Chapter 27

I looked in the mirror, barely recognizing myself. It was the night of the First Ball, and I was dressed in my beautiful, shimmering yellow gown. It was sleeveless, with a tasteful V-neck bodice.

One of my maids had tied my brown hair into a tight up-do, with a few loose tendrils tucked behind my ears.

Beside me, Elva was a near-mirror figure of me, though her dress came up to her neck. It shimmered the same, and she couldn’t stop giggling as she spun in circles.

Bright and laughing, she looked like the physical embodiment of sunshine.

I pulled her into a quick hug. “You are a princess, Elva.”

As we went to the door, the strange maid stopped me. “Don’t forget your gloves.” She handed them to me.

“Thank you.” I was relieved. I knew there were traditions about gloves and their length. It would have been a faux pas to show up without any.

I turned to thank the quiet maid as well, but she was further back in the room and not looking at us. I resolved to thank her later instead.

Smiling at Elva, I took her hand. “Let’s go to the ball, Elva.”

Elva gave a toothy grin. “The princess ball!”

We congregated with the other girls in the parlor room, where we waited for the results for the dress contest. The princes’ preferences for our dresses would soon determine the order of our introductions.

Every single dress was beautiful in its own way. They were a rainbow of colors and materials, but each more spectacular than the last.

Linda’s skirt was so puffy, I wondered how she intended to dance. Though she moved with such ease, she must have been used to it. Others were similar, carefully sidestepping their trains or lifting their long dresses to avoid tripping over themselves.

Every girl seemed confident in their own gown, and I genuinely wasn’t sure who would win.

When Nathan arrived, all the girls hushed themselves. We waited with bated breath as Nathan read the order of introductions.

First, he said, “Olivia.”

Her smile was stunning. Her velvet gown was dark green and elegant with a long crinkled bow in the back that reached down to the floor.

“Of course, she would pick the same color the queen always wears,” whispered one girl near me. “Who else would have the gall?”

“It worked, didn’t it?” replied another girl, who seemed torn between indignant and impressed.

“Second is…” Nathan checked his notes. “Piper, and Elva.”

“That’s us!” Elva cheered.

Second place was a good showing. I knew my dress was beautiful, but to have a prince think so too was a special kind of flattering.

I took Elva’s hand and we weaved through the crowd to stand behind Olivia.

She offered me a tight smile. “It’s so nice to see the princes be charitable.”

The snide comment startled me, but I somehow kept a straight face. Before I could think of a reply however, Nathan called the third girl. Then the fourth. And the fifth.

Elva and I cheered when Susie’s name was called, though she was much further down the line. I thought she looked adorable in her pink ruffled gown.

When all of the girls were aligned, Nathan led us down the corridor toward the main ballroom. Beyond the ballroom doors was a grand staircase that led down onto a large dancefloor.

The royal family was seated in massive thrones on the opposite end of the room. Around the room were other dignitaries and nobles who seemed eager to meet the girls chosen for the selection.

As we stood at the top of the stair, every eye in the room turned to look at us.

Olivia preened under the attention.

Elva and I were much more subdued. I was very nervous but trying to put on a brave face for Elva, who was crushing my hand in her tiny grip.

“Watch how it’s done,” Olivia said to me with a smirk, as Nathan took point behind a standing microphone.

Nathan introduced Olivia, and she descended the staircase with a practiced grace, to the sound of polite applause.

Nathan waved Elva and I forward, close to the edge of the front stair.

“Now introducing,” Nathan said. “Piper and her daughter Elva.”

The polite applause abruptly ceased. In its place, whispers and murmurs erupted in the room.

“Mommy?”

“It’s okay, honey. Just remember, you are a princess.”

Elva nodded. She stuck up her little chin, hiding the way her bottom lip wobbled.

Holding tightly to each other’s hand, we began down the staircase.

There were many unfamiliar faces in the crowd. I looked at the royal family instead.

Julian gave me a thumbs up, which put me a bit at ease.

Then I locked eyes with Nicholas.

Suddenly the rest of the world faded away. There was only Elva and I on this stair, and Nicholas, down below, staring at me.

He watched me the entire time, gaze never wavering. My heart thundered in my chest. I felt like I was in a dream.

Only when we reached the bottom stair and a servant directed us where to go, did I finally glance away from his handsome face.

I moved to stand beside Olivia as the rest of the girls received their introductions.

I kept glancing up at Nicholas. Every time I did, he was looking back at me.

After the final introduction, a string orchestra in the corner of the room began to play. The King and Luna owned the first dance.

Together they moved with the kind of grace I could only dream about, as if they danced on a cloud. They must have tired quickly, though. After only a minute or so, they returned to their seats.

Once they were seated, the nobles filled the floor. They were allowed to dance with each other, but not us. The candidates’ dances were reserved for the princes alone, unless permission was explicitly given by the royal family.

The order of the princes’ dances was chosen at random, but by the end, each prince would have danced with every candidate. Only the servants and the princes knew the order.

The servants weaved through the crowd of us girls searching for the first dancers.

Julian, however, ignored it all by approaching me.

“What do you say, Piper? Care to dance with me?” Julian asked.

I could only imagine the outrage if I said no. Still, I couldn’t help but worry what Nicholas would think. He had made well known his opinion of Julian and me.

Julian held out his hand. He smirked like he knew I wasn’t in a position to say no.

I looked to Elva, but our nanny was already approaching. It had been previously arranged that the nanny would be on hand to watch Elva during my dances.

Elva waved as she released my hand. “Do good, Mommy!”

I nodded at her. Turning to Julian, I placed my hand in his waiting one.

Julian pulled me out onto the dance floor, and then into his arms. He danced like a professional, with easy movement and a strong lead.

I spend most of my time watching my feet and counting my steps.

“My brother never took you dancing when you were together?” Julian laughed.

We’d gone out, sure. To modern clubs and dancehalls. I could do a two-step, maybe, but these royal dances were beyond complicated.

None of this I would admit to Julian.

“Don’t interrupt my counting,” I said.

“I’m pretty sure you aren’t supposed to order a prince around.”

“Do you want me to embarrass us both?”

He sighed. “You are trying too hard. Look up.”

I did, and nearly tripped over my feet.

“Trust me to lead.”

“I wouldn’t trust you to walk an old lady across the street,” I said.

At once, he laughed, loud and hard.

His laughter gave me a chuckle as well. I was proud for having made such a sound from anyone, even a scoundrel like Julian.

But then, suddenly, Nicholas was beside us.

I realized we’d stopped dancing.

Nicholas scowled at Julian. “I’m cutting in.”