Something Borrowed, Something Blue

I head to my room, hoping to get into a dress that actually fits me this time. I don't know if she does it on purpose, or if she genuinely doesn't know my size (then again, I don't really want to know the answer, because the options I have aren't really that reassuring) but, the dresses my mother picks out for me are always a few sizes too small. It's not like I'm overweight, sure, I've got curves, but that doesn't mean I need to lose weight? Honestly, if she does it again, I'm going dressed in casual wear, just to show that she doesn't have control over me.

I open my wardrobe, expecting to see dresses my mother picked out, but all I see is a gorgeous, long, blue flowing dress, which I doubt was my mother's doing. I take it, since it's the only one in there, and try it on. Immediately, I know, for definite, that my mother didn't pick this out, because it both fits me, and it's my style of clothing. I question where the dress possibly could've come from. Did one of the maids bring it up? I know they like shopping, and some of them don't have daughters, so they like to treat me instead. Those times are fun. I put the question aside for the time being.

I get started on my makeup, because according to Mother, it's to look "approachable", but personally, I don't really care? If they don't like me without it on, then they can go find another princess who might actually put up with them, if she were to ever exist. Besides, Nick doesn't care if I wear it or not, so why should I?

I gave up trying to figure out where the dress came from, because I was starting to edge on the verge of being late. I do one last check in the mirror before I leave, and over my shoulder, I see Nick's father standing in the doorway behind me.

"Sorry your highness, I didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to see what you think of the dress."

"Oh, it's alright, I just wasn't expecting to see you there." I suddenly realised what he'd said. "Wait, this dress is yours?"

"It used to belong to Nick's mother, Sofia- my late wife."

"The dress is beautiful, it really takes your breath away... Your wife had good taste."

He smiles when I talk about his wife, but I could see the sadness in his eyes. He really misses her. Nick doesn't talk about his mother much, due to her dying in childbirth, so he doesn't remember her. But, he has told me stories from what his father told him -he even carries around a picture of her with him.

We both stay silent for a moment, reminiscing the memories we have of her, until he broke the silence.

"You and Nick are so right for each other. In more ways than you can comprehend." I appreciate the compliment, but the second part confuses me, slightly. He didn't give me time to question it much, though, as he ushered me to go, stating that he didn't want to keep me for too long. I gathered my things before I went out into the hall.

I wonder if this will be any better then last time.

Spoiler alert: It wasn't. In fact, it's more boring, if anything.

I'd danced with so many of the suitors my parents invited within the last 5 hours, it's hard to keep count of them all. I don't know what my parents see in them, because all I see is a bunch of egotistical men, who think they can treat women however they want, and not have to face any consequences. It's not the worst it could be though, because every time I make eye-contact with Nick, I get butterflies. I think it might be because of his butler outfit, I'm sure of it.

Somehow Nick comes up behind me and asks me the question I've been dying to hear ever since I set foot into the party.

"What do you say to leaving this hellhole, and having our own party?"

Oh, hell yeah.