Becoming a Luna Queen

Let's get you ready, girl

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Angeline’s POV

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 As I walked through the door, Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love song was blasting and I couldn’t resist, I started copying the choreography as I made my way to maids. Abbie and Chari had been hovering around my vanity, their bodies were tense and they were donning looks of frustration and worry until their eyes fell on me and my dance moves. It took a moment for them to register what I was doing but once they did I could see them both physically relax as we all erupted in laughter.

 Abbie stood around 5 foot 2. She had strawberry blonde hair, soft green eyes and pale skin. She was dressed in her maid’s uniform – a floor length black dress with a white lace collar that lay over the round neck line. They had white lace cuffs on the sleeves that matched and a white apron that was tied around their waists, giving them some shape.

 Chari, on the other hand, was 5 foot 9 and was taller than me. She had soft brown eyes, naturally tanned skin and dark brown hair. I was curious to know how long their hair actually was – but their uniform made them have to tie their hair in a soft bun with white ribbon at the base of their skull. So it’s something I’ve never had an answer to and it was most certainly not my place to ask.

 I was now impersonating Jay-Z, following along to his rap making my maids laugh.

 “Sorry I’m late, I was in the garden” I said after feeling like I had eased the tension that was in the air. I was hoping the sincerity in my voice reached their ears. Both of my maids rolled their eyes and smiled at me.

 “Ange, you can’t be disappearing on us. If you’re late it’s our heads on the chopping block. Need I remind you, of all people.” Stated Chari, giving me ‘they eye’. A pinch of sorrow stabbed at my heart.

 I have constantly and consistently pleaded and begged with my father that the maids should never be punished because of my tardiness. He argued that if I cared, I wouldn’t be tardy in the first place. When I retorted saying I would need a watch or a phone to keep track, he just waved me off despite knowing full well I spent the majority of my time outside.

 “Angeline,” Abbie caught my attention, “Let's get you ready, girl. Chari and I will fit you in your dress now, and then we’ll sit you down and begin on your makeup and your hair”. She motioned me towards my walk-in robe.

 Unlike other maids who learned their skills on the job, I had pleaded for my maids to be professionally trained and my father, to my surprise, had agreed. Both Chari and Abbie were fully qualified hairdressers and makeup artists. They had also attended home economic courses to learn how to sew and design outfits – they were officially my private fashion designers, too. They had learned and earned their skills and trades while I was away at boarding school. Me being away at school meant they had no work to do and I was not about to leave them alone subjected to Bertha. Plus, the added bonus was that if they weren’t attending to me, they were designing outfits and evening wear for me – another something that kept them away from Bertha and her wrath.

 By father letting them train, it meant they were released from their royal duties. They had a chance to escape the castle and make friends with other women in the Village. Bertha was dead against it but father agreed so she had to agree. On top of that, it was agreed that due to their unique skills and training, they would now follow me to my new home when I married. Free from Bertha forever. For that, they always told me how grateful they were. It was my way of apologising to them for my tardiness but also my way of letting them ‘escape’.

 I followed Chari into my walk-in robe with Abbie following close behind me. My jaw dropped as my eyes caught sight of my dress that was hanging against the window. The dress was an assortment of cloth consisting of an ivory silk corset bodice with a soft sweetheart neckline, a soft A-line silk skirt with a matching ivory Chantilly lace jacket that was to be worn over the corset bodice. It was breathtaking. Without a word, Chari went and pulled the bodice down from its hanger as Abbie began undressing me.

 Not a word was said as the corset bodice was pulled on over my head before the strings were strung by the both of my maids. I gasped for air as they tugged the string to tighten the corset as much as possible. There was no question about their strength but damn, I could barely breathe! 

“Ladies, do you think you could let a woman breathe, please?” I wasn’t sure if it was the lack of air getting into my lungs or the nerves that were beginning to swirl in my stomach, but I could only just get the words out. “I’d prefer fainting when my eyes fell upon a dashing young man rather than because I couldn’t do something as simple as breathe”.

 My maids laughed as they fiddled and loosed the bodice. Finally, I could take in some decent breaths of air. It didn’t stop my boobs from sitting high under my chin, though. My boobs were always hidden under dresses and tops that were up to my neck. Decency was of great importance for my family but apparently tonight was an exception. An exception that had my feeling exposed and vulnerable. I didn’t like it, my nerves were bad enough as it were without this, too.

 Next was the silk skirt and just like the corset, it was flung over my head and buttoned into place. Once Chari had made a move for the lace jacket, I looked behind me to see a trail of buttons that ran from my waist to the hem of the skirt. Wow, Mother must have either had this handmade or went to a fair amount of effort to find this dress. It was perfect. 

 “Angeline, stay focused and help us help you” snapped Abbie. My eyes looked up to see Chari glaring at me with the jacket. Unlike a normal jacket that you could button up or down at the front, my Chantilly lace jacket was to be buttoned up at the back, matching and aligning with the buttons on my skirt. It was cropped and stopped where my skirt began to fall. The soft round neck line tickled my collarbones and kissed my arms all the way down to my knuckles.

 To finish off my outfit, Chari brought forward my white patent heels that had ribbon which tied around the ankle. Mother had clearly had these especially made for me so I could reserve being an embarrassment by means of losing a shoe, or worse, tripping and falling on to my face. I mentally thanked her. I lifted my skirt to aid both Chari and me in the commotion that was putting on a shoe standing up. Meanwhile, Abbie had brought me my clutch. It was covered in multi-coloured  gemstones, I could only imagine father had it crafted just for me that were found in his mine. I opened the clutch as Chari was fiddling with the ribbons on my shoe, to see if there was anything hidden inside and true to my curiosity, I found a folded note. It read:

“My dearest, Angeline. 

This clutch has been crafted for you and you alone. The stones were your father’s choice to match your ever deceptive temperament. The yellow gemstones represent the joy you bring us, the green gemstones represent the laughter, the black gemstones represent the madness you’ve created over the years and the aquamarine gemstones represent love. We both do hope, more than anything, that you enjoy yourself tonight. We shall talk during our mother-daughter dance.

We love you, our Angel. See you soon. M xx”

 I felt wetness on my face, I had felt a tear form but was unaware it had fallen. My mother, who signed all of her notes with a simple “M” was always so sweet, loving and forgiving. I was beginning to look forward to tonight’s event more and more as the minutes were flying by.

 “Angeline,” Chari interrupted as I brushed the tear away. “I need to put your other shoe on and I need your help to do so.” She said it in a soft voice to not rock my already wavering emotions. “I’m so sorry, Chari” I returned as I lifted my skirt once more.

 “Right, that’s you finally dressed” Abbie shot back with a rather dramatic tone as she stood – one that coaxed a giggle from all three of us. I followed my maids to my vanity. Since first having to wear make-up, my maids found me intolerable to deal with while they worked and I watched through my reflection. We (and by we I mean them – I was out-voted) had agreed I’d sit with my back to the mirror so they could work, in peace.