The next few days were a torment, even though I had absolutely no responsibilities or worries. Not even Bertrand was bothering me, saying that we had done all we could and now we just had to wait for the Coronation. And I guess that was what was so torturous, the waiting. I wouldn't see Liam again for a week, as he was busy with last-minute preparations for his coronation ball.
I confess, I slept a lot that week. I wasn't trying to be all mopey, I'm-nothing-without-my-boyfriend, but it was hard to get excited about House Beaumont's amenities when it all reminded me how Liam was missing out on the fun.
Maxwell dragged me out to the pool a few times, and Hana even stayed a couple nights with us, which was fun. She, Maxwell and I made a pillow fort in one of the parlors, and stayed there all night, telling spooky stories and playing truth or dare until we fell asleep.
Eventually, the time came for us to return to the palace, and I was buzzing from head to toe all day long. We took a jet from Ramsford to the capitol, which was a quick journey. As we were booking it through the airport towards the limo, Bertrand stopped dead in his tracks.
"What's wrong?" Maxwell asked.
"The gift," Bertrand said.
"Gift?" I asked.
"We haven't prepared a gift for the Prince!"
"Oh, no!" Maxwell groaned. "Every guest is supposed to present a gift before the Prince."
"A gift befitting his station," Bertrand specified.
"I'm sorry, Bertrand, I was supposed to remind you-"
"We were so close..." Bertrand moaned, completely hopeless.
"We can come up with something," I said, trying to bolster the boys' spirits.
Bertrand looked at me like I was moron. "Some families spend months cultivating rare flowers or crafting elaborate culinary delicacies. We can't just pick up something at the airport gift shop!"
He gestured to the shop just ahead of us, and my eyes lit up. "Can't we?" I asked, rushing to the display. It had trinkets from all over the world, not just Cordonia. I picked up a keychain featuring the Statue of Liberty. Maxwell and Bertrand peered over my shoulder.
"Are you seriously suggesting we give the Crown Prince of Cordonia a novelty keychain?" Bertrand spat.
"I don't know," Maxwell said, "Liam did talk a lot about the Statue of Liberty when we went to New York."
"Trust me," I said. "I know Liam. This is perfect."
Bertrand scowled, but let me buy the keychain, and then hurried us on.
Just before we pulled up to the palace, Bertrand looked at me seriously. "Lady Riley," he started, and I cut him off.
"I know, don't fail you now."
He looked taken aback. "I was actually going to say...Lady Riley, I have faith in you. You'll make us proud tonight."
I got a little misty eyed, but it quickly passed as he cleared his throat and added, "As long as you can find an appropriate gown for the ball, of course. Nothing you've brought will be good enough."
Needless to say, our first stop was the boutique. Where my first sight was Olivia's nasty smile. "Well, well, look who showed up."
"Hello to you, too, Olivia," I said, brushing past her to look at the outfits. Hana joined us a few minutes later, and as Olivia stalked off to the dressing rooms, she smiled warmly at me.
"Have you figured out what you're wearing yet?" she asked. I shook my head no.
"I've been too busy being scowled at by Olivia."
"I think she's scared Prince Liam may pick you tonight to be his bride."
I smiled and my face reddened. I looked around to make sure no one else could hear us, then whispered to her quietly. "Can you keep a secret?" She nodded enthusiastically. "Liam's all but told me that he is going to select me tonight."
Hana squealed, and Olivia chose that moment to exit the dressing room, wearing a slinky, low-cut red dress. "What are you so excited about?" she asked Hana.
"Oh," Hana said, composing herself. "I just found the perfect outfit for Lady Riley to wear tonight." She reached out and pulled out a random dress, but it actually looked beautiful.
"Actually, that might work," I said, taking the strapless gown to the changing room. It looked almost like a wedding dress, it was so fancy and ornate, but it was a champagne color with gold beading. "I might need help getting this on," I said, "Hana would you help me out?"
"Of course!" she said, joining me in the room. As we squeezed me into the dress, Hana asked how I was feeling.
"Nervous. Excited. Happy. Anxious," I said. "And then some."
"You're going to make a wonderful queen."
I turned to face my friend, a tear welling in my eye. "That means so much coming from you, Hana." We hugged and then she stood back, taking me in.
"You look amazing," she said. "You have to wear this tonight."
"You have a good eye," I agreed. "Even when you're not really looking!"
She giggled and we came out of the dressing room. Olivia was on a pedestal nearby, with a seamstress hemming her dress. She looked at me and rolled her eyes. "Just because you think you're some fairy tale character, doesn't mean you have to dress like one," she told me. "And it doesn't mean you're going to get the Prince, either."
I rolled my eyes right back, and ignored her. I turned to Hana. "So, I'm ready. What are you going to wear?"
"I actually saw something, but I don't know if it's too flashy. Hold on." She ducked into a dressing room and came out a second later wearing a metallic silver dress. It was short, falling just past her knees, and had a halter top.
"You look great!" I said. The silver highlighted her dark olive skin well. "Definitely not too flashy. But you'll stand out, in a good way."
She thanked me, and we both let seamstresses take our measurements and make a few alterations to the dresses before leaving.
The rest of the day flew by in a blur of hairspray, blush, and Spanx, and the next thing I knew, I was walking down another red carpet towards the palace entrance, with reporters and cameras swarming me.
"Lady Riley!"
"It's the Everywoman!"
I heard people talking about me, and to me, but it was hard to focus on any one person. Finally, a few reporters managed to push out ahead of the crowd and asked me to stop for an interview. I was standing with Hana, and the first question was about our friendship. "Lady Riley has been a wonderful friend to me."
"I would have been utterly lost without Lady Hana."
We snapped a picture together, then made our way inside. "Wow," I said when we were finally away from the press. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to that."
"It was kind of fun," Hana said. "I...I guess I didn't get as much attention from them as you have, so I'm not worn out on it yet."
I patted her shoulder, but before I could respond, a servant approached with a letter, which he handed to Hana. "Oh, excuse me," she said. "It's from my parents!" she disappeared to a quiet corner to read her message, and I joined the receiving line to greet the King and Queen. I was just behind Lady Kiara, who was charming Queen Regina with a story from her travels. When she moved on, I curtsied before the King and Queen, greeting them and thanking them for the honor of being in attendance.
"We wouldn't dream of keeping you away," Regina said – her words kind, but maybe with a hint of bitterness? I shook it off and moved on, being ushered into a dining room, where all the suitors would apparently be eating.
As we dined, I made small talk with the ladies around me. "Even though I know he's not going to choose me, I'm still so nervous," said Lady Penelope with a frown.
"One never knows, ma cherie," Kiara said, patting her hand from the seat next to her. "There's still a chance."
"Ha!" Madeleine barked. "You're delusional if you think that."
I glared at Madeleine, but Penelope didn't seem particularly upset. "Oh," she said suddenly, "What if he doesn't choose anyone at all? Wouldn't that be scandalous?"
"He has to pick someone," Madeleine said.
"Says who?" I countered, just to argue.
"Says the law." She sneered. "Cordonian kings must be engaged or married at the time of their Coronation. The Prince must pick a bride tonight."
"That's a stupid law."
"It's to assure the continuation of the royal line," Olivia said.
"Honestly," Madeleine continued, "I can't believe you might be our ruler if you don't even understand that concept."
"I understand it just fine, Madeleine. I just disagree with it."
"I think Lady Riley's done a commendable job of picking up on our customs quickly, given that she wasn't raised here." This came from Penelope, who was smiling sweetly at me. I returned the expression with a warm smile of my own.
"Thank you, Penelope, that means a lot to me."
"I think Lady Riley will handle being queen with grace and poise," Kiara piped up.
"You're so kind," I told her, loving the scowls coming from Madeleine and Olivia. I couldn't wait for Liam to announce his choice.