Royalty

Chapter 2: Sleeping Beauty

Once Peggy exits the room, I take a long, deep breath through my nose as I look out onto the rose bushes from my bedroom window. Roses are so majestic. They seem so perfect, unlike me, who's flawed from the inside out. However, Mum was a rose. She was obsessed with them. She was the one who secretly planted the seeds for this beautiful rose garden. I remember she told me that when Father came to meet her for the very first time, he did not bring her roses, but rose seedlings. They planted the seeds together, as a sign that they will grow and flourish with love for all eternity.

Who knew that their beautiful love story would be cut short when Dad was assassinated in 2001, right after Mum found out that she was expecting me. Father was the male version of my mum, according to her. She said that he was a kindest human being. He always wanted to help people and that he would give away his very last penny to see someone happy. Grandma did not like it. She could not fathom the thought of giving. She cannot understand the value of life. She believes in money. She praises it.

I closed my eyes and took in the sunlight, trying to forget this sorrowful life. I miss my parents. It's so lonely in this castle, and the loneliness never leaves. I wish I had amnesia, and that I could start over. To forget all the bitterness. Today is one of those days, where I need the sunlight more than other days. ''Just like a flower'', I whisper to myself.

I walk towards my en-suite bathroom. I tie my hair up in a messy bun and jump into the shower. As usual, it takes me half an hour to finish. I really hate washing my hair. With hair hanging below my hips, it makes it hard to wash. Above all that, I have a major hair loss problem. I cannot understand why I loose a handful of hair each day. I have tried every anti hair loss product there is available, but nothing works. I guess that's just how it should be.

I always take time in the shower to think about what's on my mind and plan the day. I get out of the shower, and start washing my face. As I pat it dry with my towel, I realise how pointy my collar bones has gotten. The bags under my eyes look like I got beaten by someone. I decide to weigh myself. I step onto my scale and my heart drops. I have lost 5 kilograms since last week Monday.
I don't feel well about this, even though Grandma says that I am too fat, I feel too skinny. She lets the chef cook dinner every night, but my meals get cut in half. She probably only wants the best for me.

I brush my teeth and just as I finish wrapping my robe around me, Lorna knocks on the door.

''Come on in'' I exclaimed. I hear the door open as I walk out of the bathroom.

''Good morning, Princess!'' Lorna said in a high pitched voice as she struggles to bring the clothing rail through the door.

''Good morning. Shall I help you?'' I said giggling as I walk towards her. Today is her second week here with her assistant Stefan.

''Oh! No, I will manage by myself. I do not expect the Princess to help me-'' She apologetically said as I offered to help her anyway.

''Oh please let me. We're both human after all, are we not?'' I smiled my biggest smile at her to let her know it's fine.

''Oh thank you very much Princess!'' She said giggling and returns my smile.

''I have brought five dresses along with me, as you can see, to help you decide which would be the best fit. Stefan, please bring in the slippers!'' She shouts towards the door.

''Ah yes, of course!'' I hear a voice from outside the door. A tall man enters the room with a rack of shimmery shoes. He gleams with a proud smile as he rests the shoe rack on the floor.

''Shall we get started?'' She smiles bright. It almost seems as if she's more excited for this ball than anyone in this castle. Everyone is excited for it except me. It's not that I am ungrateful for it. I am very grateful for everything Grandma has done for me, but I just feel that it is unnecessary. The money that goes into this huge event is honestly just a waste in my eyes. I would much rather use the money to donate to schools with poor educational systems, or people in need, but I guess that's just my opinion. However, I know that Mum would have done the same.

''Of course!'' I said trying to smile my biggest smile and sound excited. I try to push my anxiety towards this ball at the back of my head. I'm so socially unstable that I cannot even bare a word towards a stranger before my self esteem tumbles down a mountain like a avalanche. Even though I get in contact with a lot of people daily, I just can't shake the feeling I get when having to communicate with them. Peggy mostly does the talking as she knows how I struggle to talk to people. Grandma thinks it's a bad thing. She says that I cannot be shy forever, otherwise I won't get far in life.

Today is worse because I have a formal meeting. What if I say something dumb? I can just imagine the gossip they will spread about the insecure princess of the Oakwood family and what a disgrace I am.

I guess Lorna did not pick up my fake acting as she squeals from excitement and grabs a chair from the corner of the room.

''Alright. I have brought a total of five dresses with me along with 5 pair of slippers as well. Each of these dresses and shoes has been specially designed for your beautiful body shape by the finest of fashion experts in Great Britain and Germany.'' She explains excitedly. I cringe at the thought that she thinks I have a 'beautiful body shape'. I am, indeed, shaped like a stick.

''So up first, we have a stunning piece created by Paul Chapman. A British fashion designer that creates brilliant dresses, including making dresses for Kate Middleton. How exciting to think that you will technically be equal to her!'' She says excitedly.

The dress is made of silk fabric and has a slit on the left side of it. It goes down until it reaches your ankles and has spaghetti straps. It's in a cold white colour. This would specifically fit someone with a tanned skin. Paul Chapman sure does design ravishing dresses, but not really my type.

I shake my head at Lorna, rejecting the dress. She laughs and says, ''I thought you might not like it. You are way too sweet and cute for something like that'' I giggle and feel my cheeks heating up from the compliment.

''Next up, we have this very antique dress that comes from the 1950's which was remodelled by another British designer named Edward Mackintyre. It actually has its own name called 'The Greek Goddess'. Edward has designed dresses for various celebrities at the Met-Gala.'' Lorna exclaims as she strokes the dress's fabric.

What's the Met-Gala? What's celebrities? I don't understand.  I wonder what it's like beyond this island, as I see that these people has strange words and phrases. Could there be a whole other world beyond this island? Something out of a science fiction book? Could there be flying cars or robots that look like humans? My anticipation grows each day as I learn more and more of these people's culture. It just wants me to escape more with each term I learn. Confused about what this women is talking about, I nod in anticipation.

The dress has a hoop skirt and a tight fitting torso. You can clearly see that the dress was inspired by a peacock which includes blue, gold and silver shapes like ellipses and feathers at the top. The dress overall consists of dark blue and gold embroidery. Again, I would look like a pear in this dress and I indicate a disapproval to Lorna. She nods and smiles, continuing to grab another dress off of the clothing rack.

We continue to search for a dress of my approval. The next two dresses are really pretty and Lorna explains that the dresses were made by so-and-so. The first dress consisted of glitter, which almost seems like the glitter will move onto your skin and refuse to leave even if you ask them to pay rent. The second dress has a lot of feathers which I honestly think will be leaving me with red eyes and a runny nose from sneezing all the time.

''Okay, onto the last one!'' Lorna says laughing.

''I am so sorry, Lorna. Please tell me if you are getting tired and I will just choose one of the dresses'' I said concerned.

''Oh no, princess! The princess must look her utter best on any occasion!'' She says, I guess louder than she expected.

I giggle as she further exclaims, ''By the way, I can obviously see that you only disapprove the dresses so that you can spend more time with me'' She says as she lifts her head to the ceiling, closes her eyes and puts four fingers on her chest.

I laugh. ''Well, it isn't entirely false. I have the best Wardrobe in the world.'' We both giggle. Lorna is actually very good company. I am ashamed of myself for thinking of her any differently.

''Okay, princess. This is the last one!'' She says in a high pitched voice, once again. I wonder if she is this happy all the time. It seems like she does not have a worry in the world. She pulls the last dress from the rack. My eyes widen at the angelic dress in front of me.

It is beautiful!