edited and rewritten

Today's the day of the ball. The ball where the prince and I will come out as a 'couple'. For the past week or so, I've been second-guessing my signing of the contract. Am I sure that it's the best thing for me to do? Maybe I should've thought this through a bit more. I was mostly thinking about him being able to protect me from any more vampires wanting to take a bite out of me.

Since my parents won't know the real reason as to why I'm attending, the prince will have a royal guard deliver it to me. Unlike every other ball, this is open to the public. Anyone can come and the tickets are very cheap. I have no idea how big the ballroom of the palace is but it has to be huge since the entire city and more will be attending.

I sit on the couch in the living room with my parents as we enjoy a Saturday morning. The ball starts later tonight but according to what the prince told me yesterday, I'm supposed to be getting the ticket within the hour so I'm watching TV with my parents.

"Oh, dear, it's been a while since we've hung out together just the three of us," my mother says as she pats my hair. My father smiles and he ruffles my hair and I pout. "Daad! You're messing up my hair, you know how easily it gets frizzy," I complain and I swat both their hands away. Their laughter fills the air surrounding us and I relish it.

Amid our family bonding moment, someone knocks on the door and my father excuses himself to go answer it. He opens the door to see a royal guard standing there with a letter in his hand. My father cocks his head to the side as he sees him. "How may I help you, young man?" My father asks.

"Your daughter is cordially invited to the Royal Ball of ArchDale tonight. Here is her invitation, and she is requested at the palace so she can get ready." The guard says and my father turns to look at me with confusion in his eyes.

My mother removes her hand from my head and she looks at me also. "What are you talking about?" My father asks the guard.

"Your daughter, Adara De Clare, was cordially invited to the Royal Ball of ArchDale tonight." The guard repeats his words but I don't think any amount of reciting will make my father understand.

"Who requested for her to attend?" He asks.

"His highness, the Prince of ArchDale."

My father looks as if someone just shot him in the chest as the words fell from the guard's lips. "The prince asked for her to come? Why?" My mother stands from the couch and walks over to my father.

"I was not granted such information, madam," the guard says.

"Well, does she have to go?" My father asks.

The guard nods, "The prince personally requested her, it is pertinent that she attends. She must come with me to the palace right now to get ready."

My father blinks a few times then he looks at my mother. Mom's eyes are wide but I know her, she's freaking out on the inside. "Alright, Adara, go with him," my father tells me and I get up from the couch.

I slip my phone into my pocket then I hug my parents and walk out the door. The guard instructs me to go into the limo and I do so. He hands me the invitation and I carefully slip it into the pocket of my jacket.

The limo starts to move and I bring my feet up to my chest as I look out of the window. Twenty minutes pass until the limo stops moving. The guard steps out of the car and opens the door for me. I walk out and he leads me inside the palace.

Inside the Palace of ArchDale is complete mayhem. Servants and maids scurry about as they try to perfect the ballroom and everywhere else in the palace. This is heavy work. Now I know why they have so many servants and maids. They need a whole lot of people to fix up this place. It's gigantic.

The guard leads me past the rushing maids and into the living quarters. He knocks on a door then after a few seconds, it opens to reveal Queen Flora. My heart drops and my palms get sweaty. Queen Flora, my literal hero, is standing right before me. Oh my goodness, this is amazing.

"Your highness," the guard greets her as he bows and I do so too.

She smiles then she takes my hands in hers. Oh my gosh, I'm going to die. If I died today I'd be the happiest dead person ever! "Thank you so much for carrying her here. You are dismissed," she says to the guard and he walks away leaving only the two of us.

"Darling! You look wonderful. We're going to get you ready for tonight, don't worry you're going to look radiant. I can't believe the prince personally requested you. I'm swooning." The queen fangirls and I smile an awkward smile.

How on earth am I supposed to react to her? She's the Queen of ArchDale, not just a random regular person. Not to mention she's my hero. I've always wanted to meet her and I've now met her twice. This is a dream and a nightmare all at once. It's terrifying yet exciting.

"Thank you," I say bashfully and I try my best to keep eye contact with her but my eyes wander around and fall to the ground. I can't even look at her, oh my gosh, I'm awful. This is such an embarrassing encounter.

"Come on, let's get you ready. Stay here, I'm gonna get the maids to help," she says then she scurries out of the room, leaving the door wide open.

I let out a heavy sigh then I sat on the bed, placing my hands in my lap. I look around the room as I try to take in all its beauty. Purple drapes decorate the room as they conceal the windows. The bed, a rather large bed, is perfectly made as if no one has ever set foot inside of it.

Someone walks past the door and my head instantly lifts. The prince stops as he sees me. "There you are. The guard delivered these to me. I believe you'll need them," he steps inside the room and hands me the box with my dress inside of it. That same dress he gave to me two weeks ago, the stunning one.

He places it on the bed and I nod as I take in a deep breath. "The pin you wear in your hair is in the box with the dress," he says and I nod again.

"Thank you."

Silence envelops us and just then Flora walks back in with three other maids. She stops in her tracks when she sees us. A smile makes its way onto her lips. "Your highness, have you come to see Adara get ready? I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the ball to see her."

His brows furrow together as if he was troubled by that. "No, I came to deliver her dress and pin. I was just leaving. I will see you tonight," he looks at me and I hum in response then he leaves.

Flora nods her head toward the maids, giving them the go-ahead to get me dressed. "The maids will get you ready. I will see you at the ball, dear." The queen leaves also and closes the door behind her.

My body relaxes a little but my anxiety doesn't leave me. I'm in a room with strangers. "In here, ma'am." A maid says. She looks to be in her early twenties and she looks to be the 'mother' type. I don't know what it is about her but she just looks that way.

She leads me inside a bathroom and instructs me to strip and enter the tub filled with water, soaps, and bubbles. I hesitate. "In front of all of you?"

She nods, "It's okay. None of us will judge you, it's our job, ma'am."

I take a breath then I take off my jacket first then my shirt. I unzip my pants and shimmy them down until it's pooled at my feet. I place the clothes on a chair in the bathroom and my arms wrap around my half-naked body.

My back is turned to the maids but I still feel uncomfortable. I reach around and unclasp my bra. It slips down my arms and I don't turn around as I place it on the chair. I take a breath then I take off my underwear. I quickly get into the tub and the warm water relaxes my bare body.

The bubbles and soap sud conceal my naked body and the maids start scrubbing my body. Their hands touch places another person has never touched before. Not my privates, they allowed me to wash there on my own. It still feels odd.

Is this what royals go through? Maids washing them? Does this happen to the prince? With his attitude, I can't imagine him sitting down and allowing strangers to touch his body.

Ten minutes pass until they've finished washing me and my hair. They help me out of the tub and wipe the water from me then they wrap my hair up in a towel and they clothe my body in a robe.

They lead me out of the bathroom and sit me around the vanity. They remove the towel from around my hair and my wet hair plops down on my shoulders. Their hands peruse my hair and they put different hair products in it until they mold it into whatever style they wanted to do. They leave the white part of my hair out in front of my face to create bangs.

"Did you dye your hair?" A maid asks as she puts the rest of my curls into a high full bun.

I shake my head, "No, I was born with it."

She smiles, 'It's unique and beautiful, you're beautiful." A blush forms on my cheeks and I thank her. "No wonder the prince requested for you to attend. You're stunning. You must have every guy falling for you."

I scoff, "If only that were true."

She gives my hair one last poofing then she places her hands on my shoulders. "I'm sure they do, you probably just don't realize it. Your hair's done, time for your dress. Don't worry, when you step into your dress, it won't go over your head."

I nod and I stand from the vanity. One of the maids takes off my robe, leaving me completely naked in front of them. Another maid opens the box and takes out the dress. They assisted me in getting in, which didn't take long since there are three of them to help me.

→⁜←

Once we finished, I take a look at myself in the mirror and I have never felt as beautiful as I do now. I look great. I run my hands down the dress and the maid comes out with my clothes folded. "You look amazing." She says.

"Thank you. What time will the ball start?"

She looks at the clock, "In a few minutes. Everyone's already here, we must get to the stairs." She places my clothes in the dirty laundry then she, along with the other maids, rushes me out of the room.

They lead me to the stairs where people are standing and some of them are even descending the stairs. I become aware of the pin in my hair as the man calling out people's names looks at it. He stares at it for a moment then his eyes fall to my face. His eyes are wide and the maids push me toward him.

By now everyone is down in the ballroom and they're dancing with a partner after partner. With his eyes still centered on me, he speaks into the mic once more and everyone stops dancing to listen to him. "Good night everyone, I now present to you the mysterious woman the prince personally invited," at that all of their ears are primed and their curiosities are piqued, "Madam Adara De Clare."

The light shines on me and I descend the stairs. I swallow as I feel all eyes on me and I try my best not to show that. I mean, most of them are vampires aren't they? So can't they hear my heartbeat?

I get to the bottom of the stairs and the prince offers his hand out to me. I place my hand in his and he leads me to the middle of the dance floor. Oh yeah, we're gonna do the dance Miss Fuscia taught us. Well, taught me. I whack my head mentally as I try to remember the steps but of course, I forgot.

I forgot! I can't forget the dance I'm supposed to be doing in front of hundreds of people. That'll be so embarrassing. We place our hands at the appropriate place then the song starts. Oh gosh, what's the first move?

Step back.

I hear his voice in my head and I do as he says. Turn your body left. He guides me again and he continues doing so until my feet and body get comfortable dancing again. I start smiling then his hand squeezes mine and I look at him to find an amused expression on his face. An embarrassed blush climbs on my cheeks and I look away.

We repeat the dance a few times then the music stops and so do we. My feet sting a little but not enough for me to be in too much pain. The prince takes a microphone for himself and starts speaking to the crowd. With his hand still in mine, I try to appear as calm as possible.

"I hope you're having a wonderful time tonight. I have wonderful news for all of you out there. You've been asking and asking when I would be looking for a partner, and I'm here to tell you that you don't need to ask me ever again. I found her, and she's right here." He looks at me with a smile on his face.

Man, he's selling this.

I blush and he continues to talk, "She is so amazing and wonderful, I have never loved anyone the way I love her, and I never will."

My eyes grow wide as I look at him. I know that we have to sell this relationship but I feel as if he's overdoing it. He's doing such a great job at faking it, even though I think he's telling the truth.

"I am so happy to tell you all that this woman right here has stolen my heart and my mind and I am so happy that she has agreed to marry me and be my wife!"

What?!

Wife? Marry him? He never said anything like that.

Smile, Adara, smile.

He speaks in my mind and I try my best to put on a smile. Remember, Adara, the best way to fake something is to believe it.

I look up at him and I try to remain calm. What on earth is he blabbing about? We never agreed to that. This isn't the condition I signed on the contract.

Everyone in the ballroom erupts in cheers as happiness is written on each one of their faces. My Lord, what have I gotten myself into?