Annietta helped out Audrey with preparation for the ball, since it was her coronation ball she has to look outstanding and shone over all of the females that would be present. They went through a pick and throw away game the whole evening but Audrey haven't seen a dress that catched her interest and taste for tonight's event. She leaned back on a chair tired and gave up, "How about this?" asked Annie, Rey shook her head, they've been doing that for a while now.
"This?" Rey shook her head again and exhaled her head was starting to ache now, Annie sat down on the floor with a long sigh, the sweat beads on her forehead could tell how much tired she was already.
"My Queen ..... how come this whole hill of dresses haven't come up to your liking? I am .... aaargh!" she ruffled her hairs.
Audrey pouted and looked at the dresses, the wardrobe was all empty and there was a pile of them on the floor, Annie was right 'A hill!'.
"I don't know, its just ..... nothing is appealing in my eyes for the event" she uttered biting her lower lip, she was nervous. The sun would soon go down and the moon up, they have no time to waste, she got up and started to pick up the dresses again one by one and throw them on her bed this time. Annie just sat on the floor like a doll watching her movements.
Suddenly the door was pushed and Maria came in with a hanger carrying something long wrapped in a paper bag in her hands. "Greetings my Queen " she said bowing, Rey walked closer to her, "Maria ... why are you here?" she questioned curious about her arrival, the old woman looked at the mess of the dresses that was on the floor and some on the bed, then her eyes landed on the fragile tired Annie sitting on the floor. She smiled already guessing what happened her "I guess I came at the right time" she said unveiling the paper bag, their jaws dropped looking at the dress she was holding out for them to see with a smile. A royal blue satin, off shoulder dress with applique puffy queinceanera that reached a floor length. They both gasped rounding the dress, it wasn't extravagant but it was so lovely "Oh my my! I've never seen such dress before!" blurted Annie gawking at the piece. Maria chuckled at their reaction it good that she did some readjustment to the dress and the Queen seems to like it already. "Well that is because it is one of a kind, this dress...." she paused her face turning to a sad one making the two wonder why, she continued "It's the late Queen's dress, she was gifted by the merchants who came from across the seas, nobody knows where they truly come from especially with such outstanding and beautiful dresses, she wore it only once and she personally asked me to give it to the next Queen " saying this she wiped her tears.
Audrey felt a swell in her heart, how wonderful would it been if the late Queen was here to witness her wearing the dress? "And now it belongs to you my Queen, I think tonight is the best day to wear it" she handed over the dress to her beaming with happiness to finally execute the promise she gave the late Queen. "Now Annie quick and help the Queen " Annie took Audrey to the divider and helped her wear it, it magically fitted her every corner and curve as if it was made for her to start with. "Oh my my!" said Annie covering her mouth with her palm, Rey walked out of the divider twirling aoirnd as the dress flow with her movements "Oh my Queen! you look so beautiful already! exquisite! it fits you very well I I sure the King won't bat his eyes tonight" said Maria giggling along with Annie. 'Yeah Yeah! I'm sure he won't spare a glance at me' she asid within her thoughts. Acine would be there, her rival! his lovely woman so why would the cold hearted man look at his sister? mph!.
"Thank you Maria, I was going insane to pick a dress" she hugged the old woman, she was surprised and pulled back "Oh almost forgot! I still have to prepare for the King's outfit, I'll get going" she bowed before dashing away.Audrey shook.her head, just when would Maria get used to her?.
"My Queen, the dress is so beautiful! awesome cause I can't wait to see all those eyes gawking at you" she continued as she prepares the ornaments on the dressing table for her to wear. Audrey chuckled, she always exaggerating things. "Its not like I I the only woman present there Annie" she said looking outside the window, she accidentally saw him, Levyndrion was passing through with his right hand man she presumed, he was breathtaking even with his blank face, his manly and toned body radiating cold aura, she quickly pulled down the curtains when she saw him turning to her direction, her heart was going wild. "What is it my Queen?" she was surprised to see her Hest heaving up and down not in a normal way, she quickly ran over and pulled up the curtains but there was no one.
Audrey exhaled "Its nothing, I should go and wash up first" she said walking to the divider to take off the dress and then straight to the bath chamber.
Annie followed her, Audrey's heart was heavy, whenever she remembers those two together her mind becomes chaotic, thinking of how affectionate and closer they are. What were they doing now? Those type of questions were eating her up when being an overthinker wasn't her fort at all.
Levy doesn't love her and she knows it but it still hurts and its only the beginning.
After couple of minutes she was fully dressed, "Perfect! May nobody cast an evil eye on you tonight Audrey, you look so more beautiful" she said even she has already changed, hers was a black off shoulder dress with a little tail at the end, her hairs tied in a ponytail. "Thank you" she took her silver mask and together they walked out . The ball had already began, several carriages entered the castle that was heavily guarded tonight, beautiful couples walking elegantly with masks covering their faces entered the ball room.
Levyndrion in his black tail three pieces suit was talking to several guests and many important people who came at the ball, when shortly Afenel came from behind in his suite and whispered to his ear. Levy forced a smile and used a spoon hitting a golden glass in his hand to catch everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen the most awaited person for the night is here, the Queen of Ximpton, Audrey Levyndrion Lotheren " at his words the door was pushed open, everyone turned their heads to see with their own eyes the famous beautiful Queen they've been hearing about. Audrey plastered a smile on her red painted lips, straightened her back, titling her chin up, she walked in confidently and elegantly, her dress swaying with her movements, her long black hairs that was let down dancing below her waist, her gaze was locked with the King's gaze wondering why he was staring at her like that.
People started to chirp around like birds, some gasped came from the crowd, but she didn't care about it everyone else but him, his black eyes .... the more she look at them the more she get drawn to them. His two opened buttons at the top of her shirt showing off his hard chest, however she saw something different in his gaze tonight, she saw .... admiration? no it can't be! she stopped herself before she started to hope and get hurt in the end.
Audrey blinked her eyes as she reached him and cleared head from unwanted thoughts, she held her dress up a bit both sides and took a bow "My King" she uttered but Levy was lost in his own thoughts, several emotions kept changing on his face "Your Majesty?" she repeated with her sweet voice but she got no response still, she turned to look at Afenel worriedly, her eyes talking 'Is something wrong with him? something like .... sick? she started fidgeting with her dress and lowered her head down, however what happened next made her whole body froze, her eyes widened as she gulped. The ball was silence as if they were told to stay quite .
Levy pulled her in his embrace, a hug so tight that she could perfectly feel some of his body parts, her heart was thudding rapidly. What is he doing? Is it the dress? Oh yes! it must be the dress that made him crazy! what else were you thinking Rey?. Levy pulled back and looked down at her, Audrey gave him an awkward smile, she wasn't prepared for this! What the he'll with the sudden affection in his eyes? her eyes then searched past him when she recalled something was missing 'Where is she? Wait! What? She is not around that's why? this heartless man was acting huh!' she chuckled inside of her head, she clenched her dress when his fingers were grazing her ears ever so lovingly.
"Looks like the King is smitten by the Queen's beauty, he can't take his eyes off her" said one of the many ministers in the crowd. Everybody cheered.
It was true that she was beautiful but then the 'Smitten by her' part wasn't sitting right inside of her head, she won't buy it, there is no such thing.
Levy smiled "Who wouldn't be smitten by such beautiful gen Minister Lilof?" he said loud enough for all them to hear, they received another round of cheering, she haven't even taken off her mask and everyone is already saying she is beautiful. Her eyes stared back at his, his smile corrupting her heart again. "Long live the King! Long live the Queen!" they kept singing, even though it was an absurd but Audrey blushed and lowered her eyes. "Why are you doing this?" she asked not facing him, she knew that this all was just an act 'A lying moment' but why was he doing it? Was he mocking her?.
Levy's smile flattered as he was able to understand what she meant by such question.