ESMERALDA
"I hope the night goes as planned" I muttered to myself as I brushed out my curls. The beautiful dark red dress clung to my chest accentuating my bosom which had grown over the past few years. The dress was everything, it was thin at the waist and flowed from my waist downwards covering my feet. I had worn my little black pumps to match, at least that's what I think. I put on a cloak with a hood since I have to walk all the way there.
The entrance of the ball was enchanting, there was a fountain in the middle of the entrance, different carriages arrived with young maidens and royal families from nearby. They all looked exceptionally dressed for the occasion, well of course they should, this was the first ball of the season. The prince had to find a bride and not just a bride but the future queen of Santoria. The wedding and coronation comes shortly after.
Wincing as I find the garden, my feet hurt so bad from walking. I hid my cloak in one of the bushes, fixing my hair and dress before heading to the entrance.
"Miss Esmeralda Caldwell" my name was announced. I tried to shake off the nervousness wrecking my body. Been presented in front of a lot of people especially the royal family and elite.
Moving away from their piercing gaze, I shrink to a corner. My eyes swept across the ballroom in search of the queen and I did find her, but she seemed to be so engrossed in surveilling the entire room.
"Okay, don't panic. All you have to do is stay here until she is alone" I muttered to myself.
"Hello there?" A familiar deep voice coming from behind me said. I spun so hard, I'm surprised my head didn't fall off.
And there he was. The beautiful yet disrespectful man from yesterday's incident. Oh the nerves he has to approach me in such a nice manner. He did give me some money though.
Keeping that in the back of my mind, I gave him a toothy smile wide enough to break my jaw. He raised his eyebrows at me, was it too obvious that that was a fake smile?
Clearing my throat my lips fell back in a thin line. "A pleasant evening to you mister" I said while I curtsied.
"It's Duke Frederick, miss?" He corrected me.
"Duke!" I blurted out. Only now did I notice he had on the royal colors. He was a Duke, oh dear where are my manners. He was royalty, he could put in some good words for me to the Queen. The problem is I had been exceedingly rude to him. I need to get on his good side, become his good friend, just a friend.
"I didn't expect to see you here, given your condition the other day."
"You don't mean to say, I looked unfit for this occasion, do you?"
"That was not what I implied. Let's just leave that aside, perhaps we can talk about your reason for being here."
My mouth hung open as I caught a sight of the prince or so I assumed. He was magnificent, and all of a sudden I wanted to leave all my responsibilities behind and swoon over him for the rest of my life.
He had thick black hair that had been gelled back, his grey eyes like that of a storm brewing was hidden under his meticulously long eyelashes and finely trimmed eyebrows. His plump pink lips moved slightly as he spoke, he didn't seem to want to converse, judging by the amount of girls around him. His royal garment suits him so perfectly. He was royalty no doubt.
"Uh hmm" I heard a hoarse voice from my left and I had almost forgotten about the duke and my plans for tonight. Just a stare, what if he talks to me? I might as well follow mother to the dead.
"Sorry" I muttered, bowing my head, trying to hide the blush creeping up my neck.
"So you are here for my cousin also" he said. His expression was hard to decipher.
"What- no!" He stormed off and I followed like a lost puppy. " Your grace, please listen to me."
He seemed to have gone deaf as his pace increased. My pumps were so small, my feet were starting to hurt. "You should stop following me," he commanded.
I just noticed we entered into a long hallway with several royal chambers and there were guards at every corner. "Please, I am just here to plead with the Queen" I couldn't care less who was watching. I couldn't miss this chance.
His back shook with laughter as he turned. His face morphed into fake concern. "You came to plead with the Queen?" He asked mockingly.
"Y-y-yes" I was this close to breaking down.
"You want to plead with the Queen?"
"Yes, your grace" I said more firmly.
"And what are you pleading for?" He asked.
"I would like to be hired as a royal cleaner."
His chest rumbled in mock laughter, wiping a fake tear from his eyes.
"W-what's so funny?" I couldn't help but ask, although my heart was breaking into a million pieces.
"Nothing. What is your name?" He asked so casually.
"Esmeralda Caldwell."
"Well, Esmeralda I will put in a good word for you."
I nodded repeatedly, a smile forming on my lips. It disappeared the moment that mocking smile returned.
"You can't be serious, didn't I just watch you drool over my cousin and now you pretend you are here for a job." He said every word with so much anger.
"Frederick" a voice came from behind me and with so much authority. I turned and met face to face with the Queen. Her face contorted as she stared at me. "Were you harassing this young lady?"
"No, your Majesty. We are speaking about some historical myths which led to an argument" he lied. Was he mocking me again?
Forcing a smile as I curtsied. I was standing before the Queen, her Majesty. She had beautiful jet black hair and that grey stormy eyes just like her son. Her soft caramel skin accentuated her features, she looked immaculate. Her dress was a mixture of red and gold, the royal colors. Definitely royalty. "Your majesty."
"Arise and meet my eyes" she commanded and I obeyed.
She took her time to study my features and pulled me by my waist, inspecting. Probably, to see if I had suitable hips for child bearing.
"She is perfect, you have my blessings" she smiled winking at Frederick and walked away, her ladies in waiting following behind her.
"We-" I tried to interject but Frederick stopped me.
"You wanted a job as a royal cleaner, now you have the Queen's blessing to court me" he said almost happily, wasn't it the other way round.
I stood shocked. Does he-do they seriously think I was fit to be a duchess, royalty? I don't even have a dowry.
"So, miss Esmeralda."
"Huh" I replied, still in a state of shock.
"Would you mind dancing with me?" He said carefully, taking my small hand in his, as though I was fragile.
"Uhm, do I have a choice" I whispered as he led me to the ballroom.
"Of course not, Esme." I could hear the smile in his voice.
"Is that a nickname?" I said, it sounds weird. He nodded as we reached the dance floor. Great now all eyes were on us, I could hear the whispers and audible words flying around. My hands shook and he placed it on his shoulders. His hands settled on my hips.
He tapped my jaw slightly shifting my attention from the crowd to his godlike face. "Look at me. Forget about them" he muttered.
Hypnotized.
He had me hypnotized.
Those deep blue eyes of his. There was just something about the eyes, it was the most important and entrancing features of a human. The fact that it had the power to reveal strong emotions and had the power to refrain from so much information and intuition about a person. I do feel I have more leverage to a person's feelings through their eyes than their words.
And at this point, I could see those same emotions that father had for my mother in his eyes. But it takes two to harmonize these strong emotions. And I wasn't sure I felt the same way, at least not yet.
"Earth to Esme?"he said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Yes, your grace. I'm sorry."
"What is wrong, are you thirsty?" He asked.
"What- no. Of course not." My face morphed into confusion. Do I look thirsty? Was he playing mind games?.
"Do you want to talk?"
"Yes, about my reason for being here. I need that job" I was determined. My mother's health came first.
He looked shocked. "You still want the job? Why exactly, If I may ask?"
I hesitated but it was important, he needed to know. But, I felt embarrassed to tell him. "It's just something I would love to do."
"Really, you would rather be a cleaner than be a duchess" he asked looking more shocked than before.
I nodded continuously. "Uhm no. That's not what I meant. It's just a passion. I don't mind being a duchess, but I'm just not eligible for that role."
"What do you mean you are not eligible?" He was really persuasive about this matter. It was as clear as day.
I sighed. "Your Grace. I lost my father and I have a dying mother to look after. I am merely a commoner who lives in a rundown cottage somewhere in the woods. I farm and sell berries for a living. You can't possibly think I'm suitable to be a duchess, as a matter of fact your wife."
He was stunned and I was embarrassed at the amount of information I had just given him.
"Well that was a lot to take in"he muttered. Of course it was.
"Forgive me your grace. If you may excuse me" I detached myself from him, curtsied and exited the ballroom as quickly as I could. Why can't you keep your mouth shut.
He didn't come after me and why would he. He was royalty, he deserved royalty.
Foot cramps. I was definitely going to have those with all the running I've done tonight. And just when I thought it was all over my heel broke. It was the last step, but I couldn't cry here, I needed to get home.
I hurried to the garden in search of my cloak when I saw the silhouette of a man sitting on one of the benches. This was the royal garden, who could that be. Curiosity took the best of me as I quietly snuck up to the figure. Just then the moonlight shone on him and I recognized that shiny black hair. Anyone could have black hair, but I only wondered...
Could it be him?