Cloaked Beauty

In preparation to take the throne, the prince needed to be married. Another thing; Prince Derek wasn't looking for just a wife, he was looking for many wives. As royalty, this was a privilege he was allowed. "To become king, he must heed a wife. As of request, he has began to meet many of the societies high up young ladies. Only a select few will be invited to the yearly ball, where, if invited, he will get to know better. There after, he will decide who he would like to marry." I watched in disgust as he studied my two sisters. Typical boys. All they were looking for were rich girls with pretty faces and nice figures, just like my sisters.

My sisters seemed so on edge, fidgeting every now and then. Probably the fear of not getting invited to the ball was making them so antsy. All they could talk about the whole week were that reports of the prince had been in the city and the nearby neighborhoods, meeting with girls to choose which one he would want to become one of his wives. "I want to be a queen," they would always whine about all day. Yeah right.

They had both inherited blond, wavy hair from our mother, though Delaine had grown hers long while Celia had cut hers to a length that fluttered around her shoulders. Both had small blue eyes, petite figures, and long lashes that always seemed to draw guys to them.

Speaking of which, each of them were boy crazy. They'd always have a new date each week, promising me that their boyfriend of the week was the one. By the next day, they would always have broken up. Usual sister routine. Commitment wasn't really their thing, so I had no idea why they thought getting married was a good idea.

I was the only one who didn't date I didn't see anything wrong with it; however, my sisters did. Always complaining about how they knew everyone had fun around me, that it would be a good thing for me to go out. I wouldn't mind, until they would tell me to take off the stupid cloak and sunglasses so people could see how I looked. People would judge if they saw how I looked, and I didn't want that. My sisters told me that it would be a good thing if others judged me, but I didn't agree. People wondered why I didn't just reveal myself, but I had my reasons.

"Thank you Henry," Derek said to his guard. He nodded. His eyes went back to my sisters and he gave them a crooked smile. They both giggled into their palms as their faces turned red with glee. He finally took time away from my spotlight stealing sisters and glanced at me. He frowned immediately. Probably hoping that I would show some skin like my sisters. Well, he was mistaken. "And you are? The maid I presume?" My sisters' and mother's jaws dropped to the floor in shock. I raised my eyebrows in astonishment and amusement, then shook my head.

"Why, you are mistaken, Prince Derek," I replied. "I am the eldest daughter of the Edulici family."

His eyes widened. He probably presumed that all of the girls in the family were beautiful from seeing my sisters and mother. The prince wasn't mistaken. I would admit that I wasn't horrible looking, but he didn't need to know or knew that.

"From many of the rumors, I thought that the Edulici daughters got more beautiful with age?" the prince asked. My eyes narrowed. I registered the sarcastic tone as an insult.

"That is true," I told him simply. His eyes grew even larger, probably not expecting me to answer.

"Is that so," he murmured. "Why don't you take of your hood," he asked, "So I can see what you look like." I made no movement to do so.

"No, thank you," I answered. "I would like to keep it on." The guards suddenly tensed.

"Did you just refuse the prince's request?" Henry asked. I shrugged. Their faces contorted into surprise at my disrespect. My mother threw me a look. They were about to grab me when the prince held out his arm to block their way.

"It's okay,"he ordered, glancing over me curiously. "Leave her be." The two knights hesitated, then settled back, their expressions guarded. I frowned. I didn't need him to help me. "So," he continued,"Can any of the three of you tell me why you would make a nice queen?"

"Ooh! Pick me!" my sisters both screamed at once.