For the most part, Elysia spent her time greeting guests and helping Maria with any and all tasks. She made sure everything was perfect, not a hair out of place. The castle was buzzing with all the traffic, royalty and nobles coming from all across the land. Different cultures were represented. Elysia studied their clothing and accents, picking up on most of the different languages.
While Elysia remained busy, Shade remained distant. Throughout the day, she caught herself wondering where he had fallen off to. There were hardly four words spoken between them for an entire day. Not because they were angry with one another. But because there was no time for it. Maria made sure Elysia never stopped moving.
It wasn't until the afternoon when Elysia finally caught sight of her guardian. She approached him quickly, before he could disappear again.
"Are you avoiding me?" she accused.
For some reason he looked amused. "Of course not, my job is to protect you."
She huffed, crossing her arms. "You've let me alone with all these strangers who keep forcing conversation with me."
The morning might have been bearable if Shade endured it with her. She enjoyed looking to him for reactions, hearing the comments he muttered under his breath, comments only she could hear. He helped pass the time. Without him, she was forced to endure long, dull conversations with people she had no interest knowing.
"Have I done something wrong, Princess?"
She faltered. "No, I suppose not. What about tonight? Will you be close in case I need you?"
"What would you be needing me for?" His expression was hidden by the shadows of his blasted hood.
Irritation prickled her; how was it he managed to always strike a nerve? Lately he was making her sound very foolish, causing her to trip over her own words. It was infuriating.
"There could be a terrorist attack, or a spy could be lurking around. I never thought I would need to explain this to you, of all people."
He stepped forward. "Rest-assured, Princess, I will be close to you at all times tonight."
She narrowed her eyes. Cryptic as usual. "Care to share what exactly that means? After all, we are going to be in a large, brightly lit ballroom, with hundreds of well-dressed guests. I hardly doubt you won't stand out in your dirty, brown cloak."
He waited for her anger to fade. "I can blend in when necessary."
Before she could ask what he meant, Maria rushed down the hallway. "You only have three hours to get ready!"
She turned back to her guardian but he was gone. Naturally.
Three hours seemed an absurd amount of time, though once to her rooms her maids agreed there was hardly a minute to waste. They began prepping and primping her, scrubbing her hard in the bath and spraying her with so many perfumes there was a lingering haze in the bathroom. When she complained of a headache, she was instantly brought cold water and a fan.
Instead, she tied a robe around herself and returned to her bedroom, opening a window to release the smell from the room. Outside, dozens of guests were still arriving, most of them already dressed ornately for the ball. Many of the women were fashioning large, brightly colored gowns, with jewels shining so brightly she was almost blinded from her position above. The men too, were dressed for the occasion, in their own way. While some wore sleek, dark suits, others wore colored tailcoats.
"We really must continue working," one of her lady's maids said. "Your hair is going to take the longest."
Elysia relented, sitting herself down in the cushioned chair in front of her mirror as the women around her fussed and frenzied. While one lady began her hair, another started the makeup. On either side of her, women worked on her nails, cleaning and filing.
The commotion was causing her head to pound. Mischievously one of her maids brought out a bottle of champagne. Normally Elysia would deny an offer of drink, but tonight with all the commotion and nerves, she allowed herself a glass. When it helped settled her nerves and ease the throbbing in her head, she accepted another.
After her makeup was finished and before her hair was complete, the ladies helped her into her attire. She stood as they tightened her corset, the breath stolen from her lungs. She stepped into her skirts, then an exquisite gown was placed over her head.
After an extensive amount of time being poked, prodded, and pulled, the Princess was finally deemed ready. Her ladies gathered around, bubbling with excitement. They were already dressed, taking turns getting ready as the others worked on Elysia.
It was hard to look in the mirror when there were ten other women staring back. Once they finished oohing and ahhing over her, she politely requested a moment alone. The buzz from the champagne was already wearing off and the nerves were creeping back in.
Finally, she allowed herself a good look in the mirror. The gold eyeshadow and coloring of the dress made her blue eyes pop. For the first time she was able to appreciate the beauty of the gown she was wearing. The heart-shaped neckline was glittering in gold sequins, with blue crystals trailing down the length of the dress until the fabric transitioned slowly from gold to blue.
Her hair was curled, fashioned in delicate, interweaving braids, the remainder falling loosely around her shoulders. She finally understood her ladies' aggravation. They had to restart her hair several times, only satisfied with perfection.
There was no necklace around her collar, as such would have taken away from the detailing of the dress, though gold earrings dangled delicately from her ears. She stepped into her heels, growing two inches taller. There was nothing left to do.
The urge to hide away in the room was strong. Once that door opened, she would be swept away into the social squawking of the aristocratic society.
If she waited another minute she feared her grandmother might come after her. Rather than ensue the wrath of Maria, she walked to the door. Her fingers lingered on the handle. Shade would be on the other side. Nerves suddenly made her stomach churn, and she was uncertain if such feelings were caused by the hundreds of people waiting for her on the other side, or by one cryptic guardian.
At last she turned the handle and opened the doors. The disappointment hit like a smack across the face. The hallway was empty.
As she looked around, her eyes caught Maria, walking swiftly toward her. "We must hurry, the feast is starting soon."
She followed her grandmother quickly, her heels clicking as they descended the steps. As they neared the main hall, the dull roar of a hundred voices grew louder until Elysia was enveloped by them.
The grand dining room was flawless. The long tables were decorated with fresh greenery and dozens of lit candles, providing the room with a warm glow. Most of the guests were already seated, the servers placing napkins on their laps and fetching their drinks.
Children were already seated at their own table, making good use of the entertainment she provided for them. Half of the children were thrilled to be there, their eyes taking everything in. The other half looked bored out of their minds.
Elysia thought back to her own childhood, remembering the balls she attended over the years. Back then she wanted to mingle with the adults, sit at their table. She wanted to take part in the events instead of watch from the sidelines. What she wouldn't give now to trade places. To sit back and watch the rest of the room socialize and dance.
Her eyes found the familiar faces of her family. She walked over to them, keeping her posture in mind. Maria was sure to provide feedback on her performance after the night. There was always something to improve upon; whether it were dining etiquette, keeping a constant smile on her face, or ensuring her conversation was always brief and polite.
To her discomfort, many of the men present were already wearing masks. She tried not to cringe each time their eyes shifted to her.
Elysia moved until she was beside her oldest brother, Henry. Ralf was nowhere to be seen.