A/N: I updated this because I'm getting no reviews on this one... That's okay.. I'm patient enough to wait til it gets noticed... :D Once again, if you managed to chance upon this, please review. Thank you.
Chapter 3: The Party
Dusk was fast approaching and Natalie was fully aware of the preparations being made in the grand hall where they received guests. For all she knew, tonight could've been her engagement party, but no. It was merely a taste of things to come. Her father and Sephiroth would discuss the later plans to be agreed on during the party, and her mother had pointed out that she should have some fun, but keep herself in check at all times.
So many guests were arriving tonight, most came from Nyx and Ceres. Every nobleman and his family in her estate had been invited, and since it came to be known as Princess Natalie's party, she would have to be a gracious host to all her guests. She was used to it of course, but one couldn't really avoid being nervous. Even a princess of extreme self-assurance was bound to be afraid sometimes.
Sighing to herself, Natalie opened the door to her bedroom and exited the bathroom. The people who would fix her hair were ready as well as the make-up artists. They were all here to make her ready for tonight's event. She was to be presentable and decent at the same time. One of her ladies-in-waiting rushed up to her and she handed the woman the towel she had used for her hair.
"Let us begin," Natalie nodded once and upon her instruction the hair stylist's started moving.
Still in her purple silk robe, they ushered the princess towards her dressing mirror and she was told as usual, to relax, and let them take care of her looks. They went to work, drying her hair with a blow dryer. They put all sorts of hair treatments and creams and rinsed and styled. Natalie didn't have to give them her opinion, for she trusted that they knew best as what to do with her hair.
After hours of slaving over her hair, it was now put up in hair curlers after putting it to the heated tests of iron for curling. The beautician wanted it elaborately curled to deem the young princess as gorgeous. After that, they ushered her ladies-in-waiting and accompanied her in changing out of her robe and very soon, an elegant Natalie was before them all, clothed in her black gown with the silver sash. She put on her elbow-length gloves and once again, the make-up artists had her seated in front of the mirror so they could do their job.
They carefully lined her eyelashes with thick black mascara, bringing out the rich dark blue of her eyes, and giving her a gothic look. Dark blue eye shadow accented with a bit of black suited her quite well. Faint red rouge painted her cheeks on top of the foundation she wore that made her look paler. After doing so, her lips were finally painted blood red. It made her look very gothic, and very seductive in a coy way.
Smiling at their work, Natalie nodded in approval. It was a whole new side of her she never thought she'd see. She picked up the silver necklace with a dark blue gem at the center—the shade of the precious stone almost neared black, and so matched her eyes and her dress perfectly. She put on the earrings as well, and slipped the ring in her wedding finger. The beauticians gently unrolled her blonde hair from the curlers, and they achieved a most wanted result. She definitely looked brilliant.
She was to stay in her room until her escort would come and pick her up by her father's orders. Fortunately so, Zack Fair was chosen to be the escort, and she was absolutely glad to be his lady for the meantime. Luckily, they were close friends too, and Natalie knew and helped Zack when he asked for advice because he was dead set on charming Aerith the best he could.
At half past seven in the evening, there was a gentle knock on her door. She had just put on her shoes and just finished getting ready. Natalie's personal attendant took up the responsibility of opening the princess's bedroom for her escort. And Zack, upon setting eyes on his princess, semi-bowed in front of her and offered his arm for her to take. With this he said:
"May I have the honor of escorting your highness to the party downstairs?" He asked politely, a twinkle in his crystal blue eyes, looking absolutely dashing in his dark blue tux.
"She would be much obliged," Natalie smiled just as Zack did and she took his arm.
They walked in formal silence, but once they neared the hall to the grand staircase, Natalie broke the quiet.
"I'm quite nervous," she whispered, her gloved hand tightening around his arm.
"Quite nervous in meeting Sephiroth or the stares of the people once we appear at the staircase?" Zack inquired.
"Both, but more of the former."
Zack chuckled good-naturedly and patted her hand that was holding his arm. "Don't worry, Nat. You look beautiful tonight, and I'm sure you'll knock their breath away."
At his words, Natalie relaxed, strangely glad at Zack's sudden disregard for formal talk most aristocrats used when communicating with each other. Truth be told, she was more comfortable in using the language of the masses than her own. It was much more comfortable.
"Thanks Zack. You know how to make me smile."
"'Course Princess. Anytime," he grinned and once more, they walked in silence as they got nearer to the stair case.
Natalie drew in a deep breath that didn't go unnoticed by Zack, and he stopped to look at her, silently asking for her assurance if she was indeed okay. Some kind of understanding seemed to pass between them and she let him know with her eyes that she was fine. He nodded once, and with bated breath, some of the guest's heads turned coincidentally towards the very top of the grand staircase where the princess made her appearance, hand on the arm of her fine escort.
Natalie didn't catch her mother's proud gaze, full of approval and praise. Her father was nowhere to be seen, and Natalie silently searched with her eyes for her father who was supposed to be present tonight. He was to give a very warm welcome to her future husband. Truth be told, she wasn't even sure if she'd find Sephiroth...lovable. Would she come to love him as time goes by? Would she get to know him as a best friend? Would he be a loving husband? Would he look at her with adoration or disdain? Would he love her at all? Just thinking about it made her nervous, and her heart seemed to beat ten fold. She visibly blanched, but thanks to the rouge, it was well-masked.
The grand hall was crowded just like how it looked when they held any other event here. Waiters walked about, balancing a tray with glasses of sparkling champagne. Few of the guests reached out instinctively and grabbed a glass. Animated chatter could be heard everywhere, and few of the men were smoking near the balcony that overlooked the magnificent palace garden. Women sported hair that could've been mistaken as wigs. Most wives of the noblemen dressed in long sleeved gowns, and girls two or three years older than her looked quite beautiful. Some wore skimpy dresses, but the others were just fine.
Natalie resisted the urge to crane her neck in search of her best friends. It wouldn't be proper for a princess to act that way. She snapped out of her search when she and Zack reached the landing. The young man turned to her and smiled as the queen approached them. Natalie blinked. Well, her mother certainly looked quite charming tonight. Dressed in a long-sleeved ball gown with frills, extravagant jewelry, and chestnut brown hair lengthened with an extension, the queen definitely emitted a regal air.
"You look absolutely charming, Princess Natalie," the woman smiled, and granted her daughter a swift kiss on the cheek.
The princess pulled away from her escort long enough for him to grace the queen with a courteous bow and a polite kiss to the hand.
"I was right to choose you, Mr. Fair. The princess shan't have a finer escort as you," the queen smiled admiringly, pleased with the young man's appearance and poise.
"Thank you, my queen." Zack smiled, dazzlingly and offered his arm out to the princess once more.
They silently weaved their way through the crowd of aristocrats flooding the room. The guests turned to her, and acknowledged her presence with gracious smiles, others with formal bows. She was used to it, nonetheless. Living a life of royalty had its benefits. You were rarely ignored.
"Where could Tifa and Aerith be?" Natalie whispered to Zack.
"If I had any idea, your highness, I would have told you."
"Right. Of course."
Zack just smiled, and unhooked her arm gently from his. "Will you be fine by yourself, your highness? I will fetch us something to drink."
"Yes, I'll be fine, Zack." Natalie smiled at one of her closest friends.
"What do you wish for me to get you?"
"Punch would be delightful," Natalie answered, resisting another urge to wring her hands in front of all these people.
Zack bowed graciously and briskly turned on his heel to fetch their drinks and run his an agenda of his own. He hadn't seen Aerith yet, and his insides were practically screaming at him to find her and wrap her in his arms. It had been so long.
Meanwhile, Natalie watched her assigned escort disappear into the crowd of men in tuxedos and ladies dressed in a variety of colorful dresses. She knew Zack had a hidden agenda, but well, it was hidden to everyone else except her because he had informed her earlier, and she didn't mind. During one of her alone time with her friends, she often played matchmaker with Tifa just to hook up Aerith with Zack.
She was still lost in her own thoughts, when a person in the guest list had unknowingly interrupted. Natalie got a good look at the young woman gazing at her, pallid face framed with vibrant black curls. The stranger flashed a somewhat fake smile, and introduced herself.
"Greetings, your highness." She executed a polite and formal curtsey to which the princess nodded solemnly. It was sometimes hard to believe that Natalie was only fifteen. "I am Irene Cordelia Hale, daughter of the Duke of Briston."
"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Irene," Natalie nodded pleasantly, joining her hands in front of her black gown.
"Not as much as I, your highness... I'm quite hopeful in approaching you for some assistance with regards to a certain matter." Irene fingered the gold necklace strung across her fragile neck.
This young woman was older than her for crying out loud, and Natalie wondered inwardly if she should tell the girl to approach her mother instead, but decided against it. A princess must never ignore her subject's appeals—whether of high or low status.
"Speak, my lady, for your princess is listening."
vVvVv
"You will be arriving soon, brother, are you not?" Yazoo held his phone in one hand, a glass of champagne on the other. There was a pause as the speaker on the other line answered. Yazoo nodded, understanding. "We will see you soon, dear brother."
The line went dead, and Yazoo tucked his phone back into his trousers' pocket. He looked up from the veil of silver hair on his face, and after brushing it off, realized that Kadaj was staring at him with piercing green eyes.
"That was Sephiroth, was it not?" He asked curiously.
Yazoo nodded solemnly. "He is well on his way here, and has brought with him a few of his close friends."
"Will he have another grand entrance like the last time he arrived late at a party?" Loz inquired with huge green eyes.
Yazoo shrugged. "Most probably."
"He's got quite a knack for it," Kadaj shrugged carelessly, sipping on the champagne and swirling the contents around, his eyes following the motions. "Likes to brag he's good at making a f***ing entrance."
Yazoo's eyes widened at hearing his younger brother's words, and so elbowed him harshly. "Watch your tongue brother. Never make use of unnecessary words that which is foul and unpleasant to our host's ears," Yazoo hissed.
Loz just smirked, and Kadaj scowled at his brother who had chastised him. No one heard him, and their host was nowhere to be seen. The king was no doubt someplace else in this grand room, discussing important matters with his secretary no doubt. The queen would probably be chitchatting with other noblewomen, and the princess...well, he really had no idea what that little girl could be doing.
"I doubt that very much," Kadaj smirked cruelly, sipping on his wine again.
This party was starting to get boring, and he couldn't even complain outwardly. Well, Kadaj was used to it though. Being a prince had its advantages and limitations though some of those limits were of things he barely took heed of. Being known as a player, Kadaj had been in numerous night clubs already—a commonplace outside the palace walls. And to the young monarch's opinion, the events happening in a night club was his real definition of a 'party'; not whatever rubbish they do in these kinds of gatherings.
Languidly, his eyes roamed over the guests in the hall, searching for some sources of entertainment he might take pleasure in. He was ready to give up until a certain lady had caught his attention.
Kadaj's antiques didn't go unnoticed by Yazoo. He was quite keen in keeping a close eye on his brothers. Loz seemed to be enjoying himself already and was now chatting animatedly with a redhead, so he resorted to observing the youngest brother. Kadaj's eyes flashed and in those green depths appeared the all too familiar predatory gleam that meant his little brother had spotted his prey. Yazoo rolled his eyes. Another woman was added into Kadaj's list of dates; that is until Yazoo recognized the object of his brother's interest.
Try as he might, Kadaj really couldn't stop himself from ogling at the girl. He knew it was rather rude, but as mentioned before, he found it hard to terminate what he was doing. His head tilted to the side as he watched her talk to another girl, and his eyes slowly roamed what detail they could accomplish at gawking. She looked rather coy yet seductive in her black satin gown. Her entire state of dress screamed the colors black and silver, and that all the more was another cause for him to have his interest in her reach its peak. Her hair was set in vibrant curls, and yes she was undeniably poised and well-bred from her movements. He hadn't seen her face yet, so Kadaj was confusing himself and silently wondered what it was with her that caught his wavering attention.
Alas, the sound of Yazoo clearing his throat rather noisily had snapped him out of his reverie. Glass of champagne still in hand, Kadaj turned to his older brother and raised an eyebrow at him, inquiring as to what could be the cause of a rather rude interruption of his string of thoughts.
"Kadaj, might I remind you to stop preying on women, and I must advice that you don't spare your recent object of attention a single glance of perversion," Yazoo remarked nonchalantly, quite bored but all the same stern.
Kadaj rolled his eyes. "Look at her, and tell me she's not hot, and who says I'm being perverted. You're the one who's practically accusing me," he smirked, directing his gaze at her again, setting formality of speech aside.
"Stop it, brother, for she is already taken," Yazoo said, looking at the princess as well.
"You don't even know her," Kadaj spat.
"Quite the contrary, Kadaj. I know her, and I know you do to."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't you recognize her at all?"
Kadaj looked at her for a long time, and then shook his head. "Nope. Doesn't ring a bell."
Yazoo sighed. "She's one of our hosts, Kadaj. The lady you're gawking so disrespectfully at is Princess Natalie Rose Auguste."
"That so?" Kadaj cocked his head to the side, staring at the young girl; senses on high alert, and interest reached to the very maximum. "She is but a young teenager. I expected her to be older if she were to marry our brother." He remarked, tone verging on being sad.
Yazoo shook his head. "Marriage does not respect age, it seems."
Kadaj nodded once in agreement, but still, who was he to deny that the princess—who was already pledged to Sephiroth—isn't gorgeous. He hadn't even seen her face, and yet, Kadaj was already smitten—which was a very unnatural occurrence for him.
"And I don't respect ownership," he smirked, and Yazoo frowned at his brother's words.
"She is not something to be owned, brother." Yazoo argued, trying to get Kadaj to drop it.
Stubborn as he was, Kadaj refused to yield to his older brother's wishes. He knew what Yazoo wanted him to do, but no way. He liked her, and he was going to pursue her, princess or not.
It was at this moment that the young woman our lovely princess was conversing with had departed, and Kadaj took his cue. Finishing his glass of champagne, and placing it on a passing waiter's tray, he smoothly made his way towards her direction.