PRESENT◇ CHAPTER 5: SHOPPING AND SQUABBLING

"I need new jewelry for the ball tonight," Gracelyn declared, taking a deep breath as she turned to Gideon, her eyes shining with urgency. "Tonight, it's different."

Gideon busied himself at the table, arranging items with a deliberate nonchalance, clearly dismissing her concerns.

"How do you know it's different?" Genevieve inquired, curiosity piquing her interest as she raised an eyebrow.

"I just know," Gracelyn replied with a hint of arrogance, waving her hand dismissively. "It's a socialite thing; you wouldn't understand."

Gabriella, standing nearby, felt the weight of the moment but found herself equally bewildered. The thought crossed her mind that they might be avoiding the usual breakfast of eggs and pastries for quite a while.

With the ball looming, there were a flurry of preparations on her mind. First and foremost, she needed a dress. "Please help me find something spectacular," Gabriella urged, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and hesitance. "I want it to be… a little daring."

Gracelyn scrutinized her sister with a piercing gaze before responding, "Sure, but I'll need a significant amount of silk." With that, she swept out of the room, throwing over her shoulder, "I'll be down in ten. We're going shopping."

Gideon glowered at Gracelyn's retreating form, his expression a mix of annoyance and concern.

"She talks about shopping as if there's a treasure chest of gold waiting to be spent on diamonds," he grumbled under his breath, clearly displeased.

"You say that every time, yet magically, you still manage to come up with the money," Genevieve teased, a smirk dancing on her lips.

In a playful moment, Gideon bent down, kicked off his shoe, and darted after Genevieve, who let out a high-pitched screech as she raced upstairs, laughter bubbling in her wake.

Gabriella resumed tidying up the kitchen, a flurry of thoughts swirling in her mind about the evening's festivities.

There weren't many dress shops that offered the quality required for such a grand ball, particularly within their limited budget. As a result, Gracelyn had become the creative force behind their attire, crafting their dresses or expertly altering the ones they already owned. Her talent had blossomed during her post-breakup resurgence, proving to be an invaluable skill—one that meant they wouldn't have to recycle old dresses or appear in comically mismatched outfits at the party.

~~~~~`~~~~~`~~~~~

The two Gael sisters, Gabriella and Gracelyn, meandered into an enchanting jewelry shop, its display cases glimmering with the latest seasonal treasures.

Brilliant necklaces dripped from the shelves, their facets catching the soft light and casting sparkles throughout the room, creating a ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere.

"We have nothing worthy to wear to the ball tonight," Gracelyn murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, regret lacing her words. "Almost all my jewelry has been worn to death during this ball frenzy."

The blonde girl scanned the various offerings, her critical eye lingering over each brooch, necklace, and bracelet as she sighed heavily, shaking her head in disappointment.

Although every piece appeared to shimmer with its own beauty, none escaped Gracelyn's unwavering scrutiny. Her perfectionism often transformed fashion into a relentless pursuit of flawlessness.

"Oh, this looks like it was designed just for you, Ella," Gracelyn exclaimed, her voice suddenly brightening as she held aloft a stunning silver brooch shaped like an exotic bird, its wings embedded with vibrant green emeralds. "There's just a minuscule gap in the placement, but it's not unforgivable. You adore the color green; we absolutely must get this."

Gabriella forced a smile, feigning interest as she glanced over the brooch, giving it a cursory nod.

The sisters continued to explore the shop, Gracelyn offering enthusiastic commentary while Gabriella occasionally nodded, her disinterest palpable as she let her mind drift off into the possibilities of the night ahead.

The bell jingled in the shop, signalling the arrival of a new customer.

A flock of giggling women, about six of them, came in one after the other with a pompous-looking young woman right in the centre. She parrotted, "...and then I said you better not be thinking of my prince charming." The women around her laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world when it was anything but.

One of the women in their circle spotted the Gael sisters who were, for the life of them, could not be bothered with them, picking out jewellery. The woman proceeded to call her friends attention to them.

"Some people do live in a fantasy land where the sun shines brightly and the birds only sing for them. If I were them I would be too ashamed to show my face to the world after the circus show their mother put them through." The woman in the centre said in a purposely loud voice.

Her entourage giggled.

"Amelia, they must have pretty thick skin since life keeps hitting them hard." One of the girls, Lady Penelope said between giggles.

Gracelyn's countenance turned grim as she turned to the side to look at the group who had tried to provoke them.

Gabriella could barely restrain her dagger's intent. It was a temperamental thing.

Gabriella quickly took hold of Gracelyn's arm and looked over at the bunch. "We shouldn't lower ourselves to the likes of them." She said trying to soothe her sister.

The Amelia girl guffawed as she swept her brown hair behind her ears. "Lower yourselves? To the likes of us?" Amelia crossed over to the hairpin aisle and stood in front of the two sisters.

"Sometimes I pity you and sometimes I just say the gods are really fair." The obnoxious Amelia sighed as she met Gracelyn Gael's inflamed brown eyes with her baby blue ones and gave a provocative smile.

"Just a few years ago everyone was on about how Gracelyn and the Prince of Faraway were the perfect match. I, Amelia Longwood Wood, laughed at such rubbish. The royal family have been linked to our family for fifty years. We Longwoods have been the rightful other halves for the cream of the crop in the kingdom. You were just like a flash in the pan."

Amelia produced a prideful scoff. "Back to lowering yourselves. I think I would be the one losing self-worth and respect if I am seen anywhere next to you."

Amelia had her fun and had made ready to go back to her coterie when Gabriella took hold of her arm.

Amelia showed a surprised look and tried to take away her hand. "Let go of my arm."

Amelia cowered at the look in Gabriella's eyes.

Gabriella looked at the fair hand and thought of gruesome things to do to it. Her dagger was practically singing in her subconscious, wanting a taste of Amelia's blood.

Gabriella took a deep breath in. "You have said your piece, and now you have to listen to mine." She pretended not to hear Amelia and kept her hold on the girl. She looked at Amelia's friends, who looked about ready to come over, and said, "You really are shameless enough to say this and that when you have yet to get engaged to Prince Henry. Who was the one whose father came to mine that year to threaten him about how the Prince was yours and no one else's? You lot are really good. A bunch of conceited swine."

Gabriella gave a mocking laugh. "You say the Prince is yours so he becomes yours? If he was already in your pocket or the royal family even considered you an option then we would not need to attend a ball at the palace every other day.

"The royal family knows what I know." Gabriella brought her face close to the positively enraged and frightened girl and said in a low and even tone. "That you're just not good enough."

Amelia's breath caught in her throat. The pain in her arm was long forgotten as she gnashed her teeth together wishing a thousand times over that the two Gael sisters would just drop dead.

"You can keep the Prince. I wouldn't want him for a dog not to talk of a brother-in-law." Gabriella snarled and let go of the ashen-faced Amelia's arm, and the other girl struggled to right herself. Her cronies immediately got to her to support her.

Gabriella then turned to her sister who was still staring daggers at the offending Longwood.

"Gracelyn, really, some people should not mistake our magnanimity for weakness. Jealousy is not a befitting colour on them."

Gracelyn let out a heavy breath and looked back gratefully at her sister. "I suddenly feel a little unwell Ella. I think we should have enough to shine at the ball tonight." She gave a short laugh then said, "I would like to see who gets the title of the crown princess at the end."