Chapter 7: A ball past twilight and unto dawn.
I was all on my own now, fixating all my focus on perfecting my walk. Mom had left me a while ago to make sure all the foods and snacks were ready but I felt so nervous, it was like a tsunami was reaking havoch in my stomach. Today was the day the people of Darinton and the other kingdoms were finally going to meet me and it had to be perfect.
A wave of nerves flooded my entire being as I walked towards the banquet hall but the feeling of dread and nervousness quickly evaporated when I saw my father.
At the end of the hallway were the stairs that lead down to the banquet hall on the outskirts of the Palace on the area of land that was still on the palace grounds.
And there, at the door, was my father patiently waiting for me and my mother. His back faced me as I walked towards him
but at some point, I just started running towards him, excitement pumping through my veins. And once I got to where he was standing, I wrapped my arms around his waist enveloping him in a tight hug.
"Commander, Commander I've been shot. Avenge meee!" He said making dying noises and pretending to have a hard time breathing. I giggled as I pulled away from our embrace. I took a few steps back as he turned around to face me, he looked at me with such awe and surprise that I couldn't help but blush and give an awkward smile.
"Your majesty, my father king." I greeted him as I'd been taught, bowing in a curtsey and although I didn't think much of it then, I have to admit I did find it weird greeting my father like that.
"Rise my daughther." Father replied according to custom.
I slowly rose up, catching his gaze still fixated on me. His eyes were still filled with awe and admiration and he wore such a big proud smile on his face that I couldn't help smiling back at him too.
He blinked a few times as though to recollect his self. "Shall we get going my lady? We wouldn't want to keep the guests waiting now would we?" He asked, his hand extended towards me, the other at his back as he stood in an akward royal stance.
I giggled hearing him call me 'my lady' "Of course not your majesty. We must get going now sire" I replied still giggling and took his hand.
Arm in arm my father and I descended the stairs and made our way to the banquet hall. At the doors, my father let go of my hand in order to go in and introduce me. The guards stationed at the doors opened them and the servant named Stefan blew the trumpet to announce his arrival.
"People of Darinton, villagers and nobles, esteemed guests from afar, I introduce you to our king, his royal Highness of Darinton, King Edward Vasquez." The steward introduced and the crowd clapped and cheered in response.
"Dear Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen I thank you all for coming..." Father began to address the crowd "Believe me when I say you all don't know how much it means to me that you're are all here to join in the celebration of my only daughter's fourteenth birthday. I am filled with so much pride and joy at how far she has come in life and believe me when I say she grew up beautifully. I won't say anymore than this as I wouldn't want to delay the party.
After all, we are all here to make merry. So with that, it is my pleasure to present to you, the only daughter of Darinton, your princess, Princess Alyssa Elise Vasquez." He announced with the essence of a king.
And with that the doors were pulled open and everyone turned to my direction, the banquet hall dead silent.
I took a few deep breaths to calm the nerves rushing in and began walking with perfected poise and grace, just like I had been taught. My head was held high and my eyes on the crowd but at the same time at no one in particular. I flashed my brightest smile and waved from time to time as I walked down the cleared out path towards my father.
I took my father's arm, gripping it a bit tighter than normal as I tried to keep my nerves at bay. I had never attended a ball before and I felt extremely overwhelmed. All the attention was on me, I was the star of the evening and so I faced the crowd again with renewed confidence and a brigther smile.
I noticed that the nobles and high-ends were looking at me with a mix of suprise, awe, wonderment and of the obvious jealousy but some of the natives were having a hard time making their way to the front of the crowd even though the hall is massive and the guests weren't many.
It looked like they were being mistreated and looked down by the other guests. And that was just so cruel it made my blood boil.
People should be treated with respect no matter their class in society. There was no way I was going to ignore what I had just seen.
And as if they had gathered themselves and snapped back into the present, the banquet hall was suddenly filled with thunderous claps and excited cheering. "Thank you. Thank you everyone." I said as the hall was returning to it's once peaceful state. "Thank you all so much for gracing my grand reveal party with your presence but I would very much appreciate it if all the spoiled aristocrats present would stop belittling the native guests. It really irks me to see the more privileged mistreating the less privileged so if you could just please move aside and let others get a chance to breathe, have space, see, it would be deeply appreciated. And if you feel you cannot treat everyone here present with equal respect, then you're more than welcome to leave."
The natives errupted in a burst of applause and the music started playing.
I saw the offended and shocked faces of the nobles but I didn't care, it served them right for being so rude. I pulled my father to dance, burstling with energy and joy. "Well that was quite the performance." He said spinning me around and I giggled in response. "It felt so good to stand up for the people but you don't think I was too rude do you?"
"Rude? Of course not. You gave those people exactly what they deserved." "Okay but I have to admit, it was super exhilarating. Is that how you always feel when you fight for the kingdom because it feels amazing?"
"Yes that is precisely how I feel when I fight for the kingdom and I need you to promise me that you will never stop fighting for what's right now matter who stands against you." "I promise dad. Honestly nothing can make me stop fighting for what is right." I said smiling at him.
Father and I danced and talked until the song was over after which, he went to greet the guests and I went to rest by the snack table.
I was helping myself to a bowl of punch when I heard someone say "Excuse me your majesty, I'm looking for my friend her name is Alyssa. She's about your age and height and she's quite shy most of the time. Have you by any chance seen her?"
I quickly turned around to see who was talking to me but I didn't realise I was stepping on my dress and so when I turnes, I lost my balance and fell. 'Oh great. Do I always have to embarrass myself. Now everyone would know me as the princess who tripped on her own dress.' I thought inwardly but just as I was about to hit the ground, I felt a pair of strong arms holding me up and reflexively, I wrapped my hands around their neck.
My midnight ball was a masquerade ball so I couldn't identify his face. He helped me get up on my feet and I thanked the kind stranger and was walking away when the stranger pulled me back, "Is that all you have to say to me princess? You still haven't helped me find my friend." I gave him a questioning look feeling confused.
This man seemed to know me closely but I didn't know him. Although his voice did sound familiar.
"Aspen? Is that you?" I asked feeling a lightbulb moment going on in my head. "Ding, ding, ding and we have a winner." He replied smiling at me as he took off his mask. "Oh my God, it is you!" I happily exclaimed as I leapt up and hugged him.
Aspen is the only prince of Nalthis. Our parents were so close that he and I practically grew up together but then his mum fell really sick so they stopped coming to visit. At the time I was extremely upset but with time, I slowly forgot. He was was just the kind boy in my memories.
"Aaah... I missed you so much." I said squealing with delight. "You guys just left and never came back, you know there were times I thought about running away to see you guys but you know I love my family too much to do that. By the way where's Ashley? I haven't seen you both in such a long time."
Ashley is Aspen's twin sister but Ashley was born seven minutes earlier and according to the laws of Nalthis make her, the heir to the throne of Nalthis.
Nalthis was an ethereal kingdom rummered to be a land out of this world with its citizens having actual magic flowing through their veins.
Although this was something to be skeptical about given there was no proof to the rumors, it was fun to believe in the impossible. I had actually been to Nalthis once- a few years back for the twins fifteenth birthday bash and it was an amazing experience. While I was there the twins took me on a brief tour of the kingdom- hilighting the main tourist attractions.
"How about you turn around and see for yourself darling?" A high pitched voice said and I turned around excitedly to see Ashley standing behind me. I jumped right into her arms, enveloping her in a tight hug.
"Ash!!"
"Al!!"
"Oh my, darlinggg! You've grown so much. Look at you, you're so beautiful and you're fourteen now just like you always dreamed of. Oh, you're even wearing a gown! Looks like your mom and I finally convinced you. You look so stunning and stellar." Ashley gushed.
"Why thank you Ash, you look great too. Oooo I'm so happy you both are here, I haven't seen you both in such a long time. I missed you so much." I said hugging them both at the same time.
"I..." I began but was interrupted by my mother's voice.
"Alyssa darling, I need to speak to you." She said in her soft, sweet voice. "I'll see you both later." I said and let the twins go.
Mom led me out of the banquet hall and to the cooking area. The servants and maids quickly excused us.
"Are you having a splendid time Alyssa?" Mom asked looking a bit anxious. "Yes mom, this party is so amazing. Thank you so much for helping me plan it." "That's great news Aly dear but I need to tell you something very important."
"Alyssa, I'm.." "Wait don't you hear that sound?" I asked. "No, what do you hear honey?" "I don't know but it sounds strange, I'm going to follow it." "Alyssa wait, I still need to talk to you." Mom said as I was leaving the room. "Ok sure mom, we'll talk later." I said as I closed the door.
I furtively made my way through the crowd, trying not to bump into anybody. I made my way out of the banquet hall and into the royal gardens. Outside was quite dark which made it hard to see but there was something out there.
No someone. A man?!