Chapter 6 WARMTH

• “Wow!” Ri says.
• “Wow indeed,” I say.
• “When Isabelle said ‘Enchanted Flower Garden’ I was not expecting a real enchanted garden forest,” Ri praises.
• Even from a distance, I can imagine the sun casting its rays on the beautiful diamonds and crystals. Its reflections on the lilies and roses are so enchanting and pleasant to watch.
• “It’s magnificent,” I say.
• “Why can’t we enter yet?” Ri asks impatiently.
• “I believe we are supposed to wait for Isabelle before we can enter,” I say.
• “Oh curse that girl and her suspense,” Ri says.
• I observe Ri for a while and she seems anxious.
• “Your enthusiasm to enter the garden is rather odd. I thought you hated anything green?” I ask
• “Oh you are mistaken, it’s the diamonds I can’t wait to touch,” Ri replies dramatically clawing her hands at me.
• I roll my eyes at her as she giggles.
• “Oh goodness Iris, look,” Ri shouts pointing to the directions of the butterflies on the lilies.
• “Butterflies, oh Iris, aren’t they beautiful?” Ri says excitedly.
• “Yes they are Ri,” I say.
• Apart from diamonds, Ri loves butterflies. She will never go into the forest to look for one because she’s scared of crippling insects but I always take a jar with me into the forest to catch a few for her. She would always draw them and set them free afterward.
• I turn to Ri who seems to be muttering something under her breath. I smile at her odd habit and recall my discussion with Constantine this morning.
• FLASHBACK
• “I need it to be special and different Constantine.”
• “Yes, Your Highness.”
• “Here, take this paper and money. The paper contains instructions on how I want the new tiara to look like and the money is to pay for it.”
• Constantine eyes the paper for a while.
• “Hmmm,” Constantine says.
• “What? Is something wrong with my choice?” I ask.
• “If Her Highness will permit me…”
• “Oh please go ahead, Constantine,” I say.
• “Perhaps we could make the tiara golden. If you want butterflies on the tiara, the gold is likely to make the butterflies stand out and the crystals will balance off the color,” Constantine says.
• I consider Constantine’s idea for a while
• “Alright, I think your idea is way better than mine,” I say.
• I dig my hands into my pocket to bring out more money.
• “Here you go; if we are going to go for gold you are going to need more money.”
• Constantine hesitantly takes the money from me. I eye him for a while.
• “Any other thing Constantine?” I ask
• He takes his eyes off the money and looks at me.
• “Your Highness is giving away her whole savings,” Constantine says concerned.
• “Ri always goes out of her way to look out for me. No matter how much I mess up, she always stands up for me. So Constantine I don’t mind using my whole savings to get my sister a gift. She deserves it.”
• Constantine bows at me
• “Very well Your Highness, I will make sure this gift is deserving of Princess Adrianna,” Constantine says.
• “Oh thank you so much, Constantine. I knew I could trust you with this.”
• REALITY
• “Alright children, if you need to find us, we will be in the palace. Queen Henrietta organized a little brunch for us,” Mother says.
• “Alright, mother. Have a nice time,” Ri says.
• Mother smiles at Ri and looks at me with a frown. I watch her take out her handkerchief and walk toward me. She starts to clean my face with it.
• “I see you still went ahead to eat the cake after I said no,” Mother says as she cleans my face.
• I hear Ri giggling as I struggle to pull away from mother but she holds me firm and continues cleaning my face.
• “What were thinking, that you will get away with it? It’s a good thing you are clumsy because when we get home, you are in big trouble young lady,” Mother says.
• “Mother, you are embracing me,” I say.
• “Hush now, I am almost done, and do remember to stay out of trouble,” Mother says.
• “Yes mother,” I say as she releases me.
• Mother watches me for a while and finally, she sighs.
• “Adrianna do look after sister and make sure she stays out of trouble,” Mother says.
• “I can stay out of trouble all myself. I need Ri to babysit me,” I say.
• “Make sure she stays out of trouble,” Mother says.
• “Of course mother, I will watch her like hawk,” Ri says.
• “Mariah,” Father calls.
• Mother quickly rushes off to father’s side.
• “Princess Iris!”
• I turn to Lady Juliana navigating through the crowd.
• “Your Highnesses,” Lady Juliana greets.
• “Wow Juliana you look stunning in that dress,” Ri says.
• “Yes indeed. Pink is your color,” I say.
• “Thank you so much your highnesses. It means a lot that you approve,” Lady Juliana says with a blush.
• “Hello Adrianna, hello Iris,” Princess Octavia says.
• “Octavia you are late,” Ri scolds.
• She sighs with Esmeralda following behind her.
• “Williams took the whole day selecting a sword for his fight today,” Esmeralda says.
• “You and Octavia could have taken another coach, surely you know…”
• “Not an option. Mother insisted we ride in one coach as a family,” Esmeralda says.
• “I wonder where I have heard that before,” I say teasingly.
• Lady Juliana giggles.
• “Hush now Iris, you know better than to mimic mother.”
• I roll my eyes at her
• Just then a trumpet is blown.
• We all turn and listen as Princess Isabelle is announced. We watch as she makes her way down the stairs in her beautiful pink ball gown and makes her way to us. The Lords and Ladies bow and curtsy. Her pink gown is very divine, designed with beautiful feathers.
• “I want to thank you all for honoring my invitation. Without wasting much time, gentlemen if you will follow Ackley, our butler, he will take to you where Leonard is, where your entertainment awaits you.”
• Princess Isabelle nods at Ackley.
• “This way Your Highnesses,” Ackley says.
• They all follow him.
• “Alright ladies, now we have the space to ourselves. Let the tea party begin,” Princess Isabelle says clapping her hands.
• Servants began trooping in with trays of biscuits, cakes, tea cups, and kettles. The music starts playing as we all enter the garden and it’s very beautiful.
• “Oh, how delightful,” Ri says admiring the diamonds.
• “We have to give it to Isabelle, she is a good entertainer,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• “She always tops it up every year,” Princess Octavia says.
• “Iris, our 16th birthday is coming up soon. We need to outdo Isabelle,” Ri says.
• “All of this looks like work Ri. Can’t we just leave all the planning to mother?” I say.
• All the servants are all lined up in a straight line. Princess Isabelle claps her hand and her maids roll out towels on the ground. She claps her hand again and the servants start setting the tray down.
• “Wow, is that Princess? She looks amazing,” Lady Zadie says.
• “Zadie? You are late,” I say.
• “I am sorry Princess Iris, father’s coach had a wheel problem,” Lady Zadie says.
• I sigh
• “I am just glad you made it,” I say.
• “Did Princess Isabelle notice I was missing?” Lady Zadie asks.
• “One good thing about Princess Isabelle is that she doesn’t pay attention to such things, so you are in the clear,” I say
• Just then a clash is heard. We all turn to the chaos a maid made. The music stops playing as everyone draws their attention to the mess.
• “You flirty rat, look at the mess you caused,” Princess Isabelle yells.
• “I am sorry Your Highness; the tray wasn’t balanced properly.”
• “Shut up, you have destroyed my beautiful garden, you ruined my…”
• I start getting irritated and angry at Isabelle and I try walking toward her but Ri blocks my way.
• “I guess this is part you were you leave.”
• “Oh no, I am going to say something,” I say.
• “No,” Ri stops me. “Octavia and I will handle Isabelle. The last time we allowed you to handle her, we had to separate a fight.”
• “It’s true, you will only make things worse,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• “Are those your favorite words?” I snap at Princess Esmeralda.
• “Esmeralda is right Iris,” Princess Octavia says.
• “Besides mother did say you should stay out of trouble,” Ri says.
• I groan
• “Fine, I will leave,” I say.
• “We will send for you when we get her under control,” Ri says.
• I walk out of her garden hearing Ri and Octavia trying to calm Princess Isabelle down. I hear Esmeralda instructing the servants to clean the mess. I stand outside the garden for a while and I start to get bored. Just then I hear a horse neighing in the distance.
• “A horse!? I wonder where the noise is coming from,” I say to myself.
• I hear the neigh again and just then my curiosity gets the best of me.
• “Oh, I hope Ri won’t be mad if I step away for a little while,” I say to myself.
• The horse bleating comes again.
• “Ri is so going to be mad at me,” I say to myself.
• I follow the sound to the east part of the castle. When I reach the sound, I find the princes and young dukes cheering Prince Frederick on a horse. I walk to the stable and hide behind the doors to observe them.
• “Alright Frederick, you have shown us how much better you are than us in horse racing. Now, will you get down?” Prince Leonard says.
• “Leonard, he is really here,” I say to myself.
• After what happened between him and his father last time, I have been thinking about him all the time. Everyone says it’s not my fault but I l feel like it was mine.
• “C’mon now Leonard old buddy, you are just bitter because I am better at something than you,” Prince Frederick says.
• “I am disappointed you haven’t cried yet,” Prince Jeffery says.
• “Enough boys leave Leonard alone before he cries,” Prince William says.
• “Ah Leonard knows we are just playing with him, isn’t that right Leonard?” Prince Frederick says.
• “I rather prefer you don’t. I hate that word,” Prince Leonard says.
• They all start laughing and just then I see him in a distance. My heart skips a beat and my mouth becomes dry. Prince Jeffery, I can’t stop looking at how breathtaking he is. He is exceptionally handsome today especially when he laughs. He is more handsome when he freestyles his hair. I watch him climb a horse effortlessly and he wears a serious face. I don’t know what he says but everyone starts laughing.
• “Will you love to join them?”
• I turn around frightened and find Ackley standing behind me.
• “Ackley, you frightened me. Don’t do that again,” I say with one hand on my chest.
• “My apologies Your Highness, I didn’t mean to frighten you. As I was earlier saying, you can join them if you want. As a matter of fact, follow me,” Ackley says.
• I watch Ackley as walks out of the stable into the field. I turn to the empty stable and follow him into the fields.
• “Is that horse broken?” Lord Harry of Shadeton asks
• They all turn to the stable behind them and in there is a black horse at the end of the stable.
• “That’s true Prince Leonard you introduced all your horses to us except that one,” Lord Alden says. “Is he sick or something?”
• “He is a she, Lord Alden and no she is not sick,” Prince Leonard says.
• “Your Highnesses,” Ackley says.
• They all turn to Ackley and spot me behind him.
• “Princess Iris what a pleasant surprise. We weren’t expecting you,” Prince Gregory says.
• “I am sorry to interrupt…”
• “What are you doing here,” Prince Leonard says with a hint of anger.
• I look at him surprised.
• “He is really angry at me,” I say to myself.
• “I… I…”
• “Let her be Leonard,” Prince Jeffery says as he climbs down from a horse.
• Both princes stare at each other sternly. Prince Frederick taps his brother on the shoulder.
• “I was hoping I could get a few lessons, you know on how to ride a horse,” I say.
• “You want to learn how to ride a horse?” Prince Gregory asks looking surprised.
• “Yes, I believe I just said that,” I say
• “Well, that’s a first,” Prince Frederick says.
• I frown at Prince Frederick
• “What’s that?” I ask.
• “He means this is the first we have seen a princess showing interest in a horse,” Prince Jeffery says.
• “Yes indeed, they all shy away from the topic and rather serve tea,” Prince Nathaniel says.
• “I have always wanted to learn how to ride one. Father never approved. But Constantine, our butler tried to teach me how to mount ones but I keep falling off.”
• “That’s to let you know, a woman has no place in the affairs of men,” Prince Leonard spits.
• “Oh hush you grumping troll,” I curse.
• They all start laughing at Prince Leonard.
• “Alright Princess Iris,” Prince Jeffery walks toward me. We stare at each other as he gently takes my hand into his and leads me to the black horse at end of the stable.
• “No one has ridden this one yet. It’s like we saved the best for you,” Prince Jeffery says.
• I feel my cheek getting red and at that moment I thank God I am not holding a drink. He gently places my hand on the horse so that I feel it. I look at the horse and he neighs at me. I laugh and look at Prince Jeffery and he is staring at him. He smiles and nods at Prince Leonard.
• “Ackley saddle up Grenade,” Prince Leonard says.
• “But Your Highness Grenade isn’t…”
• “Just do what I asked Ackley,” Prince Leonard orders.
• “Of course Your Highness,” Ackley says with a bow.
• “Let’s get you out of those shoes of yours into something more comfortable,” Prince Jeffery says.
• “Does it matter?” I ask following him out of the stable.
• He turns and I walk into him. I slowly look up at him and he is looking at him.
• “He looks more breathtaking this close,” I say to myself.
• My eyes move to his lips. I hear him take in a sharp breath. I have dreamt of those lips kissing and worshipping me almost every night. Bridgette and the ladies never fail to tease me one of those mornings. I break out of my trance when he starts talking.
• “Yes, it does, especially since you are still learning to mount a horse. A firm shoe will help give you balance.”
• I nod at him as he turns his back and starts walking. I stay there for a while to recollect myself before I walk after him.
• It takes Ackley 30 minutes to saddle up Grenade with the help of the stable workers and finally he brings her out to the field.
• “She is ready Your Highness,” Ackley says.
• “Oh, she looks delightful Ackley. Thank you, Ackley,” I say.
• Ackley bows at me and takes a couple of steps back.
• “Alright, Princess Iris, this way,” Prince Jeffery says.
• I follow him to the left side of the horse.
• “How do the boots feel?” Prince Jeffery asks.
• I raise my gown to look at the boot and I look at him.
• “It feels big and ugly but comfortable,” I say.
• I hear chuckles behind me but I don’t turn. Prince Jeffery smiles at me and I feel the butterflies in my stomach floating around.
• “To climb a horse, you have to put your left foot in the left stirrup and push your body up over the next. In other words, you need to lift your right leg over the horse's back gently and insert your foot into the right stirrup. Do you understand?”
• “Yes, I do.”
• “Alright let’s begin,” Prince Jeffery says.