Ascending

Chapter Twelve

"No!" I shout at the men setting up chairs in the courtyard. "No. No, they need to be in a semi-circle! One half, the aisle, and the other half!"

The men nod and pick up the cherry wood seats and fix them so the seating arrangement is correct. Kennedy holds out my work panel to me so I can check the things I need to have done.

Underneath chairs, I begin to write a checkmark next to it before pausing. "Have someone come down here and make sure that the blue wrappings and roses are up at the end of each row."

"I've already contacted a servant. They are on their way now, Princess." Kennedy says taking my panel back.

"The reception is in the sunroom," I say walking back towards the palace. "I need you to make sure that the tables are set up correctly while I check in with the chef. Also, make sure they are hanging the bare bulbs with the exposed steel and not the painted black ones."

Kennedy nods and we part ways as we enter the sunroom. It's one of the largest rooms on the first floor and the doorway is almost the size of the place gates, it opens up into the gardens making it a clear shot from the ceremony to the reception.

Servants and workers alike are scurrying about the room like ants in a colony. The white table clothes and orange table strips have been draped over the round tables. The back of the chairs are wrapped in dark blue tulle and have small lights twinkling from within.

There is a table on the western wall with trays and trays for food to be placed in. The head chef is standing by the door to the kitchens, as I approach her she barks an order through the open door.

"Chef Russo," I say. "Is everything going smoothly?"

"As butter." She replies.

"The specially requested meals for those with dietary restrictions?" I pester.

"Set aside and ready to be served."

"The vegatrain platter?"

"Being prepared as we speak."

"Anything I should know of?" I question keeping my voice aloof.

"Princess, I have everything under control." Chef Russo assures me.

"Good," I nod. "I'll be off then."

As I exit the sunroom and make my way further inward towards the castle Kennedy rejoins me. "That's everything on the list."

"That's only half of it," I mutter. "The bridal party has been getting ready all morning. Their hair and makeup should be done. But I still need to do those things and we need all of the dresses."

The bridal parlor is on the seventh floor in the southern wing of the palace. Kennedy leaves me to retrieve the dresses from the seamstress who is making final adjustments. As I enter the room I brace myself for pandemonium but I am instead met with surprising clam.

Sloan is having her hair curled while she paints Brooke's nails. Juliet's hair is already done and she sits in one of the white lounge chairs wearing a silk lavender robe.

The hairstyle I selected for the bridesmaids is one of my favorite things about the wedding plans. The hair is curled but the top portion of the right side of your head is braided into a chunky braid with roses woven in.

I around the room, finding Genie's three sisters and her maid of honor, but not Genie.

A missing bride is the exact opposite of what I need right now. "Where's Genie?"

"Oh, some servants took her to get her dress on a few minutes ago." Genie's older sister answers. "She'll be back."

My mind is buzzing and I'm barely able to conjugate a sentence. "Right, okay, uhm- I sent for the dresses. They should be here soon. So, yeah, once they get here, get dressed."