Chapter 28~
(Carter) "I told Rosie this party was a bad idea," I complain again as one of her attendants waxes more hair off my legs while I sit in the royal spa getting my nails painted red while a makeup artist perfects my face and a hair dresser wrangles the long dark locks into something manageable. The skin around my eyebrows is still red from when they waxed it earlier.
"Oh shut up, you're gonna look gorgeous." Megrin rolls her eyes from the chair next to me where she's enduring the same beauty treatments only by choice for reasons I cannot comprehend.
"I don't want to look gorgeous." I grit my teeth as Rosie's attendants coat my legs with a cold lotion that stings as it sets in. "I want answers."
"All in good time, Princess Carter." Rosie waltzes in as if nothing's wrong and a flash of hate surges through my whole body. Her new short hair is pulled up in a tight bun so it's not as noticeable. I sit up straight to Rosie's attendants loud protests.
"Not today," Rosie interrupts before I have time to question her again. "You only turn seventeen once. Everything has to be perfect. You'll get your answers tomorrow."
I narrow my eyes. "Promise?"
"You have my word."
My eyes fall on the box in Rosie's hands. "What is that?"
"Your birthday present from my mother." Rose pulls the lid of the box off to reveal a glittering gold tiara with blue sapphires twinkling in a bed of tiny diamonds.
Rosie places the tiara on my head, then leans forward so we can both see it in the mirror. It looks good, natural even. I feel a little bit like an actual princess. I feel myself start to tear up.
"I wish your dad was here to see this," Rosie says. "He'd be so proud of you. Carter, you are so strong. Happy birthday, bestie."
I look back up into the mirror in time to catch Rosie wiping away a tear.
"What's wrong?" I feel my freshly massaged shoulders tense up.
"You look so beautiful," Rosie says. "And I just want you to have the best birthday ever."
I know that's not it. I know there's something else going on, but I don't have the heart to press any more than I already have. Rosie's worked so hard to make tonight perfect. The least I can do is try to enjoy it.
We hug and I close my eyes to soak it in.
"Promise me you'll try to have a good time," Rosie teases, an edge of desperation to her voice.
"I promise."
