CHAPTER FOUR

Auria gave an audible sigh.

Dressing up is another chore that she didn’t want to do. If given a choice, she would have likely pranced around the halls dressed in t-shirts and pants like any of the ordinary people in the kingdom. She hated these pompous outings and civility hidden in sparkling gowns and darkened tunics. Her grandfather chuckled when she voiced these opinions to him during one of their lunch time sojourns. Like her mother, the king reminisced that Queen Andromeda reveled in the fact that she can roam around the kingdom dressed in woodsman garb. She also did not like any of the parties that were part of being a royal but she was still the most graceful and the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.

Of course people would expect Auria to be like her mother. She would keep hearing how good the queen was, how noble, how true, and how pure but she didn’t know if she could even measure up to her own mother. The thing with being a princess and soon-to-be queen is that everyone expects you to be like the one you replaced. It doesn’t matter if you don’t look like them or if you have a different gender. They will always believe that you were born to replace those who they have lost and the disappointment that would accompany such an expectation would cause most teens to rebel or do something drastic to remove themselves from the expectations of others.

In Auria’s case, she was thankful that she had her grandfather, her uncle, Thania and Mildred. They do not expect her to be like her mother. They do mention the queen a couple of times but they do not do the habit of forcing her to look the part. They let her discover what she is and what she is meant to be. She can even abdicate the throne and they wouldn’t care. They knew she would not be so selfish to leave her responsibilities just because she doesn’t feel like it. They also knew that unlike what everyone believes, Auria will be even better than her mother. If only she would embrace her destiny.

Auria doesn’t know that these thoughts were in her friends’ minds. She was just thankful that she can be more relaxed with them than with her people.

But back to the problem at hand.

She eyed the dresses that were placed in front of her by Thania. All of them would fit her small frame but the things is, she never liked flamboyant clothing.

“Um, Thania. Do we have any clothing from the marketplace? These gowns are so sparkly; they could light up an unlit ballroom.”

Thania laughed at the princess’ comment. Turning to the chairs beside the bed, she rifled through the clothes placed there before bringing out a light blue gown and a sea green ball gown.

“These came in from the usual place.” Thania smiled and Auria knew these gowns were made by Mildred’s mother. Most of the gowns that were given to her were made by famous seamstresses from different kingdoms but the designs were sometimes over the top that she can’t even begin to imagine herself wearing them voluntarily. So she would ask her handmaidens for help. It was coincidental that one of them was the daughter of their local seamstress. She would send the gowns over to be repaired and redesigned but since there was not enough time to do her routine, she had to improvise.

Auria eyed the clothes carefully. The light blue gown was ankle length and doesn’t have the puffy underskirt that most ball gowns have but it has a sparkly dark blue train. The sea green ball gown has the underskirt, a very short train and puffy sleeves but it was less sparkly than the other gowns. It was simple but the effect was breathtaking especially if the wearer has white skin.

Thania and Mildred eyed the princess as she fingered both gowns, her expression thoughtful. Her eyes brightened when she finally decided to use the sea green ball gown. She looked at her handmaidens.

“Sea green it is. I think I’ll use the blue on the presentation tomorrow morning.”

So they focused on dressing up. The little girls giggled as they brushed down the skirt of the dress and started twisting the princess’ dark black hair into a simple chignon, a few strands twisted near her ear giving her a slightly mature air. She wore a pair of simple golden shoes with her golden crown.

When she was done, Thania opened the door and the three of them made their way downstairs to the ballroom. Thania and Mildred flanked the princess while she picked her skirt up as she walked towards the double doors. Leo came out of the adjacent room, dressed in white military uniform with golden epaulettes and cufflinks on his shoulder and wrists. He stopped when the princess grinned at him.

“Well, well. What do we have here?” Leo eyed the princess with a smile. He knew that she maybe young now but soon she will grace the halls with her beauty.

Like her mother.

“Uncle Leo, good evening.” Auria greeted him with a smile. Thania and Mildred followed suit but they kept their eyes down.

“Are you ready, your majesty?” He asked as they made their way towards the double doors.

Princess Auria smiled before she nodded.

Leo knocked on the door and the doors were opened with a booming voice announcing their names. They walked down the red carpet. The little princess nodded as some of the guests called out to her. They walked slowly and carefully as they greeted the dignitaries who managed to attend the event. Upon reaching the platform where the throne was, King Lucius stood up and smirked at his general and his granddaughter. The princess curtseyed while the general bowed. The king came down his platform and offered his hand to his granddaughter. Once she stood by his side, the king raised his hands in a silent order for silence.

“Welcome, friends and guests. We are honored that you are able to come to our kingdom. It is another time to forge friendships and renew acquaintances. I would like to present my granddaughter, Princess Auria only daughter of Queen Andromeda and King Nadim.”

Everyone clapped and the warriors knelt as the king presented his granddaughter in front of their guests. Tomorrow, a more formal presentation in front of the subjects of Durin will be conducted as Princess Auria will take a more challenging role as the heir apparent.

Leo assisted Auria towards a smaller seat beside the grander throne of the king.

“Enjoy the evening and once again welcome to Durin.”

The guests started mingling with each other and filled the dance floor with partners swaying to the beat made by the musicians.

Auria looked at the people all around her. So this is what she had to endure as the heir. True, it looked useless but then if this is what to be expected to gain peace then it would be best that this continues. If ever there would be war, then it would really be problematic.

Her attention was diverted when three familiar figures came in her line of sight. The two knights knelt in front of her. She remembered Aidan but she did not know the name of two brother bullies. She raised her hand before gesturing for them to rise. She looked pointedly at Aidan.

“Good evening, sir knight. I hope you enjoy the evening.”

Aidan chuckled before looking at his companions. They were flushed red with embarrassment at the snub. The other knight cleared his throat and both Auria and Aidan looked at him.

“Princess, may we ask for a moment to speak with you. I am Sir Valen and this is my brother, Kale.”

Auria looked up at her grandfather whom she caught smiling indulgently.

“You may go. You have been presented so will not be expected to stay too long in this party. Return when you are done.” He instructed her quietly. Auria nodded before gesturing for her handmaidens to come with her. The six of them made their way towards the gardens. Thania and Mildred stood near the doors with Aidan while Auria walked further with Valen and Kale. It seemed as both brothers were intent on asking for forgiveness. But Auria was a little bit wary. Kale was looking at her with a certain glint in his eye. His older brother might be sincere in asking for her forgiveness but the younger brother looked like he had something else in mind.

Before they could talk, out of the shadows came a black garbed man holding Lady Gwynn with a knife aimed at her throat.