Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(37)
“I’ll try.”
King Leon pats my hand; the sternness in his eyes has disappeared and he looks more like a fatherly figure now. “Remember that you are Athelia’s princess, my dear. A royal marriage is different and more difficult to maintain. Which reminds me—Isolde, you were talking of bringing Kat to the court presentation tomorrow?”
The presentation. For me, it brings up one of the most memorable scenes in The Ugly Stepsister—the heroine falling on her butt in front of the queen, when she discovers the hot guy she had met is actually the prince.
The queen places a hand on my arm. “Katriona, I would like to ask that you accompany me to the presentation and learn how to receive the debutantes. I may need you to stand in for me sometimes. And besides, this will be your duty when you become queen.”
More royal duties. I’m being drawn further and further away from the life I once knew, whether I like it or not, and pulled deeper and deeper into this web of courtly manners and celebrity status. Me, ordinary Katherine Wilson who worked in a coffee shop, becoming Princess Katriona of a large and flourishing country.
This can’t be happening. But as I leave the receiving chamber and a pair of liveried servants bow to me, I decide that I need to re-adjust my mindset or I’d be perpetually miserable. I need to adapt to royal life and prepare myself for the possibility that Krev may never show up. Going back to my own world is no longer a necessity, but an option.
17
Even though I no longer have to work on walking backward with a long train, I am still required to appear in full regalia for the court presentation. The dress is made of ruby velvet and white satin, trimmed with golden lace and bows. It would have been lovely if there wasn’t a huge metal hoop—they call it a crinoline—under the dress, making me feel like a walking balloon. I also have to wear this heavy necklace of gold and beads, which causes a strain on my neck, and a glittering crown is jammed on my head. Amelie attaches golden pins around the crown, as I’m afraid that it might fall off.
“I know that it cannot be comfortable,” the queen says, watching me walk like a robot. “But the presentation is an ornate ceremony with years of tradition, and it is required that we appear in formal wear.”
I want to say that Athelia’s casual wear is already too fancy compared to what I’m used to—I wonder how they’d react to jeans and T-shirts—but I just smile and assure the queen that I’m fine, and it’s nothing compared with the trial I went through during my presentation. Of course, I don’t remember anything about the training, but from what I’ve read in The Ugly Stepsister, I know that it’s no easy task.
“Ah.” The queen nods sagely. “Well do I remember your presentation. It is the first time that Edward requested to attend the ceremony with me. What a surprise it was when he told me he wished to attend it, since he never took any interest in the presentation before.”
Because he knew that Katriona . . . because I would be there. I flush and focus on a glittering jewel bracelet slipped over my wrist.
“I had suspected there was a girl he was interested in,” the queen continues, waiting for me to catch up with her. “But he wouldn’t say anything. I supposed he wished to make sure that the lady returned his affections before he could disclose anything. No doubt you know that Edward has a pride of his own. However, even I couldn’t guess that it was you he had his eye on.”
“Because there were so many girls he could choose from?”
“Since you’d already met him when you were a child, I thought that if he were interested in you, he would have made it known earlier.”
That’s because I came to inhabit Katriona’s body when she was seventeen. I highly doubt that Edward would have fallen in love with the real Katriona. If I had inhabited Elle’s body, he would be attracted to Elle.
“I guess I wasn’t much of an attraction when I was a child.”
“I cannot fully remember how you looked when you were young, but it was your sister who caught the eye of everyone. All the other mothers were talking about what a beauty Bianca was, and if looks were the deciding factor alone, she might have even become Edward’s choice. No one predicted that it would be you.” She glances at me, pausing before speaking. “Nor could I have predicted that you were reluctant to accept him until after the ball.”
If only you knew the whole story, I want to say.
“But I believe I can understand why you were hesitant to become princess. When Leon asked me to marry him, I wondered if I could shoulder the responsibilities, for it is not simply marrying him, but marrying into Athelia’s royal family.” She smiles at me. “When I learned about you working with Edward to improve the conditions for child workers, I knew you would be the right woman for him.”
I swallow. He’s infatuated with me, but him being in love with me does not necessarily mean that I’m the only person ‘right’ for him. There must be other women in Athelia who are beautiful, compassionate, and willing to take on the responsibilities of being the future queen.
The queen touches my shoulder in a surprisingly mom-like gesture. “Katriona, I assure you that Edward is deeply attached to you. He may be well educated and disciplined, but he does not have much experience being around women. I hope that you can resolve whatever went wrong between you, and if you need any help, Leon and I will always be willing to lend a hand.”