The Name You Gave Me

Chapter 3 - Just One Dance

Dear Emilio,

     It hasn't even been a whole 24 hours since I have seen you last, but I already miss you so much. The palace here is absolutely grand, but I feel that I have already made an enemy. Do you remember Lilura Ethelfled from the Meaning Ceremony? It is her. I overhead her talking down about me for being a commoner and well...you know me, I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I have been in my room since yesterday after I confronted her about it.

     I wish I would have been able to see you before I had to leave. I know very well that you would have given me some sort of advice that would tell me what to do in this situation. Do I be the bigger person and apologize? Do I fight fire with fire? Or do I just ignore her and hope that the situation simmers down? Either way, I know that you would know what to do which is why I am telling you about it.

     Did I mention how grand the palace is?! It is honestly beautiful! I wish that you were here to witness it all with me. I even have my own maid and guard. My maid's name is Ambree. She is two years older than us, but honestly, I like her. She is very respectful of me wanting my space and such. My guard's name is Kace he...Well he isn't what you would expect from a guard. In all honesty, he reminds me a lot of you, Lio. He showed me to my room last night after the whole Lilura issue. He was also a commoner and he is a year older than us.

     I must have missed it when they called your name at the Meaning Ceremony. I was so nervous about what I was going to get, so I probably had zoned out. What job did Sir Ambrose assign you? Maybe it was a guard and you could come work at the palace! Now wouldn't that be fun? Anyways, I'm about to sign off. I just wanted to keep to my promise that I would write to you first thing.

Love, Ro

I let out a breath as I click the pen that I am holding and set it down. It hurt that I won’t be able to see Emilio for a whole year, but at least I am able to write to him. It is better than nothing. As I gentle fold the letter, slip it into a crisp white envelope, and set it on top of the other letters that I had wrote to Portia and Aunt Penelope, my maid walks into my room.

"Miss Rohanna. It is time to get ready for the Welcoming Ball."

Right...I had forgotten about the annual Welcoming Ball. Every year, the king and queen host a ball for the new princesses and princes. It is honestly one of the biggest events of the year. If you are invited, then you are considered to be somebody. If not? Then you are considered to be a nobody. It is yet again just another social event that tries to define people based on their social status. So, naturally, I hate it.

"Of course, thank you Ambree. And please, you can just call me Rohanna as I said last night. The formalities are not necessary when it is just me around," I say and softly smile at her happy expression.

She is a petite woman, being small for a twenty-year-old. But it is obvious that she can hold her own. I suppose two years of doing all of the heavy lifting does that to a person.

"Yes, I forgot. My apologies, Rohanna," she apologizes before she continues, "I have picked out a lovely outfit for you to wear tonight. Would you like to see it?"

I want to tell her that apologizing isn't necessary, but I know that it will do no good so I just nod my head. Instantly, Ambree claps her hands together out of excitement and dashes to my closet. As she pulls out the dress, my full lips part in awe.

In her hands is a strapless emerald green ball gown. The top half is sleek and shiny. Shimmering tulle starts at the waist and cascades down the sleek material. The dress is beautiful and perhaps one of the finest pieces of clothing that I have ever seen in my entire life.

"Rohanna, is everything okay? If you don't like the dress, I am sure that I can quickly find something else," Ambree says with a worried expression.

"No, no. That won't be necessary, Ambree. The dress is beautiful," I say quickly. She must have taken my silence as a sign of a distaste, but she couldn't have been farther from the truth. "It's perfect actually."

Her smile quickly appears back on her lips as she ushers me to come to her. Once I am there, she quickly undresses me and helps me into the emerald gown. I'm not used to anyone seeing me n***d, not even Portia, but she insists on helping. Once she has the gown on me, she smiles as she looks at me.

"Do you want to look in the mirror now? Or do you want to wait until I finish your hair and makeup?"

"Oh, uh. I can wait until you are completely finished. It seems easier that way," I reply back to her as I take a seat. I am definitely not used to being pampered in ways like this, but I would be lying if I said that it wasn't nice. Of course, I hate that Ambree is having to do it. She seems like a very nice and genuine woman.

After what seems like eternity of soft brushes being in my face and combs tugging through my hair, Ambree finally pulls away and comes around to stare at me. Her hopeful features instantly contort into a pleased look.

"You look absolutely beautiful," she says softly as she leads me towards the full-length mirror. A small gasp leaves my lips when my reflection comes into view because the girl staring back at me is absolutely beautiful. Me...I’m beautiful.

The gown fits me perfectly, the top hugs my curves and the neckline is modest, yet still dips down some. A necklace hangs around my neck, a gold band with a thick emerald pendant that sparkles every time it catches the light. My eye makeup is natural with just a hint of gold shimmer and my lips are painted a deep red. Gold heels adorn my feet, causing me to be a bit unsteady. My thick hair is in curls, random strands being pinned up with gold hair pins that are shaped like stars. Is that really me in the mirror? Because what I am seeing is a princess. Nothing more. Nothing less.

"So, what do you think?" Ambree asks me softly.

"It's gorgeous. The dress. The makeup. The jewelry. It is all gorgeous," I nearly whisper. I'm honestly at a loss for words.

"You are beautiful," She replies quickly, "It is all you. Nothing else."

A small smile forms on my lips before I turn and look at Ambree.

"Thank you so much. You did a wonderful job."

Ambree just smiles and nods before she looks at the clock on the wall.

"Oh goodness, is that the time? You better get going!" She exclaims as she ushers me out of my room.

When I step outside, Kace is waiting for me. The moment he sees me, he grins.

"Well look at you. Looks like you know how to fit in well after all," he says as he holds out his arm in order to escort me.

I gently loop my arm with his, resting my hand on his wrist. He really is much sturdier than he looks. As we begin our walk towards the staircase that leads back down to the first floor, I hear a chuckle come from him.

"What's so funny?" I question him as I furrow my eyebrows and tilt my head up in order to look at him.

"Oh nothing, nothing. I am just thinking about how uncomfortable those shoes look. Honestly, how are you walking right now?"

"Do you not feel me holding on to your arm for dear life?" I ask with a quiet laugh as I shake my head. "I wouldn't be surprised if I fell down and made a fool of myself again. After my little outburst yesterday in the waiting room, that's the last thing that I need."

I notice Kace frown slightly as he looks down at me with a confused look on his face.

"You were absolutely amazing yesterday. Lilura is your typical prima donna who needed to be put in her place. Honestly, I would be surprised if the others aren't worshiping you and declaring you honorary queen by the time we make it to the ball," he says with a simple shrug.

He has the tendency to say things that matter in such a nonchalant way, it just adds to his whole mischievous vibe. I don't respond to him as we descend the stairs and come to a stop in front of the big double doors.

"Are you ready?" He asks me as he reaches his free hand out towards the door.

"Is it too late to say no?"

"Yep. Sure is," He says with a smirk as he swings the door open.

Instantly my ears are filled with the sound of light music and chatter among the guests. The ball room is even more lavish than the waiting room and my bedroom combined. There is a golden chandelier with crystals hanging off of it that cast a shimmering reflection across the huge room. The middle of the room is bare, only filled with couples as they dance to the melodic sound of the orchestra. Along the walls of the room are cushioned chairs and bars that are filled with small finger foods and drinks.

"Go on. You have to go in, Rohanna," Kace murmurs to me as he gives me a little nudge.

I hesitate before I take a step into the room and then another one. Soon I find myself in the middle of it all, my senses being overloading. There is so much going on, I can't even seem to focus on one thing.

"Are you sure that it is mandatory?" I ask as I turn to face Kace, but when I turn around, he isn't behind me anymore.

I furrow my eyebrows slightly as I do a small spin, looking for him. Seriously? Did he have to ditch me the moment we got here? He had told me before to not let anyone know that I was nervous, yet he left me alone in a crowd, looking like an i***t.

I let out a small huff as I gently push my way through the crowd. Crowds have never been my thing, but now that I am out of my comfort zone, I definitely am not feeling it. I make my way over to one of the bars that is lined against the wall, struggling to walk in my heels. Seriously, who thought that inventing t*****e shoes was a smart idea? When I make it to the bar, I gently grip the side of it to help keep my balance. I can hardly walk in them, so how exactly am I supposed to dance in them?

The food that lines the bar looks delicious, as if it were made by an artist. The smells cause me to nearly drool, but I at least of some ounce of self-control. A part of me wants to indulge in the food, but the other part of me doesn't want to give the palace that type of satisfaction. Back at home, people are nearly starving. Yet the upper-class people are nearly swimming in food.

"Rohanna Perez...A penny for your thoughts?"

I jump as I hear someone speak from behind me. I quickly try to turn around, but stumble in my heels. Instantly a hand shoots out and rests on my waist, steadying me. I swallow thickly as I finally get a good look at who it is. Aaron... The boy who I saw at the Meaning Ceremony. He looks exactly the same, but now his long brown hair is cut short neatly. He honestly looks like a true prince.

"Hello? Earth to Rohanna?"

I blink as I clear my thoughts. Right. He had asked me a question.

"My thoughts are none of your concern," I say rather quickly causing even myself to cringe. Here he is trying to be nice, or so I assume, and I am being rude. I am surprised as he laughs lightly, his golden-brown eyes twinkling.

"So, you are feisty. I mean, I figured that you were after how you responded to Lilura. But you just proved it," he says lightly before he continues, "Which, by the way, she totally deserved. Lilura has a way of making people feel lesser than. I mean, she told me that I looked like I had a mop head."

"Oh, so is that why you have cut your hair?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at him and trying to ignore his comments about myself.

"I actually cut my hair because my maid, Cristin, is not familiar with dealing with longer hair. I convinced her to let me just cut it instead of putting her through the trouble of learning." He states simply.

I scoff as I shake my head in disbelief, not buying what he is saying.

"Really? I am surprised that you cared at all about what she thought. After all, aren't all of you high class people just concerned with yourself?"

A surprised look falls over Aaron's face before he laughs, yet again to my demise.

"Well, I can see why you would assume that, but I like to think that there is good in everyone, no matter what their social status is," Aaron retorts back to me, but his facial features are still light and charming, "Perhaps I can prove this to you with a dance?"

My eyes widen slightly as he holds his hand out to me and I hesitate. One, I had just insulted him and he really wanted to dance with me? Two, I still hadn't figured out how I was supposed to dance in these heels!

"Oh, come on, just one dance. I'm trying to be a gentleman," he muses lightly as he watches me.

"I've never danced like this before. Honestly, the only time I have ever danced in general is when my little sister begged me to on her last birthday," I finally admit.

"Then it will be my absolute pleasure to be your first official dance," he says, "Don't worry, I will guide you through it. The steps to this one are really simple. I swear."

I am still weary, but the hopeful look that resides in Aaron's eyes is what causes me to reach out and take his hand. A warmth spreads across my arm, but I ignore it as he smiles and leads me out to the dance floor. It is then, as we come to a stop, that I finally glance around us, taking notice that several people are staring.

"Everyone is watching. I am going to embarrass myself," I mutter, trying to remain calm.

My facade of calmness is short lived, because when I suddenly feel Aaron's hand move to rest on my waist, my heartbeat quickens, as if it is trying to run right out of my chest.

"Do you trust me?" Aaron asks as he peers down at me, his brown eyes gentle and the corner of his lips upturn in the softest smile.

"Do I trust a man whom I just met?" I repeat with a nervous, quiet fit of laughter, "Not in the slightest bit. But I suppose that now I would look like an absolute fool if I were to walk away from this."

"Indeed, you would," he confirms in a playful manner as he positions our hands to be level with my shoulders, "But if it helps, they are staring at you because you are, without a doubt, the most beautiful girl in this ball room."

My cheeks flush slightly at his unexpected words. At first, I am genuinely at a loss for words as I stare up at him, my hazel eyes meeting his. Then the melodic music begins to drift across the airy room again and before I can respond, Aaron begins to lead me into a dance. He seems genuine enough, but I still can't help but to wonder if there is some underlying goal to his words. Or perhaps he truthfully believes what he had said.

Either way, my mind is forced to focus on every step I take, trying to keep up with him. At one point, I step on his foot and my eyes widen.

"I am so sorry! I promise I didn't-"

"Shush now," Aaron quickly shushes me as he continues to dance, "Look around, no one else noticed. Accidents happen."

I suck my bottom lip between my teeth before I nod and move my head to focus on my feet again. But then Aaron moves his hand up from my waist and gently pushes my chin up with his finger so that I am looking back up at him again.

"Relax, enjoy the dance. You being worrisome is going to be the death of you here," he says with a chuckle, "Here, let me show you."

As soon as the words leave his mouth, I am suddenly being spun under Aaron's arm and then brought back towards him. My hands instinctively move to rest on him, one on his chest and the other on his bicep, as I look up at him. I don't really know what to say, after all, I know nothing about him besides the fact that he is from the upper class and that he is the most charming person that I have ever met in my life.

We continue our dance, a silence settling between us, yet our eyes never leaving the others. Once the music ends, much sooner than I wanted as much as I hate to admit it, Aaron grabs my hand and presses a gentle kiss just below my knuckles.

"I suppose that I ought to share you with the others despite how much you intrigue me. But I will see you soon, Rohanna Perez."