To Love A Princess

Chapter Seventeen

Olivia’s Point Of View

When I received the invitation to Isabelle’s engagement party, I thought it was a prank or something. I didn’t believe that she was getting married because marriage was something that she never wanted for herself. It was something that never crossed her mind. But it wasn’t a joke. It was real. Isabelle was really getting married, and that’s when I knew that I lost her. 

To say that it broke my heart is an understatement. It shattered my heart. It was as if glass was thrown onto the ground from the highest room in the palace and landed on the hard pavement. And my heart resembled the pieces. Of course I didn’t just miss out on the event. What kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t show up to my own best friends’ engagement party? But it hurt me so much to see Damen with her. Sitting in the seat that I should have been in. I can remember the day as if it were yesterday. 

-Flashback-

I had walked in wearing a cherry red satin glitter mermaid gown. My shoes were also red but the glitter made them appear as wine red. My makeup was natural looking with a light hint of blush and nude eyeshadow but with a bold red lip. You are never supposed to outshine people who are getting married. My hair was neatly styled into a bun with a few strands left down to frame my face. I wore a necklace that my father had got me for my tenth birthday and I was shocked that I still had it and that it wasn’t broken. We had arrived a little later than Isabelle and Damen had asked everyone to arrive, but they hadn’t seemed to notice that we arrived a little later. 

The room was lively, full of dukes and duchesses, kings and queens, other princesses and princes. There royalty left and right, with a few waiters in the mix. The women wore some of their finest gowns while the men wore their best suits. Everyone was waiting for Isabelle and Damen to make their grand entrance to announce their engagement. I know she’s unhappy. There’s no way that she can be happy. My mother was off socializing with some eligible bachelors like she always does when we go to social events. I always had a deep suspicion that she’s a gold digger. She didn’t seem to care when my father died. She really knows how to put on a good act in front of others. But behind closed doors, that’s when her true colors shine. 

Servants had walked around with champagne and I took one glass, despite her confused look. I’m eighteen. I think if I want a drink I can have one. Sipping on the drink, I ended up wandering over to the table where Damen and Isabelle are arranged to be seated. Arranged. That’s the one word that seems to be floating around in the air unknowingly. No one but their close family and friends (me), know that they’re not really in love. Although if you didn’t know the marriage was a set up, you’d think that they’re really in love and chose each other. 

As if. 

Damen isn’t even her type. No man here is and her father is so oblivious to the fact that his own daughter, his only daughter at that, likes women. I swear sometimes parents are just so set in their ways that when you try and tell them something they refuse to believe it. I grabbed another glass after I realized that this was going to be a long night. The woman I’m in love with is marrying someone, and a man at that. The trumpets began to play and everyone gathered around to see the “happy” couple. And that’s the moment when I realized that I wish I could make all her guests leave so we can have alone time. There’s no telling what we’d do. But I know first, it would start off with me ripping off her dress. It was a sapphire blue dress that hugged every single one of her curves, showing off her figure at least from the waist up. It hugged her chest, making it pop with its sweetheart neckline. It was a ball gown that consisted of two layers. The first being silk, and the second being a sheer fabric that made the dress sparkly and shiny. Her hair was styled into a nice, neat, elegant bun and not a single hair was out of place. She wore her favorite silver teardrop necklace which complimented the dress perfectly. I couldn’t see the shoes, but judging by her height she couldn’t have been wearing heels. She was most definitely wearing flats. The ring on her hand got all of the attention however. You could see it from a mile away and it reminded me of the fact that she isn’t mine and vice versa. Even though I wanted to be, I knew I couldn’t be. There was no way that two women could rule a kingdom, it’s unheard of. It’s not normal. Then again, who said we were normal?

“Announcing Princess Isabelle Vivian Reynolds and her fiancé, Prince Damen Fitzpatrick Wentworth,” the man announced.

The fanfare played as they gracefully strided down the staircase hand in hand. Fake smiles plastered on their faces, putting on one hell of a show for the audience before them. I know Isabelle better than a lot of people in this room, and I know a fake smile when I see one. Nonetheless, when the two of them walked through the crowd, everyone congratulated them on their engagement, a few people made a toast. 

“A toast to the happy couple,” a woman chirped. 

“May you forever be in love,” a man who was clearly drunk said. 

But when they got around to where I was, all I could think about was how gorgeous she looked. Isabelle looked at me as if there were something wrong, but quickly shook it off and smiled. We exchanged a quick hug and she smiled at me. 

“Thank you for coming,” she smiled. 

“You’re my best friend of course I’m going to support you,” I told her, giving her the same energy in return.

Damen urged her to go before her parents became angry with her. I set my fluke on a random table and weaved my way through the crowd. I let out a sigh of relief, relieved to be away from all those people and the fakeness in the room. I needed to take a breather. A few maids who weren’t working the party walked by, either curtsying or bowing in respect. Rounding the corner, I was greeted by the doors that led to the library. Pushing them open, I crossed the threshold and heard the door shut behind me. A chill ran down my spine and I shivered from the cold. Today was the one day I didn’t think to wear something warmer. My dress did have sleeves, but they were extremely thin. It made me question as to why I even have sleeves in the first place if they weren’t going to protect me from the cold. 

I walked towards the back where it was a more private and secluded area. I sat on one of the loveseats and placed my head in my hands, letting out a frustrated sigh. I hate this. I hate how I can’t even tell her. I hate how she’s marrying someone she doesn’t even love. I hate being a princess and everything about it. But most importantly, I hate how she isn’t mine. 

-End of Flashback- 

Till this day, I still regret not telling her how I felt or even just asking her if she had feelings for someone else. But now it’s obvious that she does like me. I just act like I don’t know because I don’t want to pressure her into saying so. I know that she’ll say something when the timing is right. Whenever that may be. But nonetheless, I know how I feel towards her. I just wish I knew how she felt towards me…