5

I couldn't sleep at all that night. I was so excited and had so much going on in my mind that I needed to think about. The morning came before I knew it. I had a women come in and introduce her self.

"Hello your highness, my name is Anna. His grace has sent me to get you ready for today's ball."

"Hello Anna."

"I will be your personal maid from now on unless you decide to get ladies in waiting, your highness. I already have a bath running, I have brought over rose petals and the dress his highness order for you."

"Thank you, his majesty also said he would send a personal guard. May I meet him or her as well before I get ready?"

"Of course if you wish your highness. Although it's not required as he sent over 2 guards with me and another 2 will be meeting us to escort you to him before the ball. They will also not be your permanent person guards they are simply knights of the kings guard who came with us."

"Oh ok."

"You would be better off aquatinting yourself with them after you are prepared."

"Ok, I understand."

"Are you ready for your bath then your highness?"

"Yes, lead the way."

Anna nodded and I followed her. It was a pleasant smell in the room. There were flower petals in the bath tub and it was warm I could see some steam coming off. I was accustom to having to do this myself and not having enough time to warm up water so my baths were often cold. The bath also wasn't a normal clear color it was white.

"Why is the bath white and what is this smell?"

"It's milk your highness it helps refresh your skin. The smell is a lavender tea blend which also will help you detox and keep your skin smooth and soft. Is it not to you liking?"

"No, that's not it at all. I've just never had any of it before so I wasn't sure what it was."

Anna nodded.

"Come let's get you ready we have a lot to do to prepare you before the ball starts this afternoon."

I went as Anna requested. She scrubbed my skin with what she called coconut oil and honey mixture and massaged my hair with a coconut milk and shea butter and some jasmine mixed in as well. She said it would strengthen my hair and make it feel and look softer. I didn't really have a choice but to trust her.

After the bath she helped me dry off and dried my hair. It made my natural waves in my hair come out. My hair had very little wave to it but enough that it added volume and a slight curl. That's when I finally saw the dress.

It was a beautiful champagne and gold ball gown.

It was an off the shoulder sweetheart neckline, it had metallic gold lace detailing. The bottom had cascades of glittering Tulle accented with the metallic lacing. It was made by a designer named Atiana. Anna explained she was one of the personal designers Thomas had brought along on the trip.

We put the top part of my hair up in a bun on the top of my head to give half up half down style. Which worked well with the curls in my hair. He had also sent a short necklace and earrings to match. It was gold with diamonds. It was diamonds collar with V shaped accents with a tear drop diamond in the center. It was with matching hanging earring that also had tear drop diamonds as the main feature as well, it had a few small diamonds imbedded in the the gold that lead down to the tear drop.

I was meant to be the star of the show today and my outfit reflected it. I had a little makeup on, to enhance the color of my eyes and my natural features. My skin almost seemed to be glowing all the way around my body, and my long hair looked like silk flowing in the wind.

Everyone was going to be quit surprised and I only wished my brothers were here to see it. I would feel so much safer if they were with me. I looked in the mirror right before we left and I felt I looked amazing.

I'm not really sure where my plain went wrong and how I fell for but I did. Unlike my siblings I didn't ever study to how to rule a country as I was never thought to be able to be in a situation to do so. Which made me even more nervous. Anna informed me she would pack all of my stuff while we were at the ball and it would all be ready for us to leave by the next morning.

Everyone else had already entered and was waiting for the Emperor to arrive. The Royal family had all been announced other then my mother and siblings since none of us were there. I do believe the Empress simply thought I was going to come. The second queen was the only one to object and say my mother should be standing with them. She got out of it because she was pregnant and felt unwell. The Emperor said I likely would stay and take care of my mother and not attend and that was fine.

He never truly showed any of us his favor, but my mother was his favorite. He loved her beauty that seems to be undying even as she had aged. He would visit her often and bring her food cooked from his palace and let her miss events and make excuses for us to not be somewhere or do something. His other wives envied the attention she got, but also were thankful she wouldn't be attending things. It made it so since she wasn't going to parties in high society they had to watery about her gaining any power or backing from other nobles. He could of done more but refused. He loved my mother's beauty and was intoxicated by it. That is the only reason she held his favor and why he would come to visit her often.

Today he was about to see what his love for her made possible. Since after all this wouldn't of all worked if he hadn't made an excuse to not have my mother and I attending. It was high time the tables turned. Right now was the perfect opportunity with my brothers being praised as war hero's our influence was growing without being at social events since they were the talk of all the nobles and commoners alike. Everyone would soon realize that I wasn't skipping the event. I was about to become the main attraction.

Thomas and I walked up to the doors my hand in his.

"Are you ready love?" Thomas asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"You just have to make it through the ball, then we can retire to your castle and we will leave in the morning."

I smiled and then we heard the announcement.

"Now entering Emperor Thomas of the Khista Empire and Crown princess and future Empress of the Khista Empire Morgan."

He gave me a last reassuring look than the doors opened as we walked in.

We stood at the top of the stair was looking out over the crowd who had gone silent. I could see the Empress and she looked furious, I also saw the other dress that was made. Her oldest daughter was wearing it was a royal blue and was a pretty dress but it couldn't even compare to mine. I think she believed he truly was going to wear something blue and silver to match her dress. That would be silly though since he is after all the king of gold.

He matched me perfectly as the two outfits were likely made together as a couples set. It was a champagne color with gold detailing.