Ch 4 New friends

I was walking in the palace garden. It was beautiful with manicured grass and red roses. In a week ,a ball will be held but I didn't have anything to wear. What will I do? I was getting hungry. I should have packed some cookies with me. I went out of the garden and walked towards wisteria palace. But, I lost my way. There were only trees all around. I was tired so I went and sat under a tree. I was sweating. It was hot here. Winds started blowing that gave me relief. I closed my eyes. But after sometime I felt that someone was tickling my ear. Suddenly, I opened my eyes to look around and saw no one. It must be wind. I closed my eyes again. But, again I felt that. Someone was definitely here.So, I remained calm. That person tickled me again but this time I grabbed his hand. I opened my eyes to see that guy was tickling me with a feather. He was hanging upside down and was smiling playfully.

" You caught me." He said in a playful voice.

" You again. What are you doing?" I said angrily.

I got up.He also climbed down and stood in front of me.

"You...Who are you? and what are you even doing here? This is palace not your playground." I continued.

" Chill..Be calm. Anger is not good for your health and I live here." He said.

" Oh! You must be a worker here and you are slacking off. But, why do you always appear in front of me? " 

" Relax, you are scaring me. Don't scold me. Look at me I am innocent and last time when I met you I dropped something. I am here to retrieve that. Give me my key. " He said while pouting.

" Don't act and don't even try to mock me and that key I don't have that...go away." I said.

Why did I lie to him? I should have given his key back.

" You don't really have that big shiny silver key. " He looked at me suspiciously.

I averted my gaze and said," N..No." 

"Then why are you averting your gaze." 

I looked at him and said," No I am not." 

" Okay then, I must have dropped it somewhere else." He said so but he didn't look convinced.

I turned and started walking. After a few minutes I realised he was following me. I stopped and turned around. 

" Don't follow me." I told him sternly and started walking again.

But, he was walking after me.He was so annoying. I stopped and turned,

" Why are you following me? Don't follow me." 

" I am not following you. I am also going that way." 

I didn't know why but his mere presence irritated me.

I stomped my foot in anger and started walking again. I was tired my foot was hurt .I must have got blisters from heels.

The heel of my shoe floundered in something and I was going to fall down but someone caught me. It was that guy. He had veiny hands and his grip was strong on my stomach. I stood straight and got away from him.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

I nodded but he suddenly, grabbed my wrist and pulled me with him.

" Hey, what are you doing? " I asked and tried to free my hand from his grip but in vain.

He made me sit on a rock and bent down in front of me . He lifted my leg and I flinched. What was he doing? I felt that again. That foreign feeling.

He put off my shoes and looked at me.

" You are injured." He said in a concerned voice. 

" I..I know.So what?" I stuttered. What in the world was wrong with me? My face was hot. Was I blushing? I never blushed.

I shaked myself. Get a grip Madeleine. I got up and said, "I can walk. you don't have to worry. " 

I turned to move but he grabbed my hand and lifted me in his arms. 

" What are you doing? Put me down." I shouted.

He looked at me with worry in his eyes. 

" I am just helping you. Let me. I will just carry you to palace and if you are angry about yesterday then, I am sorry. " He said while walking.

His words melted something inside me. I couldn't dare to say anything after that. I was intimate with a boy for the first time. It was just in like books. He looked handsome and strong. My heart was loudly beating in my chest . My face was on fire. 

" Why are you helping me?" I asked in small voice. 

He smiled and said," Because I am a gentleman. I shouldn't leave a lady alone in help." 

He looked divine while smiling. 

" You always help everyone one like this." I asked.

" Yeah, I am too nice." He said.

My heart dropped on thought he had helped ladies before like this. I felt a strange sting in my chest. Why was I upset? I even didn't know his name.

We were on the pavement path now. 

" Put me down here. I will walk to my palace. I don't want anyone to see us like this. They will misunderstand." 

He put me down and said," What happened? You look upset." .

" Nothing. I am just tired." 

I turned and walked to my palace. Amy was standing out. When she saw me, she came running towards me. She was looking worried and said,

" Princess , where were you? I was so worried for you. It's almost going to be night. " 

" I was taking a stroll and got lost and my foot are also injured." I told her in a sad voice. 

" Oh princess! I should have gone with you. I am sorry. Let's go inside." 

She took me inside. She cleaned my foot and bandaged them. I took my dinner in my room. When I told Amy there would be a ball. She was literally bouncing and was so excited.

Next day, a seamstress came and took my measurements to make a new gown. My whole day went like that. Next three or four days went like that in preparation for ball. 

One day before ball

I was strolling in garden with Amy . Today I wore flats. The weather was nice. We were on a picnic. She had packed some cookies and made sandwiches. I took a book to spent my time. I wore flats and my hair were down .We spotted a good place under a tree and sat there on mat. I began reading my book. After sometime, I heard giggling. When I looked up it was four ladies. They must be taking a stroll. One of them eyed me and averted her gaze. I was an outcast. People only eyed me and never talked to me. The four them was coming towards me. I got afraid. Are they here to bully me? I was nervous. Mother Mary help me. 

" Are you the princess of Macedonian?" A girl with curly brown hair said.

I nodded.

All of them bowed to me and said," Greetings to your highness." 

" Forgive our forwardness but we were so excited to meet you in ball but when we saw you here. We could not stop us." Red haired girl said.

I expected totally different scenario.

"Nice to meet you too." I said in a stable voice.

"Your highness, Can we sit with you? If you don't mind." The girl that was eyeing me said.

" Yeah , Sure." I smiled and said.

They sat with me and introduced themselves. 

" I am Katty." Red haired girl said.

" I am Charlotte." Brunette said.

" I am Caroline." The girl that was eyeing me said.

" I am Roselina.You can call me Rose." The fourth one said.

" You can call me Madeleine." I told them.

" Is it really okay ?" Rose asked.

I nodded and said," I have been here for a few days now but I was anxious about my social life . I thought I would be an outcast like in novels but you all are really nice. Will you be my friends? "

They all were looking at each other . Did I said something wrong? But then suddenly everyone said," YES." 

I smiled broadly with them.

" Do you also read books?" Katty asked.

" Yeah" I replied.

We talked about our interests in books and various things. Time passed very quickly with them. Today, I made new friends. I was very happy. They were my first friends. It felt really nice to have someone watch your back. I was looking forward to ball.