The Girl: Part 6

Author's Note: The poll results from the last article won't take effect until a little while later. I'm very distracted. I've been listening to a lot of Lily Allen and watching an unhealthy amount of romantic comedy anime (Special A, Ouran HSHC, Vampire Knight, ect.) Anyway, hopefully I'll be able to focus better soon. Here is this for now. (By the way, one song by Lily Allen called "Who'd Have Known" may be an influence in future parts. ; D )
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She turned back around and ran up the back steps to the doors that led to the ballroom. She cleaned up herself by looking at her reflection in a fountain. Quickly, she reentered the ballroom and tried to look casual as if she had been there for a while. A man approached her immediately.

"May I have this dance madam?" he asked with a grin that told her he had vegetables with his meal tonight. She nodded and followed him out to the floor. She realized she didn’t know how to dance when the violins began to play a waltz. Repeatedly, she stepped on his shoes. Halfway through the song, he made an excuse and ran off. She was ashamed of herself and tried to be a little more unnoticeable.

"Nicolette! Glad you came back! We were worried you had run off after you met the prince," Lord Thomas said as he approached her. She looked at him puzzled. He shook his head and said quietly, "He has a reputation for being a bit self-absorbed and to be honest, jumpy. He goes from woman to woman in a matter of seconds. It’s incredible."

She smiled and shook her head. "Just going out for a walk and a breath of fresh air. That’s all," she reassured him. When he left her, she looked around for her betrothed. There he was, with the pretty girl with the black eyes. He spotted her and dragged the girl with him to talk to me.

"Nicolette! I was worried that some man picked you up and stole you away from us!" he exclaimed.

"Nope. Just went out for a breath of fresh air. Like I told you," she said wondering if he even remembered that exchange. Or the exchange a little bit before that.

"Oh. Maybe I forgot. Oh well. Anyway, I want you to meet Countess Mirabelle of Dilston," he said throwing Mirabelle at her.

"Nice to meet your highness," she said as sweet as sugar and curtsied.

"Nice to meet you as well," Nicolette repeated and followed Mirabelle’s actions.

"I’m here to meet you and for educational purposes. I have to follow up on my education in French. I come from a very intelligent line of nobleman. Surely you do too, right?" she said provokingly. This girl was no lovely bell.

"Well, I come from a small cottage in the woods and so my family was never able to afford that kind of education. Your background is very impressive though," she said trying to as polite as possible.

"That’s interesting. And I know my background is impressive. It cost a fortune," she said with innocently raised eyebrows.

"Well then. Now that you two have met each other, it’s time for Nicolette to meet the other people who have come to see her. You would like that right Nicolette?" he said not really giving her the option anyway.

"Of course," she replied. As so she did. She met the icy girl from dinner. Her name was Duchess Emeline of Glandias and she had come to see her and make sure nobody tried anything funny against her kingdom. She met the woman with the warm brown eyes. Her name was Queen Iphigenia of Chamlek and she had come to make sure her enemy Queen Lavina wouldn’t try anything funny either.

Soon after, Nicolette met this Queen Lavina of Trinivantin. She was one of the most interesting people she met because her entire presence reeked of beauty and wisdom. Princess Katia of Mordor was difficult to meet because she spoke very little English and a lot of Russian. Eventually Thomas came over and translated to her that she had come to become business acquaintances with the royal family.

Queen Miriella of Sedemai was there for an education about Tyrain and the royal ball of course. Princess Christiana of Alderan was very beautiful and there for religious purposes and was leaving very soon.

The last few people Nicolette met were Princess Edith of Fremin, King Arthur of Chamlek, King Frederick of Sedemai, and Count Borin of Dilston were all there for meeting Nicolette, archery/jousting practice, or accompanying someone they were married or related to.

By the end of the eventful night, Nicolette was exhausted and only wished for a warm bed with thick linens. The visitors all dispersed to their temporary rooms. When Lord Thomas came over to escort her to her own room, she was delighted. Excited, she bounced as she followed Thomas towards the end of a long hall. Two large doors were proclaimed as her own and Thomas aided her in opening them.

The long doors opened widely with a long groan. Nicolette was introduced to a deep room lit dimly with elegant new candles. Hers. All hers. She soaked in the rich purple fabrics, soft to the touch. A large Venetian mirror spread from window to window on one wall. She admired herself quickly in the beautifully embellished mirror. It must have cost a small fortune. She walked over to her large mattress and canopy. It was probably 5 times the size of her small cot at the cottage.

Nicolette leaped backwards onto it. The soft mattress conformed to all her curves. She sighed deeply and closed her tired eyes. She glanced at the large clock in her window. 2.00 a.m. She needed sleep.

"Will this work for you grace?" Thomas asked softly.

"Oh yes. Thank you m’lord," she said contently.

"Nicolette? Have you met the younger prince yet?" he asked in a new tone. Serious.

"I don’t think so," she said truthfully.

"Alright. Go to sleep. Tomorrow is the jousting competition and the hunt. Goodnight," he said supportively, the serious tone gone. He silently walked out and closed the groaning door.

Nicolette walked over to her expensive mirror and looked at herself. Her hair was still slightly curly. She walked over to her wash basin and wiped her face off with the towel.

What had just happened to her? She looked at her plain face without makeup. She pulled on the laces of her corset and dress. It was like a weight had been lifted off her mid-section. She breathed heavily. Something she had not been able to do all night except when she had been outside.

Something wet fell down her cheeks. And salty. Tears? Why was she crying? She didn’t resist the heavy flow of precipitation from her eyes. Nicolette dragged her naked body to her bed and slipped under the heavy linens.

"Your grace. Your GRACE," a maid called over Nicolette.

"Yes?" she said groggily. She tried to shield her eyes from the bright sun.

"Time to wake up! The royal family requests your attendance at the breakfast this morning," she said showing Nicolette the ivory dress she had picked for her.

"Ah. I will get up. However, I’m not decent for eyes right now. Would you mind if I dressed myself this morning?" she asked remembering her nudity that morning.

"Well, alright, I suppose. Hurry though. You’ll be late if you delay any longer your highness!" the maid said reluctantly.

"I know. I could never keep them waiting. Now please leave while I get up and get dressed," she said to the young maid. The maid walked out the whiny doors and back into the hall to wait.

Nicolette rose up and began to dress quickly. She pulled up the corset and laced it comfortably. She pulled the dress up over it. It flattered her curves gracefully. This time, however, the sleeves only reached about half-way down her legs. She smiled at herself in the mirror. She still didn’t see how the Lord Thomas had thought she was prettier than other girls.

The maid walked back in, disregarding the fact the Nicolette had not called her. She grabbed a brush and water basin and began to clean Nicolette’s hair. It was soft and curly when it was wet. The maid began to dry her hair rather hastily. She then pulled it into a braid and wrapped it around her head.

"Thank you," Nicolette said when she finished primping her for the breakfast. The maid bowed gracefully and walked out and went along doing her chores.

"Ahh! Nicolette! You look ravishing this morning!" the prince said as soon as she walked in. He must have forgotten the fact that she came from a nobody background.

"Thank you. You do as well," she said forgetting the wit that she had thought up when he talked to her.

"Sit sit!" the king suggested loudly. Nicolette obeyed and took a seat next to her betrothed.

"Has anyone seen Oliver this morning?" the king asked with a sour tone in his voice. Everybody at the table, including Nicolette, shook their head silently. The king looked dissatisfied and unhappy. He coughed and said, "You’d think he’d want to meet the future wife of his own brother. That boy is just plain strange."

"It doesn’t matter. What does he mean to me anyway?" Prince Peter replied with an arrogant smile. Nicolette didn’t like that about him. He was arrogant and cocky all the time. She decided she wasn’t going to spend much time around him during the games that day.

"Your grace, I found Oliver. However, he won’t be joining you for breakfast but will make an appearance at the hunt and jousting competitions," a servant said to the king.

"Thank you Jasper," the king said with a roll of his eyes. Nicolette took it that the royal family was not too proud of their other son.

"Dear, we mustn’t get upset with Ollie. He’s just a young man. He’ll learn soon that it’s rude to reject an invitation with his family," the queen said in the way a defensive mother might. The king sighed and looked at his wife lovingly. He couldn’t argue with her. She was right.

The Spanish guitar player from Alderan (Princess Christiana’s kingdom) began to softly play a relaxing song, a specialty of Alderan. Nicolette ate her meal slowly to absorb the flavors of the lamb and the potatoes.
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Sorry. That was probably a really boring chapter. It's just background for knowledge for things that happen in the plot in the future. The next one should be a bit more interesting. Should get that up in the next few days. Be excited.