The Rise of the Lost Princess

Best Dinner Ever...Too Bad I'm Not Hungry Anymore

It wasn't long before I heard a crisp knock on my door. I tried to stand and wipe the tears from my eyes before the door opened, but I only succeeded in getting hit with the door as it opened and falling to the floor again.

"Oh my lord, I am so sorry Lady Anita!" I young woman rushed to my side to help me stand. "Are you hurt miss?" she asked as I got to my feet.

"No, I'm fine. Please, just call me Anita." I said, blush creeping over my cheeks. Leave it to me to humiliate myself in my own room in less than an hour in my new home. I was the word 'disaster' personified.

"The Master of the house is very particular on titles being respected in his home, Ma'am." the young woman said, bowing her head slightly.

"Well, the Master of this house has not raised me in this house, and frankly everyone calling me 'Lady Anita' is making me uncomfortable so, if you have to call me that then at least don't address me so formally when we are in the privacy of my room. Would that be possible?" I asked, I didn't want to make these peoples jobs harder but seriously, I couldn't handle it. She hesitated a moment before finally nodding and giving me a small smile.

"I suppose that couldn't hurt." I smiled back at her. She was very pretty, with blonde hair pulled back into bun at the crown of her head. She had these large, light brown eyes and gorgeous lashes. Her face was slightly heart shaped and skin was clear. I liked her almost immediately.

"What is your name?" I asked, if I was going to be living here indefinitely then it would probably be best that I started trying to remember names.

"Sophie, I will be your personal hand. I am responsible with tending to your room, washing your linens and clothes as well as for any other things you may need." I was shocked, was this really necessary? I get Dad must be loaded but I have been self-sufficient for years. I didn't need to be taken care of.

"That really won't be necessary Sophie, I can clean up after myself." I tried to say but she wouldn't have it.

"Anita, it would be inappropriate if a young lady of your rank were to be servant duties. Even if you would only be cleaning after yourself. You will be expected to be spending your time doing much more important things."

"Like what?" I said, flabbergasted.

"I don't know exactly what Ma'am, that would be something for you to discuss with your father." She said, not completely forthcoming nor really evasive. Then something she said in our conversation echoed back to me.

"If your job is to clean up after me, then what are you doing here now?" I asked. She chuckled slightly.

"Miss, cleaning after you is just one of my responsibilities as your personal hand maid. At the moment I am here to bring you the selection of dresses for you to choose from for dinner tonight." she said before opening the door again and pulling a rolling rack of dresses in behind her. There was a dress in just about every color, all with the tags on them. I quickly reached for the closest one. It was just my size...it was also $300. I felt like I was going to be sick.

"So is this dinner like..a welcome party or something?" I asked, feeling panic bubble in my chest.

"No ma'am, just a family dinner. But your father felt it was a special occasion given that it is going to be the first time you've met him. He felt a more proper setting would be appropriate."

"How is a fancy dinner more appropriate than a normal one? I think order some pizza and wearing sweat pants would suffice." I said sullenly. But something in Sophie's face caught my attention. "What?"

"This isn't 'fancy' Ma'am. If it were then the dresses would be far more extravagant than what has been sent." She said, looked both concerned and maybe even slightly offended. I however was floored. More extravagant than $300 dresses? I looked back at the rack of clothes and upon a closer inspection I could see that she was right. Most of these would be worn to maybe slightly nicer restaurants, the ones that rich people might go to for Sunday brunch. But none of them screamed 'cocktail party for the rich'. They were day dresses, just....high end ones I guess. I sighed.

"Still, I think sweat pants and pizza would still be preferable...I hate wearing dresses." I said, looking at Sophie with a cringe on my face. She looked at me and we both chuckled.

"Well, if you hate it so much then maybe I should help you pick which one to wear." she offered.

"That would be wonderful." I said. And I meant it. I don't think I would call Sophie a friend yet, but she was definitely the closest thing I had to one. That prospect alone made my outlook on the situation a little brighter.

After about an hour of being scrubbed, styled, dressed and dolled up by my new hand maid, like that's a normal thing for a seventeen year old to have, Sophie was leading me to the family dining room, not to be confused with the main dining room. Apparently the distinction was very important as one was set up for just us few while the other was intended to serve at least seventy-five people. I couldn't imagine a party of that size personally, though it probably didn't help that I had never actually been to one before.

"Sophie, you've met my dad before, right?" I asked.

"Yes, I have." She said, not elaborating in the slightest. Which both frustrated me and made me grateful. At least I knew she wouldn't ramble on unless asked for more details.

"What is he like?" I wasn't sure I wanted to know, but I still wanted to be prepared?

"He is very intimidating at first, and can be very strict with certain things. But he has been nothing but kind to me and those I work closely with." she said with a slight smile on her face. She turned to me then.

"He has a very big heart miss, bigger than he lets on. So don't be fulled by the first impression, because he is a very good man." the thought reassured me. So I could expect to be at least a little intimidated tonight, but I wouldn't have to worry about him being unkind. I didn't dare to hope that we would build a good relationship the way I used to crave with my mother, but at least I knew he wouldn't mistreat me either.

We entered the family dining room and I was amazed at the size of it.