Chapter 3: The day of the Engagement

~The day of the Engagement~

I went back to my palace with a disappointed look on my face. After I reached my palace, Diana ran over to me. She stared at me first then looked at my hand, my face and my legs. She moved around me like three times.

"Wha- what's wrong, Diana?"

"Princess, You are back. Did his majesty hurt you anywhere? Are you okay?".

She asked me with a worried face.

Her name is Diana Hill. She is my personal maid and she is really a kind person. Unlike my other maids and servants who work at my palace always bullied me and belittled me, she is the only one who ever cared for me and loved me. She meant the world to me. I love her a lot as well.

"Princess, Why did his majesty summon you to the Main Palace?". Says in a worried face.

"Oh, it was for a marriage proposal from the second prince of William Empire.".

But she was so surprised to hear about the marriage proposal and started explaining things to me.

"I am not a kid, alright." 💭

I thought too myself.

"Eh! Really? But the princess, about being married is spending your whole life with that person okay. So, please think about it thoroughly. I hope you haven't already accepted the marriage proposal, right?".

She said this while staring at me.

"Heh.. Um...".

I tried to avoid Diana's eyes because I can't lie to her.

But she kept staring at my face. But suddenly she said..

"Really, you accepted it?"

"Eh....? How did you know?".

I shouted with shock. I was shocked because I didn't even say anything but how did she know?

She long sighed and said "I knew it".

I was embarrassed. I covered my face with my hands. I bet my cheeks and ears were all red like tomatoes.

"Princess, You don't even know who the second prince is and what kind of person he is. You shouldn't carelessly accept a marriage like this. What if he turns out to be a bad person?".

It's not like I didn't think about it. But even so, my father neglected me until now but it doesn't change the fact that I am still his daughter. He won't do anything that will harm me, right?

"But.. But my father chose him. So, he mustn't be a bad person, right?

I said to Diana while hesitating.

"Ok, if that's what you want then princess."

"Yup. Let's go. I am hungry.".

Diana prepared a meal for me while I was in the palace. But, whatever meal she makes, it's always delicious.

"As usual your food is the best Diana". I said while I smiled.

"Hehe, thank you princess."

Diana always gets happy whenever I praise her about the meals she cooked. And I am also happy when I see Diana smile.

We both smiled at each other. I started to eat all of the food that was on the dining table.

"The princess is really such a kind and bright person. I hope she will be happy after her marriage. You deserve to have a happy life, Princess. I hope the person she will marry is a nice person too and can protect her well." Thoughts of Diana. 💭

The day of engagement came

Emperor, Arthur Wilson sent the dresses and jewellery at the cold palace.

"Princess, His Majesty sent you the dress. I will help you to get dressed. The prince might be waiting for you too."

Diana kept teasing me. My face looked like a red tomato. I asked Diana to stop teasing me. I was already too nervous. Today is the day of my engagement.

After I finished getting dressed up, Diana said I looked really beautiful. I liked exaggerated compliments by Diana. But, even the male servants were staring at me with their faces blushing. It felt weird.

The Emperor sent some knights and carriage to pick me up at my palace. But, Diana wasn't allowed to come as she was just a commoner maid.

We reach the engagement hall after a while. If it was for show or for the second prince of William Empire, my engagement hall was really big and beautifully decorated. I was in awe from what I was looking at.

But, the engagement hall was almost empty. No nobles or anyone from the Wilson imperial family were present. I was really hoping to see her majesty and my siblings. I have never seen them.

There was only the second prince of  William Empire, George Williams and some of his knights. I thought for a while if he is in the same situation as me. Like being abandoned and ignored by their own parents.

While I was thinking about that, someone approached me.

"May I ask you who you are, beautiful lady?"

He greeted and asked me in a gentle manner. He has brown curly hair and green eyes, bold big shoulders, and long legs. He was really handsome. And while I was dazed by his looks...

"Um.. Lady?"

He looked at me with a confused face. I snapped out of my thoughts as well.

I greeted him first.

"I am the 4th princess, Irene Wilson. But, May I ask who you are as well?"

"Oh, I'm George Williams, Second prince of William's Kingdom. It's a pleasure to meet you, princess."

He held my hand gently and kissed the back of my hand. I kept staring at his face.

"So, he is the second prince. He is quite handsome." was what I was thinking.

"It's an honour to meet you too, prince." Greet in proper etiquette.

I received proper royal etiquette after my marriage was decided. Yes, it wasn't just royal etiquette but also bridal lessons. I didn't like it.

Irene wasn't taught how to behave, talk or eat like nobility/ imperial family.

I looked around for a while but I wasn't able to find my father at the engagement hall. I was upset.

"But... where is Father? I knew he wouldn't attend the engagement but after he sent me a dress, I thought he would come." 💭 I was really sad and upset because of this.

"If you are looking for his Majesty. He said he is too busy handling his political issues. So he won't come. We can start our  engagement. I bet Majesty will attend our marriage."

He said in a warm voice.

"Okay." I replied.

"I shouldn't have expected for my father to come. He is already too busy. And here I was hoping for him to come." 💭

I was just trying to convince myself by saying this.

We both share our engagement rings and put it on each other's fingers. After our engagement was over. He asked me for a dance.

"Princess, Can I have the honour to dance with you?" He reached out his hand.

"Yes."

I hold his hand.

I was feeling shy and embarrassed. We danced by ourselves for a while in the empty hall. Our footsteps are flowing with music. I could see his face even closer. My heart was beating so fast that I was worried he would hear it.

"I am really lucky to have you as my life partner, princess."

He said while smiling. He said so suddenly that I flushed.

"Eh?.... Why?"

"You are so pretty and kind. And this dress really suits you a lot, princess. You seemed like an angel to me when you first entered here. I felt like I don't deserve to be with an angel like you. I am really blessed."

He said in a gentle voice with a kind smile. I too replied with a smile on my face.

"Thank you. I am really happy to have you in my life as well, your highness."

I also started to fall for his sweet words. He was really kind and dazzling. I fell for him at first sight. We talked for a while until the midnight approach.