fℓσωєяѕ fσя уσυ 💐 | Ongoing 🟣

Carnations

Carnations are a popular choice for sympathy arrangements. Carnations are found in a variety of colors, the standard one being pinkish purple, and each color carries a meaning with itself. Red carnations evoke admiration and love, while pink carnations stand for remembrance. White carnations represent pure love, innocence, and good luck.

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Isabella snored vociferously as she slept soundly in her comfortable, queen-sized bed. *Knock, knock, knock* She rolled over and nuzzled into her pillow. *Knock, knock, knock* She whined a little as she furrowed her brows.
     "Isabella!" someone shouted from the other side.
     She jumped a little as she opened her eyes groggily. "Hm? What? Who?" She got up and rubbed her light brown eyes. A nest of her black, curly hair rested around her shoulders, and her tan skin glowed under the sunlight peeking through her balcony's French doors.
     Her visitor opened the door and entered. "Hermana, you were still sleeping?" her younger sister, Josie, asked with her hands on her hips. She was dressed in an off-shoulder, yellow gown with her dark brown, curly hair effortlessly plaited into a braid, and leaf-like earrings accessorized her ears while a simple golden crown sat crooked on her head. "You should've been awake an hour ago. Are you not nervous at all?"
     "Why would I be nervous?" she asked as she yawned and scratched her head.
     "Because you're going to be queen! Your coronation is in an hour, Isa!" Josie exclaimed incredulously.
     "This only proves that I'm more fit to be next in line for the throne as your older sister."
     "T-That's not it! If I was older than you, I would definitely make a great queen!"
     She pouted cutely, and Isabella chuckled. "I didn't say you wouldn't be."
     "Oh, stop teasing your sister, cariña," their mom, Queen Miranda, declared as she entered the room in an extravagant, off-shoulder gown with a velvet red top, which was decorated by gold designs, and layers of yellow tulle for the bottom. Her brown hair was pinned into a half-updo with her gold and ruby-encrusted crown sitting luxuriously atop her head, and gold earrings hung from her earlobes. She reached for Josie's crown and fixed it to which she bowed in thanks in return.
     "Mamá, buenos dias."
     "Buenos dias, cariña. Why are you still in bed?"
     "That's what I said," Josie remarked.
     "The decorations are almost done. You should get dressed, Isabella. A queen never makes people wait."
     "Mamá, I will never be late. The people are simply early," Isabella declared, and their mom shook her head as she sighed.
     "Just get ready, Isabella. You better be out in the hall in the next twenty minutes."
     "Twenty? That's not nearly enough time..."
     "Who told you to sleep in?" Josie remarked, and she narrowed her eyes at her younger sister.
     "The maids will dress you up in no time so don't worry," Queen Miranda stated. A knock on the door sounded, as if on cue, and several maids entered. "Oh, bueno! We'll leave you to it now. Come on, hija." She ushered for her younger daughter to follow her out, and she did so obediently. Isabella took a shower then allowed the maids to fit her into her own off-shoulder, silk gown—which was a crimson red with floral designs. Her hair was brushed into its natural state, and her ears sported large, dangly ruby earrings.
     "Oh, good. I have five minutes to spare," said Isabella. She left her room and ran across the courtyard to the stables to greet her prized black stallion, Alejandro. He neighed softly under her touch, and she smiled gingerly as she rubbed the area above his muzzle. "Buenos dias, hermoso. Have they fed you already?" He neighed again, and she nodded. "That's good..."
     "Are you talking to a horse?" a deep voice questioned behind her, and she turned around, startled.
     "Who are you? How did you get in here?" She looked at the gorgeous man with furrowed brows.
     "I could ask you the same thing." He had charcoal hair, hazel eyes, and a youthful but mature face. He was wearing a white shirt with a brown coat over, held together by a leather belt, and matching brown pants along with black leather boots. A sword hung by his waist with his left hand resting on it.
     "What do you mean? I'm the princess. Of course I'm allowed in here."
     "La princesa? Princesa Cortés? The one being crowned today?" He raised a brow.
     "Yes, of course. Who else?" She crossed her arms.
     "Oh, I just thought you'd dress more extravagantly..." He chuckled a little. "I've seen several ladies dressed in even bigger gowns than yours with more...contraptions." He pointed toward the extra layers on the side of her waistline.
     "Really?" She touched her gown then shook her head. "Wait, why am I doing this?"
     "Doing what?" he questioned.
     "Talking to you. You didn't even answer my question. Who are you? A squire? You're not allowed in here."
     "Sure, let's say I'm a squire." He flashed her a charming smile. "I am very fond of my sword skills."
     "Hermana! Where are you? Mamá and papá are waiting!" Josie called out from inside as she searched for her older sister.
     Isabella gasped and picked up the fabric of her gown, ready to run, then turned to look at the man. "You, don't enter the private palace stables without permission again," she declared before running off. He smiled to himself in amusement as he watched her leave. She slowed down as she neared the chapel and straightened herself up for presentation then entered.
     The chapel was decorated with enormous amounts of colorful carnations and ribbons. A large tapestry of the king and the queen hung above the altar and two thrones surrounded by pink carnations while bouquets of red and white carnations sat next to the benches on either side, and thick, yellow ribbons were strewn across the ceiling about half-a-mile long.
     "There you are, Isa!" Josie exclaimed as she followed in after her.
     "Just in time," Queen Miranda added. "You look bonita, cariña."
     "Gracias, mamá. Hola, papá." Isabella curtsied to her dad.
     "My, my, you look ready to rule already," King Fernando stated. He was wearing a white, silk shirt with a vest over it paired with white pants and leather boots, all embroidered and decorated by golden thread, buttons, and chains. His curly, black hair was tied into a low ponytail whilst a big, gold crown rested on his head.
     "Oh, dear. Please don't add to her ego," Queen Miranda remarked, and he laughed heartily while Isabella pouted.
     "Mi rey," the bishop called, "the ceremony will soon begin. The people may enter the chapel now."
     "Thank you, obispo Carlos," King Fernando responded. "Get ready, Isabella." She looked to her mom, and Queen Miranda nodded. They all took their positions; the Monarchs on their thrones, Josie beside them in her own, and Isabella standing off to the side. She quickly put on her white mantle, which had a long train, before the grand doors opened for the spectators.
     Not long after everyone settled down in their seats, the ceremony for crowning the new monarch began. The bishop said the rites then had her hold the golden scepter and the apple of gold whilst he tapped her shoulders with the royal sword, and she looked up only to meet eyes with the man she met earlier.
Her eyes widened, and he smiled teasingly, distracting her for a second until Bishop Carlos walked away to retrieve the crown. She set down the items then bowed her head low for him to delicately set the grandiose, gold and ruby-encrusted crown atop her petite head.
     He turned to the enormous crowd and exclaimed, "My people, your new monarca!" A roar of cheers rang throughout the chapel, and she presented a gentle smile along with a curtsy then looked at her proud parents.
After the coronation ceremony, the people moved to the great hall for evening celebrations. There, Isabella greeted all the visiting dukes, countesses, barons, and many others.
     "Are you having fun, Isa?" Josie asked.
     "Well, if you call greeting strangers fun then no," she replied blandly.
     "This was to be expected, hermana. Being la reina comes with a lot of responsibilities."
     "Oh, shush. I don't need you telling me that. Now, go mingle around and make some friends." Her younger sister pouted a little but did so. 'Ah, when will this be over? I just want to sit down...' She turned her head slightly and stared at the throne longingly as she subtly rotated her ankles underneath her thick gown. She noticed her dad nearing her with a middle-aged lord, and she put on a sweet smile.
     "Isabella, meet Duque Flores from a neighboring state," King Fernando declared.
     "Encantado de conocerte, mi gracia." She bowed low with her hands clasped together in front of her.
     "Encantada de conocerte as well, Reina Isabella," he greeted in return.
     "Ah, here comes his hijo," King Fernando stated. As she raised her head, her eyes locked with the same man from before, and her smile faltered a little while his face sported a teasing smile once again.
     "It's you..." she spoke up.
     "You've met then?"
     "Only for a brief moment." She watched him carefully. 'I didn't think he'd be a duque's hijo with his getup.'
     He put a hand over his heart then bowed and said, "Encantada de conocerte, Reina Isabella. I am Duque Flores' second son, Quinto Flores."
     'Second son, but his name is Quinto? Where did Primero, Segundo, Tercero, and Cuarto go?' she thought to herself and bit her tongue, so she didn't laugh aloud. "Encantado de conocerte, Príncipe Flores." She did a little curtsy.
     "Now, we'll leave you kids to it. Duque Flores and I will discuss some important matters," King Fernando declared as he left with said person.
     "Why didn't you tell me who you were?" she questioned as soon as they were out of earshot. "I thought you were a squire from how you're dressed."
     "Would it have changed anything?" he responded with his head tilted a little to the side.
     "Of course, I wouldn't have talked so inappropriately otherwise."
     "I didn't want us to meet under our social status." He shrugged and gave a lopsided smile.
     She watched him for a while before hesitating then asked, "Would you care to dance with me?"
     He straightened up in surprise. "Am I not suppose to ask that of you instead?"
     "Well, I asked you first. It happened, get over it. Do you want to or not?" She reached out her hand toward him.
     He took it then placed a chaste kiss on the back and replied, "With pleasure, Reina Isabella."
     "Just call me Isabella, please."
     "Then you shall just call me Quinto." He smiled at her charmingly, and she nodded before pulling him onto the dance floor.