Masquerade ball

At the grand masquerade ball prepared by the king to celebrate his coronation to the throne, Elizabeth paced her eyes in astonishment to the grand and extravagant castle before her eyes. Her cheeks radiated a flush of an excitement within her as she thought in a near future her life will be extremely different not as an occupied daughter in her father's business but as a new queen to the Morovvan kingdom.

She excitedly walked in, passing through a gate as she was here in the morning invited as a Duke's Richard daughter and as a candidate of the future queen's position.

Since the new king ascended to the throne had no queen yet then the council selected noble ladies from the royal and influential families to compete as suitors for the queen's position.

Elizabeth carried her gown modestly and walked gracefully inside the castle, her hand plucked in her father's arm as they approached the masquerade hall where the ball had already began. Her eyes flashes an arrogant attitude and an ambition of becoming queen was visibly seen behind them.

She believes mostly in her confidence and maturity will be her suitable traits since most of noble daughters of the rich families were spoiled and act as babies but she was matured enough and earlier than before, capable of taking care of the family behind her father's back.

She didn't want to care about the beauty since the beauty of the woman doesn't play in a matter of politics and kingdom only beauty with brain will be affordable to that position, she thought.

Did she had brains? Her beliefs were quite rather different from her behaviour as they said learning to be sophisticated, educated and well mannered will make her in a good position but she doesn't remember when lastly she attended those classes teaching those things or maybe she didn't attend them at all.

Her father was just like her, carefree, arrogant and fussy. When comes about gaining what he wanted her father would risk whatever it takes to get what he wants.

" When you eye for it then go for it " as he always says "If it happens that you lost it, don't be afraid of getting embarrassed because that's the good way of enjoying the hunt"

Elizabeth's father gained his position and reputation only with chaos and by a competitive attitude that he has.

Like her father, she also always gets what she wanted and today will prove it to everyone that they were not totally mistaken about lord Richard's family as they usually said like daughter like father fussy and arrogant, the perfect combination for the ambitious daughter and a dominant father. Elizabeth was definitely a copy of her own father except for the looks, they were totally different and didn't look alike at all since Elizabeth took after her mother and a bit little from him but if she was a man she definitely bet he would look exactly like her father and it will be fun likely as if he gave birth to himself.

Elizabeth's face quivered into a blatant smile as her forest green eyes twinkled behind those long eyelashes as she walked her chin up and greeted the people along the corridor that leads to the masquerade hall.

In spite of their efforts on trying to get along with the other guests, Elizabeth and her father ended up getting glares on their way which shows disgust and anger but Elizabeth did only defined it as envy.

She was so full of herself and didn't care about the others.

She fanned herself with her hand as she sat across the table prepared under her father's name , "Lord Richard !!" They called wherever they saw her father although they felt a bit uncomfortable about their arrival today at the ball but he was an influential figure and his family was among the most powerful families in the entire kingdom, being able to be acquainted with him consider yourself as lucky as many opportunities will come into your way but as a man don't think of courting her daughter to get that hand of an influential father unless you wanted to get on his bad side.

He talks so highly of his daughter and he can't marry her to anyone except for the king.

What an arrogant father he was , If he thought that was so easy.

What if the king didn't like her ?!. Will she be able to marry another man !. All men will stay away from her. Judging from her character and her father's wrath none will want to stay with her later. But as if it didn't matter to her she likes the king and that was what she only knows.

Although if he didn't want her she will make him like her one day sooner or later.

But what if she failed....whatever !!. She just wanted to be beside him, so be it !!.

She was too much thinking on the matter which failed to get off her mind as she was so lost on her own thoughts, the triumphant sounded as announcing the king's arrival. All of the people inside the hall rose from their seats and greeted the king but Elizabeth did not since she was so immersed on her own thoughts and whirlwind of an imaginable events in her head.

People casted glances at her while the king also did.

"Elizabeth" her father called. Because she was sitting in front seats it was easy for the king to spot her impoliteness.

"Elizabeth" her father called twice, she gasped wandering her eyes around the room. All of the people inside the hall turned their heads towards them watching, as a father and his daughter embarrassing themselves in front of the king.

"Forgive me your majesty, I...I have a lot going through my head" Elizabeth exclaimed when she came into her sense. People chuckled at her own lame excuse. How impudent she was !!. Everyone knows that she was not totally focused but at least she was honest about herself. She really did had a lot going on through her head.

As her father wanted to wash away the embarrassment, he commented " Forgive my daughter, Your majesty. She is very eager to win the competition and....she will learn from that she needs to stay focused on every kind of situation".

People weighted his words as if finding any meaning in them, King Luther gave her a reassuring smile and turned his head back to her father showing the same kind of gesture. After that, King Luther didn't want to linger on such no big deal mistake as he believed that she will learn from it as he forgave her because only he was too kind or maybe he didn't care at all. King Luther was kind and a very wise king and seemed to be in a calm situation even there might be things that bothered him.

He was truly a wonderful king since he knew how to control his emotions and genuinely focusing on his duty. For those few months that he ruled, he seemed to be in control and controlled the kingdom with brain and not by heart.

Now the council needs the queen beside him to help him with the country matters. By placing the competition at the castle among the suitors since there were many contestants in that position and everybody has what it gets to be the queen.

His eyes met Elizabeth confidently staring at him, he wondered was she really feeling sorry for her immoral behaviour she just showed a minute ago or she didn't care at all.

Judging from her confident aura she didn't seem like she worried as if she killed an ant and she didn't bother or care feeling bad about it.

Ignoring her eyes, he sat at his majestic chair across the hall he then smiled to the gestures and praises that his people were casting on him before they sat on their seats waiting for the competition to begin.

Now it was time for the every single family with a suitor to give their special greeting to the king and bring their gifts to him.

Oh Lord! She forgot to bring the gift for the king, Elizabeth sat with anxiety as she remembered that she had no gift with her to present to the king, the lavishly winter coat that she made and beautiful embroidered it with her own hands was forgotten to be brought along with her.

Many families brought gifts to the king to impress him as it was part of the tradition and the will of showing their genuinely contribution to the royal family.

Elizabeth was uncomfortably sitting with her butts on the chair, pacing her eyes back and forth regretting on the moment that she forgot to bring the coat. It must be here with her but where is it ?!! , her heart skipped a beat when announced that it was her turn to present the gift to the king.