Chapter 25: The Ball

Ezra led Katerina back to the study to where she would be fitted by the Royal seamstress. Watching the back of his head as she followed him, she spoke softly.

"Thank you for the lovely breakfast."

Ezra didn't pay her words any attention. He didn't really know why he allowed her to eat such a meal, but it pleased him to know that she ate well.

When they arrived in the study, the seamstress had already arrived and clasped her hands together.

"There he is." A young woman scurried her way over to Ezra and they joined hands to give each other a quick kiss on both cheeks.

"It is always a pleasure to work with you, Dawn." He replied.

The woman was taller than Katerina and she could tell that Dawn wasn't a royal vampire but she was a pure blood. A seamstress in the village near Caine and happily accepted the position as the royal seamstress years ago. She designed gowns and suits for the family that absolutely blew the breath away from everyone.

"Do you need a suit for the ball this evening? My I say that it is quite late for me to whip it up." Her white fangs emerged as she smiled. "But I would have the best fitted and sewn for you."

Ezra shook his head, "As much as I would like, I already have a suit for this evening." He stepped to the side to reveal Katerina standing behind him.

"I would like for you to make a gown for my pet."

Dawn raised her thin eyebrows but then began to smile. "She is beautiful. Lucky you to capture such a gem." She stripped over to Katerina with no hesitated reaction from Ezra.

Dawn was a glimpse of fresh air. Her golden hair sat in perfectly woven curls with a few strands braided upwards and pinned on the back of her head. She didn't wear a fancy, puffy gown like the rest of the woman Katerina has encountered since coming to Caine. She wore a rather fitted jumpsuit to accentuate her breasts and hourglass curves. The pant legs connecting to her top met with knee high laced boots which makes it easier for her to sew and get around her cottage.

It wasn't just her clothing that made Katerina stare at this woman in awe, but it was her eyes and peaceful demeanor. She had blue eyes which were quite uncommon for pure blood vampires to have. Her expression wasn't of hunger or lust for Katerina but rather concern and curiosity. That was why Ezra poured much trust into her.

"Lift your arms dear." Dawn asked politely.

Katerina willingly picked up her arms and Dawn whipped out a cloth tape measure and began to quickly take measurements of her body.

Dawn then turned to Ezra, "Is there a style in mind?"

Ezra put down the book that he picked up once Dawn began doing her work.

"I think a deep violet color of material will do. I'm sure you can create a style that fits her most." He stated.

Dawn raised another thin brow at him, wondering if he had developed feelings for the young lass. She nodded and scribbled in her notebook of the taken measurements and began to sketch out a mockup of an idea in mind.

"I will have it ready and sent to you before the ball begins."

Ezra nodded. "I will have the payment sent to you immediately." But Dawn shook her head and looked at the girl once more.

"This one is on me dear Prince." With that, they shared another pair of kissing of the cheeks and she gathers her things to leave and get to work on his order.

Katerina watched the woman as she left then turned to Ezra. "I like her." She stated.

Ezra raised his brows out of curiosity. "Does my flower fancy women?" He questioned her.

The skin on her cheeks flourished with a rosy color tone in embarrassment. How can this vampire be so forward as to ask such a daunting question. When she didn't answer, Ezra smiled.

"Do you like me?"

Katerina instinctively shook her head, "No."

"Ouch." He pretended to be emotionally hurt. "I would hope in time that you would."

The day slowly went by as Katerina stayed close in the bedroom, awaiting for Ezra to return. He had left her here the entire day after being fitting for a gown with Dawn. She paced back and forth the room until a creaking noise of the opened door made her turn around to see Ezra.

He was sharply dressed in a black suit. His hair wasn't fixed in a formal fashion because he just didn't like it that way. However, he did wear a violet colored piece of cloth around his neck that tucked slightly under the top button of the white shirt. Golden cufflinks nestled at the bottom of his suit jacket sleeves.

"I had to fetch for Astrid once I was dressed." He stated as if he should explain to her.

She lowered her eyes, remembering that he was to escort her to the ball this evening. She didn't receive a decent feeling from that woman and she knew that it would become a problem. She heard the entire conversation between the two of them and it seemed that Astrid was not willing to let Ezra go of her feelings.

Ezra tilted his head, "Do I see jealously plastered across that sweet face of yours?"

"Definitely not." She answered for him to relieve a sigh of disappointment.

"Don't get too excited when you witness her touching me again then." He smirked at her as she realized that he knew she had seen Astrid touch his groin during tea time.

"Anyways." He diminished the thoughts and brought a gown in from the hallway to drape it across the bed.

"You must get ready now. The ball will begin in an hour." He turned around to leave the room, "The maids will assist with the dressing and hair. I then need you to meet me downstairs in the foyer."

As he left, two maidens came in to help Katerina undress and tie herself into the gown. She was breathless by how beautiful it was. Dawn had made it uniquely for her and took the time to show her creativity. It wasn't a large ball gown at all. Instead, the back fell over her body to leave a small train on the floor while the front lip of the dress was heightened up just above her feet so that she wouldn't trip.

The gown was embodied with golden swirled seams that trailed up into the torso. The neckline waved over her breasts in a curved fashion to end with the sleeves hanging just off the shoulders. As Katerina stared at herself in the mirror that sat near the clothing dressers of the room, she was mesmerized by how amazing she looked. She would never have been able to afford something like this before.

As the maids twirled and twisted Katerina's hair in an elegant fashion, they finished it with allowing her hair to stay down. A few pins held up the braided pieces of hair in a similar viking style. The look framed her face well and the color of violet from the gown went well with her fair skin and ginger hair.

Before finishing up the look, one of the maids patted her cheeks with a soft powder that almost covered her freckles, but they intentionally powdered her neck to cover the bruises so that no-one would see.

To attend a ball was something that Katerina was not familiar with. She had no ideal look on how to dance or even speak to other royal members. For a moment, she had hoped she was to be commanded to stay locked away in Ezra's bedroom.

When she finally reached the foyer to meet the prince, she could feel her ankles wobble as they adjusted to being in the wedged heels she was placed in. The daylight outside seemed to already be dim and Katerina heard voices coming closer to the room she was waiting in.

Ezra was linked in arms with Astrid as the two entered the foyer. Astrid fluttered her eyes at him and a smile never left her face until she caught glimpse of Katerina standing there in a perfectly gathered fashion.

Ezra already knew that Katerina was in the room so he shifted his gaze to her when he felt so, but he wasn't expecting his pet to look so ravishing.

His crimson eyes met her seemingly glowing hazel ones and a genuine smile appeared on his face.