Ceremony

The day finally came, tonight is when the game starts to play.

A week has gone by fast, and I haven't got Xander to stop glaring at me whenever I'm around him yet. However, Zion and I had gotten closer bit by bit, its a working process.

Also, I'm trying to make the maids feel at ease near me, like they can talk to me as if we were friends and actually be one, but they still remained cautious.

"Tesoro, your gown is ready." Maria informed, and I nodded. I almost forgot how everyone made such a big deal about coming-of-age parties. For girls, their ceremony are at the age of 16, while the boys are at 14.

(Tesoro; treasure)

I let out a breath as Maria helps me to slip on my gown. It was very luxurious and fluffy looking, standing out way to much for my liking. The front was cropped to my knee while the back, was dragged to the floor.

"Uh. Nonna, don't you have any other dresses, that doesn't look so..radiant?" I suggested, scrunching up my nose in distaste and she tapped it while chuckling.

"There's no way I'd let you wear something that is dull, its your ceremony! You're suppose to stand out." She argued, zipping up the gown and did my hair into a braided ponytail. Decorating with bright blue flowers, for extra effect.

"You look absolutely gorgeous, my tesoro." She beams proudly and the other maids nodded in agreement. Smiling down on their hard work, as Maria brought me to a large mirror.

My reflection almost got me forgetting what I actually look like. My natural curly hair seems to be glowing off its sunny gold colour in the light, and my light hazel green orbs were sparkling like a jewellery.

Even more, the gown made me look like a porcelain doll. It was in shades of white, gold and pastel pink, decorated with clear butterflies and different type of colourful, tiny flowers. It felt like I've been drawn out of a fairytale book.

Have I've been this..cute? Ugh, I'm getting ahead of myself.

The maids and Maria really outdid themselves, I couldn't find words for their extraordinary effort and talent to not make me look so ugly.

"Thank you, Nonna, Linda, Victoria and Tracy. You guys really did an amazing job." I complimented, smiling and their eyes soften in admiration as they nodded, returning a grin. I feel like their starting to warm up to me and I'm glad.

"Now now, today is your day. The guests have arrived and everyone is already waiting for you at the ballroom." Maria informed, ushering me out of my bedroom and the maids pull me to a giant entrance.

"Good luck." Said Linda, as she sheepishly gave me an encouraging wave, followed by the rest. I nodded firmly and heavily breathe out a long breath I didn't know I was holding.

I wasn't nervous or felt like barfing my guts out, but rather I dread to meet Mia. My soon-in-a-few-hours-to-be-step sister.

My heart wasn't trying to leap out of my chest, neither were my hands perspiring cold sweat. However, deep deep down I knew, that tiny little me I kept locked up...wants to run out of here and go back to the safety of my room.

With steady hands, I push open the grand door revealing a soft, sparkly glow shining upon me as my father holds out his hands for me to take.

My mouth stretched upwards as I stare from his hands to his eyes, which were holding nothing but love and adoration.

"You look like the brightest star in the sky, sunshine." Dad whispers as he descents me down from the staircase and to the floor of the majestic ballroom. It was bigger and fancier than I remembered.

Numerous of people whispered among themselves at my presence, probably creating another rotten gossip to fulfil their hatred.

"Tonight..I am proud to say, my beloved daughter, Princess Iris of Forsythia Kingdom is now to be a woman of her own. And soon someday, a Queen. Please enjoy the night and and dance to your heart's content!" My father say the toast and the crowd cheered as classical music starts to play.

Its a tradition on this kind of ceremonies for the Princess to be dancing with every prince in this room, for a hope of finding her future husband. But no way in hell, I'd destroy my poor feet for that, especially in this horrendous heels.

Then again, its not like there'd be a prince to ask for my hand to dance, especially after knowing my repetition that the other princesses seemed to be spreading around.

So with a heavy heart, I just stood in the same spot where my father left me, awkwardly, with some nasty princesses giggling at my loneliness. I forgot their names already, even though Maria forced me to remember all the people on the quest list.

I frowned at the thought and to the caked-faces on a stick in a gown, as I turn my attention to the partners dancing their worries away.

I almost tear up from happiness, when I caught my parents elegantly swaying each other in the middle of the dancing circle. They gleefully laughed when they take turns twirling one another around, not caring who was watching like they were sucked into their own universe.

I want to experience something like that one day. Forget about Draco, he has Mia.

I wouldn't want my husband for his looks nor status. For all I care, he can be a noble, a commoner or even a servant. As long as he loves me like how much my father loves my mother, I wouldn't ask for anything else.

"What got you in a daze?" Alexander's hoarse voice pulled me out of reverie and I hum in response. My hearing heightened at the shrill gasps from a distance, people were definitely shocked that my dear brother is speaking to me.

Xander never dares to have conversations with me publicly, for he was ashamed to be seen with me and I completely understood him. If I was in his shoes, I wouldn't want to either.

I almost forgot he and Zion attended the party, as I didn't get the chance to see them all day, today. Maria and the maids took the whole afternoon, preparing me to look at least more than decent for the ball. So much grooming and changing.

"I was just watching father and mother dance." And he nodded as I twiddled with my thumbs, wondering why he suddenly talked to me. Father must've forced him.

It's not like I didn't enjoy his company, but I hate the awkward tension radiating between us when there's nothing else to say.

"You know..ever since you woke up from that fever, you've been acting like whole new person and not the spoiled Iris I grew up with." Xander drawled as I bit my bottom lip, desperately searching for an answer to ease his suspicion.

"Maybe I realised my mistakes, and want to change for the better before I regret it."

And that got him sucking in air in disbelief, but as stubborn as he was as always, actually thinks that I was just acting all goody two shoes.

"A cheetah can never change its spots." He retorted while stuffing both hands into his pocket.

That's what Zion said before.

"But it doesn't mean that the cheetah can't change its heart. Isn't that what matters the most?"

I gave him the exact answer as I gave Zion and his expression was priceless. Alexander was never known for being quiet, especially when it comes to insulting me after I comeback.

Clearing his throat, I could see him fidgeting for the first time as if hesitant to say something. This is a very rare sight, I literally feel almost everyone's eyes on us. So, not to drag the situation any longer, I spoke up his mind.

"Would you like to dance with me brother?" I asked him sweetly and hold out my hand, once again the nosy people watching our little scene, gasped dramatically. I must be the first princess to ask a prince to dance. How ironic.

"You are full of surprises nowadays, Iris." Xander teased, causing to me to chuckle and shrug. He then leads me to the rotating circle, earning jealous laser glares from the older princesses. I almost forgot how much some of the girls want to be betrothed to my brother.

Ignoring them, I focused on how the tension between us disappeared into thin air. A task accomplished. I him to stop glaring..at least for now. Baby steps.

"You're a really good dancer." I complimented as Xander twirled me around, only for me to stab my heels into his shoe.

"Ugh, and I see you are not." He winced and I rolled my eyes at him while giggling like a little girl getting free chocolates. Besides that, my heels were killing me.

"I hate heels." I complained under my breath, after murmuring an apology for hurting his toe. Xander seems to have heard my mumbling as he lets out a contagious laugh.

Is it just me, or have we bonded by a little?

Our moment was soon interrupted when the song ended and Zion out of nowhere, emerges from the crowd and stride over to us, looking almost displeased.

"I think you have enough of sister's time, big brother. Its my turn." Zion scowled, half playful, half serious.

A bit surprise by Zion's reaction, Xander finally let me out of his arms and Zion immediately grab a hold of me. Dragging my presence away from Alexander and to a table piled up with mouth-watering pastries.

"I wanted to have your first dance!" He lowly growled, clearly upset. And my heart swell at the thought of him wanting to dance with me.

I grin from ear to ear and grab his hand for comfort.

"First dance or not, it made me very happy knowing that you're at least thinking of me." Zion blushed at me confession and sheepishly cleared his throat.

"Of course, who else would I be thinking off?

Stupid."