Chapter 3: Invitation.

Chapter 3: Invitation.

Happy birthday to the crown princess-!

That day was over.

...

Months has passed after she has turned eighteen, becoming the standard adult years of her kingdom was exhausting. 

"...how lovely, how have I missed this view." 

The city below the night sky showed many bright lights in the windows of the houses. It was a spectacle to see, something she couldn't enjoy because her time was used on doing nothing but fiddling paperwork in her office.

"..."

In her old life as queen, she would not sleep until she has finished everything that was in her table- even the ones that weren't important because the constant pressure and expectations they gave was everything.

It was everything for her, she feared that if she didn't do a good job as they expected they would hate her as their queen and kept everything fair as well as in order.

"After all I've done for them, and what I got in return is an execution." (Princess Eleanor) mutters out, feeling a pang of hatred in her heart but thankfully she learned from her past life what her limits are and what to do when her duties became double piled. "No matter, I'll have revenge soon."

She sat down onto the balcony, stirring the spoon on her little teacup, enjoying the cold night breeze. Princess Eleanor felt so freeing in that moment, smelling the air and it's purity.

"Princess Eleanor Rose! What are you doing?!" 

A yell caught her attention but after seeing it was only her Nana Bella, she could only laugh softly insisting that she should join her instead.

"Nanna Bella, what a wonderful day to just sit down and rest? Ah, would you join me for a cup of tea? I decided to relax for a bit, my duties at the court won't run away from me." (Princess Eleanor) patted the spot beside her with a wide smile.

Her Nana Bella who has never seen the princess like this, was worried.

"It's unsafe to sit down like that, your highness. You would never do something like that what has gotten to your mind?" (Nana Bella) asks the princess who merely laughed her worries off. 

"Please calm down, nana. I rarely have fun..."

"Aren't you having fun in your social balls and library adventures, your highness?" The caretaker asks the princess who thought for a while. 

She wanted nothing more but to carry out her revenge- but if she let that feelings consume her whole she would forget what being human is. To forget the want to connect with other people- she still wanted to find love and a deep connection with someone in the future.

Someone who would never do something like what her ex-husband did.

"..." (Princess Eleanor) felt alone after hearing her words. She has only made one friend in social balls and talked to other acquaintances, she never did anything fun- even dancing around the middle of the ballroom was dull. 

The princess doesn't even think she can dance with another man ever again after what happened. Yet, she knows that somewhere in the future that the time may arise where she'll need to find a suitable king consort to be by her side.

"..." 

And that made her shiver.

"I'm not having any fun nana. I want to do something else, I think... I've been too occupied with everything and I've been forgetting to remember that it's okay to say no." 

Nanna Belle blinked slowly, seeing the girl in front of her seemingly different and distant she couldn't help but wonder what really happened?

Princess Eleanor Rose, was a wonderful, kind and always smiling princess who found good in all.

"Well... a letter came for you, your highness. I thought you would like to see it, the Lady of the house of Vale sent it for you." (Nana Bella) takes out a letter from her pocket and offers it to the princess tilting her head curiously peaking at the letter. 

"Lady Seraphine Vale... I haven't seen her since my birthday party. I wonder how is she doing." (Princess Eleanor) takes the letter to her hand, observing the noble seal of Vale before opening it to read that it was an invitation to attend her party. 

Lady Seraphine of the noble house of Vale was one of her close friends that in her past life, one of the few people that tried defending her and opposed for her execution to be made. "I'm invited to her grand party host ball next week, it seems this will be her first time hosting one that's so big."

She couldn't help but worry- because in her past life she could remember her friend being a- what's the proper words the describe her?

'Someone who can't help but stand out.'

Her parties would be more than extravagant, it was- a lot.

"Mm." The princess agreed with the voice in her mind. She remembers not going to this particular party, so she couldn't know what would happen and if she ever attends- could it mean that possibly her future could change for the worst or for the better?

"..." A party like this shouldn't have much effect on the timeline and it couldn't hurt to see her friend once more at a peaceful time like this.

"It seems that she has missed you so, your highness. There has been other letters piled up in your office that you haven't noticed." (Nana Bella) reminded her of the dusting letters in her office that Princess Eleanor seemed to have ignored and tossed to the side.

"...!" (Princess Eleanor) gulped and immediately felt guilty for not even at least checking it out or replying. The poor little girl must've been waiting for a reply after all this times, months of not seeing each other at least. "Ah... I have to send her an apology for them."

"May I suggest just buying her a lovely gift, your highness. She would understand of your predicament of being the next crown princess and heir to the throne. You've been busy making proposals after all." (Nana Bella) recommended and the princess nods slowly agreeing with her idea.

"Thank you, nana." (Princess Eleanor) finally listens and gets down from the balcony taking her cup of tea, going back to her room to think about a gift that her friend would enjoy. 

"What gift should I do...? Now that I think about I don't know anything that she might like."

Nana Bella finally saw that wonderful smile that could make anyone knees bend from how cute it was. "You are very welcome, your highness." 

...

A grand ball.

It was everything that all the nobility from around could talk about. They have heard the leaked news that the crown princess has been invited and was curious if she would come. 

"The princess is coming to Lady Vale's party?"

"Then we must absolutely go."

"We must prepare our best suit and dresses."

Words travelled fast, invitation requests to Lady Seraphine pilled over many people trying to call in favors just to get an invite and this made the host very excited to know that there will be so many people wanting to attend her party. 

"Seraphine, darling. Invite my good friend will you? Send him an invitation so that they could have their son meet the princess." (Duke Vale) pats his little princess' head who swats it with a pout. 

"I will, daddy! Just give me their house name and I'll take care of it!" 

"Thank you, darling. Enjoy planning your party and tell daddy if you need anything else sorted out." The Duke of Vale was a very spoiling father who wanted nothing more but to give everything his daughter asked of him so that she could see his little princess being happy. 

"Oh-! How good this could be so many people will be attending! Granted they're probably here because of the social season. It should be a close time before princess Eleanor would choose a consort." (Lady Seraphine) kicked her feet happily as she sat down in her chair, feeling a little stressed and pressured from everyone's expectations. 

Lady Seraphine wanted to help her friend find her special someone through this grand ball. It was her birthday not too long ago- and she had the mind to reject every single man that went in her way!

Even the handsome upcoming dukes and lords!

"I don't get it! But love is blooming this month! Princess Eleanor should live and taste youth! Live, laugh and love is what I would always say!" she melts down into her wooden desk, laying her head down to her arm staring at the window. "Hmm... I know I should not be too nosy on other people's love life but I don't know if it was just me."

Lady Seraphine sits up straight remembering the way she looked at all of the men.

It was if they were the plague, she wanted nothing to do with them and made sure to keep distance. Not even making casual talk- she was straight up looking disgusted every time one would try to talk to her and if they managed to get close.

She excuses herself that Princess Eleanor needed to powder her nose.

"Did something happen that made her react that way?" she mutters the question to herself wishing that her friend would find someone already that could make her happy and feel the sweet taste of romance.

"Agh! No time to think of Eleanor! I need to make sure everything's perfect! Oh! I'll check every single nobleman I invited and see who would be compatible with her! I haven't had a wink of sleep- I thought of making sure the decoration is up to par. Ugh! I'm so excited I can't help but do nothing but work!" she held her pen tightly and yanked an empty sheet of paper, writing another invitation away to be invite another house.