I've always admired the handiwork of maids. The way Christina always matches the eyeshadow she brushes on perfectly with my gemmed necklaces and lacey dresses, the way Marlene can adjust my corsets in the time it takes for my brother to catch one of the millions of pheasants that roam the palace grounds, and the way Shauna can always prepare my baths to just the right temperature and with just the right amount of lavender and vanilla infused soap.

Still, no matter how hard they try, they cannot simply prepare me to meet my future husband.

"They'll love you!" Shauna says comfortingly, for yet another time, as she lines my eyes with black coal and brushes on the face powder, a bit too heavy-handedly if you ask me.

"I don't know," I say with a shrug. "I don't think I'm ready for my courting just yet. I'm only sixteen."

"And all the other princesses in the land had theirs at fifteen!" Marlene counters back, as she presses my dress.

I turn to the mirror in front of me and smile. "Simply lovely, yet again. Thank you, Shauna." She grins toothily and curtsies.

Christina turns to me and runs a hand through my hair. "Hold still, miss," she says softly, before combing a hand through my wet hair and frowning. "I'm afraid I'll have to dry it," she says. "Marlene, this might take longer than expected."

"It's fine," I say, speaking for the other maids in my room. I smile at Christina. "Thank you." Then I sigh, "What if none of the princes like me?"

Christina clamps her hands down on my shoulders and spins me towards the full length mirror. Even in my dressing gown and slippers, I try to hide my smile. There's no doubt; my maids have done an outstanding job once again. "Look at yourself," Christina says. "There's no boy that would dare not to look twice at you."

"Are you sure I'm that pretty?" I ask, biting my lip.

Christina smiles at me and picks at her nail. "Who goes for pretty? I'm going for noticeable."

"Christina!" Shauna scolds. "That is exactly what you do not tell a princess three hours before her courting!"

"Oh dear!" Marlene says. "We've only got three hours? Shauna, would you be a dear and run and get Miss Beatrice's shoes?"

"Everybody stop!" I say. I only need to raise my voice slightly, for I hold the most power in the entire east wing of the castle. Christina squeaks a "sorry" and all eyes turn to me. "Did I hear a knock?"

Christina rushes to the door and speaks quietly with who I can only guess is Lynn before turning around with a huge grin on her face.

"Well?" Marlene asks eagerly.

Christina giggles earnestly before quieting down. "I have," she says eagerly. "The tiara!" She places it on my bed and the rest of my maids huddle around my bed and chatter excitedly.

I clear my throat and they all hush up quickly. "Can I see it?" I ask excitedly. My maids nod just as happily and make way for me. I walk towards the bed and cover my mouth with my hands. Then I run a finger over the tiara and pick it up. It's silver and oh, so, so pretty. Diamonds the shape of teardrops line the tiara and in the middle is a brilliant sapphire as big as one of Marlene's bright open eyes and as blue as my mother's.

"It's beautiful," I say. "May I wear it?"

My maids nod eagerly and I look to Christina for clarification. "As soon as I'm done with your hair," she says, with a vibrant smile.

An hour later, I run my hand over my now silky hair and smile widely. Marlene helps me step into my dress and Shauna lets me sit down as she slides kitten heels onto my feet. Christina sprays the final touches of hair spray on my hair and slides the tiara onto my head. She leans back and grins.

"Oh!" Christina exclaims. "Before I forget!" she runs into my bathroom and shuffles through the endless makeup kits that litter the vanity. A minute later, an "aha!" escapes her mouth and she runs out of the bathroom and up to me. "Us maids got you something to wear tonight," she says eagerly.

Marlene whispers something in her ear and my maids are soon bickering before Shauna yanks the box out of their hands and present it to me. "We know you'll wear it well, m'lady."

I open the box excitedly. In front of me is a silver bracelet with diamonds and sapphires implanted in it. "Oh, it's wonderful!" I exclaim.

"Glad you like it," Shauna says, and they all curtsey. "Oh, I do, I do," I say. It must have cost all of their entire week's pay pooled together. I stand up and spin around in my dress and heels. "Thank you for getting me ready," I say, opening my arms to hug them all. They shower me with kisses and compliments before Christina puts a stop to it all before turning me towards the mirror. The room grows silent as I inspect the handiwork of my maids.

Below my tiara, my hair is woven together intricately with a simple cream ribbon, but the way Christina did it makes it seem too good for royalty. In my ears are diamond drops with sapphires at the base that accent my tiara beautifully. I'm wearing a floor-length ball gown that's a shiny silver-white. My heels are silver and the bracelet my maids gave me is the most wonderful part of it all.

I smile. "I think I will be the show-stopper tonight, thanks to you guys."

My maids collapse on the bed in relief and I laugh and kiss all their cheeks. "Don't you dare ruin your hair!" Christina shouts after me, making me laugh as I walk out of my room and down the hall. I turn and go down the staircase, one step at a time in these daring heels.

"Beatrice!" Caleb shouts, as I get to the second-to-last step.

I smile at my brother. He closes the door behind him and takes a step towards me. I take his hand coming down the last step and smile. "What do you think?"

"Wow," he says, with a huge smile.

I roll my eyes, taking his "compliment" as a good thing. But as I take a look at my brother, I notice that he is still in his hunting outfit. "Go change," I say. "We've got two hours until the ball."

"And I'll escort you when I get back down," he says, racing up the steps.

I smile after him and head into the main sitting room. I find my mother in there, talking quietly with my father. As I walk in, their conversation dies and my mother stands up and walks over to me. "Beatrice," she says, kissing my cheek. "You look lovely."

"Thanks mother," I say, returning the kiss. "As do you." My mother smiles and adjusts my tiara. "We were just talking about you."

I sit down in front of them. "Oh?"

"Beatrice," my father says warmly. He places his hand on mine and grasps it eagerly. "You've got to find a husband tonight."

"I'm sixteen," I say quietly.

"I was sixteen when I met your father," my mother reminds me. "You're of the age where you need to be married."

"And I need to know a man's my husband the night I meet him?" My father starts to nod but my mother shoots him a look and he looks down guiltily. "Beatrice..." he starts.

"No, no," I say, standing up. "You're right. Just give me a few minutes, okay?"

My parents nod and I walk as gracefully as I can out of the room, telling myself not to cry the entire time. I can't ruin my makeup now. In the end, I storm out of the palace and decide to take a walk. I end up in the palace gardens, smelling the roses and even singing back to the birds.

But when I've cooled down enough and decide to head back inside, I turn around to find a boy standing there.

A cute boy.

I drop my flowers. Get down to my knees. Paw around for them. When I look back up, the boy is smiling at me. "Here," he says. He holds his hand out and helps me up. In his other, he hands me the flowers.

I curtsy. "Hello."

"You must be the princess everyone's talking about," he says. He looks me over and, with a huge smile on his face, bows and kisses my hand. "T'is very nice to meet you, Princess Beatrice. My name is Prince Tobias."

I curtsy again. A prince! "Please, sit down." I gesture to the park benches and take a seat myself. The metal is cold against my thin dress on this blustery day. "Perhaps I'll see you tonight," I offer.

"I would very much like that," Prince Tobias says. He glances to his watch. "Speaking of which, I must be going." He stands up and I stand up and follow him into the palace.

"Oh!" my mother says. She puts a hand over her heart. "You two've frightened me."

"Sorry mother," I apologize. "Prince Tobias and I-"

"Just Tobias," he counters.

I giggle. "Tobias and I were just walking around in the gardens."

"Well we must all be going to the ballroom, shan't we?" my mother says.

Tobias nods. "It was very nice talking to you, Queen Natalie," he says. "Excuse me but I must change for tonight." He saunters down the hall and I can hear him charging up the stairs.

"Oh dear," my mother says, turning to me and putting a tender arm on my shoulder. "He's quite a gentleman isn't he?"

"Beatrice," my mother says from her throne. "It is not ladylike for a princess to cross her legs. Sit properly please."

I uncross my legs and roll my eyes. Why does it matter which way I sit?

And, as if she can read my mind, my mother clears her throat. "You are here to find a husband, not show the crowd how unladylike you can be."

I sigh, then watch as a handsome prince walks up to my throne and bows to me. "May I have this dance?" he offers. His hair is a bit uneasy and greasy for me, and I immediately wonder if men get the same help that I do while getting ready for a ball.

I set my glass down and stand up as ladylike as I can. "May I, mother?"

She nods excitedly and turns to talk to my father.

I stand up, picking the bottoms of my dress up with me, and saunter down the steps. I curtsy and the prince takes his hand in mine and puts a hand on my shoulder. I put my hand on his waist and we start to dance.

He flashes me a smile. Oh great, yellow, rotten teeth. "May I introduce myself as Prince Eric."

"Very nice to meet you, I must say."

"Some ball," he retorts.

I giggle. "I know, right?"

"So are you looking for your husband tonight?" he asks.

I sigh, "Yeah." I bite my lip and switch my feet as the music changes. It's quite awkward between us; there's nothing to say, honestly, and I do not want to spend my night as if I were at a speed-dating club.

The music changes again and my father walks up. "Beatrice," he says. "May I introduce Prince Robert of the Black Isles and Prince Peter and Prince Drew of the Candor Nation."

"Lovely," I say, curtsying to all the princes in front of me. I look pointedly at my father. "I'm going to get some air."

I step away, respectfully declining all offers to escort me. There's only one man I want to see tonight; Tobias. I weave my way between couples dancing to Pachelbel's Canon in D major and find my way to the balcony doors. I try my best at opening them, but these ones have always been stubborn. Suddenly, I feel hands over mine.

"Here," a voice whispers, in what can only be Tobias'. His hands turn one way and the doors click open. He opens them for me. "Ladies first."

"Thank you," I say quietly. I walk to the edge of the balcony and look over the palace grounds. Even further is the city.

"Beautiful view, isn't it?" Tobias asks. He only has to whisper, he's so close.

"Mmhm," I say back softly.

"Is the princess cold?" Tobias asks. He noticed me rubbing my arms together; my dress may drop down to my feet but as far as my arms are concerned, it only comes down to my mid-shoulders. I nod slightly and he slips of his jet black jacket, giving me a glimpse of his toned muscles beneath his white tuxedo shirt. Tobias puts it over my shoulders and I lean into him. He puts his arm over mine and surely now, I know that it was love at first sight.

{Author's Note}

Hi princes and princesses! I hope you liked the first chapter of this story! I had a lot of fun writing it (: