Priceless

Twenty-Five

"Are you ready?" Germaia asked me before going out the room. It's my 18th birthday and the visitors were waiting for me down the ballroom. I was about to go down the staircase anytime now. I already knew that I have powers to talk to animals because of my necklace.

And it's weird.

"Yeah. I have no choice." I chuckled. I was wearing an ombre gown. Its color was pink to violet going down. I'm also wearing a cute tiara with my long hair curled.

"Let us all welcome! The one and only! Princess Brooklyn Anastasia Philipe!" I heard the host said before the maids guided me to go down the staircase.

I smiled at the guests while they're all giving me a round of applause. I took my time to go down the stairs as I wave my hand.

"Happy birthday, my princess." Father held my hand when I got down the stairs. He guided me at the center while greeting each of the guests. There's a lot! I think they invited the whole kingdom. But there's no commoners here.

They all ate while we started the 18 roses. I don't even know these guys. They just said that they were sons of father and mother's friends.

"Oh, you're here again." I said when Anton handed me the 17th rose.

"Yeah, happy birthday." He bowed before he put his hand around my waist while the other held my hand. He became talkative while we're dancing huh. "See you later." He winked at me before leaving me.

"Happy birthday my dear." Father gave me the 18th rose. I hugged him while we're dancing. I really missed dad. If he's still here, he would probably one of my 18 roses.

I went inside my room to change into another gown. I'm wearing a nude off shoulder gown. They put my hair in a bun, still wearing my tiara. It's not my actual tiara as a princess. They didn't gave it to me yet since they're still making sure that I'm the right person.

"Wear this." Germaia gave me a pink mask that covers my my eyes and nose. You wouldn't actually see my face clearly through the mask. They said, we will have a dance with a random person that's why we need to put on a mask so they won't know if the princess is already in front of them. Mother wants to do this things since she thinks it would be fun.

We went to the other way to go downstairs so I won't catch people's attention. We went at the back side of the palace instead of taking the staircase.

"Hey." I called a random stranger. Oh it's Anton! I can see his face since his mask was just covering half of his face. You have a choice actually if you want to wear a full face mask or just half.

"Oh hi, princ—" He can easily recognize me huh?

"Shush." I cut him off since he was about to greet me 'princess'. I don't want people to know me.

"Oh... you're playing around huh." He put his hands around my waist while my hands are on his shoulders. We started dancing.

"Yeah. I wanna have fun. I don't want them to treat me too formal." I chuckled.

"You're a lot different from Breipeia." He shook his head, we're still dancing at the center with the other people dancing.

"Why?" I asked.

"You're humble. You don't like catching people's attention." He chuckled. I like his smile, so attractive.

"I like you better when you're smiling." I smiled, making his brows furrowed a bit. The side of his lips rose, forming an amusing smile.