A Princess Named Harry

Chapter 4

Cambrel took Harry all over the palace; by the time they were done, there had not been a single place that they didn't visit.

Harry headed back to her room. She was hoping to rest for a bit before the ball. However, that would be impossible. In her room waiting for her were three maids. Paula, who she had already met, a young maid named Ruby, and an old maid named Melody.

"Welcome back, Your Highness," greeted Paula. "I'm so glad you've returned."

"Yes," Harry replied. "I came back so that I could rest up a bit before the ball."

The maids all glanced at each other. "I'm afraid you cannot do that, Your Highness," said Paula. "We need to start getting you ready."

"N-now?" Harry stuttered. "But the ball isn't going to start for another couple of hours."

Ruby bowed and replied, "Your Highness, we have to bathe you, find the perfect dress for you, get the matching shoes, fix your hair, then lastly comes the jewelry. We have a lot to do in a short amount of time."

"Yeah, we need you to cooperate with us, Your Highness, the first princess is already getting ready. We are behind," grunted Melody.

Paula smiled, "There you have it."

Harry argued that there were still three hours left and that it shouldn't take that long to get her ready since she could do it on her own, but she quickly gave up and let the maids do their work. However, there were some little issues along the way.

"Um, Miss Ruby, I can bathe myself."

"No, Your Highness, a princess shouldn't have to do it herself."

"Um, Miss Paula, about the dress, I can put it on by myself."

"I can't allow Your Highness to do that."

"Miss Melody, it's about my hairstyle, I don't think there's really a need to-"

"Just let me handle it, Princess!"

In the end, it took almost all of their time to get Harry ready. The maids stood in awe of their work. Paula was the first to compliment her, "Her Highness looks pretty in pink."

Ruby nodded," I agree."

Harry was then showered with many compliments from Paula and Ruby. It was her first time wearing such expensive things and being complimented so much. She covered her face in embarrassment. It still didn't feel quite real to her yet.

"You're a princess now; you need to be more confident!" snapped Melody.

Paula nudged her arm. "All in due time," she replied.

Paula energetically clapped her hands. "Now, Your Highness, we'll have the knights escort you to the ball."

She opened the bedroom door where Cambrel and a second knight stood. The second knight seemed bigger in comparison and had dark hair and dark, dull green eyes.

"Men," said Paula sternly. "She's ready."

"Princess," Cambrel called her, a little shocked. Harry didn't blame him for being surprised; she thought everyone must have thought poorly of her outfit before. It was rags compared to her new attire. She thought that he must have had a hard time recognizing her at first due to all of the glitter and makeup.

Cambrel beckoned the second man over to her. "Let me introduce you-"

Before Cambrel could finish, the man got down on one knee and said, "Florence Dyke, at your service, Your Highness."

He held out his hand for her to take. "Harry," she replied awkwardly. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

The silence from everyone quickly led to even more awkwardness. "S-so shall we go?" Harry asked nervously. She didn't really want to go, but it seemed better than standing there with everyone in awkward silence. "We'll escort you," replied Cambrel.

Paula and Ruby waved her off while Melody turned away with an annoyed expression as she left the room with the two knights.

She was very nervous; her heart was beating so fast and loud that she was certain it would beat right out of her chest. It only slowed once Florence told her they would have to wait outside the doors for a second. She stared at the doors intensely, knowing what awaited her.

"Are you ready, Princess?" Cambrel asked.

Harry looked at him and then back at the doors nervously. "It's right through those doors, isn't it?" she asked.

Cambrel nodded, "Yes, they'll announce your arrival, and His Majesty will introduce you to all the attending nobles."

Harry looked down and replied, "I understand."

She didn't want to go in, but she knew if she didn't, she would be letting a lot of people down, especially her mother, and she didn't want that. She wondered if her mother was already in there and soon found herself asking that very question aloud.

"Is my mother already inside?" she asked.

Florence answered her rather quickly, "We believe so. Are you ready to go, Your Highness?"

Harry did not look at him. Instead, she stared down at the floor. "I suppose so . . . it would be rude not to," she answered very quietly.

She also didn't want all of the hard work the maids put in to go to waste. Many people would be disappointed if she didn't show up, is what she told herself. She secretly thought it would be easier to walk in if she did it with her mother by her side.

She sighed, "If my mother is already in there, then I'm ready to go in too." She could hear the sound of Florence opening the door. She shut her eyes tightly and squeezed her fists. It was when she was about to take her first step that she heard her mother call out to her.

"Harry? Harry, it is you, isn't it?"

When Harry saw her, she was very shocked. "Mother?" she called. Harry had barely been able to recognize her. Caroline was dressed up very formally in the same fashion that Harry was. Harry noted her mother's large golden crown on her head.

"Harry!" Caroline exclaimed as she tightly hugged her.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Harry asked. "Shouldn't you be inside already?"

Caroline squeezed Harry tightly. "Oh, how could I be inside when my cute daughter is out here?" She held her hand out to Harry, who found herself naturally reaching out to take it. Caroline smiled at her and asked, "Now, we have a ball to go to, don't we?"