It's not what it looks like

She was headed towards the ballroom. She wanted to at least talk to her family members first before leaving.

By the time she got to the ballroom, almost all her family members were there. Chatting and making merry with one another. While the kids were playing games and running around the room.

The beautiful view Rose was greeted with made her smile. She was overjoyed.

One hardly saw royals behaving so...normal. Royals we're always well-behaved. The children were not spared the well-behaved attitude as well.

Children were always sitting down quietly or bragging softly about the expensive things their parents bought for them.

Rose always avoided talking to her cousins because of that particular trait most of them possessed. She thought they were all just pure brats and the adults, it didn't get better with them. The adults were always arguing over who had the most power and money.

So, to see them behaving like that was surprising. She wondered what might have changed today.

The King who would usually be sitting on his throne, glaring and throwing orders and insults at everyone was chatting and laughing loudly with his younger sisters and their husbands.

Rose tried walking past him but, before Rose could even get close to him, he turned around with a smile on his face and he signaled for her to come closer.

When she reached her father, he quickly gave her the biggest hug she had ever received from him. He pulled away from her embrace and looked at her, grinning from ear to ear, and said "Happy Birthday Rose" "Thank you dad" she replied.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSE" her uncles and aunts all echoed at once.

"Aaawwwnnn. Thanks, Uncle Ben, Uncle Thompson, Uncle Anthony, Uncle Richard, Aunt Lilly, Aunt Jasmine, Aunt Tulip, and Aunt Daffodil" she said

"Your welcome" they all said once again.

Her aunts were all her dad's younger sisters. He was the only male among his siblings.

His mother named his sisters after flowers because of her love for them.

Some may say she was obsessed with flowers but Rose never got the chance to ask her because she died a month after her birth.

After chatting with the adults for a while, she excused herself to go talk to her sister; Catherine who was talking to their elder brother; Nathaniel.

Catherine was a young girl, in her late teen years. She had green eyes like their mother and very long black hair. Even longer than Rose's. Catherine was growing up into a very beautiful and kind young lady. Always taking care of others and sometimes, she forgets to take care of herself.

Nathaniel was a fine young man too around the age of 28. He also had black hair and blue eyes. His hair was always kept low and tidy but he hated skin cuts. He had a very tall and slender figure, unlike his sisters who were of average height.

The King had already rushed him into an arranged marriage too but, he was fine with it as long as he could marry other women later.

Rose then approached Catherine and tapped her from behind with a grin on her face.

"Sister! Do you wanna give me a heart attack?!" said Catherine.

"Is that how you say happy birthday to your elder sister Cat?"

"I'm sorry...Happy Birthday"

Rose then faced Nathaniel who was scruffling her hair and said "Happy Birthday Rose"

"Hey! Watch the hair...and the crown!"

"Yh, yh, little Miss Birthday girl"

Rose who was busy adjusting her hair and crown didn't even hear the last thing her brother said.

"Let me help you with that," he said again as he helped her adjust her crown to stay where it was supposed to be on her head.

After he was done, she hugged him and said "Thanks big bro"

Then, she continued to talk with her siblings for a while when she noticed that it was already 6: 48 pm. "Elm...guys, I have to go get dressed for the ball. Bye for now," she said and then, walked toward the exit of the room.

By the time she was two meters away from the door, a lady in her mid-twenties with short, curly blonde hair, brown eyes, and pale skin, got between her and the door.

"Hi Crystal," said Rose.

Crystal was Rosaline's cousin, Aunt Daffodil's only child.

Crystal was a little bit older than Rose but Crystal was still a very naïve girl.

They were never really close but, their relationship was on a neutral level.

"Hi Rose, what's up?" said Crystal.

"I was heading to my room to go change before the guests arrive".

"Well, I wanted to give you this before you go because, once the ball starts, I'm sure I won't have the opportunity to give you this...personally," she said as she handed her a small cubic box that had wrappings around it. "I know it's a little small for a princess but, I bought it with my hard-earned money" she continued.

As Rose heard those words, she looked directly into her eyes almost as if she was searching her souls through her eyes to see if she was lying.

To Rose, it was next to impossible for her to believe that Crystal worked to buy her a birthday gift! She knew there was some hidden agenda behind it but she didn't have time to deal with that since she had pressing matters to get to.

"Thanks," Rose said.

"Happy Birthday...By the way" she said with a smirk.

Rose just smiled meekly at her and made her way to the door.

As she reached her room, she quickly took off the dress and wore the choker on the dresser.

Then, Mira walked into the room. She was also wearing a white dress.

"Are you planning to leave?" Mira asked.

"Yes"

"Don't worry, the security cameras are down as usual and I've prepared a ladder for you."

"What will I ever do without you?"

Mira smiled and continued saying "Also, make sure nobody sees you, don't get into any trouble, and please, be back by 8: 00 pm so that Fredrick won't get into any trouble. And what are you going to do with your hair? Let me quickly style your hair for you" she was already walking towards Rose when she countered her saying "Don't worry about that. I want to go wild tonight!".

Then, she threw her neck forward and then backward removing the parting from her hair making her look a rebel.

"Like this?" Mira asked confused.

"Yes. I like my hair like this"

"Ok Mi Princesa, as you wish."

"I have to go now. Bye"

"Bye"

Rose walked to her balcony and looked down. She started to climb down the ladder quickly and bid Mira goodbye once more.

When she got to the ground, she made sure no one was there and took a dash for the main gate.

When she got there, Fredrick was by the gate as planned.

"Happy Birthday Rose," he said

"Thanks, Fredrick"

"I guess I have to open the gate for you now so princess, please be back by 8 pm and, stay clear from danger okay?"

"Okay"

Then, he started to unlock the gate for her.

As she took her first step out of the gate, she heard a voice. "Rose!" the voice said.

She knew that voice anywhere. It was her mother's.

She turned around slowly and raised her hands in the air like a criminal caught by the police. She was sweating profusely and looked like a thief caught red-handed "Mom..." she said, "It's not what it looks like".