Chapter One – Birthday Wishes

I was standing on the stool nice and tall, I looked in the mirror as the back of my dress was being pulled and tied. I sucked in a breath every time she tightened the strings of the corset in the back and held onto a maiden for support.

She curled my auburn hair into loose curls that fell completely down my back and put on a little bit of make-up. I looked in the mirror and smiled at my reflection. I turned around to face Diana who had a grin plastered on her lips, "Aurora, you look beautiful."

She held out her hand and I took it in mine and she helped me down, "Thank you, Diane."

"My pleasure, darling. You are going to make a beautiful Queen one day," She swung a necklace around my neck and I pulled my hair up and out of the way. She clasped the necklace together and I let my hair fall back down my back.

I grasped the necklace in my hand tightly and traced my finger along it. It was from my mother, she gave it to me before they shipped me to France. I knew it was for my own safety, but I wish I could be home, especially today. I wanted my mother and father with me because no one could truly replace them. I missed them and only got to see them once every few months.

I heard the door swing open and I looked behind me and saw two boys running into the room, sweat dripping down their foreheads. Diane walked out of the room and they walked over to me, Sebastian smiled, "Happy Birthday, Aurora!"

I smirked at him, "Thanks Bash!"

I heard a door slam against the wall, "Francis, where are you?" I heard a whiny scream from down the hall and we all exchanged looks, "I swear to God, Francis. This is not funny!" We all hid and watched as the Queen walked into the room, she spotted Sebastian first. "Sebastian," She barked and he ducked out from under the table, "Where is Francis?"

Sebastian shrugged and she grabbed his arm but he tried to free himself, "I don't know where he is!"

He yanked his arm free but fell backwards in the process making a loud bang on the floor, "You little bastard. Stand up, right now!"

"Catherine, I insist you leave my son alone," Diane said as she reentered the room and I climbed out of my hiding spot and helped Bash up. "Francis, honey, you can come out now," Diana said and Francis rose to his feet.

Catherine grabbed her son and pulled him out of the room, I watched as the blonde boy struggled to get free. I heard a door slam from down the hallway and sat down on a chair, Diane leaned down to be eye level with her fifteen year old son. "Are you okay?" She asked and he nodded and she brushed his brown hair out of his bluish-green eyes. "Go get a shower and get ready, we're celebrating Aurora's birthday soon."

Sebastian ran off down the hallway and disappeared into the bathroom, I stood up and Diane walked over to me placing her hands on my shoulders. "Why is Catherine so mean?" I asked.

She chuckled lightly, "She is just mad that Sebastian is growing up to be a wonderful young man and you are a beautiful girl with a lot of potential."

"You don't really think that," I looked up at her through my eye lashes.

She poked my nose with her index finger and I scrunched my face together, "Why wouldn't I? Your mother and father would be so proud of the young woman you are becoming." I swallowed hard and thought about it, I've changed a lot since I was really with them, not just visits. Five years changes someone a lot.

She handed me a small box and I looked up at her confused, "This is something special, just from Bash and I. Open it," She nodded and I ripped the paper off of the box.

I stared at the small tiara in the middle of the box, "You should not have gotten me this."

"Every Princess deserves a crown that is fit for a Queen," She said taking it out of my hands and placing it on the top of my head. It fit perfectly on the top of my head and I turned to look in the mirror, "Make a wish."

I closed my eyes and thought hard, I wish that I could be a normal girl and marry a normal boy. I opened my eyes and I looked at my reflection once again, I saw Sebastian in the corner of the mirror. I whipped my head around and he was staring at me, "Whoa."

"Is it too much?" I asked scratching the top of my head slightly and he shook his head furiously and Diane walked out of the room towards Henry's room. His tie was tied wrong and I chuckled and walked over to him, "Your tie is messed up."

I undid his tie and fixed it and he watched me intently the entire time, "Th-thank you." I looked up at him slightly since he was an inch or two taller than me, "You look incredible."

I curtsied slightly and he grinned at me widely, "Thank you, Bash."