Chapter 68: Dazzling Gowns

~ Momentarily later Maria entered the room with her pink bag over her shoulder and found me sulking on the couch from being terribly upset. She frowned then put her bag down on the coffee table and sat beside me on my left. Without expecting it, she pulled me into her arms and held me in a tight hug. It felt like she understood my pain. Out of these vile men, Maria gave me the comfort I needed.

"It's ok, Sally." Maria said rubbing my hair, "Adjustment can be hard. It was hard for me too."

I pulled away in such stress, "Oh Maria!" I broke down in a tearless cry. "How can I be a Primary Queen Maria?"

Maria dropped her mouth and her eyes gaped in extreme excitement when she said, "Oh, Sally!" Her mouth opens in full glee. She cupped her face for a second to regain herself and added "I had no idea Cory told you that! It hasn't been announced to the Kingdom." As she sat there and expressed to be thinking but then rolled her eyes. "John! He never told me! Probably Cory's men know the news and they aren't allowed to say anything."

While Maria seemed wildly joyous to hear what I told her. However, I am far from excited. I didn't even feel like going to a party.

Still seeing the distress in my eyes, Maria said more sincerely. "I promise Sally. I know you don't see it now but Cory will be good to you. A lot of us in the Kingdom see he has feelings for you. I'm not surprised that he chose you to be his bride. The way John was acting today. I kinda had a hunch something was up."

I only sighed in great stress not saying anything. My mind was weary and even my body felt weak.

As Maria said smiling, "Enough of this..."

She stood up and patted my leg. "Come! Let's get you dressed and ready for the party. Girl time is always a blast!"

She reached out her hand to me being very chipper. Her pretty face is even glimmering. But despite how I felt, I gave a delicate smile and took Maria's hand to get up from the couch. Maybe going to a party wouldn't be such a bad idea, after all. It might take my mind off these thoughts of being that man's bride.

~~

So Maria and I went into the bathroom to start on our hair. Maria curled her hair into messy braids and waves style half up and down do. Then she put in some pretty diamond chips. That makes her look dazzling, I thought.

I curled my hair in spiral curls and pinned it back into a beautiful mermaid-Esque updo. So only some of my hair was partly pulled back with diamond clips. Then I curled the rest of my hair to lay down past my shoulders. Lastly, I gently pulled two curly pieces of hair to hang around the framing of my face.

Then we both started doing our makeup. As Maria and I giggled the whole time. Before I even knew it this engagement kinda faded in my head. As Maria and I were just finishing up our makeup.

I mentioned to her, "Guess we need to pick a dress."

"Actually we already have gowns waiting for us." Said Maria as she was blending her remaining blush.

Then she picked her phone up from off the sink. And I saw she was texting Cookie to bring us our gowns. "I didn't know someone already picked a gown for me," I replied.

"Umm huh," Maria hummed as she browsed through her messages then said, "Yes, Cory told me he already took care of that before he left to set up for the party."

I kinda nodded at her in the mirror as I was just about done with my makeup.

~~~

Afterward, Cookie came up with two gowns in her hands and said. "Awe, you ladies look so lovely." She held out the gowns inside this clear plastic covering. "Here are your dresses." She stated and started to help Maria and I put on our gowns.

Which took us about ten minutes but Maria had it easier with a zipper on her gown. As for me, Cookie was still in the process of tying it. While I looked at Maria up closer in the mirror. I thought she looked stunning in her gown...

Maria's gown sparkled in tiny pink

gemstones that covered the bateau-boat-neck style bodice. The trail was a sweep style and has a slit opening to her right leg. Then I noticed she had a gem buckle pendant on the side of her waist. Right now she was in the process of putting on her matching jewelry.

Once Cookie was down tying my gown secure. I walked up to sink by Maria and looked into the mirror. Stunned to see I could hardly recognize myself! I looked like Queen wearing this! I couldn't fathom how lovely, I appear. I've never worn anything like this in my life! I am dazed at my gown reflecting off its beauty to me in the mirror.

My gown was a pearl blue tight-fitted mermaid-style gown. The bodice is designed in a semi-sweet and the trail was a Watteau style. It flowed fairly long at the skirt and it was glittering in tiny gemstones from top to bottom. The bodice was held up by straps from around my shoulders. As I spun to the side to see the back, I found. On my bare-back below my shoulder blades was a pretty crisscrossing design. Then I noticed it had an extra sheer blue lace that trailed outward in the back as well. Even the extra sheer trail glittered in tiny gems and layer over the first silky fabric gem cover trail. My flesh was shimmering for how glamorous the gown shined from the real white gems.

The gown also came with sparkling blue gem dangling earrings and a short-length diamond necklace, having a blue gem pendant hanging on the bottom of it from on the middle of my neck. Cookie and Maria helped me with putting on the frosting-looking jewels.

Once we were ready, Cookie said, "You both look so beautiful."

"Thank Cookie," I asked confused from not seeing her dressed up, "Aren't you coming?"

Cookie replied, "Nope, I am claiming over time and will be watching some of the little ones."