Chapter 2 - Mother’s orders

The door slammed shut behind Katerina and before she knew it her mother was already pressing into her about the nights events.

"You must behave as a princess regardless how you feel or think at any moment. You need to keep your head down and do not speak unless spoken to. The last thing we need is a war on our hands because of you saying the wrong things to the wrong person." She glared at me before continuing "I expect you to dance with three princes tonight, all of my choice and it will be arranged. You are of age now and you are not going to give us a sour reputation. We also need to find a new heir to help rule over the kingdom so there's no debate."

Her father nodded in approval of her words. He didn't talk often, generally letting her mother do all of it for him. She wished he would do anything, say anything! But he just sat there. Katerina looked up at her mother "This makes me terribly unhappy." she said. Realizing her mistake she looked down quickly but her mother was unforgiving. She felt a cool hand prop her chin up so she was looking up again followed by a hard smack to the face.

Katerina crumpled to the ground no longer feeling like a beautiful princess. She felt defeated. Her mother glared down at her as her father left the room. Katerina slowly pulled herself up off the ground so she was sitting up. She didn't dare look at her mother. "Go to your chamber and do not come out. I will have a maid alert you when it is time for the dance to start." She turned "I expect you to put on the best display of grace that you can tonight because if it does not go smoothly I will do a lot more than just smack you! Be on your way now!"

Katerina scampered past her mother's wrath up the staircase into her bedroom. She collapsed on the bed in tears not understanding what caused her mother's hatred for her. Her tears stung her freshly raw cheek and she looked in the mirror.

'As long as there is no swelling I can powder over it and no one will be aware at all.' She gently brushed over her cheek. Katerina let out a soft sigh "how I wish I was any other girl in this wretched world. I would dance in the fields and drink out of glass milk bottles like the townspeople. I would..." her daydream was interrupted by knock at her door. "Miss?"

She sighed in relief. It was her maid.

"Come in!" Called Katerina trying to sound cheery. The young maid came in and took one look at Katerina. "What happened to your cheek? Are you alright my love?" She sounded worried. Katerina looked into her maids eyes. "What is your name maid?" She quickly asked. The maids eyes widened. Royals didn't ask servants or maids for their names they just went by servant or maid. "Your name please." Katerina said her lip quivering. The maid unsure of what to think of this situation blurted out "Molly! Miss please don't cry!" But Katerina couldn't stop the rivers that flowed so freely from her eyes. She cried over her maids shoulder and didn't stop until she physically couldn't cry anymore. Sitting back on the bed Katerina felt exhausted and dried up. Like her heart and organs had just shriveled up like a fruit in the summertime sunshine. Molly grabbed Katerina a glass of water and she gratefully sipped it until she felt better.

It had turned late now, and Katerina began to hear loud music coming from the downstairs of her home. People had begun arriving and she was thrilled that for once she would be around some fresh faces.

Molly took a deep look into Katerina's face and began to vigorously apply powder and lip color to her face. After she began fixing her tiara another maid had come to bring her downstairs. Molly finished adjusting the tiara and whispered quietly " I hope you have a good night miss, don't forget that you are a kind soul and a kind princess."

Katerina nervously smiled at Molly as she was escorted out of the room. She appreciated the small sentiment from her maid, who was maybe even becoming her friend. As she approached the bottom of the stairs she looked around the ballroom and saw many faces. Beautiful men and women were around her and suddenly she was very nervous. The maid brought her through the room up to the royal head table where her parents sat. Katerina sat down next to her mother and took a casual sip of fermented fruit juice.

'Very bitter' she thought to herself. She was proud she kept a straight face because who knows what her mother would have done for something as little as that. As the rest food was being served the maids and servants lined up and then left the room. Suddenly the loud room became eerily quiet.

Her father was standing to speak