floor length mirror I couldn't help but be taken aback by how beautiful I looked and how the gown flattered my shape perfectly. I carried on gazing as the maids scurried around my feet, fluffing up the floor length skirt. Another maid brought up the short sleeve cape that created the train for my entrance; I slipped my arms through the delicate fabric while Maria, who had come from the kitchens to help, laid the train in a long trail behind me. The last accessory to be added to me was my crown. The silver jewelled piece of headwear was placed delicately atop my head, sitting between the loose curly up-do that the maids had so intricately created.

I took one last glance at myself in the mirror and took a deep breath.

"Ready?" Maria asked, tears brimming in her eyes. "You look beautiful."

"As I'll ever be." I answered, giving her a small smile.

I was a nervous bundle as I waited around the corner from the grand staircase where I would make my entrance, my palms sweating; mind reeling with thoughts of what could go wrong. With so much fabric around my feet I was scared I would trip in the heels as I made my decent.

Two bangs from a staff and the load boom of one of the castle guards momentarily brought me out of my worried state.

"Announcing, Adonnia Rose Marie Christine Western, your Princess."

My eyes widened, this was it, time to enter. With a nod from Maria I was off. I slowly, and as gracefully as I could, rounded the corner to be faced with the top of a death trap and it's hundreds of spectators. Placing one of my lacy gloved hands on the marble banister I paused, smiled to the many royals staring beady eyed and then started the awfully long decent down the red carpeted staircase with a concerto by the string quartet playing in the background. I walked with my back straight, head held high; doing everything I'd been taught in order to ooze grace. At the bottom of the stairs stood Xavier looking blindingly handsome in a dark suit embellished with gold buttons on the shoulders, cuffs and down the front. He was staring up at me, watching me, just like everyone else; however, there was something different in his eyes and only a hint of a smile on his lips.

The atmosphere in the room was one of stunned silence; Xavier's parents were stood near mine, warm smiles on their faces. As I reached the bottom Xavier bowed to me and I curtseyed in return, a small blush creeping onto my face as butterflies erupted in my stomach. I wasn't sure whether it was from the attention of the crowd or the attention from Xavier. From the corner of my eye I could see the queen sigh in relief that I had made it down safely, my father looking almost proud. My cape was removed by a nearby maid and when Xavier took my hand and led me to the middle of the dance floor, where we were to make our first public appearance as a couple, I couldn't look him straight in the eyes.

He held me in the ballroom embrace and with one gloved hand slowly lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet with his. I stared into his bottomless brown eyes trying to figure out the emotion in them. He whispered one thing to me.