Present day.
The days rolled by as I began to settle into a new routine. Waking up to have breakfast with my new family, studying with a private tutor, and delving into different hobbies I've never gotten to experience in the Therasis town.
Did I miss my parents and my home? Of course. All the time. Some days were harder than others. Some days I shed tears because I missed my mother and father. Some days I woke up in a cold sweat from the vivid nightmares I got.
Through all of this, I had to remind myself that life would continue on even if I didn't, and I cannot afford to fall behind. Overtime, the pain in my heart began to ease, the nightmares became more infrequent, and the lingering regret began to dwindle. I began to heal, and the spark returned to my eyes.
"You ready to head out, (y/n)?" Eliza pops her head into my room.
I nod. "Yep, just let me grab my coat." I closed the book that I was reading.
Eliza and I were heading to the town's square today. It was a wonderful place filled with so many markets and stands. While we had something similar in our town's square, Therasis's was easily double the size of ours.
"I saw you reading when I came in. How is it coming along?" Eliza asks as we both walk into a small dress shop.
"It's been well. I've moved onto higher level books!" I was ecstatic. Unfortunately, back home, there weren't many literate people, and the only tutor I had taught me the very basics, as that was all she knew. When I arrived in Therasis, the King swiftly assigned a tutor to me that began with the basics and gradually moved up.
An illiterate princess was practically unheard of, but I didn't know of that until I arrived in the northern regions. Fortunately, no one had ever shamed me for it, and it made learning much more enjoyable. I've begun enjoying fairytales, how beautiful they were.
"You must've really enjoyed it. I knocked a few times and you didn't hear, so I decided to come in," she exasperated.
"Whoopsies," I smile cheekily.
"What can I do for you girls—" the shopkeeper begins before she looks up at us, eyes widening at Eliza before taking a deep bow. "Your highness. My sincerest apologies."
"Good day to you, Martha. We're looking for dresses for the ball coming up. It's in two days, and I had checked my wardrobe this morning and nothing caught my eye." Eliza huffs.
Martha straightens her back at that, before smiling. "Of course, your highness. I am sure my selection will not disappoint you. Is there anything in particular you are looking for?" She ushers the two of us into the back of the store, where the more luxurious, expensive dresses were.
"Hmm...nothing in particular. I will browse around until I find something of interest," Eliza absentmindedly states as she begins to browse the rack.
"Please let me know if you require any assistance. As for you...Lady (y/n), do you have any particular dresses in mind?" Martha pauses before my title, unsure of what to address me by. After all, I technically wasn't a princess anymore since my kingdom no longer existed.
I shake my head. "I have something in mind at home already, I'm just here to keep Eliza company. Thank you, Martha."
"No worries," Martha says before the bell rings, signaling another customer. The shop must've been getting good foot traffic as noble ladies were doing last minute shopping before the ball.
"What do you think about this one?" I snap my head back at Eliza, who is holding up a pastel blue dress, which happens to be the first one on the rack.
"It is pretty, but it washes you out a little bit," I give my honest feedback.
"You're right. Next one," Eliza tosses the dress back onto the rack before grabbing the one right next to it, the second dress on the rack, without even looking at it. She holds it up to her chest. "How about this one?"
We were going to be here for a long, long time.
———
We eventually settled on two dresses that we thought were the most flattering on Eliza. A beautiful red one that complimented her complexion, and a pale yellow one that made her eyes pop a little more. Unable to decide between the two, she ended up purchasing both, as the sun started to set.
"Thank you," I say to the coachman as we hop out of the carriage.
The coachman tips his hat at me. "It was my pleasure."
"You really are an angel," Eliza comments.
"What do you mean?" I ask, curiously.
"You say thank you and please to everyone, it's quite admirable. Even after I took etiquette lessons for the majority of my childhood, my father said I am still brutish," Eliza rolls her eyes at the image of him telling her to 'be more ladylike.'
I laugh, being able to see the same image. "Well, etiquette classes focus more on how to act in high society, rather than daily mannerism with common folks," I elbow her lightly.
"Plus, it's a habit I have that I picked up from my mother. Growing up she always taught me that please and thank you were the magic key," I think back on her fondly.
"You didn't even have etiquette classes until recently and I bet you still act more graceful than me in high society," Eliza laments.
"Well, we can't be certain. I've never really conversed with those in high society prior to you and your father," I get squeamish at the prospect of being in a room full of them in two days.
"Trust me, (y/n). You are going to take that room by storm. I've been around the high society of the Kruos Empire, and none of them have that charm that you do," she elbows me back lightly.
"That's exactly what I don't want," I deadpan. Being the center of attention? At a ball? Hosted by the Emperor of Kruos? Absolutely not. Zero chance.
Eliza yawns a bit, stretching her arms. "Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow morning. Trying on a hundred dresses was a lot more tiring than I thought it was going to be."
'Tell me about it. I helped you into all one hundred of them,' I mentally sweat.
"Goodnight, Eliza."
"Goodnight, (y/n)."
———
The day of the ball had finally arrived, and I couldn't have been more nervous. After stating our departures with King Therasis, we both settle into our respective seats in the carriage as the coachman loads our small suitcases in the back.
Since we were a bit further away from the Kruos Empire, we were allowed to stay overnight at the castle, for it was dangerous to traverse through the night.
Excitement is evident on Eliza's face. She begins rambling about the ball.
"...—not what I meant, at all. You should try and find a handsome suitor. You are much too pretty for one of those goblin-looking men out there," she gags.
I bring my hand to my mouth to stifle my mouth from the giggles. "Eliza! Don't say that!"
Clutching the fabric of my plain, white gown, I pull my coat tighter to my body. Despite being in the carriage and right next to Eliza, I could notice a noticeable dip in the temperature.
White specks began to fall from the sky.
"Woah!" My eyes gleam at the sight. Snow! "This is my first time seeing snow!"
Eliza laughs at my excitement. "A lot of firsts for you tonight, huh." She nudges me. "First snowfall, first ball, first time in the Empire, maybe even first romance," Eliza wiggles her eyebrow at me suggestively.
"Well that won't only be my first," I shot back. Eliza was just a few years younger than me at eighteen years old. She was of age, and King Therasis was now beckoning her to find potential suitors.
"Fiiine. Then both of our goals tonight is to have fun AND find a potential suitor," she drags her words out.
"I can only agree on the first one," I say pointedly. I've already been of age to find a potential candidate for a few years now, though, I never did. Was it because I was scared? Partially. I am also just inept at talking to men, as I've grown up with practically all female friends.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," she waves me off.
———
Two hours of us bickering to each other comes to a halt when the carriage comes to a slow.
The coachman calls out to us. "We are here, your highnesses." We both step out as the castle maids begin to take our luggage into our allocated rooms.
I gape at the sight in front of me. Oh, my goodness. This place is HUGE. I thought Therasis was big but this...this is a whole other level.
There, in front of me, stood the most grand castle I've only ever read about in those fairytale books. A castle like this could house half of my home nation!
"Excuse me," I hear a lady behind me scoff. She looks me up and down, before sneering slightly. "You're in the way."
"Ah, my apologies." I fluster a little bit. I didn't realize my awe at the building caused me to look like a fish out of water right in front of the entry.
"Next time just walk around her," Eliza comes to my side and sneers back. "There's plenty of space, unless you require the entire entry way," Eliza retorts.
So much for not drawing attention to ourselves.
"Princess Eliza. What a...pleasure seeing you here. Last time I saw you, you were almost kicked out of etiquette school," the lady laughs haughtily before turning away and walking inside.
"lAsT tImE i SaW yOu YoU wErE aLmOsT kIcKeD oUt oF eTiQuEtTe ScHoOl," Eliza mocks in a tone under her breath.
"Eliza, it's okay. We're here to have fun, remember?" I chuckle nervously, attempting to soothe her. I can see what King Therasis meant by making sure she doesn't create trouble.
"I know, I know. I just can't help it. That is Lady Annabeth. She's the daughter of the Duke of Charters," she fake gags. Duke of Charters, the primary duke assigned to the region after the Emperor of Kruos invaded the former kingdom that it used to rule.
"Come on, let's go inside. It's cold out here," I urge Eliza, feeling my nose turn red as the brisk air nips at it.
I can't help but feel a small sense of dread bubble in me. Screw making friends, not happening. This night already started off horrendously.
———
This night is AMAZING!
I drool at the sight of the copious amounts of pastries, tarts, and fruit boards that line the long table in the back. What is even better is everyone is mingling and talking amongst themselves, too busy to indulge in the sin of gluttony.
Oh, well! More for me!
Eliza's eyes followed my line of sight, which wasn't hard considering the stars in my eyes seemed to beam spotlights at the table.
"C'mon, let's go get—" she begins as she grabs my arm.
The sound of a voice clearing interrupts her and I. We both snap our attention to the owner, a handsome man with ash blond hair and green eyes. He was adorned in a white suit with gold buttons and a brooch with what appeared to be a duchy on it.
"Princess Eliza. If you are free, would you care to join me for a dance?" He curtsies to her. Perfect!
"No—"
"Yes!" I cut her off. This was her chance to start looking for a suitor! A duke nonetheless!
"Wait, what—!?" I shove her lightly towards the man.
"What're you doing?!" Eliza whips around back at me and hisses in my ear.
I gave a tight-lipped, closed eye smile and hugged her, whispering in her ear. "I thought you said all night long you were going looking for a suitor. Now is your chance!"
"Yeah, but I didn't mean in a way where I leave you alone!" She whispers back aggressively.
"That doesn't even make sense!!" I whisper-retort. What does that even mean? Did she want to flirt with a man while we held hands or something?
"I will be fine on my own. You know where to find me," I whisper.
"Ahem." His voice snaps us out of it and I quickly hold her at arms-length.
"She is delighted you asked! Take good care of her!" I beam and turn on my heels, making a beeline for the table of pastries before she had the chance to rebuttal.
'You owe me for this one, King Therasis. That girl almost scared off the man!' I sigh.
Approaching the table, I couldn't be more excited as I scoped the feast before me, bouncing on my toes slightly.
Maybe tonight will go well.
———
Perched on the second floor hidden along a shadow, a figure lazily leaned against the railing, sighing at the sight beneath him.
'How tiresome.' This was such a hindrance in his busy schedule.
His eyebrows furrow at the sight of two individuals who enter the room.
'Ah. It's that crazy girl that almost got kicked out of etiquette school.' He recognized the red-haired individual.
Beside her stood a girl with (h/c) hair, adorned in a fluffy french braid with a couple flowers embedded into the sections and a simple, white gown.
It was ironic. He could instantly tell she wanted to minimize her appearance as much as possible, though it did nothing but make her stand out more, since every lady was adorned head-to-toe in the most colorful, lavish dresses and the most expensive, flashy jewelry their parents could afford. Sometimes, less is more.
It's odd though, he didn't recognize you. He was very adept at remembering the noble names and faces, though he couldn't quite pinpoint yours.
Did you sneak in? That would explain the lack of flashy jewelry and simple attire. But you stuck quite close to Princess Eliza, so you must be connected to her in some way.
'Interesting..."
His narrowed eyes follow the two figures, watching you hug the red-haired girl before swiftly making your way towards the back of the room to the table of desserts. Your naivety failed to notice the look that a few men gave you as you passed by them, a slight skip in your step as you tunneled in on your goal.
'How very interesting...' he couldn't help but let a wicked grin erupt on his face, slipping the rest of his body into the shadows.
———
A/N: IM SO EXCITEDDDDD!!! Also very unedited so don't mind the crappy writing. 😅