Two days after Madame Edelweiss came to fit the dress.
It was a wonderful dress, at least Lilliana thought so. It was a very simple dress in silk, the exact sky blue color that Lilliana favored so much. Which came with the desired white broad brimmed hat with a blue silk ribbon made from the same material as the dress itself. There was also a white coat, and white shoes that fit the dress.
It was hardly any ballgown, more it looked like a garden party dress but Lilliana didn't mind, there was no way a real ball gown would have suited her short stout figure anyway. This one however actually looked quite nice. There even was a pair of white glows that Lilliana tried on and Madame Edelweiss exhaled relieved as the gloves fit perfectly.
"Well, not to shabby if I may say so myself." Madame Edelweiss commented as she looked at Lilliana in a frown.
"It's perfect, I love it." Lilliana smiled back. "Thank you Madame Edelweiss."
The seamstress sighed deeply. "Well, i'm just going to make the last stings then i'll come with the finished dress tomorrow. Just as well, the dance is only a few days away." she commented.
"Yes it is." Lilliana smiled. "We just slaughtered a pig for it today!"
That made Madame Edelweiss look at her with wide eyes. "Well, that's… Very nice." she commented clearly she was a bit uneasy.
"Oh dear, if they need any geese for the dance I should probably slaughter them early in the day so I can take a bath, I don't want to ruin this dress." Lilliana sighed deeply and Madame Edelweiss seemed like she had gone pale.
Jack whom was seated in his corner however rolled his eyes. "I'll write up the chores i'll expect you to do that day. Make them in your own tempo, though if you want to be on the safe side just get up early." he stated.
"Thank you sir!" Lilliana smiled at him
When the day finally arrived Lilliana rose earlier than usual, the sun wasn't even up yet. By the time Old Jack had risen Lilliana had already finished feeding all the animals and was unto plucking the chickens for tonights banquet.
She worked extra hard that day, and were indeed finished with all the chores on her list as the day was only half done.
That gave her time to fill the zinc tub, hidden away in the living room she shared with jack, with lukewarm water and she began scrubbing. It wasn't exactly fine soap they had, more like a rough soap that had a yellow color. Though since Lilliana didn't have hair that needed washing anymore, she reflected, she could spare the time to really scrub the rest of her body through.
Also trying to apply makeup did seem rather wasteful and a waste of time. So instead she merely relished in the feeling of being clean, enjoying the scent of soap from her bath.
She made sure she was absolutely dry before finally putting on her dress that did indeed fit like a glove.
Speaking of gloves, she slipped hers on and fixed the hat, just as she was done putting on the coat did Jack come in and looked rather dumbfounded at her.
"You're seriously going." he concluded.
"It'll be fine." Lilliana assured in a smile.
Jack sighed deeply. "I wish I could tell you you look lovely, but I always despised liars." he commented. "You smell nice." he then said in a shrug. "All though how much soap did you use? My nose feels scratchy from way over here."
Lilliana chuckled amused. "I should probably go." she said. "It's rude to be late." she said as she walked towards the door.
"Frog.." Jack then spoke and Lilliana stopped as she turned to him looking up.
Jack sighed deeply. "Take care of yourself okay?" he asked. "Those nobles, they are not always." he bit his lip. "Don't let them treat you bad." he then asked. "You're better than that, you deserve better."
Stunned Lilliana looked at Jack, then she smiled. "It will be okay." she assured. "I already know what they all think, they think I am a disgusting creature. Most people wont even consider that I am a person." she said. "Let them think what they will, it is no concern of mine. All I wish to do, is to have a dance at the ballroom. Just one, that will be enough." she said in a gentle smile. "You don't have to wait up for me, i'll be there in the morning and rise with you at sunrise like always." she assured. "Please have a pleasant evening." she asked as she curtsied.
Sadly Jack shook his head. "You to." he said. "You look… nicer than usual." he stated and Lilliana smiled amused before she finally ran off.
Finally she reached the castle and she swallowed as she stepped towards the big entrance where nobles and its like was walking wearing their ballgowns and fine suits. Then as they realized she was there, people started to halt and turned to her.
Even the guards blinked, but stood still as they tried not to look.
Lilliana however just send them a kind smile and walked inside where she let a servant take her white coat.
"Ah Frog!" A familiar voice sounded and Lilliana turned to greet the smiling prince. "So you made it. Hey that sure is a nice dress!" he said. "It suits you!"
Lilliana blushed as she glanced down. "Well, you're the one who purchased it for me are you not?" she asked. "Thank you your highness." she said.
"You're welcome." Adam smiled. "May I escort you to the banquet hall?" he asked offering Lilliana a hand.
"That would be an honor." Lilliana said as she accepted.
Gaping everyone looked after them as the awkward stout frog was waddling beside the tall and handsome prince. It was a very odd picture to say the least.
As the king had demanded Lillian was not sat by the royals table, not even the nobles table but the table with the ladies in waiting.
The women sitting there looked quite uncomfortable and kept stealing glances while they tried to pretend they weren't looking.
"Urgh I think i'm going to be sick." One young woman further down the table then said as she lifted a handkerchief to her mouth. "How will I even be able to eat with that disgusting thing sitting there?" she asked.
"Emma keep quiet!" the woman next to her hissed. "That toad is the prince's special guest. If you really want to dance with him, you better hope he doesn't find out what you just said!"
"My name is Frog." Lilliana said looking up and all the women gasped as they turned to her. "Please, just call me Frog." she asked in a gentle smile.
The ladies were shivering and swallowing.
Then Lilliana looked down as she pulled down in her hat. "Please don't mind me, I have no wish to spoil your evening." she said.
There was utter silence around her, then a whisper, Lilliana had no idea where it came from. "Does it even know how to use silverware?"
"I do in fact." Lilliana said as she looked up and the girls all jumped. "You don't need to worry, I wont be making a mess of myself. I promise." she assured.
And indeed as the food was brought in, Lilliana acted exactly like the princess she actually was. Her manners lacked nothing and she ate quietly and even with grace. The starter with a creamy mushroom soup, which melted on the tongue. It was indeed delicious.
For the main course came the big pork roast and several chicken platters, Lilliana almost told the other girls by the table that she had in fact helped slaughtering that pick and had slaughtered the chickens herself earlier that same day but decided against it. They were scared enough already.
And at last, they were each served the most delicious chocolate truffles with a delicate mint sauce. Several times Lilliana glanced up towards the royal table, this time a beautiful princess with chocolate brown hair was seated next to Prince Adam.
This princess had deep brown eyes and her features were soft which made her look very pleasant and kind. She wore a dark green ball gown which suited her dark hair perfectly. She looked so good there beside the prince, the two really suited each other.
Lilliana sighed deeply as she returned to her dessert but said nothing, just ate in dignified silence.
Finally the doors to the ballroom opened and the music streamed towards Lilliana. Slowly she followed to crowd towards the ballroom and then saw it, all the nobles and noble ladies dancing to the music. And there in the middle was the prince, dancing with the brown haired princess.
Ones again Lilliana noted how much they suited each other, the princess was smiling and her eyes shining with joy.
Adam as well smiled his eternally gentle smile as he held the princess's waist and led her around the dance floor.
Sadly Lilliana looked down as she tried to fight the lump in her throat. She remembered the days back at her own castle, where people would stand in lines to dance with her. She had never refused a dance in her entire life. She had danced with anyone from visiting nobles to her fathers own valet.
Now though, no one would dance with her. As she was so much smaller then anyone else in the room, most people didn't see her. Though when they did they walked a big circle around her. Lilliana started to consider asking one of the men for a dance, but then she hesitated. Who would want to dance with her?
Suddenly this became much harder than she had anticipated and she closed her eyes desperate not to cry.
Then suddenly, a hand was reached towards her. Stunned Lilliana looked up and saw Prince Adam offering her a hand.
"My dear lady. May I ask you for a dance?" Adam asked.
Lilliana gasped as all the air seemed to be knocked out of her.
Gently Adam looked at her. "That's why you are here in the first place isn't it? To Dance."
And Lilliana smiled as she wiped away a single renegade tear. "Yes." she said accepting his hand.
"Oh, so you're going to give that creature dance lessons now?" One of the young noble men laughed.
"She doesn't need any lessons." Adam blinked at the group of young noble men. "She's an excellent dancer already." he informed as he lead Lilliana to the dance floor.
Then they took position. Adam held her hand and put a hand on her waist, he had though to bow down since Lilliana was so much smaller than him and she couldn't reach his shoulder otherwise. But finally they made do, then slowly they began to dance.
At first, no one noticed the change, but then suddenly people started to see them and pointed fingers as whispers went all around.
Lilliana didn't mind though, she felt like she was flying on a cloud as Adam guided her around and then suddenly wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her up in the air.
"QUACK!" Lilliana quacked in surprised but then laughed. "HAHAHA!" she laughed happily as she was put down again and made a piouette before she curtsied and then returned to the dance.
"You really are a pretty good dancer." Adam commented. "Where did you learn?" he asked.
Lilliana smiled amused. "It doesn't matter, my old life is a place I can never return to." she said holding his hand and stepped forward then back with him.
"You have manners as good as any princes." Adam commented as he turned her around. "Do you come from a court of some kind?"
"What kind of court would that be my prince?" Lilliana asked she turned back. "Do you know of any courts of frogs?"
"Not really, but there are many things in this world I don't know of. I never thought I would actually see a dragon for instance." Adam chuckled amused. "And I never seen a creature like you, you must come from far away." she said.
"Sometimes it feels like it was a different world." Lilliana admitted as she was swung around. "Perhaps even a different life time, it's all so far away now." she sighed.
Adam looked at her. "Do you ever miss it?" he asked. "The place you came from?"
Lilliana sighed deeply. "Of course I do." she said. "I miss it very much, but I can't ever return" she said looking up as she laid her hand on his shoulder and they waltzed.
"Why not?" Adam asked. "I can't imagine you ever committing a crime."
"What I have done or not done doesn't matter." Lilliana said. "It was a different life, now I am here. And I am only thankful to be here now, to be alive." she hesitated. "To be with you."
Adam smiled amused. "I sure am glad as well." he stated. "I'm so glad I met you!"
Lilliana smiled happily, though then behind Adam she saw the brown haired princess who looked angry over missing her prince.
"I think your princess wants to dance with you again." Lilliana pointed out.
Adam rolled his eyes. "Maybe i'll dance with her later. Just so father wont kill me. But there's no way i'll ever marry her."
That made Lilliana look up. "Why not?" she asked. "She's seemed kind, and she's beautiful."
"Yeah she's beautiful al right." Adam sighed. "But she kept talking about how I was such a good person putting up with having a frog seated at my party, she wanted to tell how sorry she felt for me and well… I rather not repeat what she said about you. There's just no way I could wake up to the sight of such a person every morning for the rest of my life. Honestly… I just wanted to punch her."
And suddenly Lilliana could not stop herself as laughter bubbled up and she laughed. "Hahaha!"
Adam smirked as well.
"Oh dear, i'm sorry." Lilliana chuckled as she wiped away her tears. "Please don't punch any princess's." she then asked.
"I wont." Adam promised "Beside, my father would kill me if I did." he sighed.
"And we can't have that." Lilliana smiled amused.
Sadly the dance had to end eventually and people started to disperse, the ladies started to retire but the young men stayed around to drink strong alcohol and smoke cigarettes.
Lilliana finally also decided it was time to leave and excused herself.
"Let me follow you home." Adam then asked.
"Oh no, I couldn't… Okay." Lilliana then said accepting Adams hand letting him guide her outside the castle. They didn't reach further than the front stairs though before they ran into a group of Adams friends. A group of young noble men drinking and smoking.
"Your highness!" One of them called him over. "Come join us for a glass!"
"In a moment, i'm taking frog home." Adam replied.
"Let her join to!" The nobleman then said.
Surprised both Adam and Lilliana looked up.
"Oh come on, you said yourself she helped slaying the dragon. Let us see her!" Another one asked.
Adam glanced down at Lilliana. "What do you say?" he asked.
"Well, perhaps I could talk a little with them." Lilliana said and then willingly walked towards the little group.
"Wow, you sure are just as ugly as they say." A noble man smirked as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Eric seriously?!" Adam exclaimed.
"It's okay." Lilliana assured.
"Don't mind him, he's drunk." Another nobleman said. "So, you're the frog that help slaying the dragon?" he asked.
Lilliana nodded. "Yes sir." she said.
"HAHAHA!" The nobleman laughed. "Now i've seen everything. So what's next, going to slay the hell beast in the western woods?" he asked.
"What?" Lilliana asked.
"You know, the hell beast." The noble man explained. "The woods of the western border of this kingdom was drenched in dark magic blight decades ago and a hell beast took residence. Since then no one has been able to enter, no wait. People has entered but no one has ever come out, at last the area was just named off limits." he stated. "To bad, with all the resources in that forest the people wouldn't have to starve this winter even with all their fields burned down by that stupid dragon."
"Wait." Adam looked up. "You're saying something! If we get rid of the hell beast, people wont have to suffer this winter."
"You don't plan to go there do you?" A nobleman asked.
"Maybe I am." Adam commented and Lilliana wide-eyed looked up.
"you're mad." The first nobleman commented.
"Well I slayed a dragon, a hell beast should be easy right?" Adam asked.
"Don't you even dare!" Lilliana exclaimed and Adam looked down at her. "You barely escaped that dragon alive, going after a hell beast which no one could kill for decades is foolish! Yes perhaps a lot of people will be hungry this winter, but if you just act wisely and ration out to the people with wisdom no one will have to die from hunger!"
Surprised Adam looked at her and a nobleman smirked.
"So she has some fire in her." He chuckled amused. "She's right though, going there would be way to foolish." he stated sucking on his cigarette.
Adam though frowned as he crossed his arms, now looking in deep thought.
"Your highness!" Lilliana exclaimed and Adam looked up. "Promise me you wont go after that hell beast alone." she asked.
Adam looked at her then sighed. "Okay. I promise." he said.
Soon he followed her home to the little hut, he said good night and left her, still… Lilliana had a bad feeling about this. A very bad feeling.