Fall dance
I am one step closer to a new life of misery. Today I am going to meet the king of blood and not so long after that, I will be his wife.
A seventeen-year-old getting married to a literal torturer. How fascinating life is?
I slipped into my hand made gorgeous red dress and stared at it in my broken mirror for what felt like hours. Daydreaming about my desired love life. That apparently I am not going to get.
I had straightened my hair this morning, which I don't like. But what can I say? I got a purple bruise on my back because I told her no.
I placed my hair into a loose bun with few short strands of hair set free on the front.
"are you ready?" My mother walked in to make sure, I nodded. "Good, they will be here any moment now." She informed me right before she left my room. I bet she is looking out the window without moving.
Since I was completely finished, I decided to sketch a few stuff to pass time. Unconsciously, I walked over to my bed to hand my newly sketched drawing on the ceiling until my eyes landed on the empty ceiling.
I have snatched out all of my sketches from the ceiling since we are moving. Mother of course, to her new house, while I, move to the castle. I know it's still early But, my mother wants everything ready so once they say it's Time, she will be waiting at the door.
They better let me hang my sketches somewhere or else I will be extremely angry. More than I already am.
"The carriage is here!" My mother informed excitedly. I took a deep breath and huffed in frustration as I got up and walked out of my room closing the door behind me, then the same with the front door of our house.
The carriage was white and so was the horse. We got in with the help of the middle-aged driver reaching his hand for us to take. He had dark skin with no emotions showing on his face, like as if his job is depending on it.
"Hello" I greeted him with a smile and earned an elbow kick from my mother instead. "I am Ella." I continued talking anyway.
"I know that" he said with a blank expression as he sat on his seat, "Eleanor Ruth Wright."
"Right," I said as he held the belt ready to drive away, "may I know your name, sir?"
"sir?" He repeated shocked as he turned to face me, I nodded confused, "uh, you are not supposed to call me that. But the name is Willie if you insist of knowing."
I smiled wide, "Nice to meet you, Willie" he just nodded in return and clicked the belt softly making the horse move. I stared outside at the picturesque nature passing by. A smile appeared on my face which felt like a second of happiness but soon faded away when I saw one of the Royal castles that held the dance today, it pulled me back to reality. The cruel reality. Reminding me what today was actually about, that nature was able to make me forget, for a short matter of time.
The carriage stopped and we got out, my mother pushed me harshly but kept a smile on her face for show. "Goodbye!" I waved my hand at Willie who stood still next to his carriage, his face flushed as if he was scared.
"Don't mess it up" my mother warned, whispering in my ear causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up in fear.
I took a deep breath as we walked on the long red carpet that matched my dress. We entered the ballroom, it was wide and filled with a lot of people. I have never been around that many people before, which made me panic slightly.
"What a lovely dress" I heard a familiar voice from behind, which made my mother and I turn. It was king Aiken, with a handsome man around my age next to him. He had black wavy hair that kept getting in the way which caused him to threw it back in anger since it didn't stay in place. It made me want to reach my hand and help him secure it behind his ear.
I cleared my throat and gave the king my attention. "Thank you" I smiled wide, "I made it myself." My mother pocked my waist harshly while still managing to put on a fake wide smile. I felt my eye tear a bit because of the sudden pain, I blinked a few times to wash it away.
"You did?" The wavy-haired man asked in admiral, which made me nod repeatedly in happiness.
"that's amazing" king Aiken commented. I gave him a smile and nodded slightly. "I forgot to mention, that is my son, Clyde." He placed his hand behind Clyde's back pushing to the front.
That is Clyde? The Clyde Reed? I can't believe my eyes. No one really knows how he looks like, we just hear stories about the rest of the Royal family. The only members we get to see are the important ones, like the king and Queen. Clyde was too beautiful for a torturer. I thought he would be a creepy looking old man with pierced nose and tattoos all over his body, but what my eyes are seeing right now? Is the complete opposite.
"This is Eleanor." He introduced me right after.
"Oh," Clyde said, looks like he is disappointed about his future wife. Not surprised though, if my own mother doesn't want me, why should he? Plus, he is still the king of blood, his good looks doesn't change that and I still don't want him.
"Sir, sorry to disturb but-" a guard walked towards us and stole the king and his son's attention from us. My mother turned me around and walked me further away from them.
"What was that?" She asked, angrily.
"What was what?" I questioned.
"telling them you made it?"
"Well, they were impressed so... I don't see a problem with that." I answered honestly.
"Why are you talking to me that way?" She asked, I didn't answer. Because to be honest, I knew she wouldn't do anything in front of all these people.
Few moments have passed and the first song to dance to has finally started, I can't wait for today to end already.
I didn't dance at the first dance and looked at everyone who was dancing, including Clyde. It's a good thing, if he cancels on me, I will be relieved because I have no say in this, unfortunately.
At the end of the first music, the king and his son approached us once again. King Aiken pushed his son in the arm slightly but it caught my attention anyway. Prince Clyde cleared his throat as he stepped a few steps closer to me.
"May I have this dance?" He asked as if he was forced to ask me that.
"Yes," I answered hesitation showing in my voice because I wasn't willing to disappoint my mother. That would leave extra marks.
I reached my right hand for his as a new song began, and people started walking towards the dance floor, so was we. As we stood still in the middle, he turned me around to face him, our right hands still holding onto one another as he soon placed his left hand on my back, which made me wince in pain due to my back pain because of me lifting up a lot of have boxes for the past week. I haven't been able to move freely because of it, of course my mother helped with nothing. I did all the work myself.
"Are you okay?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Mhm," I nodded as I looked everywhere but his eyes.
"So you are the Eleanor Ruth." He spoke.
"Unfortunately" I replied.
"Why?" He asked, curious.
"Well, let see" I acted as I am in deep thought as we continued dancing, "I'm a small-town girl who is given no choice for as long as I could remember. And now, I found out I am going to get married from the king of blood-" I immediately regretted saying that last part, "with no choice of declining."
"King of what?" He shook his head pushing it aside, "Well, we are not so different after all."
"What do you mean?" I questioned, looking up to his deep dark eyes that felt as if they had endless roads in them, I can't see them all even if I wanted to.
"I don't have a choice either, I can't decline."
"But you are the Prince?" I questioned.
"I am the son of the king as well."
Oh