A/N: Okay...this isn't based on just one fairytale! It's more like, the
genre...although I must say I got some good inspiration and ideas from the
book called "Just Ella", which is sort of like a "Cinderella gone wrong"
story. Okay...so it may not be fabulous, but please R&R! Because I would
adore you if you did. Actually, I adore you just for reading! But moving
on. I hope you like it!
----------
For seventeen years of my life, I lived on a cushion. Straight backed chairs for good posture, yards of silk to make one dress, needlepoint and etiquette classes so I'd be a lady. No aspect of my life could be considered challenging or dangerous. I was to be delicate and refined; my sole purpose was decoration. Look but don't touch. Guard me from harm. I'm a porcelain doll.
Oh please.
My ladies in waiting seemed naught to mind. The softer life appears to suit them, and maybe it would suit me too if I cared enough. But it isn't just the matter of caring- anyone could care, or in the very least, pretend to. The fact of the matter is that I'm different. See, people in the castle have no will of their own. I'm sure they once had strong character and lively souls, but their spirits seem long ago broken. Mine isn't.
Now you're thinking- maybe I'm being ungrateful. Maybe my life isn't half as bad as I make it out to be. And maybe you're right. I can't say I never had fun. In fact, as a child, there was nowhere that I'd rather be. Racing servant boys down the banister of the Grand Staircase was a favorite pastime of mine; no one found out 'til a maid told on me, commenting on my unladylike display (her words, not mine). This behavior was counteracted by adding a new class, "Princesses in Public", to my daily routine. But I was eight, what did I care?
Classes, dresses, royal balls- I was not to be concerned. All I knew was the land. The lush, dewy grass when the sun just rose up, the pale beams that seeped through the willows, vast hills spotted gold with buttercups and daises. Indeed, Arias Nehalem was my paradise, and all other lands never clouded my mind. It was like living in a fairytale, if you believe that sort of thing. I don't...at least, not anymore.
----------
"Princess Lisanne Marestella Andromedes."
I glanced up. I took my time, seeing as the full recital of my name lasts a moment or two. You get used to it, I suppose. The servant now gave a small bow before looking at me with awaiting eyes.
"Yes?"
The acceptance of his presence- he can now move on. He cleared his throat. "Her Excellency has requested that your ladyship wear this at tonight's dinner."
I wondered if they ever just wanted to say, "Your mom wants you to put on this silly frock for tonight. Here." I sure would. The man snapped his fingers softly, and my maid (or, one of them) came in, cradling what looked like a bundle of fabric. She gave the servant a slight nod and he exited the room.
Now, normally another dress means nothing to me except a pain in the neck. As I figured, another maid walked in and they closed the door. It's impossible to get into one of these gowns on your own, even if you want to. What, with all the ribbons and ties that adorn it, I'm almost grateful for the help. Though as I said, typically they mean nothing. But this dress...this dress catches my eye. As the maid held it up for me to examine I took a sharp breath, despite my jaded outlook towards luxuries, and reached out for it. My fingertips grazed the rich, silky fabric- a shimmering, honey brown- that seemed to have been dyed with the intentions of precisely matching my eyes. The low cut bodice is lined with small, topaz jewels, and the fabric flares out at the waist, over many layers of fabric and netting.
I got into my slip and waited to step into the gown. Only I didn't. Much to my horror, a small ring of fabric with laces was slipped over my head, and I felt myself began to get angry.
"I thought I made it clear I was not to wear these."
The maids paused briefly, then continued adjusting the corset as if I'd never spoken.
"Aye Princess, you did. I'll be beggin' your pardon, but the Queen sent this down with the dress, she said you were to wear it."
My face was burning. I clenched my fists, remembering I was to keep calm and deal with this in a graceful manner. But as the maid behind me began to tighten the laces, my chest felt like it had been tied in ropes. I took a shallow breath.
"No. I refuse to wear it. Take this off immediately." So much for being graceful.
"Sorry Princess, I can't be doing that. You'll have to speak to the Queen."
I raised my chin and stepped into the dress, feeling the cool silk brush against my skin. Fine. I would talk to my mother about it. No use arguing with the chambermaids anyway; they have about as much power as a commoner.
"There now." The maid to my left said. She adjusted the puffy layers of fabric at the bottom of the skirt. "You look beautiful, milady."
I refrained from rolling my eyes and turned to the mirror, taking another shaky breath. But for once, I agreed. My hair, which had been done that morning, went perfectly with the gown. Thin gold ribbons were braided and twisted through the hair piled gracefully on my head, and a few blonde tendrils escaped to the back of my neck. And, much as it pained me to admit it, the corset did seem to work nicely. Seams ran down the front of the shimmering dress to the waistline, and my waist looked no bigger than a coin. Though I did fear the extra pressure on my chest made popping out the top inevitable, I chose not to comment.
"Very well." I said stiffly to the maids, who were awaiting some sort of response. "You may leave. I will be down in a moment." There was no way I'd let them know, after all my fussing, that this corset was tolerable after all. I'd always had an issue with stubborn pride.
----------
After one more glance in the mirror, and I walked out the door. Treading softly down the stone steps, I wondered what is in store tonight- a new dress usually meant a special occasion. The sound of voices seeped through the crack in the grand mahogany doors as I approached them; guests had already arrived. Was it the King of Ellinwood? Their kingdom had been at peace with Arias Nehalem for ages, and he and the Queen had been dining here quite often recently. No, they had come just last week. Maybe some sort of celebration? I racked my brain for any memory of an important occasion. Nothing came to mind.
"Princess Lisanne?"
I looked up, somewhat startled, and found a butler looking at me with questioning eyes.
"May I get the door for you, Princess?"
I gave him a small nod and he went into a deep bow. Putting one hand on the brass handle he pulled the door open, and I waited as the scene appeared slowly from behind the solid wood. My eyes widened. Sometimes, I just had to wonder "Why me?". This was one of those times. Hesitating on the threshold for a moment, I cautiously stepped into the room, and almost instantly my father rose from his seat.
"Ah, Lisanne, just in time. Come and join us."
----------
For seventeen years of my life, I lived on a cushion. Straight backed chairs for good posture, yards of silk to make one dress, needlepoint and etiquette classes so I'd be a lady. No aspect of my life could be considered challenging or dangerous. I was to be delicate and refined; my sole purpose was decoration. Look but don't touch. Guard me from harm. I'm a porcelain doll.
Oh please.
My ladies in waiting seemed naught to mind. The softer life appears to suit them, and maybe it would suit me too if I cared enough. But it isn't just the matter of caring- anyone could care, or in the very least, pretend to. The fact of the matter is that I'm different. See, people in the castle have no will of their own. I'm sure they once had strong character and lively souls, but their spirits seem long ago broken. Mine isn't.
Now you're thinking- maybe I'm being ungrateful. Maybe my life isn't half as bad as I make it out to be. And maybe you're right. I can't say I never had fun. In fact, as a child, there was nowhere that I'd rather be. Racing servant boys down the banister of the Grand Staircase was a favorite pastime of mine; no one found out 'til a maid told on me, commenting on my unladylike display (her words, not mine). This behavior was counteracted by adding a new class, "Princesses in Public", to my daily routine. But I was eight, what did I care?
Classes, dresses, royal balls- I was not to be concerned. All I knew was the land. The lush, dewy grass when the sun just rose up, the pale beams that seeped through the willows, vast hills spotted gold with buttercups and daises. Indeed, Arias Nehalem was my paradise, and all other lands never clouded my mind. It was like living in a fairytale, if you believe that sort of thing. I don't...at least, not anymore.
----------
"Princess Lisanne Marestella Andromedes."
I glanced up. I took my time, seeing as the full recital of my name lasts a moment or two. You get used to it, I suppose. The servant now gave a small bow before looking at me with awaiting eyes.
"Yes?"
The acceptance of his presence- he can now move on. He cleared his throat. "Her Excellency has requested that your ladyship wear this at tonight's dinner."
I wondered if they ever just wanted to say, "Your mom wants you to put on this silly frock for tonight. Here." I sure would. The man snapped his fingers softly, and my maid (or, one of them) came in, cradling what looked like a bundle of fabric. She gave the servant a slight nod and he exited the room.
Now, normally another dress means nothing to me except a pain in the neck. As I figured, another maid walked in and they closed the door. It's impossible to get into one of these gowns on your own, even if you want to. What, with all the ribbons and ties that adorn it, I'm almost grateful for the help. Though as I said, typically they mean nothing. But this dress...this dress catches my eye. As the maid held it up for me to examine I took a sharp breath, despite my jaded outlook towards luxuries, and reached out for it. My fingertips grazed the rich, silky fabric- a shimmering, honey brown- that seemed to have been dyed with the intentions of precisely matching my eyes. The low cut bodice is lined with small, topaz jewels, and the fabric flares out at the waist, over many layers of fabric and netting.
I got into my slip and waited to step into the gown. Only I didn't. Much to my horror, a small ring of fabric with laces was slipped over my head, and I felt myself began to get angry.
"I thought I made it clear I was not to wear these."
The maids paused briefly, then continued adjusting the corset as if I'd never spoken.
"Aye Princess, you did. I'll be beggin' your pardon, but the Queen sent this down with the dress, she said you were to wear it."
My face was burning. I clenched my fists, remembering I was to keep calm and deal with this in a graceful manner. But as the maid behind me began to tighten the laces, my chest felt like it had been tied in ropes. I took a shallow breath.
"No. I refuse to wear it. Take this off immediately." So much for being graceful.
"Sorry Princess, I can't be doing that. You'll have to speak to the Queen."
I raised my chin and stepped into the dress, feeling the cool silk brush against my skin. Fine. I would talk to my mother about it. No use arguing with the chambermaids anyway; they have about as much power as a commoner.
"There now." The maid to my left said. She adjusted the puffy layers of fabric at the bottom of the skirt. "You look beautiful, milady."
I refrained from rolling my eyes and turned to the mirror, taking another shaky breath. But for once, I agreed. My hair, which had been done that morning, went perfectly with the gown. Thin gold ribbons were braided and twisted through the hair piled gracefully on my head, and a few blonde tendrils escaped to the back of my neck. And, much as it pained me to admit it, the corset did seem to work nicely. Seams ran down the front of the shimmering dress to the waistline, and my waist looked no bigger than a coin. Though I did fear the extra pressure on my chest made popping out the top inevitable, I chose not to comment.
"Very well." I said stiffly to the maids, who were awaiting some sort of response. "You may leave. I will be down in a moment." There was no way I'd let them know, after all my fussing, that this corset was tolerable after all. I'd always had an issue with stubborn pride.
----------
After one more glance in the mirror, and I walked out the door. Treading softly down the stone steps, I wondered what is in store tonight- a new dress usually meant a special occasion. The sound of voices seeped through the crack in the grand mahogany doors as I approached them; guests had already arrived. Was it the King of Ellinwood? Their kingdom had been at peace with Arias Nehalem for ages, and he and the Queen had been dining here quite often recently. No, they had come just last week. Maybe some sort of celebration? I racked my brain for any memory of an important occasion. Nothing came to mind.
"Princess Lisanne?"
I looked up, somewhat startled, and found a butler looking at me with questioning eyes.
"May I get the door for you, Princess?"
I gave him a small nod and he went into a deep bow. Putting one hand on the brass handle he pulled the door open, and I waited as the scene appeared slowly from behind the solid wood. My eyes widened. Sometimes, I just had to wonder "Why me?". This was one of those times. Hesitating on the threshold for a moment, I cautiously stepped into the room, and almost instantly my father rose from his seat.
"Ah, Lisanne, just in time. Come and join us."
