Sorry, I don't know what happened to Chapter 4 yesterday, so here's the real Chapter 4. Enjoy!
For the following weeks, Estelle's days were crammed with endless lessons. The teachers had never let her rest a bit due to the orders of the Queen. Days passed so quickly that Estelle had not noticed it was early June already.
"Your Highness, the Queen has her orders that you must master the arts of springar and mazurka—"
"Can't we just learn something else?" moaned Andrea, who was resting her head on the arm of the armchair, pursing her lips and glanced at the window dully.
"No, Your Highness, the Queen has her orders, I have to polish your dancing skills to perfection before the celebration."
"Princess Estelle?" said Gerda, who was at the door, carrying Erika in her arms. "Your Highness, there's a letter for you, from a girl at the gates."
Estelle quickly sprinted towards Gerda and took the letter. After she had read the paper thoroughly, she smiled and took off her pump shoes, flinging them away and put on her moccasins.
"Where're you going?" asked Andrea, who wanted to follow Estelle.
"Andrea, stay here and continue the lesson, I will be back for a minute."
"Your Highness!" exclaimed the teacher. "The Queen has her orders that—"
"I know. I'll be back soon."
Estelle raced out of the room and headed downstairs, leaving Andrea and the teacher baffled.
Estelle entered the store and did not stop until she went upstairs.
"Oh, dear, Your Highness!" exclaimed Tara's mother, who was carrying fabrics in her arms. "Want some sponge cakes?"
"No thanks, Mrs. Bergen. Where's Tara?" said Estelle, who was panting hard.
"In her room," replied Mrs. Bergen.
Estelle knocked at the door and Tara quickly pulled her into the room.
"Hurry, try that on," said Tara as she took out a dress from the closet. "This took me months to make the effect. I nearly got beaten by granny because I have been out of bed for making this."
Estelle and Tara quickly tried on their dress and Tara brought the floor standing mirror in front of themselves. Estelle simply could not believe her eyes. Her pale cream coloured silk dress flowed naturally and reached the knees, with a green waistband that glimmered and shone in the lights. At the edges of the dress, there were green and blue butterflies patterns that look almost real and popping up.
"Twirl, and you'll see," suggested Tara.
She spun around and the butterflies seem flying with her, it made her look at as if she was in a meadow and the butterflies were dancing with her. Estelle gasped with surprise and finally uttered a whisper, "Thank you."
"I told you it'd be great."
Tara was dressed in a thin bright green satin dress, with white and yellow laces that reminded Estelle strongly of her garden in spring. Though it was plain and without special effects, still it was lovely as ever.
"I don't what to do without you. It seems so—"
"Magical?"
"Exactly," said Estelle. "I will ask the guards to bring you the invitation letter later. This is will be great."
"You'd better go, or the guards will be coming to our shop," reminded Tara. "I'll keep the dress and bring it to you that day."
"Okay, I really have to leave now," said Estelle. "Bye."
As soon as she changed back into her dress, she dashed downstairs and headed back to the castle. When she was about to enter the castle, she bumped into Fredrick.
"Estelle, where've you been?" asked Fredrick. "Uncle Erik and Aunt Elsa have been looking for you."
"Oh no."
"You'd better go to the study and explain yourself," said Fredrick. "I'm telling you, Uncle Erik is not feeling brilliant, some idiotic ambassadors bothered him since morning, babbling about the difference between lingonberries and cloudberries."
"That's foolish!" commented Estelle. "Everyone knows they are different."
"Just go, your presence might be able to save Uncle Erik from the long-winded babbling."
Estelle hurried to the King's study and knocked at the door. When she entered the room, she heard the ambassadors muttering in a horrible accent,
"Ripen cloudberries are golden-yellow, soft and juicy. When eaten fresh, cloudberries have a distinctive tart taste. When over-ripe, they have a creamy texture somewhat like yogurt and a sweetened flavour. Whereas the lingonberries are frequently simply mashed with sugar when raw, this preserves most of their nutrients and taste…"
"Papa? Mama?" said Estelle loudly.
"Your Highness!" exclaimed the ambassador. "I'm sure you will also be interested in the difference between—"
"No thanks, I have heard quite enough of this from my teacher," said Estelle. "And I wish to speak to Papa and Mama now."
The ambassador bowed deeply and went out the room. Erik was relieved and smiled at Estelle. But Elsa did not look happy at all.
"My little kitten has saved me from the long speech again," said Erik and he stretched his limbs comfortably.
"Where have you been again, Estelle?"
"I…" began Estelle. "Outside at the markets."
"Estelle," sighed Elsa. "After the celebration, you can go anywhere you want. But you have not mastered the dancing skills yet and then you run off and play."
"I'm sorry, Mama," said Estelle apologetically. "I know I am wrong."
Her miserable face softened Elsa's heart. Elsa bent down and hugged her child.
"It's okay, Estelle," said Elsa. "I just want to make you look good in front of people."
"It's six now and I think we should go down and have dinner," said Erik and he tried to switch subject. "I wonder if the cook is going to make us anything special today."
Erik picked up Estelle and the two hurried out of the room. Elsa sighed and beamed weakly, then she followed the two down to the dining hall, where Anna and her family had been waiting. Though it was hard to be a mother and a queen at the same time, Elsa had never complained about it. She knew she was blessed to have such a loving and warm family. Erik and Estelle were the ones who could remedy the loss of her parents.