chapter 15
October 30th, 2309
For the next couple weeks, life was going pretty smooth in the castle, although James and Michelle were growing close, James did also get other girls to have dates with him. Michelle didn't mind, she knew James had to get to know all the girls in the selection.
He had, had a few that in the past couple weeks. He took Riley to the concert hall, he took Tiifu to the Angeles zoo (Tiifu loved animals, especially from Africa) and took Cindy out to a fancy restaurant. Whenever he had to attend royal council meetings, he'd invite Kemi to attend with him, he was fascinated by her knowledge of law.
It was the day before the annual Halloween ball, for princess lessons that day, Elaine had the girls practice dancing for the party.
Each girl was paired up and Elaine instructed dance steps as music was played. Elaine danced with a girl named Brielle since the number of girls in the selection was now odd numbered.
Michelle was paired with Whitney. Learning to do dances royals did was easy for upper caste people like Holliday and Kemi. Fives like Whitney though where also good at either fancy dances or quick to learn them since they made a career out of them.
Michelle and Whitney were doing good with each other.
"You're good Whitney" said Michelle kindly.
"Thank you Michelle," replied Whitney. "You're doing well yourself. I guess that's because you've been getting private lessons from the prince."
"You're the better dancer," argued Michelle playfully. "After all you make a career out of it."
"Yeah, but I prefer to do dances from the 20th century like the watusi, and break dancing instead of the fancier ones."
Kasha on the other hand wasn't doing so well, she was paired up with Giselle, and she kept stepping on Giselle's toes.
"Ow!" cried Giselle.
"Again lady Kasha?" sighed Elaine looking up.
"Sorry" apologized Kasha to both.
"You stepped on six of my toes!" complained Giselle. The girls who turned to see Giselle were surprised, since they've arrived they'd seen Giselle as a quiet type of princess. But this was the first time she was outspoken.
"As if I have to learn these things anyway," she said under her breath. "I've pretty much spent the first nineteen years of my life learning grand lady behavior."
Giselle left, everyone including Elaine could see she looked upset and needed some time alone.
Michelle knew how ironic things could be in the life of a royal. As a little girl Michelle had wanted to be a princess herself, but she knew that it was the opposite for princesses in real life.
Maybe Giselle is one of those princesses who wishes she was an ordinary girl she thought to herself.
Elaine soon declared princess lessons over. The girls had lunch and went back to their rooms.
James and Michelle were walking and talking down the hall.
"So what are you gonna go dressed as for the Halloween ball tomorrow James?" asked Michelle flirtishly.
"I don't know," said James admittingly. "I haven't decided yet. Are your maids almost finished yours?"
"Yes," replied Michelle. "I'm going as Kiara from the Lion king."
"You love that movie too?" exclaimed James excitedly. "I've seen it probably like a thousand times when I was a boy."
"I've seen it more times then I can count," laughed Michelle.
"You know," said James. "I think I'll go to the ball as Kovu!"
"I see," said Michelle seductively. "Trying to make us match?"
James and Michelle laughed as they walked on.
The next night, Michelle was getting ready for the Halloween ball. Chloe, Maci and Alexis helped Michelle change into her Kiara costume.
"You really are good at making costumes as you are with dresses Chloe," said Michelle. "It's a really great costume, I look almost like Kiara!"
"Thanks lady Michelle" said Chloe with a big smile.
"Maids just know how to sew" added Maci.
Michelle wished her maids a good evening and headed down to the ball. One thing that exciting was that the Friday report would be held in the ballroom instead of the report room and everyone would be seeing Michelle and the other selecteds and the ball on tv.
Down in the ballroom, the party had just started. The ballroom was decorated with paper bats and fake spiderwebs. There were orange and black balloons hung around and there was a table filled with candies and baked treats and baskets of apples.
The royal family were in different costumes. Taylor was dressed as a pirate. Dinette wore a purple gown from the 1700s. Marcella wore a blue V-neck dress with a gold sash on the waist. On her left shoulder was a blue plastic dragon figurine and on the right was a yellow dragon. And of course, James was dressed as Kovu from the lion king.
"This is Timothy Dixon live at palace," announced Timothy. "Tonight, is the Halloween ball and here we are in the ballroom! Everyone looks so amazing in their Halloween costumes!"
"James," said Dinette. "Why aren't you out dancing?"
"I'm waiting for Michelle," said James. "I kind of wanted to do the first dance with her."
"She'll be here soon," assured Dinette. "Till then you mustn't be rude, there are other girls out there you know. Why not dance with one of them while you wait?"
James smiled and looked at the crowd and then back at his mother.
"May I have the pleasure?" he asked smugly and holding out his hand.
"Rascal" retorted Dinette as she took her son's hand.
"Oh, come on mother," James humored back. "Just like old times."
How could Dinette refuse, she remembered times when James was a kid and at balls, he would dance with her. So, she took his hand and they danced together.
"Looks like your mother left me to dance with your brother" retorted Taylor to Marcella.
"Don't worry daddy," laughed Marcella. "I'll dance with you."
Michelle arrived in the ballroom. She smiled speechlessly and walked dreamily around the ballroom though alert not to run into anyone. She saw Riley who was dressed as Cyndi Lauper getting interviewed by Timothy.
She looked over to see Holliday dressed in a pink fairy costume.
"Wow Holliday, I love your costume!" exclaimed Michelle.
"Thank you, Michelle," said Holliday to her best friend.
James and Dinette were still dancing when James noticed Michelle.
"Michelle!" called James as the two stopped.
Michelle and Holliday both looked at James.
"Would you like to dance?" asked James which surprised Michelle. Holliday and Dinette on the other excitedly.
"Of-of course" said Michelle snapping out of her thoughts.
The two held hands and walked elegantly over to the middle of the ballroom. As they walked Michelle noticed Giselle was talking with Kasha. Giselle wore a long-sleeved dress in various shades of blue, and her hair was in a classic bun from the Victorian era. Kasha was dressed as a rose; she wore a green body suit and around her head was the rose petals.
Both of them were smiling as they spoke, so Michelle assumed Giselle was apologizing to Kasha for her behaviour towards her that morning.
Michelle soon forgot about it though as she was dancing with James in the center of the ballroom. She was having so much fun dancing with him; she didn't notice that most of the people attending the ball stopped dancing to watch them dance.
It wasn't until the music stopped when she noticed as they were applauding.
Michelle and James then went to get a cup of lemonade as the music started again. She wondered if her parents were watching this on tv. She could tell that everyone in Illea watching tv that night would be impressed by the ballroom.
Tiifu then walked up.
"I just love your costume Michelle," said Tiifu. She was dressed as a zebra. "You've so inspired me to go as Kiara next year. If I can dress up of course, it's hard to when you're an eight."
Tiifu decided to change the subject. "Can I dance with you next James?" she asked innocently.
"Sure" said James.
Tiifu giggled in delight and they went to dance.
Michelle didn't mind too much; she knew she couldn't have James to herself.
"Hi Michelle," said Giselle warmly.
Michelle turned to see Giselle.
"What are you supposed to be?" asked Michelle unsure.
"I'm Marie Antoinette," explained Giselle.
The two watched James and Tiifu dance.
"Isn't James just the perfect prince?" asked Giselle dreamily.
"He's very kind," agreed Michelle. "And knows how to charm any girl."
Giselle looked away.
"Are you alright?" asked Michelle.
"Yeah," said Giselle. "It's just that, ever since I was a child, I've dreamed of my wedding day, there's a secret I've never told anyone. My father and mother kind of argued a lot, so I hope to marry someone who loves me, who knows how to treat a lady and who pays attention to me. James is one of the few friends I have, most people think I'm a snob."
Michelle felt sorry for Giselle. She knew how Giselle felt, only she was an outcast because her caste was lower.
"You seem to miss your mother, don't you?" she asked.
Giselle looked up and slowly nodded.
"She had a big heart," she said giggling a bit. "Father though said she was stubborn, which was probably the cause of their constant arguing."
Giselle poured herself some lemonade and then walked off.
Michelle watched her leave, when suddenly a hand came on her shoulder.
She looked a bit startled and turned to face count Neilson.
"Oh, good evening count Neilson," said Michelle trying to be friendly. Though she kind of hoped he hadn't heard her conversation with Giselle.
"I've noticed how close you're growing close with prince James," said count Neilson in seemingly well-mannered voice.
"Well I guess" said Michelle unsure what to make of him.
"If I were you, I'd stay away from him," he said in a haughty voice. Which surprised Michelle. "Commoners don't belong with princes; he'll be marrying my daughter and I will not have you ruining my plans."
With that he left to talk to Taylor and Dinette.
Michelle was quite surprised, why was the king's chief advisor being mean to her, she wondered if he had said the same things to the other girls. She decided not to tell them for now.
Author's note; I just thought I'd tell you, count Neilson is the main antagonist in this story. I based him off duke Zaral from the animated series Cinderella and Giselle is based on his daughter Isabel. You should watch that series to understand.
