Princess Iris
CHAPTER 47

THE DAY OF THE BALL

FLASHBACK

"Ri, mother is going to be mad," I say.

"Who cares? Do You?" Ri asks we quickly undress from our gowns.

"Yes I do and you know mother..."

"Listen, Iris, by the time mother replaces out we switched gowns it will be too late and besides you hate ribbons and I love ribbons, it only makes sense we exchange the gowns," Ri says. REALITY

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

"Yes," I say turning to Veronica behind me.

"I was asking if you wanted me to take the ribbon off?" Veronica asks.

I look at the ribbon again.

"No, you can go ahead and tie it for me," I say.

Veronica carefully takes the ribbon around my waist and ties it into a bow.

"How does it look?" I ask.

"Beautiful," Veronica and Bridgette choruses.

A knock comes on the door

"Alright ladies, enjoy the rest of the day off," I say.

As I approach the podium, I see Prince Jeffery in a distance. I can't help but smile at how handsome he is looking. When he sees me, he smiles at me. His hair is gracefully laid down back and he looks taller as I approach him. "Your Majesty," Prince Jeffery says with a bow.

I smile at him.

"You looking dashing Your Highness," I say.

He closes the gap between us.

"And you look gorgeously beautiful Your Majesty," Prince Jeffery says.

Heat rises to my cheeks as Prince Jeffery kisses my cheeks and it lingers. We stare at each other and just then the trumpet blows. Prince Jeffery takes my hand and kisses it. I take my hand into his arm and we approach the curtains. We wait as we are announced and the curtains are drawn revealing the guests. Everyone curtsies and bows as we make our way down the stairs.

Just then guests start coming to greet us.

"Your Majesty if you don't mind, I want to steal you," I turn to the voice and replace Princess Catherine.

I turn to Prince Jeffery and he nods at me. Just then Princess Catherine quickly drags me from the crowd and leads me away. From the distance, I see Princess Octavia and the other ladies waving at us. I smile as we join them.

I don't think I have laughed so much in one day. We all listen as Duchess Juliana tells us how her wedding preparation is going. We laugh at the little joke Duchess Zadie throws about Juliana's ball gown.

"Oh, will you look at that Isabelle, 6'o clock," Princess Octavia says.

Princess Isabelle turns in the direction Princess Octavia talked about.

"What in the world is she doing here?" Princess Isabelle asks.

"Who are you talking about?" I ask.

"Princess Ursula," Queen Esmeralda says.

I turn my back to see the Princess in question talking to the men. I watch as she touches King Leonard's arm and laughs. I watch as she carefully leans into King Leonard and whispers something, I start to get angry at her and then it clicks. "Princess Ursula? Oh, I see," turning to Isabelle. "The papers don't lie," I say.

"What are you talking about," Princess Isabelle asks.

"She and Leonard were on the paper one time," I say taking a sip of my drink. My hand tightened on the glass cup.

"Yeah, she has been visiting the castle every now and shamelessly throwing herself at Leonard for months now," Princess Isabelle says.

"Leonard reciprocates?" I ask.

"Of course not, the only reason Leonard entertains her is because of her influence in the west. Leonard has been trying to get them to sign the treaty..." "Treaty?" I ask.

"Yeah, Leonard wants a ceasefire on the wild mountains due to slow transportation. He agreed to build their supposed bridge in exchange for the ceasefire but for whatever reason they seem to be delaying the signing. With her influence in the west, it is bound to happen," Princess Isabelle says.

"I thought he didn't care about such things," I say.

"Well, he has been taking a keen interest in them for five years now," Princess Isabelle.

"I sense a hint of jealousy," Duchess Juliana says.

The ladies all laugh. I couldn't help but turn to King Leonard. I watch Princess Ursula rub herself on King Leonard as she laughs.

"C'mon Isabelle at least try to open up more. Give her a chance and get to know her. Besides Leonard won't allow any woman just to hang out around him if he doesn't like the person," I say.

"You don't know Leonard as I do. He is not interested in her," Princess Isabelle says.

"Ok everyone that is enough about us. So, Iris, how has your stay at Divimon been especially with you know who?" Queen Esmeralda asks teasingly.

My face lights with embarrassment. I watch as the girls giggle among themselves. I look at Octavia to rescue me.

"You know I want to hear this, so tell us," Princess Octavia says.

"Emm Princess Ursula is headed here," Duchess Zadie says.

I quickly stiffen to the news.

"Why will she do that? Nobody here is her friend," Princess Isabelle says.

"Isabelle, remember, behave," Queen Esmeralda says.

"Only if she behaves," Princess Isabelle says.

And just then.

"Your majesties," a voice says behind me.

I turn to the voice and replace Princess Ursula curtseying.

She is a beautiful blonde girl with a petite body.

"Princess Ursula I am happy you could make it. Thank you for traveling far to be here," I say.

"Of course Your Majesty. It is an honor to be in your presence," Princess Ursula says.

"Please join us and I believe you know everyone here?" I ask.

"Thank you, Your Majesty and yes, I do know everyone here," Princess Ursula says as she curtsies to Queen Esmeralda.

Everyone greets her as she greets everyone back.

Our conversation continues as I tell them how I was welcomed when I arrived. How my stay was, my favorite part of the castle, and how much I and Princess Catherine has bonded. When I am done everyone is looking at me with a plain face. "What?" I ask.

"That was not what we wanted to hear," Princess Isabelle says.

"You asked how my stay..."

"I know what I asked. That was not what we wanted to hear," Princess Isabelle says.

"How can a question require a different answer?" Princess Ursula interrupts.

"How can you be so dull but then again it's one of your attributes," Princess Isabelle asks.

"I believe the word you are looking for Isabelle is clever but then again you were always as ignorant as a toad," Princess Ursula says.

"You darting..."

"Ok that is enough you too," Princess Octavia says. "We have two majesties right here and you choose to ignore their magnificent status and disrespect them?"

I watch as Princess Ursula and Princess Isabelle stare at each other.

"Isabelle," Queen Esmeralda says.

"What?" Princess Isabelle says.

"Apologize to Princess Ursula," Queen Esmeralda says.

"You are kidding right? Why do I have to be the one to apologize first? Princess Isabelle asks.

"Because you are the one who insulted first," Princess Octavia says.

"You can't be serious," Princess Isabelle says.

"You may not like me, Isabelle..."

"It's Princess Isabelle to you," Princess Isabelle says interrupting Princess Ursula.

"Isabelle, please just apologize," I say.

Princess Isabelle looks from me to Princess Ursula. She frowns at her.

"I am sorry," Princess Isabelle says.

"You may not like me but I don't mind. I also what you to know, whether you like it or not, your brother and I are going to get married. So, I am here to stay darling, I will advise you to start getting used to it," Princess Ursula says. "So that's where your motivation comes from?" I ask.

Everyone looks at me.

"Your Majesty?" Princess Ursula says.

"You just mentioned that you are going to marry King Leonard and Princess Isabelle doesn't matter," I say.

"I didn't say..."

"But that is what you implied," I say.

Princess Ursula doesn't say anything.

"I will not stand for Princess Isabelle being rude to you but what I will not stand for the most is you baiting Princess Isabelle to attack you and then rubbing the fact that you are marrying King Leonard to her face and disrespecting her birthright to the throne," I say.

"I am very sorry Your Majesty," Princess Ursula says with her head lowered.

I turn back to everyone and they are staring at me, I start to feel a little uncomfortable

"Excuse me, ladies. I will be right back," I say.