Ice Cold

Chapter Thirty-Two

          I woke up to someone shaking me. I opened my eyes and quickly turned to the person behind me. Instant relief filled my body as I saw the piercing grey-blue gaze of Hayden's eyes. I crawled out of bed and turned the light on before walking back over to him.

          "What is it?" I asked.

          "The kings and queens of the other kingdoms are here, along with their sons and daughters," Hayden explained.

          "Great," I said and then noticed that he was in a tux.

          "Why are you so dressed up?" I asked.

          "Request of the king and queen and they request you wear a dress tonight too," Hayden said and I groaned. "Be ready in twenty minutes, come knock on my door when you're done."

          "Fine," I said and he left.

          I sighed and then walked into my bathroom I cringed at the reflection before I washed my face and brushed my hair and teeth. There was a small pack of makeup in a drawer and I applied eyeliner and mascara before exiting the bathroom. I walked into the closet and internally groaned, I was not the type of girl to wear a dress. I picked the simplest black dress that I could find, but it was still extravagant.

          The dress had one strap going across my shoulder and the other was bear with a sweetheart neckline. The dress was somehow perfectly my size as it hugged my hips and the length of the dress flowed all the way down to the floor. I thought I was ready to go when a maid rushed in. She grabbed my hand and quickly pulled me to the bathroom.

          "What are you doing?" I asked, sock still evident on my face.

          "It has come to the queen's realization that you have never been to an event like this so she sent me to prepare you," the maid explained.

          "But‒," I started but she cut me off.

          "I don't have much time, be perfectly still and don't say a word," she said.

          I didn't like the idea, but nonetheless I listened. About ten minutes later the maid had done my hair and redone my makeup. I looked in the mirror and I was shocked. My almost-black hair was curled and flowed down my back and my makeup was beautifully done. I looked like a completely different person.

          The maid nodded in approval, "you're a little underdressed, but get the young man next door and head to the ballroom," the maid said.

          I noticed she was one of the older maids but I pushed the thought away as I took in her words, "why the ballroom?"

          "Because the king and queen have thrown a Ball for the kings and queens and their offspring's arrival, it is the usual custom. My apologies, they thought you were aware," she said and then fled the room.

          Stunned, I grabbed a bare of one-inch black heels and walked over to Hayden's. I knocked on the door and was met with someone who did not look like Hayden. His black hair was slightly damp and styled to the side, but was still in his face how he liked it. The tux was fit on him and made him look more lean and muscular than I had ever noticed.

          After we finished giving each other shocked expressions we smiled at each other, "you look stunning," Hayden said.

          "You clean up nice yourself, but according to the maid that did this to me, I'm underdressed," I said and smiled at him.