As I dressed for the occasion, I felt humiliated and distressed and hoped my patience would be intact when the time came for me to step out of my comfort zone. It would not be easy walking around with a smile on my face knowing full well what the celebration was all about.
With shaky hands, I slipped into a gold-colored gown. It was a beautiful, shimmering, soft material with beaded lace trimmings, and it had a low neckline that showed off a little more cleavage than necessary. I checked myself out in the mirror, and I had to admit that I looked absolutely beautiful.
My hair was in an updo with tiny little ringlets of soft curls falling delicately around my face. Earlier in the day, a servant brought me a small tiara made of diamonds and said the queen had ordered that I wear it tonight. I wondered if it were sent to me as a peace offering. I hoped it was because I really wanted the queen to like me. It would make my life a little less stressful if she did. My personal maid was an expert with hair, as she finished the updo with expertise, and at last, she placed the diamond tiara on top of my head. She smiled at me, and I saw how pleased she was with the results. I thanked her as she bowed and happily headed out the door.
I slipped into my glass slippers and stood carefully, holding on to the chair, lest I fall flat on my face. The heels were a dab too high. Nidal was not around. He was dressing in another part of the palace, and I was glad. I wanted to surprise him with my appearance, knowing he would be pleasantly pleased with the results.
I checked myself out one more time in front of the mirror, and I really liked what I saw. I looked different with the tiara on my head. I almost looked like royalty. I smiled because I knew that material things could never change me into a different person. With or without the headpiece, I would always be Loula. I do not seek the crown. I do not need to be living like royalty to be happy. All I need is Nidal. He is the only one who could make me feel complete.
I swirled once around, and my gown wrapped around my legs. Then the shimmering material fell elegantly to the floor, covering my glass slippers. I loved this gown. It was one of my favorites, and my overall appearance was very satisfying, but I realized I was not wearing any jewelry to complement my wardrobe. I reached over to the dresser where my jewelry box lay on top, and I opened it. All my jewels sparkled like stars in the night sky. They were all gifts from Nidal. He had showered me with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies. A king's ransom! I sighed sadly.
Nidal has not yet realized that these jewels mean nothing to me. They are just costly trinkets that are beautiful to look at. They are not what I crave. I never longed for such treasures. All I want is to be Nidal's bride. That is enough to make me happy in this lifetime, but I will wear the diamond necklace with its matching bracelet just to please Nidal.
I also clasped on the diamond earrings that Nidal had given me, saying they once belonged to his deceased grandmother. I had heard many stories of her and felt sad that I would never meet her. Nidal has told me that she was a philanthropist among many other great things, and it is with great joy that I am wearing something that had once belonged to her.
Now that my outfit was complete, I was ready to go to my prince. I walked toward the door, opened it, and stepped out into the hall. I was also in another part of the palace for the preparations. A large, bearded guard with broad shoulders was waiting for me outside the door. He had a glint in his eyes and a big smile on his face as he proudly took my hand in his and led me down the long, wide, circled staircase. I was nervous with each step that I took. Halfway down, I spotted Nidal. He looked dashing in his uniform, as he looked up at me with a huge smile on his face. I arrived on the last step, and the handsome man took my hand and placed it in Nidal's.
I froze in my tracks, I was so nervous that I thought my legs would turn to jelly and I would fall to the floor. I looked into Nidal's eyes. I tried to focus all my attention on him and pretend that all the other people who stood around the prince were not there. Nidal stared openmouthed at me. He looked stunned, and I heard whispering among the huge crowd as they also looked at me with approval. Nidal could not take his eyes off me. His eyes displayed so much love and passion. Tears of joy were in my eyes as Nidal took my hand and helped me down the last step.
My prince stared hungrily at the cleavage of my dress, and as he looked up at me, a twinkle in his eyes told me he was already thinking of later on tonight in our bed. I smiled, looked around the room at everyone, and bowed to them. The people of Arabia bowed back to me, and then they started clapping their approval. I looked quickly at the queen, and I thought I saw a smile on her face. I noticed that even the king looked pleasantly pleased, and Nidal, my handsome prince, looked dashing with his long, lean body clad in king's attire and all his medals hanging loose on his jacket. A crown was on his head, and truly, he looked like the next king of Arabia. He looked the role. Now he had to play the role.
His blue eyes were bright as ever on this festive day, and he was all mine. I could not wait for tonight. I just wanted to be in his arms. I sighed deeply, knowing it would be many hours before I could enjoy his naked body on mine. I loved him so much. As if Nidal read my thoughts, he winked at me, letting me know that he was also thinking the same thing as I was.
