Princess Laurel Lance of Canary Cove
I'm sitting with my younger sister Sara, absently playing with the bracelet I have hidden on my wrist below the long sleeves of my dress as she excitedly talks about what she overheard mother and father speaking about. My mind spins as I think about it all.
A ball. It's so simple really, but it might be just what I need.
My mind is reeling, but not completely from the simple concept. I've been to many balls, that is not the issue. The issue is in that Father, Mother, and the rest of the royalty and nobility who have corresponded and planned this particular ball wish to make amends, make alliances. Alliances mostly through the marriages, or marriage arrangements in the case of the younger children.
"Laurel? Lauurrreelll?" My sister's sing-song-y voice pulls me out of my thoughts and I blink rapidly when she waves her hand in front of my face. "Earth to Laurel?"
"Yes Sara?" I answer her after clearing my throat.
"What in the world has you so focused?" She narrows her eyes at me, examining my sheepish expression.
"Nothing important." I wave her off but that just makes her more curious.
"It had to of been important." She stands up, her dress swishing as she moves to stand in front of me with her hands on her hips. "Tell me."
"Really Sara, it truly was nothing of great importance." I try to convince her but she has always been a better liar than I have and she sees right through me.
"No, it's something. I know it. You are such a bad liar." She shakes her head with a laugh. "All right, so you won't talk, huh? I'm just going to have to figure it out myself." She moves to go past me back inside, but she stops and jumps back next to me, grabbing onto my shoulder. "Orrrrr, you could just tell me and save me from all the sleuthing I'll have to do." She gives me a begging face, puppy dog eyes and all.
My eyes widen and I look away, "No, I will not be swayed by the puppy dog eyes!" I tell her.
"Oh fine." She stands and takes a few steps, at the entryway she turns and calls out, "I guess I'll just have to ask mother and father." She sings the words triumphantly and I know I've been beat. If she asks them anything they'll begin to figure it out, they'll watch me like a hawk, force me to end up an old maid if they have to.
"Sara!" I call out, jumping to my feet. I grab my skirts and take off after her, following her footsteps down the halls until I find her entering the throne room where Mother and Father are.
"Mother, Father." She greets and opens her mouth to begin her line of questioning.
"Sara!" I call out, "There you are." I manage to not sound out of breath. "I've been looking for you everywhere." I tell her, pretending to be excited about something. "I heard there shall be a ball, and I wanted to go begin picking out our dresses immediately." I grab her hands and hold them in between us.
She eyes me for a few seconds before she smiles at me, triumph flashing in her eyes. "That sounds like a splendid idea!"
We bow to our parents before rushing off at an acceptable pace, giggling like mad and pretend talking about dresses and fashion, the latest styles and everything. Once we are safely behind my bedroom door I collapse onto my plush canopy bed.
Sara comes and climbs up next to me. "Soo..." She pokes my arm, "Tell me."
"You have to promise this stays a secret." I sit up and take her hands, "Please promise me Sara." I look into her eyes and she looks confused by my behavior once more.
"Yeah, of course Laurel. But what is it? I was talking about the upcoming ball and you just-" She waves her other hand in the air, "-you just started staring off into space. Does it have something to do with the ball?"
"Yes, it sort of does actually." I resume playing with my bracelet, my thoughts running rampant once more. "It has to do with-" I pause, "The way our parents and the other royals and nobles hope to gain solid alliances." I tell her, staring at my wrist as I continued to play with the jewelry.
"You mean the marriage arrangements?" She wrinkles up her nose, "Surely Mother and Father would not subject us to such a practice. Is that all?"
"Actually, no." shaking my head, my long hair blocks my view of her as my head is still angled downwards.
"What else is it then?" She brushes my blonde hair over my shoulder and I turn my head just enough so that my eyes can meet hers.
"I-" I take a deep breath, struggling to contain my emotions, "I'm in love with someone." I breathe the words, and it feels good to have finally said it out loud, to have told her.
"You're in love." She sits back and stares at me, and I see questions forming in her eyes. "How long?" Her first question is soft, wondering how long I've kept something like this from her.
"I didn't know I was in love at first." I answer, "We've been courting since the past summer season." I cringe as her eyes widen at how long it's been. Almost a full year of sneaking around, keeping secrets from her.
"Who?" I can tell she is hurt, but her curiosity keeps her questions at the front of her focus.
I am about to answer her when a knock sounds at the door. "Princess Laurel?" Clearing my throat, I answer, "Come in."
It's a group of new maids who have come to help me ready for bed.
Pushing ourselves off the plush mattress I take her hands before she can storm out of the room. "I shall tell you tomorrow. I promise Sara."
She glares at me before hurrying from the room and I sigh, saddened that she was angry with me. "Are you all right Princess?" A girl asks and I manage a smile. "Oh, yes. I am quite all right. Sara is just upset with me over a trivial matter, tis nothing of importance. Thank you for asking."
After that it hardly takes much time for them to help me out of my dress and into my nightclothes. I thank them as they shuffle out before I climb into my soft bed once more.