The Curse Crown

Chapter 3

Clariza returned to the bakery with a pained arm, the skin marked with scratches. She was upset and angry about what had happened. Slamming the money she had earned onto the table, she let out a frustrated yell in front of her father, brother, and Helen, who was hurriedly packing the last batch of bread to be delivered to the palace.

Everyone was startled by Clariza's outburst, as they were not used to seeing her angry.

Her father, concern etched on his face, immediately asked what had happened. Her brother, noticing the large scratches on her arm, asked, "What happened? Did you fall off the horse?" as he continued wrapping the bread.

She tried to compose herself and held back her emotions. Taking a deep breath, she replied to everyone, "I'm okay, it just seems like today wasn't my lucky day." She forced a smile, hiding her sadness because she knew her father would only worry more and ask further questions.

"Alright then, Helen and I will take care of this delivery to the palace," her brother said, offering to help. They all worked together, carefully placing each box of bread and pastries onto the wagon. Soon after, her brother and Helen left for the palace.

As for Clariza, she quickly headed to her room. She collapsed onto her bed, feeling the need to sleep again as her body still ached from the fall she had taken earlier on the way to the palace.

Clariza had barely closed her eyes when her cousin Marcela suddenly knocked on her door. If Clariza was quiet and reserved, Marcela was the complete opposite—loud and full of energy.

Clariza didn’t want to answer or even open the door for Marcela, so she pretended to be asleep, hoping her cousin would go away and let her rest. But Marcela was not one to be easily deterred. She barged into Clariza’s room without hesitation and sat down beside her on the bed.

"I know you're not asleep," Marcela said, tugging at Clariza's blanket. "I saw you in town this morning."

Clariza sighed inwardly, realizing there was no escaping her cousin's persistent nature.

Clariza sighed in boredom as she tried to sit up on the bed. "What?"

"What do you mean, what? Get up! We're going to a banquet at the palace!" Marcela said excitedly, her face lighting up with enthusiasm as she leaned in close, her big eyes wide with excitement.

"Oh no! If there's one place I don't want to go right now, it's the palace," Clariza said, her voice full of rejection. She knew that one day of bad luck and emotional pain was more than enough.

"Besides, only invited guests can go there. I’m not invited, and I never will be. Commoners and royalty aren’t allowed to mix, you know that," Clariza added.

Marcela was the daughter of Clariza's mother's sibling. Her family owned a clothing shop, so they lived an above-average life compared to Clariza, whose bakery sometimes struggled with sales. The townspeople were not wealthy, and large orders for their bakery were rare.

"You’re underestimating me, cousin," Marcela said with a hint of pride in her voice. She held up an invitation card that her family had received from the palace, showcasing their invitation to the grand ceremony that night."And you’re coming with us tonight. I already told father that I’m bringing you along, and you know they can’t say no to their only daughter," Marcela said with a laugh, her tone both playful and confident.

"Even if I go, you know I don’t have anything appropriate to wear. Do you want to be laughed at and criticized because of me?" Clariza persuaded her cousin. It was true; Clariza didn’t have a single fancy outfit, and she knew she wouldn’t fit in at such an event.

Marcela let out a sigh and said, "What’s the point of owning a clothing shop if I can’t even get you a beautiful dress that suits you? Leave everything to me." She said this with a confident yet reassuring smile.

"So please, Clariza, come with us. You know you're my best friend, and I don’t know anyone else there. I’d feel so out of place without you," Marcela pleaded.

"Okay, fine. But I have to ask my father for permission first," Clariza agreed.

"Yes!" Marcela exclaimed, bouncing with excitement. Despite their 5-year age difference, she treated Clariza like a younger sister."Oh, and by the way, you don’t need to ask your father for permission because I already did it before coming here. He said it’s fine as long as you agree," Marcela said with a laugh.

Clariza just smiled, knowing there was no winning against her cousin's relentless and persuasive nature.

"I'll pick you up at 6, and I'll send over the dress you'll be wearing later. I'll also take care of your makeup, don't worry. I know we'll have fun tonight," Marcela said cheerfully as she stood up from the bed. She didn’t stay much longer, quickly leaving the room in excitement to go pick out her own outfit for the evening.

Clariza watched her cousin leave, feeling a mix of reluctance and anticipation for the night ahead.

Even though she wasn’t too keen on going, Clariza knew there was no escaping her cousin’s persistence. Besides, it probably wouldn’t hurt to attend the event tonight, she thought. After all, who would even recognize her after what happened earlier? She wasn’t exactly someone who stood out in a crowd.

That was the thought running through her mind as she looked at herself in the mirror, trying to convince herself it would be fine.

"And it's not like I'm particularly beautiful anyway," she added, her self-doubt creeping in as she continued to examine her reflection in the mirror.

---

Time flew by quickly, and at 6 o'clock, Marcela arrived with a makeup artist in tow, knowing that Clariza wasn’t adept at applying makeup. The artist skillfully applied a light, flawless foundation that highlighted Clariza’s natural glow. Her eyes were enhanced with a subtle yet elegant touch of eyeshadow and a delicate sweep of mascara, making her eyes sparkle. Her lips were given a soft, rosy tint that complemented her overall look.

The result was a makeup style that was both understated and radiant, perfectly enhancing Clariza’s features without overpowering them. The light, glowing finish made Clariza look refreshed and more confident than she had expected.

Clariza, unaccustomed to wearing makeup, even shed a few tears as the artist applied the mascara. Marcela then helped her into the dress she had chosen for her cousin—a stunning red mermaid dress that hugged Clariza’s curves with elegance. It featured a modest neckline and long sleeves, balancing allure with sophistication. The floor-length skirt flared gently from the knees, creating a classic mermaid silhouette. The low back added a daring touch, while the rich red color enhanced its bold, captivating appeal, perfect for making a lasting impression.

It took nearly two hours to complete the preparations. When Clariza finally emerged from her room, her brother, Helen, and her father were waiting to see her before she left with Marcela for the palace.

"Wow, is that really you, Clariza?" Helen exclaimed, clearly amazed by her appearance. The looks on their faces showed their disbelief at how stunning she looked.

"You look like a princess, my daughter," her father said with a smile, walking over to Clariza and holding her by the arms.

"Thank you, Father," Clariza said with a smile, her voice tinged with shyness and awkwardness as she wasn’t used to such formal attire.

*Ehem,* Marcela cleared her throat and interjected, *"Of course, I styled her. My cousin is always going to look amazing with my touch."* She added proudly, clearly pleased with the reaction Clariza was receiving.

"Alright, you’d better not be late for the royal celebration," her father said. "Take care of yourselves, and have fun at the party. Marcela, make sure you look after your cousin."

Clariza was pleased to hear her father’s words. Even though she was five years older than Marcela, it felt as though her father still saw her as a child, much like he did with Marcela.

The two of them then left, boarding Marcela’s carriage and heading directly to the palace.

After some time, they arrived at the front of the palace. They passed through a grand, ornate gate guarded by vigilant sentries. This entrance was quite different from the backdoor or kitchen entrance Clariza had used before. *This must be the main entrance for the royal family and their guests,* she thought to herself.At that moment, Clariza was filled with mixed emotions. She was excited because it was her first time witnessing such a grand celebration at the palace, especially one as significant as the selection of the next crown prince. Yet, she was also anxious, knowing she wasn’t familiar with the etiquette of the wealthy elite. She worried that someone might approach her or that she might make an embarrassing mistake, and she didn’t want to cause any embarrassment for her cousin.

Marcela noticed the anxiety on Clariza’s face and took her hand. “Hey, are you okay? Don’t worry about anything. All you need to do is enjoy yourself, dance, eat, and have fun at the party,” Marcela said with a reassuring smile.

She knew Clariza might be nervous since it was her first time attending such an event. Unlike Marcela, who had attended a private school, was familiar with etiquette, and came from a reputable family accustomed to such gatherings.

Clariza looked at her cousin and smiled. She couldn’t help but think how fortunate she was to have a cousin like Marcela, who was kind and treated her like a sister. Marcela was beautiful, with brunette curls that fell past her shoulders, fair, smooth skin, and a well-proportioned figure. She looked stunning in her blue ball gown, which enhanced her natural beauty even more.

"Let’s go," Marcela said, guiding Clariza as the coachman opened the carriage door for them.