Chapter 197 - Flower of the Night (2)

If you would describe Alexandra's current state right now, you could say that she neither exhausted or tired. She was more than that. She was drained, all of the energy stored inside her body was drained like an empty glass of water. She was tired even before the ball has started, the maids were still dressing her up and styling her hair. She has to take a bath 2 times, the first one was after she woke up and she has to eat first then take a bath once again, this time her hair was included. They applied so many things at her hair which made it emit such a sweet and ambrosial smell and she didn't complain about that because she likes the smell.

They took this preparation thingy for the ball way too serious. They even gave her a massage to soothe her stiff muscles. It feels like she went to a spa and salon combined. They even fixed and painted her nails in a light color, it looks pretty that she couldn't help but stare at it for minutes after they were done. Of course, the nails on her feet were also included.

Nevertheless, she was still tired. They were still styling her hair and more than half an hour has passed already and she still hasn't stood up from her seat and walk away from the mirror in front of her. There are only a few hours left before the ball. Probably 2 hours or less than that. She was already dressed but not fully-dressed, she still hasn't worn her accessories or her shoes.

"How should we style the young miss' hair?"

"Half-up? It's pretty popular and many girls style their hair like that."

"I know but that's way too common."

"What about ponytail?"

"Do you think that would suit her dress?"

"What about Sheep horns?"

"Should we just go with buns? It's much simpler and easier to do. Aside from that, it would suit the young miss and her dress, let's just decorate it with flowers."

"I think I saw some flower accessories on the drawer."

"Kindly please get them."

"Which drawer?��

"I don't remember but I'll help you look for them."

"Buns it is."

And finally, after a long time of arguing and thinking of how they should style her hair, they have come to an agreement. Two maids scattered around the room looking for some things, those were the ones who were talking earlier about the hair accessories with flower designs. Yulli was one of those two. 3 maids were standing behind her, Diana along with Isabella and Daisy. Even the head maid of this palace was here to help her. She decided to switch with one maid, instead of her helping downstairs, she was here inside the room.

Diana who was skilled at doing buns with Alexandra's hair was the one who did it while the two just helped in some small things like handing her pins and ties. Alexandra stared at herself in front of the mirror. For the first time in her whole life, she finally wore some make-up though it was just a light one, lipstick painted her lips in a light color as if it was natural. The color of her eye shadow was only light and they used mascara for her eyelashes. They didn't curl it as it was already perfect. They also highlighted her cheeks with a light blush on which was barely noticed, she even wondered why they added some when she doesn't even notice it.

Even though she was already pretty, they still applied make-up on her face. Aside from that, isn't it bad for kids like me to wear make-up already? She asked them that when they were applying some on her face earlier but they responded that it's just for this ball and they have been waiting for this time to happen so they badly want to make her prettier and doll her up.

She looked like a different person but you can still tell that it was her. Due to the make-up that was applied to her face even though it was just a light one, her beauty and charm increased. She looked much prettier than usual.

To think that such things also existed in this world.

Alexandra heaved out a sigh, closing her eyes in the process to which Diana noticed. "Oh, no, you must not move, young miss. I would mess up your hairstyle accidentally. Are you already exhausted? The ball still hasn't started yet," She said, worry lacing her tone of the voice at the last two sentences that she spoke. Ah, right she forgot. She must not move even the slightest.

Feels like a painter was painting a portrait of her and she must not move even an inch. Alexandra responded to Diana in a low tone of voice, "Sort of but I can still handle it. Are you almost done yet?" She looked at Diana's reflection in the mirror. She was focused on styling Alexandra's hair. Braided double low buns.

"Yes, we're almost done. After I tie this up, we would move on with adding the accessories on your hair though it would only for a few minutes. We don't want to ruin your hairstyle just because we added way too many accessories and it would be troublesome for you because it might feel itchy. Knowing you, you might not hesitate to take the accessories off, not caring if your hair gets messy in the process."

Alexandra let out a low and soft giggle before she responded to her, "You really do know me," Was what she said and she saw her smile before she took a step back indicating that she was already done. Dian turned her head to the side and looked at Yulli who was carrying a box that was open, revealing the contents inside. A few hair accessories with flower designs were seen and Diana smiled at her and nodded indicating for her to come close and give her the box.

And so, a few moments later. They were already done with her hair.

Alexandra stared at herself in the mirror. I swear, I could see sparkles and twinkles surrounding my face, she thought to herself as she stared at her reflection. She looked at her hair and face at different angles with the help of the mirror. Diana and the other maids looked at her, satisfaction and joy wrote all over their face as if they were proud of what they did.

"Do you like it, young miss?"

"It looks amazing."

She slightly turned her head behind to look at the person who asked her that. Isabella was the one who asked her that and she saw Yulli and Daisy gave each other a high five. Isabella and Diana just smiled while the other maid who was known as Felicia just nodded though you could also see that she was happy.

"Now then, let's move on with the accessories that she will wear," Isabella said and cracked her knuckles as if she still wasn't done and that is true. The maids nodded and did what they need to do, Alexandra let out a sigh and turned her head back, she was looking at the mirror and her reflection once again.

"Yulli, please get her shoes."

"Where is it?"

"It's right there, it's the red one."

--

After what it seems like hours of dolling her up, helping her take a bath two times, helping her wear the dress, adding make-up on her face, styling her hair, letting her wear the accessories, and such, they were finally done and she couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh as relief washed over her face. Finally, I'm free, she thought to herself as she sat at one of the couches, she wasn't inside her room. She went down the living room to wait there because that's what the maids told her to do. Diana and Carlos were with her as usual but they were outside, guarding in case a guest from the ball would walk around and enter this room.

In case if something happened, Diana would be there. She knows that Carlos wouldn't be able to do anything if her hair became messy or something happened with her dress. They let her take a rest before and she makes her entrance with her father. There is only less than half an hour left anyways.

Alexandra closed her eyes and let out a sigh once again, her shoulders slump and her features soft. Diana told her not to slouch because that would wrinkle her dress so she didn't though she badly wants to, her butt was hurting from sitting at not moving in once place since earlier even her neck was hurting but it wasn't that painful enough to let her whine and complain about it. Her muscles weren't as stiff as before thanks to the massage that they give her which lasted for almost 2 hours.

I wonder what would happen if I appeared, she stared at the ceiling as she recalled the dream from earlier. Whispers and murmurs were heard inside her head as she recalled it.

--"That girl is a witch."

"Why else would their bloodline have a female when they usually have males?"

"She's probably adopted."

"That's impossible, she has the physical traits a pure-blooded Everly would have. Even when you use magic to alter your appearance, your eyes would look plain and hers looked gems or crystals. Aside from that, dying your hair with that color would be expensive."

"Maybe a relative?"

"The previous 2 emperors and the current emperor, his highness, didn't have any siblings. It's impossible that a child like her would be a relative."

"Besides, it was announced that she was his daughter which they kept hidden for years."

"She was probably the reason why the empress, her highness died."

Feels like monsters whispering inside her ear as if they were trying to scare her and let her back out of the ball but she won't. She told Christian that she will remain strong and that she will be able to handle this, she has been waiting for this day to come. Why would she back up now after having those lessons with Vivienne and spending hours looking for a dress and shoes that would suit her? It was like she was wasting her time and her efforts would become useless.

Aside from that, though Christian didn't verbally tell her that he promised that her brothers including him would help her, it felt like he did. So there's nothing that she would be afraid of, this is just one of the challenges or trials that I must do in order to achieve the freedom that I wanted to have. I want to go out of the palace and go to those cafés, she thought to herself.

Then as she was lost in her thoughts, a figure which she hasn't noticed until now was standing in front of her, not saying anything. Her gaze shifted at him as she lowered her head, she blinked multiple times as she stared at the person in front of her.

"Brother Gil, why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the ball waiting?" She said, her eyes wide with wonder as she stared at Gilbert who was standing in front of her. They returned from the academy a few days before the ball and they would go back 2 days after it.

He wasn't carrying a book but rather he was carrying some cookies and it was clear that he stole that from the event. Even though it still hasn't started, he was already holding some food. But that's unusual to see him eat cookies even though they were still no bites seen from the ones he was holding.

"I got bored waiting for you to enter."

"I see. Did you escape?"

"I'm paying a visit."

"To whom?"

"To you. I figured that you would be nervous, I asked for the maids where you are. Don't worry, I told them that I was going to take some fresh air outside so I wasn't escaping."

He handed her the cookies to which Alexandra just stared at with wonder. "Take it," She heard him say and she looked at him, reluctance seen in her expression but he just urged her more to take it. She sighed and took it. "Why are you giving me this?"

"I heard from Calix that sweets would help a person calm down. He can't leave the ball as it already started and it was his birthday so he was being swarmed with multiple people greeting him though some were confused why the emperor still hasn't entered or appeared."

"Thank you," A smile crept up Alexandra's lips and she took a bite from the cookie. It was sweet and she could easily tell that this was made with the help of Diana. Gilbert watched her eat all of that and he let out a satisfied sigh before he looked outside the door, he could sense his personal knight approaching. He needs to leave now but before that, he placed his hand on top of Alexandra's head, giving her a pat like she was a puppy that he was taking care of.

"Don't be nervous or afraid, we'll be there. I'll be there."

Was what he said before he walked away and took his leave. Alexandra who was still recovering from what he did, just stared at her hands which was holding the cookie earlier but was now gone. Before she could say something, her brother was already gone so she just smiled at herself and closed her eyes. She thanked him inside her head yet she knows that it wouldn't reach him.

Then she heard a voice coming from the door.

"Young miss, we must go now. It's almost time for you to make your entrance."