The Dragon Princess

The Dress

All week, I have been a ball of nerves. Day and night, there has only been one thing on my mind; my party. No matter how many times I asked, Cecilia wouldn’t tell me anything about it, who was invited, how many people would be there, if there would be any activities. Even Kaira, who usually can’t keep a secret to save her life, kept her lips sealed. But most of all, I am nervous about Caspian, and what he might possibly say or do.

I haven’t seen him since our last meeting at our secret spot, so I have had no way to gauge him, warn him not to do anything stupid.

Today is my birthday, I am finally 18. Cecilia gave me the whole day off today, told me to go to the markets, use the silver coins she allowed me to keep to buy something nice. I wandered around for hours, mindlessly browsing through every stall, but there was nothing that really caught my eye. In the end, I bought myself a hair pin. Made from iron and glass, it sparkled in the sun and I thought that it might look nice in my silvery-blonde hair.

I walked home from the markets as slowly as possible in hopes of bumping into Caspian again, but there was no sign of him anywhere. His absence is making me anxious. I wonder has he already told his parents about us, getting himself into trouble. But if he had, there is no way that I wouldn’t have been punished myself.

As I return to the Manor, my stomach twists inside me. There seems to be servants everywhere, but the party doesn’t start for another two hours. Curious, I go straight to the kitchen in hopes of seeing Cecilia. I hear her voice before I see her, shouting demands at those running around in a flustered state.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Preparations, Darling. Not for you to worry about. Did you find anything nice at the markets?”

I show her my hair pin and she admires it, running her fingers over the delicate glass, a gentle smile on her face.

“Beautiful. It will go perfectly with the gift from Atticus and I. You’ll find it on your bed. Now, off you go. Time to get ready!”

Before I can reply, she disappears in a flurry, shouting some more orders at the servants. I realise now that there’s no way this will be a small event. Cecilia never does anything by halves, but that effort never revolves around me.

I close my bedroom door behind me, taking some deep breaths to steady myself. Then my eyes fall onto my gift. Something I would never have expected. It takes my breath away once more. A dress. Not any dress. Nothing like I’ve ever worn before. I’m sure this is a dress only noble women would wear. I move closer, running my fingers over the blue silk. It feels so delicate that I’m afraid it’ll fall apart in my hands.

A knock sounds at my door and I call for whoever it is to come in. It’s Kaira.

“Ready for your big party?” She asks, her eyes falling onto the dress. “Wow. It’s a good thing I won’t be wearing blue tonight, wouldn’t want to steal the attention from you. I’m sure you’ll look just striking in this piece. Everyone will be talking.”

“Thank you.” I mumble, unsure if that was a true compliment or not.

I never really know how to take Kaira. She can be kind and sweet one minute, cruel and sharp the next. Even if I am wearing the most beautiful dress tonight, I have no doubt that all eyes will still be on her. With her long, brown locks, almond shaped eyes, and rosebud lips, she is always the centre of attention.

“Tonight is going to be a big deal, Ella. You’ll have to look your best. I’ll send in one of my maids to help you get ready.”

With that, she spins around on her heel and leaves my room. I sit down at my vanity and brush out my hair. Using my new hair pin, I clip half of my hair up, leaving the long ends to drape over my shoulders. I sit and stare at my reflection. I can see the apprehension in my eyes. I don’t want to be ungrateful, but part of me wishes that Cecilia could have forgotten about my birthday, left it as a small affair like the rest. There is nobody that she could invite, except Caspian, that likes me. Even Konan, Kaira’s older brother, who I have grown up with, hates me. Treats me like a pest. It’s good that Kaira will be there, with her friends in tow. I will be able to blend into the shadows, draw no attention to myself and hopefully, get through the night without any mishaps.

Once the maid arrives, I don’t have time to think or second guess. My skin is bathed in milk and perfumed with rose oil. Some honey adds a much needed glow to my face while root powder adds some pink to my cheeks. This ritual is foreign to me. It’s something that Cecilia and Kaira have done daily, resulting in their never out of place beauty. I must admit, despite the effort it took the poor maid, I do feel amazing. The most beautiful I have ever felt.

When everything else is done, she helps me into my dress, her delicate and experienced fingers lacing me up with ease. A white silk belt wraps around the bodice, accentuating my waist and making my hips look wider than they are.

“Miss Ella...if I may, you look sublime. Fit for royalty.”

“Thank you, Cara, but it’s all thanks to you. I don’t think I shall be recognised.”

“I have only accentuated your natural beauty, Miss Ella. Perhaps tonight, those who hadn’t noticed before, will see your true beauty.”

“Thank you, Cara. You are very kind for helping me, even if Miss Kaira ordered it.”

“Honestly, it was a welcome task.”

I don’t doubt that. Kaira is extremely demanding, accepting only the best for herself. I must be a walk in the park compared to her. Cara leaves me, and I am once again alone with my thoughts. This is it, time for my party. My stomach erupts with nerves, and I feel like I might be sick.

Another knock sounds at the door.

“Come in.” I call.

But it’s not Kaira like I expected, not even Cecilia. It’s Konan. He stomps into my room like a man on a hunting mission. He stops briefly, his eyes running over me from head to toe. The shock is evident on his face, he wasn’t expecting such a transformation. I can only guess that my face mirrors his; Konan has never come into my room before, much less in a mood like this.

“Konan...Is there something I can do for you?”

“Yes.” He snaps, his eyes meeting mine. "Tonight, you better not embarrass this family, Ella. Lord knows why my mother thought it fit to throw you a party, yet here we are.” He takes a step closer, pointing his finger at my chest. “Just remember your place, Ella. You are not a noble, you are a maid of this family and you will act like it!”