Chapter 7

"It's time to awaken my lady," a maid said as she entered Marilyn's room. "Oh it seems you have woken up early once again" the Maid said as she walked over to the window and opened the curtain. "As I've said for the past week, Selina, there is no need to come wake me up," Marilyn, who was sitting in a chair by the window, said.

"But it is my job, my lady, so I must," Selina replied. "Now the banquet welcoming your highness and the prince is tonight so we must quickly get you ready" Selina said as more maids entered the room. "We are already behind schedule," she added with a smile.

"Alright let us begin then" Marilyn said standing up from her chair.

After an entire day of preparation, Marilyn was ready. She wore a beautiful gold ball gown. Her hair was down but wavy and her makeup applied lightly as the maids thought her natural beauty would shine better. As the door to her room opened she saw Damien standing there waiting for her.

He was silent for a moment as he stared at her. "How gorgeous you look," he told her. "Shall we go?" Marilyn said, trying to hide her smile and blushing cheeks. "Yes of course," he replied, holding out his hand. Marilyn carefully took his hand and he led her down the hall, down the steps and to the ball room doors.

The guard opened the doors and another man introduced them. " Duke Damien James escorting her highness the second Princess Marilyn Sinclair Adlen" he yelled. Adlen was the last name of the royal family. The king was kind enough to bestow.

Damien slowly walked her down the stairs as the crowd watched and whispered. "It would be best if you didn't look so miserable," he told her. "I don't believe that's possible," Marilyn whispered to him.

"Why is that?" He asked as they reached the bottom of the steps. "Marilyn Sinclair Adlen" she said "perhaps I don't like my new status as much as others would hope" she told him. "I greet your highness the second princess" a woman in a pink ball gown and brown hair said with a curtsy. "I apologize I haven't had much time to memorize all the nobles of the empire yet" Marilyn told her. "Oh of course" said the girl. "My name is Prudence hollows I belong to a Viscount family" she told Marilyn.

"Oh yes of course it is a pleasure to meet you lady Prudence" Marilyn said with a smile. "Please call me prue, I truly wish you and I could become friends" prue told her. "Yes of course," Marilyn replied. "If you'll excuse me" Prudence said with another quick curtsy before leaving.

"How long must I stay before I can leave?" Marilyn asked. "Do you mean the ball or the castle?" Damien asked. "Would it be so wrong if I meant both," she said sarcastically.

Damien chuckled. "Don't worry I'll come up with a plan to free you of this place you see as a prison" he told her. "A flower for a beautiful princess such as yourself?" A man said, handing her a beautiful blue and yellow flower. "Thank you," she said, taking the flower from the man. "Ow" she said as she suddenly dropped the flower. "What is it?" Damien asked with concern.

"A thorn," she said. "A very sharp one" she said with a slight chuckle. "Well it doesn't appear your bleeding" he said as he took a look at her hand. "No it appears not," she said. "Marilyn" she heard her brother's voice from behind her.

"Shall we dance?" Marilyn asked, ignoring her brother. "Of course" he said after she had already started pulling him to the spot where everyone was dancing. A slow song began to play.

"You know you can't avoid him forever" Damien told him. "I can certainly try," Marilyn retorted. Suddenly she began to sweat. "Would it be alright if we got some air?" Marilyn asked. "It has suddenly become stuffy" she told him as she felt her body slowly begin to heat up.

He nodded as he slowly led her off the ballroom floor and out onto one of the many balconies.

"Are you alright?" He asked as she let go of his hand. "Yes I've just suddenly become very warm" she told him as she leaned on the banister of the balcony. Damien walked over to her as she turned to him. Then he reached his hand up to her forehead. "What are you..." "I'm checking your temperature" he said as he felt her forehead.

"Oh" she said, not fighting him. "You're burning up," he told her. "Perhaps from the stress of preparing for today," she said, turning away from him. A slight dizziness began to fill her head.

"Marilyn," Simon said, appearing on the balcony behind them. "Simon I'm not in the mood" Marilyn diamond looking at him. "I can see that, what happened," he asked, walking over to his sister as she became more dizzy.

"Simon I beg of you not now" she said as he suddenly put his hand on her head. "You should go rest" he told her, taking a step back. "I'm fine," she told him. "I agree with him, Mari," Damien said, looking down at her. "You're practically melting in sweat all of a sudden as well" he told her.

Marilyn's breathing became slower and deeper as she suddenly fell against Damien. "Perhaps you're right," Marilyn said all of a sudden. "What is it?" Damien and Simon asked concerned at the same time. "I.... I can't" Marilyn said as her vision blurred.

"Alright let's get you back to your room" Damien said in a serious tone. "Yes" Marilyn said as she tried to walk on her own but quickly fell into her brother's arms. "Marilyn!" Simon said shocked as he caught her.

"Mari" he said her name again but she didn't respond. "Her breath has become deeper and heavier" he said, looking up at Damien. "Let's go quickly," Damen said picking up Marilyn out of Simon's arms.

TO BE CONTINUED