Chapter 3: Kingdom Lupita

I've arrived home safely as Stall owner Deredan wanted and besides, there's nothing that could get me or sneak up on me in the woods, it's literally deserted apart from the animals who live there.

I gave Mother her products that she asked me to get and I told Father that I will be receiving his materials in two days time. He said he could wait since he has to start making the clothes on Friday onward.

"Lilian dear? Do you still have the dress I gave you on your fifteenth birthday? The one with the diamante draped across the chest area?" Mother asks as soon as I finished putting back the items.

"I think so. It should be somewhere in my wardrobe. Why?" I ask.

"You may need to take it out for tomorrow." Mother says.

"Are we going somewhere?"

"Yes. We're going to Kingdom Lupita to have a dinner meeting with the King and Queen of the Kingdom, plus you'll be able to see your groom-to-be." Mother adds.

I wasn't expecting to meet him anytime soon but since the King and Queen of that Kingdom have asked my parents and me to come, I guess I'm going to meet him sooner than later.

"Alright. Should I go and find the dress?"

"Yes. That would be great. I'll make supper while you find it. When you're ready, come on downstairs."

I nod and head on upstairs.

Upon going into my room, I feel the breeze go through my hair. I glance over to the window and find it open. Walking briskly to it, I close the doors of the window and turn to my wardrobe.

Opening the wardrobe, I see the different dresses hanging up above in a neat and colourful fashion. They shine, sparkle and glimmer at me with their glory. Moving some of the dresses aside, I peek through the other side where the more important and rich dresses lie away from the light. Extending my hand forward, I catch on one dress which I pull out of the dark abyss of my wardrobe.

Fortunately, it's the dress I needed to find. Observing it in my feeble hands, I look over the diamante that's over the chest area of the dress and turn the dress around to find satin arranged in a criss cross pattern. Dropping my gaze to the bottom of the dress, I remember that it has frills just inside the exterior covering so it makes the dress sway from side to side in a very magical way.

Blinking my way into reality, I grasp the dress tightly into my hands and rush downstairs to show Mother.

***

It's the next day and I'm currently in the vehicle my Mother and Father have emerged from the storage of the castle.

"Have you got everything love?" Mother says to Father.

"Yes. I've added a new change of clothes if there are any casualties but we should be fine." Father answers.

"Alright. Let's go before they have dinner ready." Mother chirps, slipping into the front seat.

The journey didn't last as long as I had thought. Guess, I had forgotten what it was like to travel to another place other than our Kingdom. Well, thirty five minutes of staring out the window to stare at the whistling trees and dancing lilies isn't anything much for my mind to take. I didn't get as dizzy as I would have if we were travelling to the central part of the country to Ganture, the largest market.

As soon as we arrived, I got out of the carriage and took an exhilarating breath in of the fresh air. The sun is shining straight at my face and seeping into my skin to get me warmth and protection from the mild wind out and about in the area.

I open my eyes and look at the castle in front of me. It's certainly grander than ours and very beautiful if I do say so myself. The exterior is well built and shows an age of superiority and the design is well constructed by great hands ages ago.

It's a good think I don't live in this castle with my parents, otherwise I would feel more alone than I am now seeing that I'm like an ant in a regular building.

"King Armus and Queen Camile. Welcome!" A boisterous voice thunders our way.

"King Randal. It's a pleasure to see you again." Mother replies just as joyously.

"Of course. I love having guests over even if they are Kings and Queens of other Kingdoms. I just like to build a strong connection so the second generation doesn't have to worry about anything and speaking of second generation, Lilian you look marvellous!" King Randal complements me.

I pinch the sides of my dress and extend them outwards slightly whilst placing my right leg behind my left and giving a humble bow.

"Thank you King Randal. It's a pleasure to see you as well and you look just as splendid." I reply.

"You've grown so much since I saw you. Raida, come and greet the guests, you're missing the beauty." King Randal says as he tiptoes towards me and hugs me tightly, as if I was a long lost relative that was supposedly missing fro years.

Queen Raida's face pops from the inside doors of the castle and did she have a lot of time this morning to get everything perfect. Her hair is beautifully made into a bun with a tiara in place to hold the locks, her gown is embroidered with sequins, diamonds and patterns that scream 'WOW' to anyone lucky enough to see her and her skin looks as fair as daylight is if it were mixed with snow and pixie dust. She really does look like an empress.

"Queen Camile, King Armus and Princess Lilian, it's a pleasure to see you again."