The (Royal?) Richardson Diaries
Summary: The social season kicks off with the masquerade ball, but meeting the prince in his own territory proves to be a challenge for Brianna—not to mention to group of stunning, rich, noble women competing for his attention.
Chapter Two: Bureaucratic Ballrooms
The next hour was a blur. Brianna had to beg Maxwell to delay the plan taking off while she packed her bags, set up bill payments, quit her job, notified her family, and did all of the general housekeeping things that one needs to do when packing up and leaving the country on a whim. Luckily Maxwell offered some funds from House Beaumont to cover some of Brianna's expenses in New York while her magical adventure began, though a small part of her wondered why they wouldn't cover all of her costs. That was a selfish thought that she shelved immediately, but she couldn't deny that it crossed her mind.
Finally, blessedly, she was able to relax for just a moment, trying to revel in the richness of the private plane. She felt stupid in her waitressing uniform as in the maddening rush, she had forgotten to change. Thankfully she had popped a black tank top and some dark wash jeans in her carry on. It likely wasn't enough for a potential princess, but she slipped into the bathroom to change anyway. Besides, it was just her, Drake, and Maxwell on the plane. She caught Maxwell's eye as she returned to her seat, and he flashed her a thumbs up and an excited little shriek.
"Say 'goodbye' to New York and 'hello' to Cordonia," he sang happily, leaning forward in his seat eagerly. His enthusiasm was infectious, and she leaned back in her seat with a smitten sigh.
"I can't believe this is actually happening…" Brianna's eyes sparkled with wonder as she traced the intricate patterns of the wallpapered side of the plane, reveling the luxurious leather seat. It was so glamorous in here, and she really couldn't comprehend how much her life was going to be changed in the upcoming weeks if this was only her first taste.
"Believe it," Drake scoffed, his voice rough as he nursed a glass of water. She idly wondered if he wished it was something else, watching his strong hands grip the glass. "We'll be landing soon, ready or not. And if you're not ready, those ladies are going to eat you alive."
Maxwell frowned deeply, glancing between Brianna and Drake. "Yeesh, don't scare her, Drake," he said under his breath, turning to her. "You okay, Brianna?"
"Honestly? They should be afraid of me," she chuckled with a little snort. Not her most endearing quality, and she flushed slightly under Drake's careful gaze.
"Heh." A genuine laugh from Drake. "Cocky. You might actually survive."
Brianna felt her cheeks growing even warmer as Drake's smile brightened his face. He was so handsome when he was happy, and she felt like she had really earned it from him. Not that it really mattered, she supposed, when the whole reason for her being on the plane was for the prince.
"I don't get why you're being so grim about this…" she said with a shrug, but Drake nearly cut her off before she could organize her thoughts. "Look, no offense, but I've seen girls like you come and go. It never ends well. Not for you, not for Liam, not for the royal family."
Maxwell clicked his tongue loudly. "Brianna's not some crown-chaser."
Brianna sighed softly, fighting a small smile threatening to pull at her lips. Not that Maxwell was exceptionally furious, but he was absolutely agitated, and it seemed to fight against everything in his bubbly nature. Brianna felt flattered that he would stand up for her like that, and she flashed him an appreciative smile.
"Drake, to be fair, you're more my type," she said.
"Hah." Drake was the master of deadpan expressions, and it made her want to elicit some sort of reaction from him.
"I'm serious. I don't usually go for rich boys, much less royalty." How true. Hunter was the typical bad boy, and she felt a warning, sick feeling in her stomach at the thought of him and how poorly her decisions had led her in the past. Plus, Drake was too attractive to not know his own appeal.
Their conversation was interrupted by the pilot announcing the plane's descent, but Brianna saw Drake's expression change to something far more serious as his cheeks turned a little pink.
Oblivious to the light flirtation, Maxwell pulled his face off of the tiny window in the plane. "Hey, look!" he shouted, and she winced lightly before he lowered his voice, "you can see Cordonia out the window! Brianna, you won't want to miss this!"
The view was astonishing. The sea was the most majestic deep blue and the jagged cliffs jutted into the sea, covered in sprawling green grass. The buildings were historic and architecturally stunning with age. Everything sat on the bottom of the hill, closer to the sea, and buildings grew sparser closer to the castle at the top of the hill, a stunning structure that really did inspire awe in Brianna.
"That's Cordonia? It's smaller than I expected," she teased. Maxwell didn't realize she was joking as he straightened his posture, turning to her seriously. "That may be, but our small kingdom has it's charms…" he trailed off weakly as she winked at him. Rejuvenated, he smiled back at her. "You'll see when we get there. Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
The car ride was long from the airport, or perhaps it just felt that way with her nerves and anticipation. Maxwell kept the conversation going single handed, a feat she admired, while Brianna watched the sprawling landscapes with a childlike wonder and, unbeknownst to her, Drake watched the newest member of their party with a guarded curiosity.
The castle grounds had a gorgeous garden off to the side where the trio pulled up. She motioned to it, ready to ask Maxwell about the maze she spotted, but her attention was drawn to the intricate fountain that seemed to house liquid diamonds instead of water with the way the liquid shimmered and danced in the sunlight. She was breathless as they stopped and Maxwell bounced out, escorting her from the car with a flourish.
"The Royal Palace," he announced, excitement buzzing in his voice. "Welcome to your home for the next few months, Brianna."
It was unreal. The castle was stunning, decorated in deep blue and gold, sprawling across the lawn. There were the brightest flower bushes tucked behind immaculate hedges, framing the whole area in an unprecedented glamour and richness. Brianna exhaled dreamily. This was beyond anything she could have imagined, and she stepped forward a little on the cobblestone driveway, trying to ignore the fact that her worn grey sneakers were likely the most inexpensive thing to ever touch this property.
"This is where I'm staying?" she marveled with a hand motion to the palace. Maxwell nodded eagerly. "I didn't realize I'd be living in the palace."
Maxwell shrugged a little as if it wasn't really a big deal. "Most of the nobility live here while the social season is underway… including all the ladies vying for Liam's hand."
Right, the competition. It felt stupid to think of it that way, like some kind of royal version of The Bachelor.
Drake rubbed his stubble, hiding a smile. "Yeah, living under one roof just makes it easier to attend the rose ceremony later…"
She looked at him, panic in her eyes. No way, there's couldn't be a rose ceremony, that was absurd. She noticed Maxwell scoffing and rolling his eyes at Drake, and her face broke into a relieved smile.
"Drake's just kidding… at least about the roses," Maxwell reassured her, his eyes skyward. "Anyway, I'll show you to your room, Brianna."
"This is my cue to take off. See you around… if you're lucky," Drake said, raising a hand in parting before moving back to the car. No kidding, she thought, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear as she watched him leave.
Before the curiosity of Drake's itinerary could take up too much of her time, Maxwell beckoned her to follow him. The foyer showcased a grand staircase made of marble and gold with a deep red carpet down the center. Artwork hung in golden frames at the landing, and the air smelled like vanilla and cinnamon—almost like someone had been baking earlier. The palace was stunning on the inside with sprawling marble floors, cherry wood, and wildly expensive décor everywhere. Brianna almost couldn't even absorb just how stunning every room or hallways was because each new piece of art or statue impressed her even more. Still, she couldn't get her mind of Drake and she decided to bring it up to Maxwell.
"So what's the deal with Drake?" she asked, keeping her voice nonchalant. "Why is he so jaded?"
"Drake's never really… fit in," Maxwell explained weakly.
"Not used to courtly life?"
He shook his head with a friendly scoff. "Definitely not. He's a commoner. He's… always been an outsider here. Even if he is Liam's best friend."
Brianna followed her guide the rest of the way without asking any more questions, instead mulling over the limited information she had about Drake. She could understand the feeling of not quite fitting in. Hunter used to drag her to those rich dinner parties and snort coke with his friends in the bathroom while she pushed around sous-vide duck breast and made weak conversation. Thinking about that made her feel so stupid and small again…
"You're room's here in the west wing. In case you need anything from me or my brother, our rooms are just a couple doors away."
"I didn't know you had a brother," Brianna said, watching his face carefully. Maxwell seemed casual in his response, and she didn't pick up and weird vibes. Apparently, his older brother, Duke Bertrand Beaumont, just slipped his mind. As Maxwell said, "As the eldest son, he's the heir and I'm the spare."
"You'll see him tonight. He'll be excited to meet you," he promised, which made her frown. He wasn't excited to see her already?
Thankfully Maxwell brought her to the end of a hall, which was unsurprisingly gorgeous with a big open window, a stunning crystal chandelier, and and gold embossed wooden door. "This is it, here's your room!" Maxwell made some fancy hand movements in front of the comically large door, and she grinned.
They entered, and her jaw literally dropped. It was an insanely lavish in all white and gold with full-length paintings, fluffy pillows, a huge gold chandelier, and even gilded ceilings. She noticed those and looked at Maxwell with a cocked eyebrow. That was a little kinky, no?
"Wow…" she managed.
"As a royal guest, you're spared no luxury," he replied, pointing up to the ceiling with a wink.
"So… nothing's stopping me from clearing out the mini bar?" she asked with a mischievous eyebrow wiggle.
"There's no mini bar, but the staff here will get you anything you'd like."
"Sweeeet!" she sang, doing a little dance with her shoulders as she let a little bubble of laughter escape. He laughed at her for a minute before motioning to the room grandly.
"I'll let you settle in before your big debut tonight." Maxwell turned to leave. Had she missed something? What was going on tonight?
"My what?"
Maxwell turned around sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I keep forgetting that you're not used to all this. The first event of the social season is tonight. The Masquerade." He must have sensed she was about to launch into twenty questions because he continued smoothly. "It's the ball where all the suitors will be presented to the prince, as well as to the king. Not everyone dressed in costume, but you can be sure that the ladies competing for Liam's attention will be pulling out all of the stops…."
Brianna noticed he had trailed off and was looking at her two worn looking suitcases and the oversized purse she had used as a carry on. She sighed a little. Got it, we've got to shell out some cash to look the part.
"I'm guessing it's too much to ask if you've got a costume or fancy ballgown in there…"
"I packed a dress," she replied, emphasizing the pitiful quantity. This feeling of inadequacy was making her spine prickle in discomfort.
Maxwell broke out into a smile. "Well, I wasn't sure, so I've made an appointment for you at the palace boutique. Maybe you'll find something you like better there!" Brianna pulled her lower lip into her mouth and nibbled thoughtfully. The Beaumont house was covering half of her bills, which wasn't a lot, but she did have a little bit of savings. Maybe she'd be able to swing something for tonight, but after that, how would she keep up?
"I'll check it out," she promised.
"Remember, tonight is very important. It's your chance to make a first impression on all the influential people at court and to stand apart from everyone else." So much for all those inner beauty lies, she thought with snark. The thought rolled off quickly as she understood what he was saying and she smiled reassuringly at him.
"Don't worry. I've got this."
Once she had wrapped her mind around the concept that the palace had a boutique (with staff and everything), she had to find the damned place. Maxwell gave her some vague instructions, and when Brianna finally found the room several minutes later, she was amazed and the beautiful pale pink wallpaper, gilded mirrors, and sprawling clothing racks. Maxwell mentioned something about the palace creating the boutique for the social season and renovating a previous guest room… it seemed so opulent to Brianna, but she supposed it just wasn't a thought that came naturally to her.
After closing the door gently behind her, she crossed the rug toward a selection of ballgowns and nearly ran into a petite young woman in her underwear, holding a dress in front of her. Her skin was gorgeous and smooth, popping against the white lace bra. The woman was almost impossibly stunning with long, tumbling brown hair and big Bambi eyes that warmed instantly, despite her startled, "Oh!"
"Eep! Sorry, I didn't realize someone was already here," Brianna explained, angling herself away from the woman to give her some shred of privacy. Hadn't Maxwell said he booked an appointment?
"No problem. To be honest, I didn't have an appointment," the woman smiled gently as Brianna turned toward her a little more. "I'm Hana. I suppose you're also here to prepare for the masquerade tonight. Since you're here and not already dressed, I must assume that you're just like me… searching desperately for something to wear."
Brianna chuckled easily, shrugging as her eyes scanned the numerous options for the evening. "More or less," she admitted.
"The seamstress seems to be running late, but I can show you around. The boutique has the most exquisite gowns. Let me just slip my dress on…" Hana lifted the pink sequined dress up over her hips and adjusted it, reaching back to zip herself. She was impossibly petite and slender, and Brianna felt a little twinge of jealousy before pushing it aside.
Brianna bit back the urge to make a teasing remark, and instead moved to Hana's back. "Need a hand?"
"That would be amazing," she admitted, allowing Brianna to pull the zipper up while Hana grabbed her matching mask and slipped in on, turning around with an endearing grin.
"Thank you, Brianna. Not many girls here are like you."
"What, helpful?" Brianna asked, her eyebrow raised quizzically.
"Nice," she clarified, smiling from behind her pink and gold ornate mask. "Ah, this dress is perfect." Hana caught her reflection and smoothed the dress over her hips. The material enveloped her curves in a flattering but tasteful way, and the colour was beautiful against Hana's skin tone. With a childlike giggle, Hana spun in front of the mirror, her skirt flaring up.
"Now, what about you? One must have a mask for the masquerade! Have you seen the angel costume? You'd look amazing in white," Hana gushed, "or there's a red one, if you're feeling more… devilish."
"I'll take a look," Brianna murmered, moving to examine the options her new friend mentioned. The angel dress was a beautiful, draping white fabric that floated as she walked, but the red dress was even sexier with crisscrossing fabric designs and a black mask. Without much thought, she grabbed the angel costume and was preparing to pay for it when a little nagging feeling crept in to her mind. That was the costume that reflected the person she wanted to be, the person Hunter always pushed her to be… well groomed, mild, polite, kind, respectful. It wasn't that she didn't want to be those things, but there was more to her. She was sarcastic, witty, challenging… perhaps even devilish? With a smirk, she returned the draping gown to the rack and settled on the sexy devil costume, handing over her credit card with only a twinge of regret.
It took her a few minutes to squeeze into the dress and situate her horns and mask just so. The neckline of the dress was deadly, and she pulled her hair up into a slightly messy updo to accentuate the assets. The dress accentuated her curves, and once she stepped out of the dressing room and asked the dreaded, "How do I look?" question, Hana's face said everything.
"Hotter than fire, my dear," Hana promised with a sparkle in her eye. The pair said their goodbyes as there was still an hour until the ball, and they both needed to do their hair and makeup for the official entrance into the social season.
Maxwell met her at the bottom of the grand, sweeping staircase. Brianna had never felt so gorgeous in this expensive gown, her hair smoothed down and off her neck, her makeup accentuating her bright blue eyes and glowing skin.
"Nice outfit. You look great," he greeted her with a goofy thumbs up.
"Thanks," she replied with a grin, letting Maxwell guide her toward the wooden double doors of the grand ballroom.
"One other thing I should mention. As soon as you enter, you'll tell the herald your name and title so that you can be announced."
Brianna frowned slightly. "Maxwell? What is my title?"
He paused for a moment and shrugged dramatically. "You don't really have one, but since my family is sponsoring you, then you could technically be considered a 'lady'. Or we could go with your hometown. I guess I should have asked before. What's your last name?"
"It's Richardson."
"Well, it's not as classic a name as Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, but it'll do…" he teased, adopting an exaggerated accent.
Before she had much of a chance to get nervous, the double doors opened slowly, and Maxwell guided her gently. She focused on keeping her face smooth and appreciative of her surroundings without succumbing to the sheer awe she felt in the room.
The floor was smooth and glossy, polished to perfection and she could even see the reflection of the crystal chandeliers that hung above, the intracity of their little lights and gold swirling designs breathtaking. A grand piano was positioned in the corner, and the impressive archways had a thick golden curtain blocking off the room. There were tables and nobles sprawled everywhere.
In the moment she felt so dizzy and overwhelmed, she hadn't even noticed that Maxwell had been announced until the herald turned to her expectantly. Maxwell gave her a friendly nudge and Brianna nodded to the herald, offering a polite, albeit shaky, smile.
"Please announce me as Lady Brianna Richardson," she said, and Maxwell flashed her a smile in approval. It sounded the most fitting to her, and as the herald announced her officially and they moved into the ballroom together, she let out a soft breath. This was overwhelming, more so than she expected. Hunter's little parties and his attempts to mold her were nothing compared to this environment.
"I've got to talk to Bertrand for a sec. You'll be okay on your own right?" Maxwell began moving away, looking over his shoulder at her bewildered face. "Just mingle!" he offered before continuing on.
Brianna shot him an exaggerated smile. This environment was too intense for mingling, or so she felt. She didn't know anyone, and Maxwell knew that she was helpless. Still, he had essentially paid her way here and decided to sponsor her in this journey. She didn't have to be so ungrateful. "Mingle! Right… I can do that," she said to no one, as Maxwell had already moved into the crowd.
Thankfully she spotted Drake near the edge of the room, alone and watchful. He hadn't even dressed up for the event, which made her smile wryly. Turning her head, a little more, trying not to look to obvious that she was searching for a friend, Brianna spotted Hana and a group of gorgeous ladies wearing dresses that were to die for. For the first time, she felt truly thankful to have spent the money on her fitted dress and she let her hands smooth over her hips. She stopped immediately, noting that the nervous movement could be mistaken or pointed out, and with a little sigh, she moved toward Drake. Being watched this entire evening would be exhausting, and she assumed he would cut her some slack. Plus, he was hot as hell and he intrigued her. As she approached, he gave her a very stiff bow, not quite meeting her eyes.
"Good evening, my lady," he spoke formally, and her eyes flashed behind the mask.
"So, you do have manners," she shot back immediately. Drake's face registered confusion as his brow furrowed, and she tried to stifle her laughter.
"…Brianna? Is that you?"
"Yeah," she snickered. "You didn't recognize me?"
Drake cleared his throat, and she thought she could see the lightest flush on his cheeks. "I… I was caught off-guard. You clean up well."
Her eyebrow arched in response. Drake had said the same thing about her outside of her waitressing uniform… last night. Wow, had it only been last night? It seemed like a lifetime ago already, with the glamour of today. Still, his comment made her curious. Did he simply appreciate the effort when she put it in to get ready and look good, or was it the only time he felt comfortable enough to compliment her? Either way, she was going to take it and run with it.
"Drake… was that actually a compliment?" she asked, taking on an affected incredulous tone.
"Uh, no!" he said hurriedly, moving on quickly. "Looking the part doesn't mean you're going to be welcome here, you know." His words felt like a slap across her face. Brianna felt her words get caught in her throat. She was back in New York, fumbling to zip up a dress too small while Hunter pinched the fat around her waist roughly. No, that wasn't a lesson she needed to learn again.
"Well, you're charming as ever."
Drake either didn't notice her frosty tone, or he didn't care.
"Hah. Compared to most of the nobles here, I'm your best friend."
"Drake, I believe you," she began, pausing to think for a moment. She really did believe him—these high society people were so quick to pull you in for a hug to get a better angle to stab you in the back. Cordonia or New York, it didn't matter, people were the same.
"That's the first smart thing you've said."
"Thanks," she replied quickly, her face falling as she took a look around the room. This wasn't going as planned. Brianna hoped Drake would give her a break from the prestige of this event, but it was clear he couldn't be that reprieve for her.
"Look," he said, taking a little half step closer. She smelled his cologne, musky and fresh, like the forest after a good evening of rain. "I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just trying to help."
"You have a very peculiar way of helping," she replied, her eyes flashing angrily. He wouldn't make a fool of her, especially not here where she already felt out of place.
Drake shrugged. "I'm just saying all the things that I wish someone would've told me a long time ago." She met his eyes and there was a gentle warmth there, but he looked away quickly, jutting his chin to the other side of the room. "Anyway, if you'll excuse me, I could use another glass of champagne."
Brianna nodded, her fingers reaching to tuck an artfully loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Good luck, Brianna."
She smiled softly at him, plucking a glass of champagne off a passing tray and walking over to where Hana and the ladies were gathered.
Hana greeted her warmly, and she had the sense that if they weren't at an event with such prestige Hana would bring her into a hug.
"So, this is the masquerade! What do you think of it?" Hana asked, her smile bright and eyes sparkling.
"The masquerade is…" Brianna trailed off in thought. She had been prepared to gush, but Hana's open face and eagerness made her feel comfortable. "A little overwhelming," she finished, taking a sip of her drink.
"I know what you mean! I've been coming to these events since I was a little girl."
"So it never gets easier?" Brianna replied with a little frown.
Hana offered her a little smile that felt like a secret. "To be honest… It gets more complicated. At least as a child I could run around and have a little fun!"
The pair giggled. Brianna looked around the room, her smile growing. "Who says we can't do that now?"
"Believe me," Hana said conspiratorially as she leaned in and lowered her voice playfully, "it'd cause quite a scandal."
A curvaceous woman in a skintight black bejeweled dress stepped in. "Ahem!" Her hair was thick, glossy, and bright red, flashing in the warm lighting, and she was concealed behind a purple feathered mask.
"Pardon me, but I absolutely must steal her away," she said, her voice thick and throaty in that effortlessly sexy way Brianna always yearned for. The woman grabbed Brianna's arm and moved her easily to a corner of the room.
"Hey!" Brianna exclaimed, pulling her arm away and rubbing the tender flesh softly. This woman had some serious strength.
"Forgive me for being forward, but I've never seen you here before. I always notice when the heralds announce a new name. I make it a point to know all of the ladies at court. I'm Lady Olivia Vanderwall Nevrakis, Duchess of Lythikos. Lady Brianna Richardson… I can't say I'm familiar with your house. It must be nouveau," she spoke, her lips curved up in a knowing smirk. Brianna felt the feline power that Olivia exuded, like a predator playing with their prey.
Brianna's mouth opened to speak, but Olivia cut her off. "Well, seeing as you're the new girl at court, let me give you some advice. When you're presented to the king, you should kiss his shoe when you curtsy to him."
"Really?" Brianna asked, shocked that Olivia would think she was stupid enough to fall for such a stupid prank.
"It's Cordonian custom to show deep respect and reverence for the monarchy." Not fucking likely, Brianna thought to herself. "You're so lucky that I was here to warn you! Otherwise, you'd look completely ridiculous."
Brianna forced a smile. "Thanks."
Thankfully Maxwell moved to Brianna's side smoothly, interrupting the lovely conversation she was currently engaged in. "Prince Liam is here!" he announced, nudging her gently. "Ready to see him again?"
She couldn't hide her excitement. Brianna looked up, her eyes searching the crowded ballroom, and she spotted him, dressed in a pure black suit and a formal sash, his chest decorated with a gleaming pin. He was stunning. Liam's blonder hair was swept up and to the side, his impeccably posture exuding confidence. Liam caught her gaze and smiled at her, but Brianna realized he likely couldn't recognize her behind the mask and in the extravagant outfit.
"Do you think he'll be glad to see me?" she asked softly.
"Only one way to find out… go talk to him," Maxwell pressed a hand to the small of her back gently, pushing her toward him.
Brianna felt butterflies in her stomach—cliché, but true—as she took a shaky step toward him. This was it, he'd either welcome her into the competition or she'd get the slap of rejection knowing that he was a master in charisma, and all the story behind their New York experience was just talk.
No time like the present to find out.
