"Ouch, that's too tight!"
The dark-haired girl who was helping the princess into her clothing bowed low at the waist. "My apologies, Princess," Her voice was small and timid. She loosened the ties of the corset. Her nimble fingers worked quickly, pulling and tying, pulling and tying. When she was finished, she stepped back and bowed again. "Which gown do you wish to wear tonight, Princess?"
"She will wear the one that Prince Rowan sent her."
The queen walked into the room. Her own gown flowed behind her in a beautiful waterfall. The rich purple of the gown made her skin appear as white as porcelain. She held her chin high and her shoulders back—a true proudness in her posture.
The princess watched the queen in the mirror that covered the one wall of her bedroom. Her mother came to a halt in the center of the room. Her icy blue eyes examined the stacks of books that sat by the window.
Queen Jocelyn never took to reading. She preferred the entertainment of plays and parties. A book was too quiet for her liking. She let out a sigh and brought her eyes to the princess who was now stepping into a pale-yellow gown. The princess had a look of disgust on her face.
"Adelaide, mind your face." The queen scolded. The princess looked to her mother with a forced smile on her lips.
"Is this better, mother?" Adelaide's voice held a challenge but it was far from sincere. She knew better than to go against the queen. Her mother scowled and the princess's smile vanished.
"Honestly, Adelaide, why must you test my patience today?"
The princess sighed and studied her reflection. The yellow fabric glowed against her skin and made her look sickly. The sleeves ended nearly an inch before her wrists. The ends were trimmed with lace and made her skin itch. Three separate layers formed the skirt. The first encircled her legs while the other two flanked her sides. The neckline draped across her chest and accented her breasts. It had the potential to be a gorgeous gown—if only it was in a different color.
The dark-haired girl retreated as the queen approached. Queen Jocelyn reached up and around Adelaide's shoulders. She pinched the delicate chain of the princess's necklace with her fragile fingers and raised an eyebrow.
"What is this?" she asked.
"Grandmother gave it to me before she passed away. It was a gift." Adelaide stated plainly. She swallowed hard and tried to ignore the tightening in her chest. Her frail and ill grandmother had died nearly five years ago but the pain of her absence still remained.
The necklace was perfect. Adelaide was more than thrilled when her grandmother opened the velvet box. It was the night of Adelaide's thirteenth birthday and the rest of her family was on holiday in Lochbeach. Adelaide had fallen ill and was not well enough to make the trip. Her grandmother spent the day with her, baking various cakes and desserts. After Adelaide blew out her candles and made a wish, she begged for her gift.
The necklace was made from solid gold. Its delicate chain was braided together in a thin band. The three strands unraveled and their ends connected to the bust of a golden stag. The strands were fastened to the tips of the three-pointed antlers. Each antler represented the six kingdoms. The bust of the stag was no larger than Adelaide's thumbnail but it held intricate detail. Her grandmother warned the princess to guard the necklace with her life—the gold being just as valuable as the air in their lungs. To respect her grandmother's wishes, Adelaide never took the necklace off. Not even to bathe.
"Pardon me, Your Majesty,"
All eyes turned to the deep voice. Philip Staunton, the Captain of the King's Guards, stood in the doorway. His hands were by his sides and balled into fists. He looked uneasy as his gaze danced from the queen to the princess and back. Adelaide cocked her head to the side as she studied the captain.
He looked mature—his dark hair showing gray by his temples. His face was darkened by stubble and he had circles under his eyes. He looked exhausted. Adelaide bit the inside of her bottom lip. Why would the Captain be so tired? The kingdoms are at peace, there is nothing to worry over.
"Yes, Philip?" Queen Jocelyn chimed.
His chest heaved as if he had been holding his breath. He bowed quickly. The queen and the princess answered with a dip of their chin.
"The guests have begun arriving." He said smoothly.
The queen thanked him and lowered her chin a second time—dismissing the Captain. He bowed, turned on his heel, and retreated into the hall. The large wooden door closed behind him and the room fell silent.
Adelaide held her hand out and the dark-haired girl stepped forward. She gently took the princess's hand and helped her down from the pedestal that sat in front of the mirror. Once the princess stood firmly, the girl released her hand and bowed at the waist.
"Alys," the queen addressed the girl. Adelaide made a mental note to remember the girl's name. "Will you accompany me to the Grand Room?"
Alys dropped her eyes to the floor and bowed her head. "Of course, milady,"
Jocelyn turned her attention to her daughter. "I expect to see you in the Grand Room promptly. You wouldn't want to disappoint your guests, would you?"
It was more of a threat than it was a question. The queen had gone through hell and back to make sure the engagement party was flawless. Adelaide had stumbled upon the queen in the library. She was huddled over an extensive guest list. Each day the list seemed to grow longer and her mother seemed to grow more uptight.
"They're not my guests." Adelaide said as she scratched at her sleeves. She shifted her weight onto her right leg—her feet were already aching from the high heels of her shoes. "I barely know these people."
Queen Jocelyn's eyes narrowed. "Then you get to know them. I've invited Rowan's family, and nearly every Royal in the two kingdoms. I expect you to be polite and courteous. The Adhemars are to be your family, too, in a few weeks."
Adelaide fought to hide her scowl. She had never met the Adhemar family aside from the prince. The rumors that spread throughout the kingdoms were far from pleasant.
Rowan, the only son of King Vicar and Queen Catherine, and Adelaide's soon-to-be-husband, lived up to his reputation of a spoiled prince. He was pompous, greedy, and specialized in insults. The first meeting between the betrothed resulted in tears. But it wasn't the princess who walked away crying.
"And Adelaide," the queen paused in the doorway and looked over her shoulder. Alys stood behind her, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Adelaide would have to scold her for that. Restlessness was an annoyance. "Do try to behave. How do you expect to rule a kingdom if no one likes you?"
Adelaide glanced at herself in the mirror. Her dark blue eyes stood out against the yellow dress. She raised her chin and squared her shoulders.
"They don't have to like me."