Chapter 25: THE SECOND NIGHT OF THE BALL: Proposal

It had been a dream. That was for certain, as nothing like that could have actually happened to me... It had been a wonderful dream, however; not a nightmare. It had been a dream that I would most definitely remember with love and fondness perhaps for years on end, as opposed to the fear I would associate with the other dreams. But if only it could come true, I thought stretching; knowing that I was back in the forest. I stood up, and felt my head bump on the sloping attic ceiling with a loud THUMP!... I was back. I was back, and that meant that I was still a slave. I groaned loudly; the forest would be better than being stuck here!

And at least the forest was pretty silent-- for the most part; I made a grimace as the shouting match that was going on downstairs at last reached my ears; So, that's what woke me up, I realized, "It's not fair!" the girl was screaming; her voice was even more shrill and squeaky than usual; She must have been at it all day, I realized, rolling my eyes, and then laughing at the notion of the spoiled brat not getting her way-- for once. What a day this was turning out to be!

I had to strain my ears to hear the next part; I'd never liked eavesdropping. Jacqueline had done it extremely well-- one of the only things she'd been good at, unless you count being a murderous whore-- and besides, this was a special circumstance, "Shh, honey," the man was cooing; obviously trying to get her to calm down, "You'll wake dear Beatr--"

"LIKE I CARE!" she suddenly roared; taken aback at her tone, I wanted to run downstairs, and just smack her-- the nerve of her! Couldn't she keep it down for once? I groaned, angrily, and shook my head wildly to get a few strands of straw out of it.

"But, Jessica, if she doesn't go tonight--"

"What? The Prince doesn't get to marry her, and she gets to live happily ever after? That's tosh! This is not fair, and you know it!"

After hearing this, it all of it suddenly came back to me; I had exited the forest, and had come back... which meant... yesterday's happenings hadn't been a mere dream! I looked down at the rest of my body; I was still wearing my ball-gown, and that meant that the prince hadn't been a figment of my imagination. He was a reality, and he was most likely in love with me. It was all so wonderful; I sighed hopefully, and stood up.

I was beaming. Simply beaming. I crawled out of the attic, and ran downstairs. They were now eating breakfast, and were acting as if nothing had happened-- as if there had been no conflict at all, but I didn't give a damn. They didn't matter. They never had, and they never would. I found that they were now eating breakfast, and I felt like punching them all out, just for kicks; that's how much energy I had. They ignored me, and pretending I hadn't heard the argument only minutes before, I sat down, and without one word exchanged, I began to eat.

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I stared at myself in the mirror as I got ready for the second night of the ball that evening. Jessica was on the offensive; she had been shooting dirty looks at me all day long, as I had gotten ready; I look magnificent, I realized, spraying myself with a few drops of the only decent-smelling perfume in the whole mansion, And everything is going to change now.

"You look beautiful," a nasal voice whispered from behind me-- it could only belong to Jessica.

"Thank you?" I asked, annoyed, and turning to face her; almost surprised by her fakeness, "What do you want?" I added, after a moment's pause.

She was obviously offended by my attitude, "Well, I thought I'd return this moth-ridden old thing to you," she pulled the stone from within her dress-pocket, and handed it to me, looking sulky; her mother or father had obviously put her up to it. I had nearly forgotten that she had taken it; I snatched it back, though, "It's about time," I grumbled; angry at her for having even taken it in the first place.

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Hours later, I was back; back at the only place where I actually felt completely safe, and happy in all of D'Nalge; the palace. But this time, I didn't look like a joke upon my arrival, because I was wearing the beautiful ball-gown that the prince had given me, and I had been able to put some make-up on. I actually felt beautiful again.

But where was he? Where was the prince?

I immediately suspected that he had been waiting for me, because when I at first caught sight of him, he immediately jumped up, and came over to me; he took my hand in his, led me into the ballroom, and we began to dance-- no questions asked. I had never been happier in D'Nalge; especially after I had seen the look of deep disdain on my "family's" faces. He just made me feel so loved and wonderful.

Time flew by; the clock struck nine, then ten, and then eleven. But we did not stop dancing; we kept on going, as if it were our last chance to be together, and at around eleven forty-five, we finally stopped because his steward or grand advisor stepped in between the two of us, held up his hand, and said, "Your Highness, it is time."

The prince gave me one of his warm smiles, let go of my hand, and turned to face the steward, "Already?" he asked; his voice full of nervousness.

The steward nodded, and led the prince away to a tall golden throne that sat on the far right side of his room; the King sat beside him on a throne nearly identical, and nodded his head towards the prince, who immediately got everyone's attention by clapping his hands together three times, "The ball," he began; speaking with more confidence and sureness with each syllable, "led a double purpose; both to celebrate my recent adulthood-- my eighteenth year, while the other was for me to choose a bride."

My heart instantly began pounding, for I knew what was coming now, "At first I was skeptical; could one find love so quickly-- was there such a thing as what they call 'love at first sight?' But, when I met her, I knew that everything was true. I am in love, so the decision on whom I should make my bride-- and future Queen was quite easy."

I heard many people throughout the room asking "Who?" Jessica actually gasped, and my gaze found her standing by the table of refreshments; busily drinking what appeared to be her seventh goblet of wine; the bitch was drunk; Serves her right, I thought, suppressing a mad fit of giggles, as she slopped a bit of the maroon liquid down her dress.

The girl stared at me, coldly, and I had to clench my teeth to avoid the urge to slap her; drunk or not, she deserved it, "And my choice is-- is-- well, this is embarrassing..." he paused, and met my eyes, "I do not even know her name. But she knows who she is. I met her last night, and ever since that memorable moment," I blushed deeply, "I have not been able to keep my thoughts away from her," by now, each and every one of the people in the room was staring at me; the color in my cheeks darkened, "What is your name, fair maiden?" he asked, standing up, and beginning to walk towards me.

"Beatrice," I whispered.

He took my hands in his, and kissed me; my heart pounded ever still, "I love you," he whispered, "and I cannot imagine a life without your love." Some clapped, while others continued to stare.

I looked into his eyes, and my heart melted, "Do you accept?" he asked.

I didn't know what to do.

I didn't know what to say.

It was so unexpected.

It was so unpredictable; after everything that had happened to me since coming to D'Nalge, this...? It was just so strange, but I nodded my head, knowing the possibilities; I could leave, be protected-- love, even.

He smiled, and kissed me again.

Little did I know that my good fortune was soon to end.

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I said goodbye to the prince at around one thirty in the morning, and followed my "family" outside, and into the carriage. They were murmuring inaudible whispers, and I didn't bother trying to hear what they were saying to each other.

I didn't care. I never had, actually.

But something about this night was strange... I felt something watching me all the way home, and I couldn't help but wonder if I would be safe.