Our Failed Escapes

3

It was today. Today seeing the man of my nightmares, a man I barely knew. Yes, a man I barely know is already lurking in my nightmares. Who knows what type of guy this man is? I can only imagine the worst. What if he’s 2 times older than my age? I’m only twenty-three, so that isn’t entirely impossible. What if he smells bad? Can I really handle living with someone for the rest of my life who has a foul smell?

No, I could never. Which means if this is how that dinner will be, if that is how he will be. I will not hesitate and leave all of this. Maybe I’ll go off grid and live at Vrue. Whatever. I will find a place somehow.

I sighed. I can only wish a young handsome man who treats people well. Is that too much to ask or… maybe it is. No one is like that nowadays.

I sighed, looking at myself on the mirror. My face was already prepared, I chose to not wear that much make up since my faces oils a lot and my face would look like a mess by the end of the night which is not my goal. Even if all of this is against my will, I still want to look fresh and pretty. And heavy makeup makes me feel uncomfortable and makes me want to itch my face for some reason.

“Kendra, what’s my dress for today?” without batting an eye at her, I asked.

She brought a light-yellow dress that ended just a few inches under my knees. From afar the dress looked pretty. It had many layers to it which I knew was going to itch once I wore it.

She smiled sweetly, “Your mother picked this dress for you,” she mentioned.

Lovely, yellow dress. A typical pick from my mother. Nevertheless, I wanted to wear it. It looked pretty. Of course, I wanted. I nodded at Kendra, “Thank you,”

I stood up and took the dress that was on her hands. I went to my closet and changed into the dress. It fit my right. I thought it would turn out itchy but the fabric was soft and light over my skin. I went out of the closet and went up to Kendra. I told her to zip the back of the dress and she gladly obeyed.

I looked at myself in front of the mirror as she zips the dress. It had fully long sleeves that were covered with ruffles. The layers of the dress were beautiful and it only ended a few inches under knee. It had tiny details of sunflower laces on the corset top. The corset top fit my upper body well, it had a v-neck showing my bare chest.

“You’re very beautiful, Miss,” she said. I didn’t even notice she finished zipping the zipper.

Her compliment made my lips melt into a smile, “Thank you, Kendra,”

She nodded politely and stood in front of me waiting for further orders. I looked at myself on the mirror, I was really pretty. I put on a soft silk fabric on my hands, they were gloves. They were yellow in particular to match my dress. I then put white leathered mid heel ankle boots. I loved these boots, I could were them in any occasion. Silver gave it to me, obviously, he would be the only one who would give me something entirely white.

I gazed over at Kendra who was admiring me from a far, “Can you go get me the necklace father gave me at my 18th birthday?”

“Of course, Miss,” she went into my closet then came out holding a jewelry box.

She opened it and inside it was a beautiful sapphire necklace. It was given m by my father when I turned 18. He said he chose it because it matched my aqua blue hair. It feels weird letting out my blue hair freely. When I left, I had to always hide my blue hair because it would be easy to recognize me if I was seen with it.

Kendra settled the box on the vanity table and carefully took out the necklace and went behind me to put it on. The cold silver jewelry brushed and settled on my skin sent me shivers down my spine. The necklace was as pretty as the day I first saw it.

But I could never wear it any occasions until today. My father would be pleased if he saw me wearing the jewelry he gave, my mom would be ecstatic that I wore the dress he picked, and my brother, he would be glad I wore the boots he customized especially for me on the day I would meet my fiancée. Not that my fiancée was special, because I was.

That thought gave me a confidence boost making me smile on the mirror. At least for tonight, I can look pretty without covering my face. My parents really trust the royal family of Zethan that they are even letting them see my face. What a miracle.

“Thank you for your help, Kendra, you may now go,” I smiled at her and gave her an assuring nod.

She nodded politely, “You are most welcome, Miss,” she then left the room silently.

I watched her as she slowly disappears. I tightly smiled with a pinch bitterness. This whole situation gives me a bitter-sweet feeling. It’s infuriating but I can’t do anything about it. I wished I could. But that would be too good to be true if that ever happened. I already did everything I could, no matter what I do, I will never escape this.

I wore a mask and decided to look outside the balcony to get some fresh air. When random people took pictures of me when I was outside the balcony, my father told me to always close the and cover the balcony with curtains and always wear a mask when I go outside. Stupid people, now I can’t even go outside my balcony without wearing a damn mask! It was one of the only freedom I got, and I lost it in snap.

I leaned on the cement railing as I stared on the entrance of the palace. my balcony was close enough to see upcoming visitors of the palace. It was the many perks of my room, I get to see people who would come in and out of the palace. I looked at the fountain at the center of the garden, there was a child looking at their own reflection.

I smiled, it was one of the maid’s children, I reached out my hand and made the water move in. The kid got startled at first making me laugh but she was soon mesmerized at the floating water. She noticed me when I laughed and gave me a warm smile. I made the water float around her, she giggled when I made the water splash a few droplets at her. I then settled the water back as the mother’s child came into the pictures.

“The sun is almost dropping, why are you still out here?” The maid took the child’s hand but before leaving, the child raised her head at me. She sweetly smiled and waved goodbye at me. I waved goodbye at her.

Realizing what the maids said, it was almost night. I looked at the dropping sun, it was slowly colliding with the land. Waves of colors appeared as it made it’s exit. Welcoming the dark atmosphere but bright glowing color of the moon. This is a night to remember. But I wish I would lose all the memories I will make tonight.

A voice of a vehicle caught my attention, it was a dark limo coming to the entrance of the hotel. I guess this was them. I watched closer as the limo stopped and then came a woman in a red velvet dress beside her was a man in a black suit. I was assuming they were the king and queen when I saw the padded medals on his chest and he screamed royal seeing his attire. I couldn’t see them clearly as they were wearing masks. Why is that?

Then came out a young girl and three men in suits. Are these their children? Why they have so much? The young girl wore a purple dress. She was around the age of 13-14 in my guess. Then the three men… well not all of them looked like men. One looked like he was 9, the other probably was younger than 18 or maybe he was 18. And the last man who was got out was a tall lean man. He was probably my fiancée. I narrowed my eyes. He looked familiar but I couldn’t tell since he was wearing a mask as well.

All of them walked one by one, and endless trail of maids bowed at them. The king and queen politely nodded so did their kids, except for the tall one. I could already tell he was snobby. The youngest of their children noticed me on the balcony and waved at me. That made me beam, I softly waved back which I know made him smile but he got pulled by his parents as they were welcomed by mine.

At the door was my parents waiting for them to arrive at the door. My parents hugged and welcomed them in the palace. I watched as each of them went inside. But the tall one waited for all of them to go inside. He was the last of them to go inside, I wonder why?

He then looked at me. It made my heart jumped from shock. That startled me. His eyes startled me. then came a rumbling sound from behind me.

I look back. It was Silver, “What are you still doing here? They’re here!”

I turned around and walked inside my room without thinking twice. I followed Silver as he made his way to the dining area. My heart was racing, I could hear it beating rapidly. Can I do this? Or am I going to chicken out? I can’t do that! that would be embarrassing! I inhaled deeply and let it all out. I will face this.

When we arrived, they were all standing, talking to each other. I caught my mother’s eye and she gasped, “Oh, here’s my lovely daughter!” she gave me warm smile and offered her hand.

I gulped and look at Silver. His eyes said to take the hand and so I did. I took her hand and stood beside her. My eyes landed on the king and queen smiling sweetly at me.

“Take your mask off,” my mother whispered as I stood beside her.

I took it off and bowed, “My apologies for my tardiness,”

An old woman’s voice laughed softly, “Oh, it’s nothing, dear,”

I look and smiled warmly at them. At least they sounded genuinely nice, “Thank you, your grace,”

As I got up, my eyes immediately landed on the sweet smiles the king and queen gave. Beside them was the cute boy who waved at me and beside that little boy was the girl who wore the purple dress.

Her eyes were mesmerized, “Is that really your real hair?”

I chuckled. I leaned down and slightly pushed my hair to my shoulder for her to see, “Yes,”

The little boy shrieked upon seeing me up close, “You’re so pretty!”

“I guess the rumors weren’t lies at all, the hidden princess hid a very mesmerizing beauty,” the king of Zethan exclaimed.

I smiled, “Thank you, your highness,”

I continued to smile subconsciously towards them and as new arrivals came in the room. I smiled at them too but that smiled faded quite quickly as a familiar person came. It was him, my nightmare. But why did I know him? and most importantly, how is this him?