Starry Nights

Life is exhausting.

She  glanced out the window.The stars glimmered like diamonds in the beautiful night sky and the sight of them took her breath away, how could they not? They were beautiful as could be. Suddenly, someone cleared their throat in front of her, causing her to look away from the window. In front of her stood a boy, about her age, he wore a black suit and had dark brown hair, which looked silky and soft, but only when she saw his crown did she realize that he was the prince. "May I have this dance?" A dance? With the prince? She wasn't Cinderella and nor was she aiming to be, she refused to dance with someone who she barely knew. She politely refused, and the crowd gasped, making her feel irritated. But the prince didn't move, "Please?"Did she really want to dance with him? She didn't even know him? But then again, he didn't know her either, but was eager to dance, refusing a second time would be impolite, she didn't want to make enemies at her first ball in this palace. "Okay," The crowd cheered as they danced and he swayed her away towards the balcony. She wanted to stop dancing, but a part of her also wanted to not let go. Eventually she stopped, and fiddled with her shimmering, purple gown.

"What's wrong?" The prince's voice was soft, almost as if he was  concerned

"I'm just tired, that's all,"

"Alright then, we'll sit down." They sat on a bench on the balcony, she almost wanted to jump off, the tension in the air was unbearable.

"I'm sorry," She mumbled and jumped off. The wind in her face felt cool as she flew. Her wings were transparent and seemed light, but them, combined with the weight of her gown, she felt really heavy, she looked back to see the prince staring in the distance, a scowl on his face, he was almost furious. She sighed, she was right about him after all. He was after her wings too, just like the last 199 princes. Yet, there was something different about him when they danced, a weird sensation.She'd have to come back here again to figure it out. Or rather, Astrid, would have to come here, Astrid, with short, brown hair and amber eyes. Astrid, her new identity.

"Bridget! wake up!" That's what her  mother used to say every morning but today she woke up on her own and her mother slept soundlessly. Today, Bridget wore a long, pink, silk gown along with white pumps and had her hair tied up in a high pony, everyday she came up with something new, but today she was exhausted and wore whatever she found. Her closet was huge, nothing less than  a princess's even though she was only a duchess. 

Her mother had given up her crown ages ago, and she'd become the duchess in her place. She'd gotten used to it by now. Her schedule everyday consisted of the same activities, breakfast at 9'o'clock a.m, meetings from 10 to 2, lunch at 2'o'clock, conferences from 2 to 6, 1 hour free from 6 to 7, during which she would sit  and have tea with her mother, and 7 to 10, were royal parties or dinners every night.

Life was exhausting, especially when all the princes were after her wings. Only a few people in Colen had wings, and she, was one of them. And if that wasn't too much to handle already, she even had the power of shapeshifting to master! But, fortunately, no one knew about that, so she was saved from answering extra questions.

Another party at Ming's, Ming was her best friend, and also, the princess. She'd just come back from the conference and before she knew it, the hair dresser was styling her hair. Normally every duchess would apply make up too, but not her, she'd never applied anything except gloss and mascara. She liked looking natural, and many people had called her pretty too. She changed into a teal gown with long sleeves and wore studded, sea green, shoes. 

The castle looked beautiful as always, and Ming waited for her at the entrance. This was kind of their thing. They would wait for each other at every party, and arrive before anyone else came, and then they would exchange stones for their friendship crowns. Ming was dressed in a long yellow dress that reached her feet, followed by high heels and had her hair tied up in a bun, along with her usual, diamond crown. She looked beautiful as ever. Bridget gracefully went up the stairs ad gave Ming a hug.

"Pretty as always!" 

"No way, you're the one who's beautiful, Bri!" Ming exclaimed

Bridget gave her a smile and handed her an Amethyst, Ming took it, and in return, gave Bridget a sapphire and together they headed in. No one was here yet, but after a few minutes, the ballroom was so crowded, you could barely talk to anyone.  They both sat and talked for a while,  when suddenly someone walked up, "Princess Millicent!," a young fellow with black hair spoke with a gentle voice,"I was hoping we could talk about the dinner at my palace next week," Ming's full name was Millicent, and no one called her Ming except Bridget, just like no one called Bridget, "Bri" except Millicent.

"Of course," Ming beamed and headed off with the fellow, by the looks of it, he seemed like a duke. 

Suddenly, Bridget noticed the prince she met last night from a far, walking towards her, her heart skipped a beat, she wasn't ready yet, if he was the one from last night, he would be furious. She hurriedly headed towards the palace gardens, and thankfully lost him in the crowd, then, she moved to the side, where no one  could see her, and changed her identity. She headed back, gracefully and caught a glimpse in the mirror on her way. She had short brown hair and a golden crown, amber eyes, and a mahogany coloured dress. Just like she'd imagined. Astrid was stunning. Just as she entered the ballroom, she saw the prince making his way toward her.

"Excuse me, have you seen duchess Bridget?" he asked in his same, soft, voice

"I'm sorry, no, last I'd seen her, she was dancing with the Prince of Pilogh." Astrid was soft-spoken

"Alright, thank you for your assistance."  he headed off

That'd keep him busy for a while, what Bridget had said in the form of Astrid, wasn't a lie, she had  danced with the Prince of Pilogh, but that was 2 hours ago and 2 hours in Colen, was a long time.