A/N: Hey, I've started this story so many times, but this time it's for sure. And I think I'm going to make other stories in this series, so that should be fun. This chapter is dedicated to my friend, Michelle, who helped me get started on this story. (Every time I update, the chapter is going to be dedicated to someone new, so watch out! )
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Elizabel Braveheart sighed and tucked a stray, blonde hair behind her ear. She watched the palm tree that she was leaning against sway in the warm, Caribbean breeze. Elizabel was a stunning young woman of the age of seventeen. She had a fair figure and a pale complexion, despite the fact that she lived in Cuba. Her eyes were bright and two different colours – the right was sapphire blue, the shade of the Caribbean sky, and the left was emerald green, the shade of the Caribbean Sea. Her strawberry-blonde hair complimented her face, which rarely held a smile.
Her English instructor, Marie, continued reading in her dull, monotone voice. Elizabel sighed louder and succeeded in her attempt to interrupt the lesson.
"Honestly, Your Highness!" exclaimed Marie, throwing up her hands in frustration. "Where ever has your head been lately? Well, that's a daft question on my part – it's in the clouds, as usual."
"I am sorry, Marie, but this is so…boring!" Elizabel complained.
"Shakespeare is not boring! Romeo & Juliet is not boring!"
"Marie, I know what happens. We saw the play last June. They die in the end, you know."
Suddenly, two of the maids, Sarah and Brigitte, came running up and Elizabel was grateful for the interruption. "Pardon our intrusion," said Brigitte, curtsying. "His Royal Majesty, King Henry…um, your father…requests your presence."
Elizabel stood up, glad to leave, but also a tad worried. Her father hardly ever had time for her.
"Your parasol, m'lady!" said Marie.
"Yes, Marie," Elizabel said through clenched teeth, snatching the lacy umbrella from her and walking off.
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"Father?" Elizabel said, opening the door to the library. "You needed to speak with me?"
He looked up and smiled. "Ah, Elizabel," he said, acknowledging her. "I just wanted to inform you that tonight there will be a ball held in your honour."
"A ball?" repeated Elizabel with mild interest. "Where?"
"Here, naturally. I have invited everyone of importance."
"And they agreed to come at such short notice?"
"Well, I had been planning this for awhile."
"Oh? When had you been planning to tell me about it?"
"Well…now, actually."
Elizabel nodded, pretending to be extremely fascinated by the books in the library.
"Elizabel, my dear, please say you'll join us. It shall scarcely be a party without the guest of honour."
"Why am I to be praised? I have not done anything worth mentioning."
"Well…Prince Gerard will be there."
Elizabel turned and faced her father. "Oh, Daddy, no! I do not desire to talk to him."
"He thinks you are the most beautiful young lady he has ever seen, Elizabel."
"There's more to beauty, Father! I want someone who will love me for just being me. Not someone who's marrying be to be in line to the throne."
"He will already be the King of France. And he is your future husband – it will be awfully difficult for you two to be in the same household and not speak to each other. Think! This could be the merger of our two great nations."
As the King continued talking, Elizabel slipped out of the room. Rounding the corner, she nearly ran into Brigitte. "Sneaking away from your father's lectures again?" she asked, smiling.
Elizabel grinned sheepishly. "Yes. I'm sorry, Brigitte, but he does not seem to care what I want. Unfortunately, he still has authority over me until I become of age to rule my country – legally, eighteen – and marry a prince."
"And what do you think of your fiancé, Prince Gerard?"
"Well, I have only ever seen him once or twice in my entire life. Since he lives in France, I make a point to avoid travelling there."
Brigitte gave a light laugh.
"I swear that he spends more time admiring himself in the mirror than he does bathing! And I have to wed him in less than two months! If that's not bad enough, he is nearly twenty years my senior! If I were Queen now, I would abolish betrothals, for I know that no one wishes to marry against their will."
Brigitte nodded. "I'm so sorry, Your Majesty."
"I know you are, Brigitte. And please, call me Elizabel."
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Later that night, Sarah and Brigitte were in Elizabel's room helping her into her gown. Elizabel adjusted her hoopskirt and looked at herself in the mirror. She then placed around her neck a golden chain with a ring on it. It was her mother's and it had one white pearl on it and one black one. Elizabel began brushing her hair as the maids put the corset on her.
"How does it feel, miss?" Sarah asked, as she pulled the final strings.
"Am I supposed to be able to breathe?" Elizabel asked, gasping for air.
"No."
"Well, then it's perfect."
When Sarah left, Elizabel asked Brigitte, "Do you want to attend the ball with me?"
Brigitte's eyes lit up. "Could I? Is that possible?"
"It is." Elizabel placed her own crown on Brigitte's head. "If you pretend to be royalty. You can be…Princess Brigitte Brighton of Kingsley Isle!"
"What is someone realizes I don't belong there? I'm not exactly the most proper person."
"Don't worry," Elizabel assured her. "There will be plenty of people there for you to blend in with. And not many people know that you are a maid here, so the chances of anyone finding out are very slim."
"All right, I'll attend the ball," Brigitte said, still not too sure of herself. "As long as you pair me up with a handsome prince!"
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A/N: Please read and review, and please don't flame! They make everyone feel bad. If you write a story, I wouldn't flame it! Oh, and did everyone see the trailer for the second movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest? It is sooo cool! check it out here: http/movies.
